MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre

Here's the deal: this is Tampa Bay's biggest outdoor room, and it lives out on the Florida State Fairgrounds off I-4. That means parking is easy and plentiful, but you're not walking to a bar afterward - tailgate in the lot or eat before you come. The trade-off is space, and on a summer night, space is exactly what you want.

Now, about your seat. The covered pavilion holds the 8,200 reserved seats under a roof, and in Florida that roof is not decoration - it's insurance against the afternoon thunderstorm that shows up like clockwork and the sun that doesn't quit. If you're coming in July or August, pay up for the pavilion. The lawn is the cheaper, looser play: bring a blanket, spread out, and watch from a distance with a drink in hand. Both are good nights. They're just different nights.

This is your spot for the marquee tours - the acts too big for a club but built for a warm-weather crowd. Browse the upcoming lineup on Evil Tickets and lock in your Tampa Bay concert season before the good ones fill up.