When the summer sun bears down on Tampa Bay and the air feels thick enough to swim through, there’s only one thing that truly cuts through the Tropical Heatwave: live, high-voltage music. The Betty Fox Band, a powerhouse of blues, soul, and rock that delivers the kind of electrifying performance perfectly suited for WMNF’s Tropical Heatwave.

Fronted by the commanding and deeply expressive Betty Fox, the band has built a reputation across Florida and beyond for their raw energy and tight musicianship. Fox’s voice is the centerpiece, gritty, soulful, and effortlessly dynamic, capable of shifting from a smoky whisper to a full-throated roar in a heartbeat. It’s the kind of voice that doesn’t just fill a room; it grabs hold of it.

Her journey began early, singing in church at just four years old, surrounded by a family rich in musical tradition. Holidays meant gathering around the piano, harmonizing to timeless hymns like “It Is Well With My Soul” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” Those formative moments shaped not only her voice, but the emotional depth and connection she brings to every performance today.

Over the years, Fox has honed her craft into a force of nature. A former representative of the Suncoast Blues Society and a finalist in the International Blues Challenge, she has also earned five “Best of the Bay” honors from Creative Loafing. Her debut album, “Too Far Gone,” introduced her to international audiences, while her follow-up, “Slow Burn,” solidified her reputation among blues critics and fans worldwide.

At Tropical Heatwave, where the spirit of community radio meets the pulse of live music, the Betty Fox Band fits right in. Their performances aren’t just concerts, they’re experiences. Expect sweat, movement, and a crowd that quickly transforms from spectators into participants.

Whether you’re a longtime blues lover or just looking for something real and powerful amid the festival buzz, the Betty Fox Band brings exactly what Tropical Heatwave is all about: authenticity, energy, and music that moves you, inside and out.

Her latest release, “Peace in Pieces,” has taken things to another level. Recorded at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, alongside icons like Spooner Oldham and Clayton Ivey, the album showcases Fox at her most powerful. With lush arrangements, a full horn section, and standout songwriting collaborations with guitarist Josh Nelms, the record soared to the top of the Roots Music Report charts and earned widespread critical acclaim.

At Tropical Heatwave, expect nothing less than a full-throttle musical experience. Betty Fox doesn’t just perform, she testifies, she connects, and she brings audiences along for every note. In the sweltering Florida heat, her music is the spark that turns a summer night into something unforgettable.

Get your tickets for Tropical Heatwave

The post Betty Fox: A force of Soul and Blues at Tropical Heatwave appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

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Commissioners in Fort Meade voted unanimously Tuesday to bring a hyperscale data center to the rural Polk County city. 

The controversial vote came despite major pushback from residents. 

Concerned residents spoke for over 2 hours of public comment, almost completely against the data center. 

Residents had concerns about the enormous use of water and electricity, noise pollution, and the environmental impact. 

Michael Bennett, a local business owner and resident, said the project would impact his and his neighbors’ quality of life. 

“Based on the proximity to the proposed site, I would not only hear this data center, I would feel it. Not might, not possibly, will.” Bennett said during public comment. 

Despite the outcry, commissioners voted to approve a 20-year agreement with developer Stonebridge for the 1300-acre data center, often used to power artificial intelligence. 

This would be Florida’s first hyperscale data center.

Petrina McCutchen is Fort Meade’s Vice Mayor. 

“You don’t have all the answers when you’re taking leaps of faith. You take a step, and sometimes you gather information along the way.” McCutchen said. 

Jessica Bennett is a teacher who said she lives half a mile from the proposed data center site. 

“This isn’t just about development to us, this is about home,” Bennett said. 

The Tampa Bay Times reports that the Southwest Florida Water Management District board must approve a permit for the center because of its proposed water use.

The data center could use up to 50,000 gallons of city water per day.  City officials say the money from the proposal could go towards improving water infrastructure.

The post Fort Meade commissioners vote unanimously for hyperscale data center appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

The Florida Greenways and Trails Council held meetings last week in St. Petersburg. They discussed ongoing plans for St. Pete in light of its Trail Town designation in January.

St. Pete was recognized by the Florida Greenways and Trails Council for their commitment to local culture and community engagement along its trail corridors. As a reward, the city will receive assistance in improving a three-mile section of the Pinellas Trails. 

Mike Stephens, the council chair, says they are working with St. Pete and Pinellas county to reconnect the neighborhoods, offering more pedestrian pathways to the Greater Arts District. 

“There’s a lot of investments from local trail advocates that are trying to do, whether it be through the Sunline or through the Arch program and some other things that they’re doing in St. Pete and Pinellas County that are really trying to elevate it and get the trail to the next level and to connect those neighborhoods downtown that are disconnected now,” said Stephens.

Among those are the Warehouse Arts District, EDGE District, Central Arts District and Waterfront Arts District.

Future Plans

During their meetings, the council discussed their plans to add more pedestrian pathways to connect restaurants, galleries, small businesses and public events in the downtown area. They also voted in two new trial towns and discussed current legislation.  

“This particular meeting we actually voted in Gulf Breeze as a trail town up in the West, northwestern part of Florida and then Sanibel is a trail town as well,” said Stephens. “We talked about current legislation that’s being passed right now, on e-bikes and current legislation in terms of regionally significant trails and re-ranking our regionally significant trails.” 

The council will be holding their next meeting in Gainesville on July 22nd and 23rd. For more information on last week’s meetings, visit Floridadep.gov. 

The post Florida Greenways and Trails Council outlines future for St. Pete’s trails appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Country music festival relocated to protect wildlife

The permit for a country music festival in St. Pete Beach was denied, and the event was relocated to Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater to avoid impacting wildlife resources.

Pinellas County School District cuts teaching positions for the fall

Pinellas County School District expects the decline in student enrollment to continue, cutting 250 teaching positions and marking the second year in a row that it has had to cut staff.

Nonprofit 360 Eats addresses food waste in Pinellas County

Eats 360 uses leftovers from local grocery stores and farms to serve roughly 800 meals a week in the back of Clearwater’s Trinity Baptist Church, aiming to reduce food waste and insecurity in Pinellas County.

Two Florida executions scheduled for April

Two executions are set to take place before the end of the month, bringing the total this year to 6.

No expansion for KidCare insurance despite dropped lawsuit

Despite the approved expansion of Florida’s low-cost health insurance program KidCare, many parents still pay hundreds of dollars monthly while their children may qualify for it.

The Scoop: Tampa Bay & Florida headlines by WMNF

The Scoop, produced by Mackenzie Queen.

WMNF anchors Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Seán Kinane, Lisa Marzilli, Josh Holton. 
WMNF News Director Seán Kinane
WMNF reporters Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Lisa Marzilli, Seán Kinane, Leah Burdick, Sofia Caballero, Josh Holton
Special thanks to Taylor Lovejoy and Corey Beltran.

Theme music, Fresh06, by Stian via archive.org – CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5
https://archive.org/details/jamendo-001084/02.mp3
The Scoop logo by Robin Milcowitz / Greener Pixels / greenerpixels.com / WMNF

• information from News Service of Florida, the Associated Press and Florida Public Media was used in this report

The post The Scoop: Wed. Apr. 15, 2026 Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

In this episode of All Things Good, we go beyond titles, roles, and surface-level success to explore the human side of leadership. Dr. Alan Mueller—keynote speaker, leadership trainer, and author of Leading with Emotional Intelligence—joins Jovanna for a powerful conversation on what it truly means to lead with awareness, authenticity, and intention.

With decades of experience across multiple industries, Dr. Mueller shares how emotional intelligence, intercultural awareness, and self-understanding shape impactful leadership. Together, we unpack the realities of leading across difference, navigating conversations around privilege, and building trust within teams. This episode also explores an unexpected but powerful tool—improv—and how it helps leaders develop presence, adaptability, and deeper human connection. From personality dynamics like Myers-Briggs to real-life leadership challenges, this conversation is both practical and deeply reflective.

If you’re on a journey of growth, learning to lead yourself or others, or simply seeking a more human approach to leadership… this episode is for you

Connect with Alan ⁠Instagram https://www.instagram.com/adaptivechallengeconsulting/?hl=en

⁠⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adaptive-Challenge-Consulting/307532799370421⁠ ⁠

https://www.adaptivechallengeconsulting.com/⁠ Alans Work ⁠https://www.adaptivechallengeconsulting.com/knowledgecenter⁠TEDX

⁠https://youtu.be/BV_H3haXvRY?si=i_7zEc9LYF2Q1XVp

The post Beyond Titles The Human Side of Leadership with guest Alan appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

The WMNF Song of the Day for April 15, 2026 is “Into the Distance” by Have Gun, Will Travel.

Between the Artemis II mission and the movie The Hail Mary Project, it seems like everyone is talking about space right now!

One of WMNF’s favorite bands, Have Gun, Will Travel, either got lucky or planned well ahead. They find themselves perpetually inspired by the subject of human exploration – a decade ago, with ‘Science from an Easy Chair,’ their critically acclaimed epic concept album based on the British explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated 1914 Antarctic Expedition – and now, with their recent‘Voyager Golden EP,’ a 6-song rock n’ roll odyssey with a running theme that centers on NASA’s Voyager program and interstellar space exploration.

Have Gun, Will Travel is playing WMNF’s Tropical Heatwave April 25th with Cracker, Keller Williams, Eilen Jewell, McKinley James, Betty Fox Band, Sonora Tukukuy, Hex Appeal, Greg Roy, and more! Get your tickets now!

For more: hgwtmusic.com.

The post SOTD 4/15/26: Into the Distance by Have Gun, Will Travel appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

As she prepares for her return to Tampa for Tropical Heatwave 2026 on April 25, Eilen Jewell joins Marcie Finkelstein for a candid and deeply personal conversation on Words & Music.

Jewell recently announced she’ll stop touring at the end of the year, and in this interview, she opens up about that difficult decision and what comes next.

They also dive into her just-released recording of Woody Guthrie’s “Deportee”, including the powerful story of how she first heard the song and the surprising place she first performed it. For Jewell, it’s more than a classic; it’s a reflection of the same personal and political themes that shape her own songwriting.

Don’t miss this intimate conversation with an artist at a turning point, just before she takes the stage in Tampa.

Listen to the full interview.

Click the link below to check out the full lineup and grab your tickets!

The post Before the final tour: Eilen Jewell opens up ahead of Tropical Heatwave appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

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Last year, Florida executed a record-breaking 19 inmates. 

Two executions are set to take place before the end of the month, bringing the total this year to 6.  

Chadwick Willacy is scheduled for execution next Tuesday for the 1990 murder of his neighbor. 

According to Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, his death warrant was signed six days after he requested records regarding an execution. 

Only a week later, James Hitchcock, a 70-year-old, is scheduled to be executed on April 30th for the rape and murder of a teenager almost 50 years ago. 

Mark Schlakman is the Senior Program Director at Florida State University’s Center for the Advancement of Human Rights. 

He said when any Governor signs the death warrant, he’s doing it in the name of the people of Florida. 

“So the people of Florida, even though it may be far removed from their day-to-day challenges and life, the people of Florida have, and I’m using this word or term informally, certainly standing to express concerns,” Schlakman told WMNF.

Advocacy group Floridians for Alternatives for the Death Penalty has expressed concern, claiming that the state isn’t providing records relating to lethal injection through public records requests. 

Floridians for Alternatives for the Death Penalty is hosting a community vigil during Willacy’s execution next Tuesday from 5:00-6:00 PM at Ulmerton Road and 49th Street North in mid-Pinellas County.

The post Two executions set for April appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

This week on The Big Gay Radio Show, Chris Gorman and Esmé Russell sat down with comedian Jeff Klein, host of Beer With a Queer and the podcast, It Gets Butter. The group had a conversation about comedy, his journey in the scene, and everything making headlines right now.

Jeff talked about taking Beer With a Queer to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and shared stories from his time on stage, including dealing with hecklers. He also gave insight into the creation of Wigs and Wit, the drag and stand-up competition that blends both worlds into one show.

The episode also covered a mix of headline-making stories, including President Donald Trump sharing AI images of himself portrayed as Jesus, Pride flags at the Stonewall Monument, and Kristi Noem’s husband’s comments to a dominatrix. The trio also discussed multiple political figures facing sexual assault allegations, a judge dismissing Trump’s lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal tied to their coverage of Trump and Jeffery Epstein’s relationship, Melania Trump denying Epstein connections, and the latest Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations.

On The Big Gay After Show

The conversation continued on The Big Gay After Show, where Jeff Klein stuck around with Chris and Esmé for a more unfiltered take on the week’s biggest topics.

They got into everything from Esmé’s birthday to a shocking story about a fake nurse who treated thousands of patients. The episode also touched on Florida political polling, Kamala Harris’ potential 2028 presidential run, and Colorado State University’s hurricane predictions.

Further, the conversation shifted between lighter and more chaotic topics, including taxes, Chris’s Spanish class, and international headlines like Viktor Orbán’s loss. The team also circled back to Donald Trump’s AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus.

Check out the most recent episode of The Big Gay Radio Show here!

Check out The Big Gay After Show, available after 5 PM, April 14th, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post Comedian Jeff Klein on hecklers, Beer With a Queer, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

Big Picture, performing as a duo, is a band comprised of family members mother, father, son, and daughter and even a son in-law. The married couple performed at our WMNF Live Music Showcase as a duo, even appearing in matching colors, both wearing red. The two have been writing together since the 80’s. Jeff Pittard, founding member and guitarist, had this to say when asked what it’s like to be in a band with his wife and family.

Listen to the Live Music Showcase

When you hear the group, imagine rolling hills, an open road, and fields as far as the eye can see. Their music is reminiscent of 60s rock ‘n’ roll and folk-rock. That matched with the saxophone and flute which brings out the blues roots of rock’s history. Their harmony’s remind me of some of Jefferson Airplane’s work, their counterpoint between vocalists sounding beautiful and other-worldly. The low dreadnaught and high soprano sax pair is such a staunch contrast amidst registers and is a fantastic combination that I haven’t seen yet.

Their song “Nebulon Five” feels like a throwback right to that era – voicing their discontent for the political atmosphere that was popular at the time but instead by using themes of outer space. The song is a social commentary on society and the problems that exist within the system – our solar system, if you will. Ironically, they performed at the Live Music Showcase here on April 10th as astronauts touched down from their voyage around the  moon aboard Artemis II. The song feels very jocular and breaks up the serious nature of what’s being discussed. Here Jeff is using a tone of voice that reminds me of Fred Schneider of the B-52’s, also reminiscent of the groups 80’s origin. 

Pittard, the guitarist, strategically uses his looper pedal in order to solo atop his chord progression – making the band appear larger than you’d initially think. Another neat trick he managed to pull out of his sleeve was jerry-rigging a bass drum pedal to strike a tambourine which Pittard described as “MacGyver-ing it”. A similar technique was used first in the “Ching Ring” by early rock icon, Hal Blaine, responsible for many innovations in rock ’n’ roll’s drum sounds in the 60’s. Pittard’s modified tambourine took the place of the drummer as the band performed as a duo. 

The saxophone player, Debi Coppage, his wife and partner in music for several years is a multi-instrumentalist. She plays soprano saxophone, piano, flute, recorder and drums. She was recently awarded Best Instrumentalist at Deland Music Festival last year. She also is a vocalist, singing herself on the airwaves, and harmonizing. Her saxophone playing add the elements of the blues and jazz, the soprano in particular mainly being heard in jazz.

They have an upcoming album that they previewed here on our Live Music Showcase, the album is called Songs for Werewolves and People. The album is to be released on April 27th, and is also being pressed on vinyl. They previewed their song “The Long Dark Road” off the album that deliberates over depression starting with the line “heading down the road again that just looks all the same”. The song has a mournful feeling that I can only describe as the painstaking nature that life’s experiences impart on a person. Their album’s theme of werewolves came from Pittard’s son who is a part of the band.

The band is going to be playing soon at the following events coming up: 

April 18th at Delandapalooza in Deland

May 3rd at Atlantic Beach Song Festival in Atlantic Beach

July 11th at Riverside Arts Market in Jacksonville

Every Friday at 2PM EST 88.5FM WMNF’s Live Music Showcase stands out by offering live music over the airwaves, something rarely heard on the radio. Tune in to listen to local bands that are standing out and sparking innovation. You can also catch the Live Music Showcase via our Facebook page and YouTube page:

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