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The Specials, Madness and The Selecter: The 1979 2-Tone tour remembered

I was reminiscing with an old friend over the weekend about The Specials, his favourite band. Our chat brought us to the great 1979 2-Tone Tour that featured The Specials, supported by Madness and The Selecter, a snapshot of which now duly follows.

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I was reminiscing with an old friend over the weekend about The Specials , his favourite band. Our chat brought us to the great 1979 2-Tone Tour that featured The Specials, supported by Madness and The Selecter , a snapshot of which now duly follows.

October, 1979 .

There are 43 alarm calls booked for this morning and – woe, pitiful woe! – they’ve started going off already, one of them heading this way.

The shrill exclamatory shrieks of the alarms is usually followed by weary grumbling moans and the thud of people rolling out of beds in rooms all along this wing of Swindon’s Crest Motel, where the cast of the 2-Tone Tour are beginning now to assemble in the lobby, pale-faced and hungover. The motel staff in startling contrast are, meanwhile, crisp and morning-bright, with gleaming toothpaste smiles and the brisk efficient manner of people with things to do.

Specials’ singer Terry Hall is here to see off his girlfriend, who’s going home to Coventry. And here comes The Specials’ unlikely mastermind, Jerry Dammers , lumbering into view, an awkward shambling figure in a shabby raincoat. He manages a smile, briefly. Woody , the young drummer with Madness , who looks about, I don’t know, 12 or something, lights his first fag of the day and immediately starts coughing like a Kentucky miner, stricken with Black Lung or something similarly serious.

“My body’s had enough of me,” he splutters, doubling up in a fit of coughing and hacking away so violently I wouldn’t be surprised to see his eyebrows fly across the room, followed possibly by his teeth. He finds a chair and collapses into it, his face drained of colour.

We’re only three days into the tour and some of the people in the lobby around me, which has taken on the look of a field hospital in a 19th century war, look like they won’t see the end of it.

Of course, it was all very different just a few short days ago when on a gloriously sunny autumn afternoon I’d arrived at The Roundhouse, up there in Chalk Farm, where The Specials, Madness and The Selecter had spent the previous week rehearsing for the 40 date tour ahead of them. When I get to there, The Roundhouse is as they say buzzing, the place noisy with chat and laughter. The coach that’s been hired to take us all to Brighton for the tour’s opening night is already an hour late, which means before we’ve even started we’re behind schedule. No one seems to care.

The three bands are strung out across the Roundhouse bar. The Selecter and Specials mingle, wander and joke. Madness are quaffing light and bitters, being noisy. They look like a gang of spotty kids waiting to be taken on a day trip to the seaside, yelping and impatient.

A friend of mine named Kellogs who works for Stiff as a tour manger is standing at the bar, watching them. When Stiff signed Madness, they were put in his paternal care. He’s just finished a fortnight on the road with the rascals, and they’ve nearly brought him to his knees.

“They make me feel so old,” he says wearily. “They just don’t stop. Up till four every morning, boozing. Look at them. . .”

We look at them. Down the hatch go another seven pints.

“They’re fucking loving it,” says Kellogs. “They’re on top of the fucking world. A hit single, on the telly, on the road away from mum, drinking, smoking – all yobbos together. They’re having the time of their lives.”

“Annuver 300 pints of light and bitter,” cry Madness in unison as the coach finally pulls up outside The Roundhouse.

There are 40 of us on the bus and Madness inevitably are making most of the noise – shouting, swearing, clambering over the backs of seats, drinking, making ridiculous faces at the crowds on Oxford Street. Woody is especially boisterous, swigging from a half bottle of Scotch, one hefty slug after another, red-faced and increasingly wild-eyed.

Steve English , who’s providing one-man security for the tour, is sitting across the aisle from him. Steve, who’s worked as a bodyguard for, among others, Marvin Gaye , The Sex Pistols , The Clash and boxer John Conteh and is built like a Sherman tank, looks at Woody grappling with the deleterious effects of the whiskey and laughs, the sound he makes like a drain being sucked clear by complicated mechanical equipment.

“Silly little fucker,” he says of Woody. “If he carries on like that for the next six weeks, we’ll have to carry him off this fucking tour in fucking casket.”

The coach is outside Brighton Top rank now, where dozens of skinheads are waiting for Madness, led by Prince Nutty , whose mug beams also from the centre of the inner sleeve of One Step Beyond, Madness’ debut album. Prince Nutty is surrounded by a gang of fearsome-looking cronies.

“Remember me?” one of them asks Suggs . “I danced on stage wiv yer at the Rock Garden. Remember?”

“Yeah, ‘course I remember you,” says Suggs, who clearly doesn’t, pushing his way into the Top Rank, where we find a place to talk and are joined by a rather wobbly Woody. Kellogs had told me earlier that when Madness played Brighton Polytechnic recently on a brief warm-op tour for the current trek, a mob of British Movement supporters had turned up at the gig, threatening trouble.

“They didn’t do nuthin’, though,” Woody says. “They just stood around in the bar talking very loudly about Adolf Hitler .”

In Oldham, Kellogs had also said, a security check on the audience as they arrived at the gig led to the confiscation of a number of weapons – knives, even a home-made mace among them. There’d been a riot in Huddersfield, the group’s van trashed and a film crew terrorised. Suggs is sensitive on the subject of the band’s skinhead fans, but abhors the BM and the idea that Madness are a focal point for their politics.

“There’s no way we’re political,” he argues. “We’re certainly not fucking fascists. If we were fascists, what would we be doing playing ska and bluebeat? If we’d wanted to talk about politics we’d have formed a debating society, not a fucking band.”

The Brighton show is sensational. By the time The Specials play “A Message To You, Rudi” , most of the audience appear to be on stage with them, and those that aren’t are dragging the ones who are back into the crowd so they can take their brief place in the spotlight.

The group fight their way off stage through this demented rabble but find the safe haven of their dressing room picketed by a group of angry feminists who’ve been incensed by some off-colour remarks by Terry Hall and the description of the Melody Maker journalist Vivien Goldman , who’d unenthusiastically reviewed their debut album, as “a stupid cow”.

They now berate the unapologetic Hall at rowdy length. Their ring-leader notices Dammers, standing behind Terry, a bemused witness to the women’s wrath.

“And what have you got to say for yourself?” she loudly demands.

Jerry looks at her, grins gummily.

“Would you like to come to a party with me?” he asks her, ducking the blow he knows is coming.

Photo credit: Clare Muller/PYMCA /REX

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2 Tone Verified

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The 2-Tone Trail first began in the form of a book written by Coventry Music Historian and 2-Tone authority Pete Chambers. Pete became frustrated by the lack of any tangible evidence of Coventry being the birthplace of this black and white ska-based phenomenon. This first book (and later the 2-Tone-2 title), both highlighted the trail, and the tour has been enjoyed by many locals and visiting 2-Tone fans alike.

View interactive version, coventry university.

Coventry University, was known as the Lanchester Polytechnic in the days Pauline Black and Jerry Dammers and Horace Panter attended. It was here where Jerry first met Horace, a meeting that proved to be crucial to the creation of The Specials. The song “Rat Race” was conceived here and the promotional video was recorded in the main Hall in 1980. The Specials played there in September 1980.

The Hand and Heart pub

The Hand and Heart pub played host to the emerging Coventry punk scene in the late 1970’s. Reggae band Hardtop 22 played there a few months later key members of the band would form the core of the Selecter. On February 23rd 1978 a band called The Coventry Automatics played the venue, on Friday 1st December 1978 they returned as the Specials.

The Binley Oak

Just an ordinary pub in an ordinary street, but the Binley Oak was the prime rehearsal space for the would-be 2-Tone artists in the late 1970’s. It’s where Pauline Black first became a member of the Coventry ska band The Selecter. It was also here that The Specials first perfected that familiar sound that eventually would become known as 2-Tone. The overriding memory of the venue was just how cold it was, Horace Panter recalled playing sunny Jamaican ska in fingerless mittens, with froze

Coventry Canal Basin

Coventry Canal Basin was very run-down the day The Specials arrived for a photo shoot in 1979. It’s pretty obvious that neither the band or the photographers Chalkie Davies andCarol Starr, had any idea the images they created that day would become so iconic.Those images graced the front and rear covers of TheSpecials first album, and the rear of the More SpecialsLP. Though photographer Chalkie did say, “We always felt that our work for The Specials was the best we had ever done”. Jerry wanted the cover to be a pastiche of the Who’s “My Generation” LP cover, with the band all looking up at the camera. Today the canal basin is home to many of Coventry’s art fraternity and there’s actually water in the canal now.

51 Albany Road

51 Albany Road, is the Holy Grail for 2-Tone fans, for it was up in that front-bedroom flat where the 2-Tone phenomenon was born. In 1979/80, it became the HQ of Britain’s most creative record label. As well as being Jerry Dammers home, and a ‘hang out’ area for the rest of the band. It was featured in the BBC Arena documentary on the rise of 2-Tone, where the band along with Music Journalist Adrian Thrills are gathered in party mood in this one-bedroom record company head-office.

The Rocket public house bears the plaque that should have been located on Horizon Studios, sadly the studios and indeed the building that housed them has long gone. Horizon studios was very much the tangible face of 2-Tone during its rise to fame. It was here most of the Selecter’s body of work was recorded, and of course The Specials first vinyl outing “Gangsters” and their second album “More Specials”. Roger Lomas produced Bad Manners here too of course. While The Rocket provided liquid lunches between long recording sessions. The exact location of the studios are opposite the Rocket, where the bollards to the entrance road to Central Six now lies.

The Holyhead Youth Club and Music Workshop

The Holyhead Youth Club and Music Workshop, was where Neville Staple first met the rest of the Specials when they rehearsed in the basement of this club. Coventry Soul singer and 2-Tone catalyst Ray King became the club’s manager and installed Neville Staple and Trevor Evans with their Jah Baddis Sound System, as resident DJ’s for the club. The Holyhead became pivotal in the development of the various musicians who would eventually form the 2-Tone bands The Specials and The Selecter. Much of the graffiti from those days is tantalisingly still in evidence on the basement walls here, making this a special place for the fan.

When The Sex Pistols played at Mr George on 17th December 1977, a certain Jerry Dammers was looking for his band to support them. History tells us that never happened, but that band (The Automatics) did secure a four month Monday night residency here. During that residency, Roddy joined the band, they picked up manager no 2, and supported Ultravox at The Marquee for just £10. A little over a year later, The Automatics had rebranded themselves as The Specials and with the launch of Gangsters were enjoying chart success for the first time.

Tiffany’s

Tiffany’s (or The Locarno or The ‘Rockhouse’), was a major venue for the city in the 60’s, and 70’s, before it became a public library that is. Chuck Berry recorded his only number one here (My Ding-A-Ling), and all of the major 2-Tone bands played this venue at some time or other (The Specials, Madness, The Selecter, The Beat, The Swinging Cats & The Bodysnatchers). Live B-sides “Skinhead Symphony” (The Specials) and “Carry Go Bring Home” by The Selecter, were both recorded here. The Locarno is also immortalised in the lyrics of The Specials song Friday Night Saturday Morning.

Virgin Records / Soul Hole

In the 70’s Virgin Records provided a base for the music-minded in the city. John ‘Brad’ Bradbury, AKA Prince Rimshot, worked here, and developed his love for various forms of music, including reggae, soul and of course ska. The original Coventry Automatics vocalist Tim Strickland, and Swinging Cat Chris Long also earned a wage at the shop. Upstairs, the Soul Hole was the domain of Pete Waterman, Locarno DJ and the very first Specials Manager. If you couldn’t get it anywhere else, Pete would get it for you here. That’s long before he became a global phenomenon of course.

The Heath Hotel

This building has a ‘special’ piece of history, because back in October 1977 The band that would become The Specials played their very first gig at this building. Jerry’s own hand written diary of the time, states the band were called The Automatics (not the Hybrids as many think). He also mentions that the organ wouldn’t fit on the stage, so he played it in the audience facing the band. This was in the pub’s Rainbow Lounge whilst supporting the punk bands Urban Blight, Certified, The Wild Boys and Squad (a band that included a certain Terry Hall, but not for much longer).

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The Dawning of A New Era – A Brief History of 2-Tone and The Specials

Graeme McIver looks at the enduring appeal of 2-Tone, a musical movement that provided the focus for young people to take a stand against Thatcher’s Government and the social conditions of the early 1980’s. They did it with an articulate vision, sharp suits and incredibly infectious dance rhythms. Rock and Roll preached rebellion against your parents, Punk spat anarchy and nihilism but simply by existing, 2-Tone demonstrated a togetherness and solidarity between black and white youth at a time where the far right was active on the streets.

  This article should be read in conjunction with Too Nice to Talk To - An Interview with Dave Wakeling of The English Beat and Roddy Byers from The Specials by Graeme McIver

Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?

Give even a cursory glance at the newspapers this week in March 2014 and you would be forgiven for thinking you had been transported back in time by over three decades and more. Tony Benn on the front pages, unemployment amongst young people at shameful levels, coverage of the trial of the murder of PC Blakelock during the riots at Broadwater Farm, an unpopular Tory Prime Minister waging class war and The Beat and The Specials are back on tour. There is no doubt that there are significant parallels between the socio and economic situation Britain currently faces and those early years of Thatcherism in the late 70’s and early 80’s. As communities across the country crumbled in the wake of a quite deliberate policy of industrial devastation there emerged a remarkable cultural response. A musical movement with its roots in some of the worst affected areas of the country provided the focus for young people to take a stand against the Government, their social conditions and racism. They did it with an articulate vision, sharp suits and incredibly infectious dance rhythms.

For a short while at the beginning of the 80’s, the 2-Tone Movement was arguably one of the most politicised of all the varied musical and cultural phenomena to emerge during latter half of the last century. Rock and Roll preached rebellion against your parents, Punk spat anarchy and nihilism but simply by existing, 2-Tone demonstrated a togetherness and solidarity between black and white youth at a time where the far right was active on the streets and policing was highly politicised. It inspired and gave a voice to disaffected working class kids across the country and at least one ill-informed current Tory MP - but to (mis)quote The Beat, I’ll save that for later. It also made them dance – even the boys – especially the boys.

The Dawning of A New Era

The punk scene from 1976 onwards had created a new musical landscape, a kind of sonic year zero in the UK. In his seminal book on the history of punk, “England’s Dreaming” the journalist Jon Savage said, “History is made by those who say, “No” and Punk’s utopian heresies remain its gift to the world.” The original scene had revolutionised musical and youth culture in the UK but whilst its light burned brightly it dimmed relatively quickly. Into the void stepped new forms of music, some directly influenced by the sound of punk rock and others more by its attitude.

In the West Midland’s city of Coventry a young man by the name of Jerry Dammers and his friends began the process of combining the raw energy of punk with the dance rhythms of Jamaican Ska. A uniquely Caribbean musical invention, Ska originated in the dancehalls of Kingston and combined calypso with jazz, rhythm and blues producing a dance beat that was a precursor to reggae and rocksteady. Labels like Trojan although based in the UK produced dozens of ska classics. In a city decimated by the Luftwaffe, (for a while the residents of Coventry twinned the City with Stalingrad in solidarity with other victims of Nazi aggression) waves of Caribbean immigration had influenced both the music young people listened to and their sense of fashion and style. Dammers pulled together a band called, The Coventry Automatics and with likeminded mates set about blending ska, reggae and rocksteady with punk and new wave. The result was the seminal group, The Specials one of the most influential bands in modern British musical history.

Dammers, born in India and the son of a high-ranking clergyman, had a clear vision for what he wanted to achieve. The Specials were to be more than just another post-punk group. His desire was to create not just a band but a record label and a whole new movement with a look of its own. That look would merge Jamaican rude boy style with the British mod sensibilities. Drawing inspiration from an early photograph of Jamaican guitarist and member of The Wailers, Pete Tosh; Dammers and graphic designer John Simms created the iconic visual image that became synonymous with 2-Tone - Walt Jabsco. (The name was taken from an old American bowling shirt owned by Dammers.) The black and white cartoon Rude Boy and the chequered pattern behind him seemed to be ubiquitous in my youth whether in lapel badges, posters, record sleeves or in my case, badly drawn versions on homework jotters.

At that time there were very few bands anywhere in the UK that had black and white members appearing together on stage. Along with the iconic imagery this in itself was a powerful statement of togetherness when racism in the media, the workplace and the streets was still widespread and common place.

In an interview for Alexis Petridis of MOJO magazine Dammers said;

“It was obvious the Mod/skinhead revival was coming and I was trying to find a way to make sure it didn't go the way of the NF. I idealistically thought, we have to get through to these people, and that's when we got the image together and started using ska rather than reggae. It seemed a bit more healthy to have an integrated kind of British music, rather than white people playing the two.”

The Specials soon built up a devoted local following and a reputation as a superb and energetic live act. They mixed their own compositions into their live set alongside up-tempo versions of older ska hits such as The Liquidator (by the Harry J All Stars), Longshot Kick De Bucket (by The Pioneers) and Skinhead Moonstomp (by Symarip). Joining Dammers were lead singer Terry Hall, John Bradbury on drums, Lynval Golding on guitar and backing vocals, Neville Staples on vocals and percussion, Horace Panter on bass and Roddy “Radiation” Byers on guitar. The line-up was completed by veteran trombonist Rico Rodriguez who had played on many of the original ska hits. Despite being courted to sign a deal by the likes of Mick Jagger and finding themselves pursued by a number of major record companies, The Specials punk ethos meant that they held out for artistic freedom and control rather than a quick buck. Eventually the 2-Tone label was established as a subsidiary of Chrysalis Records. The Jabsco logo meant that all 2-Tone’s early records were uniquely and instantly recognisable.

Other bands were soon signed to the label most notably fellow Coventrians The Selecter, fronted by the charismatic Pauline Black and Birmingham’s The Beat who included lead singer Dave Wakeling and vocalist/toaster Ranking Roger in their line up. Like The Specials, The Beat also included a legendary original musician from the early days of Jamaican Ska, saxophonist “Saxa” who had played on a number of recordings including those by Prince Buster and Desmond Decker.

Dance Craze

In July 1979, the first 7” single, (apologies to our younger readers….ask your Dad) released by the 2-Tone label was a double a-side with The Specials, (listed as Special A.K.A.) performing “Gangsters”, (inspired by their dealings with some French underworld characters whilst playing in Paris) with The Selecter providing the eponymous track on the flip side. The single spent 12 weeks in the chart reaching number 6. In September of the same year the label released a single by an all white band from North London that paid homage to Prince Buster, one of the best known original Ska acts. The single, “The Prince” by Madness spent 11 weeks in the charts and reached number 16. The band would go onto become one of the most successful UK singles bands of all time racking up 15 top ten hits. Early in 1980, an EP called The Special AKA live, with the lead song Too Much Too Young topped the charts for two weeks. A seminal moment for the label took place in early November 1980 when The Specials, The Selecter and Madness all appeared on Top of the Pops. Add to that the fact The Beat and The Bodysnatchers also had records in the charts then you could not escape the musical juggernaught that was 2-Tone in 1979/80.

At that time director Joe Massot set out to document some Madness gigs as they embarked on a country-wide tour along with other acts signed to the 2-Tone label. Massot was immediately impressed by the vibrancy and energy of the whole tour and ended up making a documentary called, “Dance Craze” which along with Madness included performances by The Specials, The Beat, The Selector, The Bodysnatchers and Bad Manners. The film and the live album of the same name offer a unique insight into the thrillingly energetic musical phenomenon that was 2-Tone and the part that the audience played in contributing to the atmosphere and the event. The Specials often ended their sets with half the crowd up on the stage skanking, (a style of dancing that emerged from Jamaican dance halls) and singing along to the music thereby removing the barriers that often existed between audience and artists in the preceding decades.

Whilst some of the acts may not even have recognised it as such, having black and white musicians on the same stage was a political act in of itself in the late 70’s. The decade had seen the growth of the British Movement (BM) and the National Front (NF) not just as political forces electorally but with boots on the ground as violence and extremism made its way onto the streets. The BM standing on an explicitly Nazi manifesto and including images of Adolf Hitler on their election material managed to secure over 300 votes in the Birmingham Ladywood By-election in 1969. Meanwhile rival far-right organisation the NF polled just under 200,000 votes in the 1979 General Election. Many of the early 2-Tone gigs were marred by fights and violence as far-right skinheads fought with black youth and anti-Nazis. Young people wearing the clothes, buying the records and associating with the 2-Tone scene were making a political statement against racism and for multi-culturism. The courage this took in many parts of British cities should not be underestimated. To underline this point, guitarist Lynval Golding was attacked simply for walking down the street in London with two white girls and had ended up hospitalised with 29 stitches in the head and neck.

Many of the songs released by the label dealt with these racial tensions. The Specials had the likes of Roddy Byer’s Concrete Jungle (I can’t dress just the way I want, I’m being chased by the National Front), Why (We don't need no British Movement, Nor the Ku Klux Klan, Nor the National Front, It makes me an angry man), and a later track, Racist Friend (If you have a racist friend / now is the time for that friendship to end." Asked why he wrote the song Jerry Dammers explained "It is not enough to just be anti-racist yourself. You have to be a positive anti-racist. You have to make a stand against it, because otherwise nothing ever changes."

The Beat’s first album, “I just Can’t Stop It” contained the song Two Swords which dealt with the dichotomy of wanting to deal with Nazi’s physically whilst recognising that violence often encouraged more violence (I've never been one for the punch-up, But look I really hate those Nazis). Their second release Wha’ppen had the song Doors of Your Heart, (Each and every day I walk, through the streets, And I see man and man war and kill each other, Because you are black or you are white, So what's the use in fighting? War alright)

The Beat also wrote possibly the most explicitly political song of the times; Stand Down Margaret;

said I see no joy, I see only sorrow I see no chance of your bright new tomorrow So stand down Margaret, stand down please, stand down Margaret

Dave Wakeling said about Thatcher,

“She made competitors out of neighbours, and people stopped talking at bus stops, even about the weather, in the shadow of her affected, pretend posh accent. Margaret made herself big on the tears and suffering of others, more Cromwell than Churchill….People misunderstand the socialism of the English after World War II. Soldiers like my father got back to England and there was nothing left -- there were no hospitals, land had been decimated, and that carried through our childhood. So everybody built stuff together and looked after each other. It was like, when push came to shove, although we had differences of opinion, we had each others’ backs. Mrs. Thatcher’s introduction of trickle-down economics, and we're still waiting for it to work, broke that mold. She broke the unions. She sold shares of companies that the people already owned, all of which flopped in value. A generation saw their parents give up on life as they saw their own opportunities stunted. They saw the town where they'd grown up dismantled. She was very divisive.”

The song became an anthem not just for fans of The Beat or the broader 2-Tone movement but of young left wingers across the country.

If you thought that David Cameron showed his ignorance by claiming he liked The Jam and their song “Eton Rifles” even though it was a social commentary against the exclusive public school system enjoyed by him and his millionaire chums then his colleague Ed Vaisey takes misunderstanding songs and lyrics to a whole new level.

The MP for Didcot and Wantage, son of Lord Vaizey and UK minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries loved Stand Down Margaret in his youth and would join in the chorus with gusto not for a moment thinking it was a poisoned pen letter to one of his heroes. In 2008 The Guardian newspaper reported that he “adored The Beat despite being an ardent Thatcherite. He assumed that everyone in Britain admired Mrs Thatcher in much the same awestruck terms as he did, so when it came to the song’s target, he naively didn’t realize it was referring to the Tory Prime Minister. He added: “I couldn’t work out what they had against Princes Margret!”

You’re wondering now, what to do now you know this is the end

Acts such as The Beat (to Go-Feet), Madness (to Stiff) and Bad Manners moved on from the 2-Tone record label and despite the success of their Elvis Costello produced debut album released in 1979, internal tensions meant cracks began to appear in The Specials. Constant touring and months without a break took a toll on friendships in the band. Terry Hall would later say he was sick of touring with, “a bunch of shits.” Gigs were constantly interrupted due to outbreaks of fighting, sometimes related to racism but often due to football rivalries. As recording took place for the band’s second LP, (apologies again to our younger readers…ask your Mum!) disputes arose between Dammers and some of the others over the musical direction of the group. The album, More Specials departed somewhat from the ska influences of their early work as Dammers explored other musical styles. Many in the band felt the second side of the album inparticular was just, “muzak” and arguments raged during the recording process. In mid-June 1981 the band in its original form released their final single. Five months previously singer Terry Hall and bandmates Neville Staples and Lynval Golding had already made up their minds they were leaving to form Fun Boy Three. The single would spend a total of 10 weeks in the charts, 3 of them in the number 1 position. The song was, “Ghost Town” a haunting soundtrack to Thatcher’s broken Britain.

This town, is coming like a ghost town Why must the youth fight against themselves? Government leaving the youth on the shelf This place, is coming like a ghost town No job to be found in this country Can't go on no more The people getting angry

Speaking to the Guardian Newspaper in 2002, Jerry Dammers said,

“You travelled from town to town and what was happening was terrible. In Liverpool, all the shops were shuttered up, everything was closing down... We could actually see it by touring around. You could see that frustration and anger in the audience. In Glasgow, there were these little old ladies on the streets selling all their household goods, their cups and saucers. It was unbelievable. It was clear that something was very, very wrong."

In a later interview he was quoted as saying, "The overall sense I wanted to convey was impending doom.”

Dammers prophesy was fulfilled when anger at the police and government in Brixton and Southall in London, then Handsworth in Birmingham, Toxteth in Liverpool, Hyson Green in Nottingham and Moss Side in Manchester all erupted into rioting. Britain’s cities burned in the summer of 1981 as a disaffected youth expressed their anger and resentment whilst the haunting, diminished chords of Ghost Town floated over the air waves.

As Britain’s social fabric fell apart so did The Specials.

The band split in a myriad of different musical directions. Dammers kept going under a new name, Special AKA whilst Hall, Staples and Golding enjoyed a modicum of success with Fun Boy Three. (Hall later formed The Colourfield and took part in various other musical collaborations.) Roddy Byers returned to his rock roots and created another musical fusion, “skabilly” and tours with his band The Skabilly Rebels.

In 1984 Dammers penned his biggest world wide hit, Free Nelson Mandela recorded under the name of Special AKA. The song brought the name of Mandela to the attention of millions of people. Dammers said, "I knew very little about Mandela until I went to an anti-apartheid concert in London in 1983, which gave me the idea for "Nelson Mandela", I never knew how much impact the song would have; it was a hit around the world, and it got back into South Africa and was played at sporting events and ANC rallies-it became an anthem.”

Despite the song’s success Dammers would never again capture the zeitgeist in the same way he had with The Specials. His contribution to the music has been recognised with various awards and received an honourary degree by Coventry University in 2006.

In early 2008, after months of speculation, Terry Hall confirmed that the band would reform for a series of dates. The band re-united 6 of the 7 original members but Dammers was conspicuous by his absence. Whilst the others made it clear he was welcome to join them Dammers released a statement claiming he had been forced out of the band.

“Jerry sees this whole thing as a takeover, rather than a proper reunion, representing primarily Terry Hall and his manager’s…ideas of what 'The Specials' should be and do….Jerry does not believe it represents what the real Specials stood for, politically, or in terms of creativity, imagination or forwardness of ideas…At the moment this is not the proud reunion and thirtieth anniversary celebration Jerry had hoped for.”

Without the founding member the band embarked on a 30th anniversary tour to rave reviews and sold out venues. The Specials continue to tour with dates planned for later this year. Internal tensions still appear to affect the group with first Neville Staple dropping out and then guitarist Roddy Byers leaving the group to concentrate on other projects. Steve Cradock of Ocean Colour Scene is rumoured to be lined up as a replacement.

Of all the bands on the 2-Tone label it was Madness who went onto become the most commercially successful and after a brief hiatus continue to tour and record to this day. They remain somewhat of a British cultural institution.

After a run of hit singles including Tears of a Clown, Mirror in the Bathroom, Hand’s of She’s Mine and the critically acclaimed, Save it For Later The Beat split in 1983 with Wakeling and Roger forming General Public. The duo continued to have success as did the other two guitarists in the group, Andy Cox and Dave Steele who formed The Fine Young Cannibals with Roland Gift. Wakeling’s “English Beat” still tour.

Pauline Black left The Selecter and had a career as a TV presenter, actress and cultural commentator before the group reformed in the late 2000’s.

In 2013 a 2-Tone Museum was opened in Coventry to celebrate the link between the city and the scene it spawned.

Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think

2-Tone and the music it produced continue to inspire to this day. Wikipedia lists the label as representative as the “second wave of ska.” (With the original Jamaican version the first.) A third wave, influenced by the Coventry based label has sprung up across the world with ska bands emerging across Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America. In the USA groups like The Mighty Mighty Boss Tones, No Doubt, Rancid and Reel Big Fish all found a degree of commercial success playing ska.

In the UK a myriad of different acts have claimed they have been influenced by 2-Tone including Noel Gallagher, Blur, Amy Whinehouse, Tricky and Lily Allen.

It is noticeable that whilst we face a similar socio and economic situation to the one experienced by those 2-Tone trail blazers then the contemporary music business has no modern day equivalent. The idea of a new musical movement, with the image, distribution, publicity and an overtly political message controlled by the artists themselves is an anathema to the industry in 2014. Whilst there are some brilliant underground bands and musicians raising issues of racism, poverty and inner-city violence they do not get the commercial exposure that was afforded to the ska bands of the early 80’s. In almost every town and city across the UK groups of young people were inspired by that vision of black and white together, a great look, a joyful unity and togetherness along with great tunes and a brilliant dance beat.

As Jerry Dammers told MOJO magazine;

"You get this fantastic feeling of togetherness playing ska because no one individual could do it on their own…It all interlocks…you get this communal feeling between the musicians onstage and that spreads into the audience like a fever. That's why The Specials gigs and the 2 Tone gigs were the wildest the country has ever seen. They were just absolutely fucking incredible.” 

Other articles by Graeme McIver in The Point can be found  here

External links:

Bella Caledonia

Bright Green

George Monbiot

The Jimmy Reid Foundation

Richard Dawkins

Scottish Left Review

Viridis Lumen

The 2-Tone Tribute Tour

ABOUT THE 2-TONE TRIBUTE TOUR

2-Tone took the British music charts by storm in 1979, and for a short, but incredibly exciting period, turned the country into a sea of black and white check. The seven young men at the heart of this musical revolution were the Specials, a band which created a blend of musical genres, mixing punk and Jamaican ska, producing an energy not seen on stage before. The Specials led the way for other bands that joined the 2-Tone movement such as The Selecter, Madness, the Beat, and the Bodysnatchers.

“Saw this band for the first time along with The Special Brew in St. Albans on Saturday. I’ve been to many concerts/tribute tours in my time and this was by far and away the best concert ever. Absolutely brilliant!” – Brett Miller

Bad Manners were not so much about politics, but all about dance! Whilst not part of the 2-Tone label, their infectious ska tunes were perfect for the music of the time. They were led by their iconic lead singer, Buster Bloodvessel. Hot and sweaty in his oversized jump suit and his huge tongue seemingly permanently out, Bad Manners soon built up a massive following.

“This has to go down as one of the best nights out I’ve had! Thanks guys.. you’re brilliant!” – Samantha Hill

The Beat were a tour de force of the 2-Tone label with singers Dave Wakeling and Ranking Roger pumping out numerous top ten hits between 1979 and 1983 when they split up. Known for his complex rhythms on drums, original Beat drummer Everett Morton was the driving force in the Beat. He now plays alongside Mickey Billingham (original member of Dexy’s Midnight Runners) and Neil Deathridge (long term member of the Beat) with Beat Goes Bang on the 2-Tone Tribute Tour.

Madness have been a favourite band of the British public ever since their early days as part of the 2-Tone movement. Although they moved away from 2-Tone for their 2nd album, they are still loved by rude boys and rude girls across the UK. Their ‘nutty’ sense of humour and their longevity as a band has won them a place in the hearts of many. Oh, and their incredible knack of producing memorable songs time after time.

“What a great night. Felt young again.” – Mark Rust

The 2-Tone Tribute Tour was formed to bring back that fantastic moment in time for a generation who lived through it. It’s all about the look, the attitude and, of course, the dancing!

These iconic bands will be represented by London-based Special Kinda Madness, who play as The Specials and Madness, and The Special Brew from Cardiff who perform as Bad Manners. Two top tribute bands who tour nationally.

“Absolute blinder!! Such a great fun night. We all had a ball!! Can’t wait for the next 2TTT.” – Angela Ska Ga Wakeham

So dust down your pork pie hats, and put on your Fred Perry, your Harrington, your DMs or your loafers. Because you’re on for a BIG night out. Three and a half hours of live 2-Tone and ska music from your favourite bands. Let’s relive 1979 all over again!

Tributes to the Specials, Bad Manners/The Beat and Madness, all on one stage.*

3 bands … 2-tone … 1 fantastic night.

* Each show features either the Bad Manners tribute or the Beat tribute – not both.

SHOW VIDEOS

Sun and the Rain

Wooly Bully

WHAT THE AUDIENCE SAY

If you are a promoter or venue looking to book the show, or need some details about an upcoming show, please contact us using the details below.

Iconic Promotions Ltd 11 Southfield Way St Albans AL4 9JJ

Tel: +44 (0)7916 311396 Email: [email protected]

If you want to help promote the show in your town, why not join our Street Team? You will be rewarded with a free ticket, amongst other things. Find out more here .

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Party Venues near Saint Petersburg, FL

30 Best Downtown St Pete Bars and Clubs in 2023

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If you want to visit downtown St Pete bars, you’re in the right place. I spend countless hours checking out the best things to do, including nightlife!

St Petersburg’s downtown area is vibrant and colorful during both day and night. Once the sun sets, however, you really get a taste of how lively the city can be.

As a Tampa Bay local, I’ve rounded up the 30 best downtown St Pete bars and clubs. From rowdy sports bars and refined gastropubs to luxurious dance clubs and nostalgic speakeasies, there’s a spot for everyone here in St Petersburg!

🏝 Read Next: 59 Fun & Best Things to Do in St Petersburg FL

Best Rooftop Bars Downtown St Pete

St Petersburg is known for its stunning beaches and gorgeous views. These two bars make a list for capturing the best of both worlds.

340 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 896-1080

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Birchwood Canopy (@birchwoodcanopy)

Birchwood Canopy , also simply known as The Canopy, is one of the best downtown St Pete bars for great views. Relax underneath the starry sky or by one of their fire pits as you look out over Tampa Bay. From craft cocktails to beer and wine, they have an extensive list of offerings, including food.

Wednesday is definitely the best day to visit — it tends to have fewer crowds, and you get 50% off frosé!

I’ve been coming to The Canopy for over 10 years, and it continues to be one of my longtime favorites, especially for its sunset views. It has two of my favorite restaurants nearby, Ceviche and Parkshore Grill.

The Birchwood is also on our list of best hotels in downtown St Pete . The ideal location is great for a weekend getaway. They also have a restaurant, Birch & Vine – ideal for a weekend brunch!

🎄 Pro Tip: During holidays with fireworks or the Christmas Tree Lightning Ceremony , The Canopy is a great place to reserve a private cabana. They book up far in advance, so book early!

800 2nd Ave NE 5th Floor, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 513-8325

View this post on Instagram A post shared by PIER TEAKI (@pierteaki)

Pier Teaki is a rooftop bar on the 5th floor of the St Pete Pier. It sits above the restaurant, Teak, and has a fun tiki bar vibe.

Whether you’re there for a drink or a bite to eat, you’ll be treated to a stunning 360-degree view of the bay from the St Pete Pier.  If you’re in St Petersburg on vacation, you’ll want to visit Teak – even just for a quick photo opportunity.

Pier Teaki is family-friendly and one of the best bars for a date night. Come early to get a good seat with a view or next to a fire pit. Pier Teaki also often has a DJ.

Most Unique Clubs & Bars in St Petersburg FL

When it comes to unique bars in St Petersburg, you’ll be quick to tell me I missed one. There are soooo many options compared to when I moved here over 10 years ago. Here are several new and long-standing favorites!

The Dog Bar

2300 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712 (727) 317-4968

There are many dog-friendly bars in St Petersburg, FL. The Dog Bar , however, actively encourages you to bring your furry friend along. In addition to the full-service bar, The Dog Bar has an off-leash dog park.

Dogs need to get a membership first, but you don’t need to be a dog owner to visit. You just have to love dogs — pretty low barrier to entry!

LALA St Pete

2324 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712 (727) 329-9455

If you want to sing your heart out, head to LALA St Pete . They have private karaoke rooms that can be rented out. It makes for a super fun night out with family or friends! 

At happy hour, from 4 pm to 6 pm, you can get $5 wines and discounted cocktails. As for small bites, try out their seafood charcuterie board — tasty and convenient to share with a group.

49 24th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713 (727) 258-7626

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Saint (@thesaintstpete)

I don’t know about you, but I love it when a bar really leans into a theme. The Saint does just that.

This delightfully campy speakeasy invites you to reserve a “confession time” for groups of up to 10 “sinners.” You honestly wouldn’t know it was a speakeasy bar since it’s hidden off on a side street from the Grand Central District.

I gave you a clue…you can find the password on Instagram or their website to get in.

From the “confessional” to the bar itself, it’s such a fun time. They have quite a few signature cocktails, including the 7 Deadly Sins.

Dirty Laundry

1742 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33712 (727) 493-0040

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dirty Laundry (@dirtylaundrystpete)

Another speakeasy that’s worth visiting is Dirty Laundry . At first glance, it seems like a laundromat where you can grab a coffee and a few quick bites. 

Pick up the payphone to get a code for the bar area. You’ll be greeted with a small but welcoming space with a Caribbean vibe. Here, you can enjoy their many Cuban-themed cocktails, including the sweet and fruity Cayo Coco.

They also have a good assortment of beer and wine, including Prosecco. Plus, if you get hungry, they also serve food with a limited menu that includes empandas, Cuban sandwiches, and yucca fries.

2253 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712 (727) 289-2956

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Par Bar (@parbarstp)

Whether a drink will help your swing is up for debate, but it’s certainly worth a try at Par Bar . The 18-hole mini golf course here is a bit challenging but so much fun.

If you’ve got a competitive side, consider participating in their weekly League Night on Tuesdays. The Par Bar has a selection of local and domestic craft beers on tap, as well as wine and sake.

Other fun games include darts, cornhole, putt pong, and trash can beer pong.

Par Bar is one of the best bars for a date night. You can chat while staying busy with a fun game. Par Bar also has a permanent food truck provided by Meanchi’s.

⛱ Read Next: 25 Cheap & Free Things to Do in St Petersburg, FL

Best Downtown St Pete Bars for Delicious Food

Delicious food and cocktails, why not? This is sometimes the ideal option, especially when you’re on a limited time schedule or prefer not to change locations for a drink. Here are the best bars in St Peterburg for delicious drinks and yummy food.

937 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 (727) 308-7878

No Vacancy is one of those spots that has a bit of everything. Stepping into this bar feels like you’ve gone on a Miami vacation.

It’s a retro beach bar lounge where you can come casual and down some craft beers or dress up a bit for tropical cocktails. 

They are perhaps most known for their punch bowls! However, as you can see, we prefer margaritas and cold beer.

The seafood nachos and fish tacos are the highlights of the menu. For drinks, they make a mean Mai Tai! Happy hour is from 4 pm to 7 pm, and you can stop by for Sunday brunch, too.

Tryst Gastro Lounge

240 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 821-4567

If the name wasn’t enough indication, know that a trip to Tryst Gastro Lounge will be a treat for your stomach. Highlights of the menu include artisanal avocado toast at brunch and Mediterranean tapas at dinner. 

I’ve been coming to Tryst since 2012. While I would love to say I come here for a fancy coctkail, they have a large list of draft beers from around the world. My husband often prefers Leffe or something similar on tap.

They have rotating specials on Tuesdays. Some weeks you’ll get discounts on tequilas, others on wine, and so on.

For years on Sundays, they offer half price bottles of Moet! To make the perfect Sunday Funday, order a bottle of Moet Ice. They serve it with fresh fruit and chilled glasses. It’s a delightful treat on their outdoor patio. Check their website for the latest pricing and specials.

437 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 898-4300

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tropez St. Pete (@tropez_dtsp)

Tropez is one of the hidden gems on the list. It’s often overlooked because of its location on Central Avenue. However, it’s worthy of a stop, especially if you are looking for a bar with quality food.

Tropez serves from a global menu. From European to Hawaiian to Brazilian, lots of cuisines are represented. The craft cocktail list is extensive, too.

My recommendation is the Espresso Manhattan, a spin on an espresso martini. However, if you’re more into wine, you’ll want to come on a Wednesday night for half off bottles of wine under $100. On weekends they also have bottomless mimosas specials.

330 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 851-9531

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Avenue DTSP (@theavenuedtsp)

The Avenue feels more like a local neighborhood watering hole and sports bar vibe combined. They’ve got an extensive menu of classic American fare, but the stars of the show are their artisan burgers. You can get about anything on them, from pork to bison to Impossible patties (I tend to like mac and cheese).

Stop by for their Sunday Funday bottomless brunch, where mimosas and Bloody Marys take center stage. The Avenue is next door to Park and Rec – for some games after you eat!

The Oyster Bar

249 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 897-9728

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oyster Bar St. Pete (@oysterbarstpete)

If you want oysters on your plate or in your drink — or both! Th e Oyster Bar is the place to be. Despite the name, The Oyster Bar is primarily a restaurant. They do, however, have some great cocktails and oyster shooters for just $5! Quite a few prices go down even further during happy hour, from 3 to 6 pm.

Best Wine Bars in St Petersburg, FL 

Whether you’re looking to unwind after a long day or celebrate a special occasion, the wine bars in St Petersburg offer the perfect setting to enjoy a glass or two with friends or loved ones.

Flute & Dram

 234 Beach Dr NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 350-5657

Flute & Dram is your one-stop shop for champagne, whiskey, and caviar. Known as St Pete’s first whiskey and champagne bar, they’ve got a premium selection of both.

They also have quite a range of both domestic and international caviar. Even if you’re not a connoisseur, the staff are more than willing to help you discern what the best pairings are.

Flute & Dram is an ideal location if you like to bar hop. It’s next door to Tryst and close to some of the best restaurants in St Pete.

Bacchus Wine Bistro

124 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 258-8566

Bacchus Wine Bistro focuses on French cuisine and wine, though they also offer food and drink from other European countries.

Gather your friends and stop by during happy hour, 3 pm to 6 pm to enjoy a fancy French dinner in a casual, fun atmosphere.

I’d recommend ending your meal with a dessert wine. Try the Tawny Port from Portugal!

Dracula’s Legacy Wine Bar & Bistro

111 2nd Ave NE Suite 102, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 289-7257

View this post on Instagram A post shared by DRACULA’S LEGACY (@draculaslegacy)

The name probably gives away the fact this wine bar is also inspired by Europe! Dracula’s Legacy Wine Bar & Bistro goes all in on the Old World, Romanian atmosphere.

This is a very small bar that is often overlooked since it’s inside the courtyard area. It tends to attract a more mature crowd that likes to enjoy a bottle of wine.

They routinely host events such as wine tastings, glass painting classes, and live music. Check out their calendar for their current events.

Best Sports Bars Downtown St Pete

Looking for the best sports bars in St Pete? Tampa Bay has some outstanding teams, making it even more fun to route for them in a lively sports bar. Here’s where to go to find a great time.

Ferg’s Sports Bar

1320 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 (727) 822-4562

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ferg’s Sports Bar (@fergsstpete)

Ferg’s Sports Bar seems like the de facto meeting spot for Tampa Bay Rays fans during baseball season. After all, it’s right across from Tropicana Field.

Even when there isn’t a big game going on, Ferg’s Sports Bar is a major hotspot in downtown St Pete. They hold weekly beer pong tournaments on Tuesdays — winner takes all!

While I’ve had food here, it’s an ideal sports bar for live music and cold drinks.

Park and Rec

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Park & Rec (@parkrecdtsp)

There’s more than one kind of game you can enjoy at Park and Rec . Catch the latest sports game on TV, play a game of pool with your friends, or try your hand at vintage arcade games! 

In addition to cold beer, they’ve got a small but inspired wine and cocktail menu, as well as “party pouches.” These Capri Sun-esque pouch drinks are made with Bacardi rum and fruit juice.

Five Bucks Drinkery

247 Central Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 896-5118

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Five Bucks Drinkery (@fivebucksdrinkery)

Another one of the best sports bars in St Petersburg is Five Bucks Drinkery.

“It’s always happy hour at Five Bucks.” That’s how Five Bucks Drinkery puts it. Seltzers go for $5, while tallboys, bottles, and shots each cost $3.50 (pricing may vary).

Another thing that they tout is that they have the biggest outdoor patio in downtown St Pete. I’m not about to pull out a tape measure, but their patio really is pretty darn big and usually lively.

This bar tends to be best suited for those looking for cheap drinks in the heart of the action on Central Avenue.

The One Night Stand

149 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 350-5822

The One Night Stand is a pretty unique fixture among the best bars in downtown St Pete. It’s the city’s one and only country bar, with country music playing all night .

Kick back and play some pool and bar games, catch up on the latest and greatest in sports, and have a cold beer. Don’t hesitate to join a line dance when it starts! 

Best Bars for Craft Cocktails in St Petersburg

If you want to try the best bars for craft cocktails in St Petersburg, you’ll want to check out this list of my favorites.

Saigon Blonde

265 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 827-7577

View this post on Instagram A post shared by @saigonblondebar

Saigon Blonde is a themed tiki bar that takes cues from the 1960s era. This fun place is actually modeled after a lounge in Vietnam. There are tiki totems, hanging lanterns, and historical references everywhere in this dark and lush bar.

They’ve got a truly eclectic craft cocktail menu, including cocktails infused with CBD. Saigon Blonde has of the most beautiful cocktails in St Pete. If you like Old Fashions, you’ll want to try theirs mixed with rum!

Copper Shaker

169 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 351-2569

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Copper Shaker (@coppershakerstpete)

The Copper Shaker is an upscale yet rustic spot that has delicious food in addition to cocktails. You’ll find contemporary American cuisine, including a 3-pound Tomahawk “Big Ass Steak” and Pepper Jack fondue. Their cocktails range from traditional to innovative, with a local favorite being Bee Sneeze.

Mandarin Hide

231 Central Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Classy, old-school, stylish — all words to describe Mandarin Hide . Though not a speakeasy that you have to gain entry to, it certainly has that vibe of an exclusive, retro haunt.

This bar has possibly the most extensive list of spirits in all of St Pete. They have both classic and craft cocktails, the latter of which are different each and every week.

Best Downtown St Pete Bars & Venues for Live Music or Dancing

Ringside cafe.

350 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 954-3362

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ringside Cafe (@ringsidestpete)

All 7 nights a week, you can bet there’ll be awesome live music at Ringside Cafe . Local artists and even national bands play here.

If you’re into rock, blues, or just a plain good time, you’ll love it at the Ringside Cafe. They have a full liquor bar and beers on tap to keep you going all night.

The Floridian Social Club

687 Central Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 322-4600

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Floridian Social (@thefloridiansocial)

The Floridian Social Club feels like an old theater from a bygone era. Beyond just live music, you can watch aerial dance performances and cabaret shows. This bar has a very glam, refined vibe and a similarly fancy list of craft cocktails.

For those who have been coming to St Petersburg for years, The Floridian Social Club used to be the State Theatre.

Make sure to check out their event calendar prior to, since they are not open daily.

Crafty Squirrel

259 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 898-4888

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Crafty Squirrel (@craftysquirreldtsp)

Crafty Squirrel is an eclectic bar in the heart of St Pete. Stop by at brunch, lunch, or dinner for some Southern pub grub. They’ve got bottomless brunch, by the way — fill up on those mimosas!

They’ve got live sports TV and live DJs. So, even though it’s a sports bar, you can be sure there’ll be lots of dancing, too.

The Estate St Pete

179 1st Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 346-8054

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Estate St. Pete (@theestatestpete)

The Est at e is a high-energy dance club inspired by the Las Vegas nightlife scene — luxurious and a bit raunchy. They have top-shelf liquor and cocktails, including the local favorite Post Melone. It’s made with tequila, agave, coconut rum, and more. 

They have VIP booths if you want to upgrade the experience. There you’ll get access to an exclusive mixed drinks menu and can have craft cocktails created especially for you and your group!

Ruby’s Elixir

15 3rd St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 898-2442

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ruby’s Elixir (@rubys_elixir)

On the other end of the spectrum from The Estate, Ruby’s Elixir is a down-to-earth live music lounge. Seven days a week, you’ll hear a blend of rock, blues, jazz, and funk.

Ruby’s Elixir has quite a bit of history to it. It began in the ’90s as a cigar store, and you can still get a cigar here (it’s a smoking-friendly establishment).

Jannus Live

200 1st Ave N STE 206, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 (727) 565-0550

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jannus Live (@jannuslive)

Jannus Live is a concert hall and live music venue in St Pete. You can get drinks at the venue itself when there’s a show going on, but there’s a standalone bar here, too.

The stage is in a courtyard, so technically speaking, it is an outdoor live music venue. It’s super casual, and I’ve always liked the laid back vibe.

Pelican Pub is located right at the entryway into Jannus Live. It’s a no-frills bar that doesn’t have a very large selection of food and drinks. However, the low prices and live music draw in a big crowd!

Best Gay Bars in Downtown St Pete

St Petersburg has a thriving LGBT community, and there are several gay bars and nightclubs in the area. St Petersburg hosts an annual Pride celebration, which includes a parade and a festival with live music, food, and vendors. Here are two of the more well-known gay bars in Downtown St Pete.

COCKTail St Pete

2355 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33713 (727) 592-1914

“Stiff drinks,” “hard liquor,” and a whole lot of dirty puns at COCKTail . Even for the drinks (which you can get two-for-one during happy hour), with cocktails like the Banana Hammock, the innuendos never stop!

This relatively new hot spot is located in the popular Grand Central District with LALA and the Dog Bar within walking distance.

COCKTail is a bar and nightclub with BOGO happy hour specials 7 days a week, Monday – Sunday, 12 pm – 9 pm. It has plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. COCKTail is also unique for having its own pool, open daily from 11 am to 4 pm.

1110 Central Ave, St. Petersburg, FL 33705 (727) 235-0867

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Enigma St. Pete (@enigmastpete)

En ig ma is the long-standing gay bar in St Petersburg. It is your traditional nightclub scene and is in a great location on Central Avenue.

Make no mistake, though, it gets loud and lively in here, too. Enigma has two full liquor bars for mixed drinks and two-for-one happy hours. Along with the live DJs, it’s a fun environment, from drag shows to pool tournaments.

🌴 Read Next: A Local’s Guide: The 16 Best St Pete Beach Bars & Nightlife!

Final Thoughts on Downtown St Pete Bars

As you can see, the downtown St Pete Bars and Nightclubs are vastly different from one another. The Sunshine City has much to offer even after the sun goes down.

Please let me know your thoughts on my list of best bars in St Petersburg, FL. If I missed one of your favorite locations, I would love to know that too!

If you’re looking for nearby bars, you’ll also want to check out my articles on the St Pete Beach Bars and Dunedin Nightlife .

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do bars close in downtown st pete, fl.

Most bars in St Petersburg, FL (particularly downtown) close between midnight and 3 am. It may vary throughout the week. For example, a bar may close later on Fridays and Saturdays than on other days of the week.

Bars that serve a lot of food or that are within restaurants tend to close a bit earlier, around 10 pm to 1 am.

What is the bar street in Saint Petersburg?

The best street for bars in St Petersburg is Central Avenue. From downtown to Grand Central District, you’ll have an incredible selection of bars. Stay on Central Avenue and continue heading west, and it will take you to the beach for even more beach bars!

What is the entertainment district in St Pete?

The Grand Central District is considered the entertainment district in St Petersburg. You’ll find many new bars, breweries, and art galleries. It also has ax throwing and more!

Is St. Petersburg a party town?

St Petersburg, Florida is home to professional sports teams, colleges, and it has some of the best beaches in the US. This combination makes for a fun environment and very much a party town.

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Grand Menshikov Palace

Menshikov began to build his residence here in 1713, at about the same time as Peter began work on his own estate at Peterhof. Menshikov seemed intent on outdoing his master in terms of scale and grandeur, and commissioned architects Giovanni Mario Fontana and Gottfried Schadel, who were already building the Menshikov Palace in St. Petersburg, to design his seaside palace. After over a decade of work, which eventually bankrupted Menshikov, the palace was completed.

Facing the sea, with a two-level terrace in front of it, this charming yellow and white building consists of a concave central block with two single-storey galleries leading to prominent octagonal pavilions, one of which houses the palace chapel. On the south side of the building, two large ancillary wings, the Kitchen Wing and the Ladies' Wing, run from the pavilions perpendicular to the central block.

Menshikov had little time to enjoy his new palace before he was arrested and exiled in 1727. The estate at Oranienbaum was passed to the state, and Menshikov's palace became a naval hospital. In 1743, the estate was presented by Empress Elizabeth to her nephew, the future Peter III, who commissioned Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the greatest late baroque architect working in Russia, to renovate the palace. Rastrelli left the exterior of the palace almost untouched, but created sumptuous interiors that have, sadly, long since been destroyed. At this time, the western pavilion became known as the Japanese Pavilion, thanks to the collection of Japanese and Chinese ceramics it housed.

The palace was altered again in 1762 by Antonio Rinaldi, who added a granite staircase and semi-circular balcony to the northern terraces and redecorated many of the interiors. After serving as a Naval Cadet College from the end of the 18 th century, the palace was used as a residence by both Alexander I and his brother Mikhail. During the 19 th century, several famous architects, including Luigi Ruska, Carlo Rossi, and Vasiliy Satsov, reworked the interiors of the palace.

Today, while the Grand Menshikov Palace is still extremely impressive from the outside, its interiors are in a parlous state, and major renovation work still needs to be done to prevent parts of the building collapsing. For visitors, there is little to see except a collection of portraits of the various owners of Oranienbaum.

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• November 12, 1979 Setlist

The Specials Setlist at Tiffany's, Edinburgh, Scotland

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Harris caps two-day Georgia bus tour with appeal to voters at Savannah rally

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday worked to shore up Democratic support in Georgia by visiting a part of the battleground state that politicians don’t frequent nearly as much as the more heavily populated Atlanta area.

“For the past two election cycles, voters in this very state, you who are here, have delivered. You sent two extraordinary senators to Washington, D.C.,” Harris said, referring to Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

She said that Georgians mobilized to put a Democrat in the Oval Office four years ago and that she’s hoping for a repeat.

“You showed up, you knocked on doors, you registered folks to vote, and you made it happen,” Harris said. “You did that. And so now we are asking you to do it again.”

Follow live coverage of the 2024 campaign here

Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, completed a two-day bus tour of southeastern Georgia. During a stop at a Savannah café Thursday, Harris said she plans to roll out a tax credit proposal for new startups and small businesses next week.

“This is one of my singular priorities, is to invest and grow our small businesses,” she said.

Shortly before the rally, Walz joined Harris for a joint interview with CNN that’s scheduled to air at 9 p.m. ET Thursday. It’s her first sit-down interview since she launched her White House bid late last month.

The crowd began filing into Savannah’s Enmarket Arena more than three hours before Harris was set to speak, braving a downpour while waiting in long lines to pass through security. Inside the arena, energetic supporters held signs reading “Freedom” and “A New Way Forward,” dancing to songs from CJ the DJ, a local radio host, as blue and white lights beamed across the audience.

A Harris-Walz campaign official said 7,500 people were in attendance. The official said that's the venue's maximum capacity.

Protesters interrupted Harris twice, and the audience cheered as they were led out. One protester was pro-Palestinian; it was unclear what the other protester was saying.

“I am speaking now,” Harris said as the first protester was escorted out, adding that she and President Joe Biden are working “around the clock” to secure a hostage deal.

Walz wasn’t onstage for the Savannah rally. He’s in North Carolina for two campaign events.

Biden’s razor-thin 2020 victory in Georgia came down to fewer than 12,000 votes. One of the heaviest blue regions of the state is metro Atlanta, where Biden performed better than 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in almost every county.

But Democratic leaders in Savannah say the Harris campaign is helping expand party support in the state’s southeast.

“Atlanta has always gotten the juice, has always gotten the love, but us here in southeast Georgia, we really matter,” said Aaron “Adot” Whitely, chair of the Democratic Party in Chatham County, where Savannah is located.

Biden narrowly improved Democrats’ margins in two blue Southeastern counties in 2020, winning Chatham with 58.6% of the vote.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, who has long been vocal about the need for Democrats to more seriously engage with cities beyond Atlanta, said he feels the Harris campaign has answered his call by opening seven field offices in southern Georgia.

“The fallacy often is that Georgia is Atlanta and Atlanta is Georgia,” Johnson said. “Each city, each county, has its own distinct flavor and its own distinct history, and so it would be a fool’s errand to think that you can fly in and out of Atlanta and that you’ve covered Georgia.”

Jonae Wartel, senior adviser to the Harris campaign in Georgia, emphasized that Democrats learned the importance of having a statewide strategy from their successful 2021 Senate runoff races, when she was runoff director for Georgia Democrats.

Warnock and Ossoff won their races nearly four years ago, giving Democrats a majority in the Senate. Warnock kept his seat in 2022, beating his Republican opponent.

“I think it’s really important to not see Georgians as a single type of voter, but more a broad coalition,” Wartel said. “So taking her to parts of Georgia that are outside of metro Atlanta is incredibly important.”

The campaign’s volunteer efforts got a boost when Harris announced her campaign, with more than 35,000 people joining volunteer efforts in Georgia, Porsha White, the Harris campaign’s Georgia director, said in a news release.

Amy Morton, CEO of the Democratic consulting firm Southern Majority, said Harris’s rising to the top of the ticket also became a “game changer” for down-ballot races.

Often, Democrats in swing districts try to distance themselves from the presidential nominee, Morton said.

“That is flipped in this situation,” she said. “I already have Republican opponents in these districts who are sprinting away from Trump.”

Megan Lebowitz is a politics reporter for NBC News.

Nnamdi Egwuonwu is a 2024 NBC News campaign embed.