Weekend spotlight: DJs Pearce and Oakenfold

The familiar thump of a bass drum and the roar of a crowd will fill multiple venues across Palm Harbor and the surrounding area this weekend, headlined by British music icons Paul Oakenfold and Lenny Pearce. Oakenfold, a pioneer in electronic dance music (EDM), brings his legendary remixing skills to Jannus Live Saturday, alongside The Crystal Method. This weekend's diverse lineup offers something for everyone, from family-friendly techno raves to Italian opera and classic theater.

Jannus Live welcomes Paul Oakenfold, a key figure in the contemporary evolution of dance music, who has performed at Glastonbury, Stonehenge, and even the base camp of Mount Everest. The British DJ, composer, and master remixer is known for remixing artists ranging from U2 and the Rolling Stones to Madonna and Snoop Dogg. Saturday’s show begins at 7 p.m.; tickets are available Jannus Live.

Toddler Rave Fun for Families

For families seeking a unique experience, Australian DJ Lenny Pearce is bringing his “Toddler Rave” to the Mahaffey Theater tonight (Thursday, Nov. 12). The show is literally designed for children, with Pearce re-making children’s songs with techno beats and incorporating oversized inflatable ducks, a castle made of milk bottles, confetti drops, and dancing characters. Pearce emphasizes a safe volume level, stating to NPR that the music is kept at “90 decibels, no louder than that, which we check all the time, but it also has to feel like a rave. So we keep it fairly loud, but it’s not damagingly loud.” Tonight’s family-friendly event begins at 6 p.m.; tickets and more information can be found Mahaffey Theater.

Diverse Musical Styles at BayCare Sound

The BayCare Sound offers a variety of musical styles, including Maryland rock band O.A.R., singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw, and Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall. Originally scheduled for the Seminole Hard Rock Live in Tampa, those ticket holders received automatic refunds and are now able to attend the BayCare Sound performance. The show starts at 6:30 p.m.; tickets are available BayCare Sound.

Benchmark Arena: Pop, Opera, and Rap

Benchmark International Arena hosts a full slate of events, beginning with the Italian pop/opera trio Il Volo tonight, accompanied by an orchestra. The Catalyst recently spoke with the vocalists; that interview can be read here. Friday brings rapper and singer Doja Cat, part of her “Tour Ma Vie World Tour,” to the arena, with tickets available Benchmark International Arena.

Jimmy Eat World to Close Amphitheatre Season

The Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre will conclude its 2026 season with a concert by Jimmy Eat World. The next show at the outdoor venue is scheduled for May 2027. Tickets can be found Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre.

Reggae and Beyond

Reggae enthusiasts can enjoy Third World’s performance at the BayCare Sound Sunday. Tickets are available BayCare Sound.

Beyond music, Brad Williams performs at Ruth Eckerd Hall tonight, with tickets available Ruth Eckerd Hall. David Foster and Katherine McPhee, a husband-and-wife musical duo, will also perform Friday at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets can be found Ruth Eckerd Hall.

For those seeking stage productions, Jim Henson’s 1986 fantasy film “Labyrinth” will be screened Friday at Ruth Eckerd Hall with a live, onstage band providing synchronized music. Costumes are encouraged, and tickets can be purchased Ruth Eckerd Hall. UB40, the British reggae-pop group, returns to the Mahaffey Theater Friday on its 40<supth anniversary tour; tickets are available Mahaffey Theater.

The Capitol Theatre welcomes Here Come the Mummies, a funk band known for their Egyptian mummy costumes, Saturday night. Tickets can be found Capitol Theatre. Reggae Sound Splash Fest Sunday at BayCare Sound brings in The Legendary Wailers, Third World, Inner Circle, and the Ska-Talites; tickets are available BayCare Sound.

The Tampa Bay Symphony presents “Wild Kingdom And Swan Dreams” Friday at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center and Sunday at the St. Petersburg Coliseum, featuring Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake Overture,” Sy Brandon’s “Animalia,” and Leroy Anderson’s “The Waltzing Cat.” Tickets for both performances can be found on the Symphony's website.

Off-Central presents “Destroying David” by Jason Odell Williams, starring Debbie Yones, which opened tonight and runs through Nov. 22. The intimate black box theater holds only 43 seats, with tickets available Off-Central Theatre. Story Keepers presents “A Bodega Princess Remembers La Fiesta de los Reyes Magos, 1998,” written and performed by Iraisa Ann Reilly, at the First United Methodist Church in Pinellas Park; a link to an interview with the playwright/performer can be found here.

freeFall Theatre continues its run of “The Da Vinci Code” through Dec. 6, with tickets available here. The Straz Center Shimberg Playhouse presents ThinkTank/Tampa Repertory Theatre's production of “Peter and the Starcatcher” through Nov. 22, with tickets available here. American Stage presents “Meteor Shower” through Nov. 22, with tickets available here, and Dead Canary Theatre’s production of “Regrets Only” concludes its run tonight at The Studio, with tickets available Dead Canary Theatre.

Sunday evening at Ruth Eckerd Hall, A Charlie Brown Christmas Live On Stage will be performed, featuring Vince Guaraldi’s music. Tickets are available Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Coming soon to the area include ‘Twas the Night Before … by Cirque du Soleil at the Straz Center Morsani Hall, Kristin Key (comedy) at the Straz Center Jaeb Theatre, Blade Runner Live (film with synthesizer band) at the Tampa Theatre, The Florida Orchestra: Inside Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier at the Mahaffey Theater, Lindsay Sterling at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Russ Taff and Steve Taylor at the Capitol Theatre, Enchant Christmas at Tropicana Field, Blue October at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Suncoast Jazz Festival at Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Marty Stuart at the Capitol Theatre, A Magical Cirque Christmas at the Mahaffey Theater, The Florida Orchestra: The Blue Danube and Beyond at Zinober Hall, USF Tampa, and Leslie Jones (comedy) at the Tampa Theatre. MIXed: Pulse of the City (projectALCHEMY dance) will be presented at The Studio on Nov. 20 & 21, followed by Rocky in Concert (film w/orchestra) at the Straz Center Ferguson Hall on Nov. 21, and Air Supply at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Nov. 21. John Cusak and a screening of “Say Anything” will also be at the Capitol Theatre on Nov. 21.

Your Weekend Spotlight appears every Thursday in the Catalyst’s CREATE section. For more information or to submit events, contact [email protected] or visit the Catalyst calendar online.