St. Pete has changed, but Jannus Live has been like a music venue old faithful for the last four decades

It can be hard for a newcomer to get acquainted with their local live music venue, and in the new issue of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay on stands now, we mention must-visit rooms of every size from small, to giant and large, like Jannus Live in St. Petersburg.

The scene: Jannus Live, located at 200 1st Ave. N in St. Petersburg is a 2,000-person capacity, open-air venue with a large tree in the back of its courtyard (and yes, it’s much worse than getting stuck behind that tall guy at a show).

Multiple bars line the outside of the standing area, adjacent to the merch tables. Street parking is virtually non-existent, so parking garages are usually your best bet.

Sound: reggae, rock, programming for local events like St. Pete Pride and Girls Rock St. Pete
The scoop: When Jannus Landing, downtown St. Pete’s beloved open-air venue debuted in the 1980s, it was meant to attract popular punk and reggae acts of that era, but was notably exclusive to local talent. Wildly popular acts including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Eminem, Rise Against, Lil Uzi Vert, Green Day and Radiohead have graced Jannus’ stage and captivated thousands of sweaty ass fans over the decades.

After 40-something years, new owners, the addition of indoor plumbing and one name change later, this space still appeals to the same genres it originally did, but now hosts a variety of Tampa Bay-based programming year-round. The stage has hosted everything from last month’s St. Pete Pride concert and Girls Rock St. Pete’s end-of-summer recital to massive soccer-watching parties, nonprofit galas and much, much more.

It’s no secret that downtown St. Pete is a different landscape than when Jannus opened its doors many years ago. A casual trip into The ‘Burg is now met with high-rise apartments, expensive parking garages, traffic detours, and construction cranes as far as the eye can see. While downtown’s First Block has experienced a multitude of changes since Jannus debuted—with a new 70’s-themed dance club, seafood restaurant, and yeehaw country bar as recently-opened neighbors—we certainly hope this Bay area institution stays as is.

Nearly 40 years after Jannus Landing first opened, and 13 years since it rebranded as Jannus Live, the St. Pete venue now has that worn-in, cozy feel of a true local mainstay. Storefronts, restaurants, and bars may come and go, but one thing remains constant: a massive line of excited fans wrapped around the First Block eagerly waiting to see their favorite band.

Similar venues: Ritz Ybor, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Duke Energy Center at Mahaffey Theater, and the Straz Center’s Carol Morsani Hall and Ferguson Hall.

Upcoming shows at Jannus Live include Between the Buried and Me, Dead Set, Sister Hazel, and the Supervillains.

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