In a time where computers and software chug out hit singles, the music business has become a dying industry that is struggling to keep its head above water. One of the industries only saving graces is the natural art of a live concert. Fortunately for UT students, the local Tampa area provides one of the most intimate venues on the western coast of Florida.
Ybor City, one of Tampa’s premier hot spots for nightlife and shopping, is home to one of the area’s biggest secrets: the Orpheum.
The Orpheum is a small concert venue on 14th Street that offers the south Tampa area numerous concerts every month.
One of the venue’s biggest perks is the low cost of admission. As all tickets are general admission (no reserved seats), tickets usually range from a mere $8-$20, making the Orpheum one of the most affordable venues in the area.
Another great benefit of the Orpheum is the smaller size it offers to fans and artists. For fans it’s great because you can literally get right up to the stage and be standing only inches from the band. As for the artists, it gives them a great opportunity to interact with the crowd and really connect with the fans on a personal level.
Junior Max Forsythe has attended shows at the Orpheum and agrees that the smaller size of the venue adds to the overall experience of the concert.
‘It’s a really different feel to be able to be so close to the bands,’ Forsythe said. ‘The artists really have great crowd interaction at the Orpheum, which makes the concerts that much better.’
Make sure to keep an eye out for upcoming events at the Orpheum at: http://statemedia.com/events.php
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