11 Florida bands you should know, according to the founder of Indie Night

After the pandemic closed music venues and canceled concerts in Florida, bassist Andrés Hernández noticed a strange pattern.

“I could tell people were excited to come back,” said Hernandez, who plays in the Tampa-based band Rohna. “But it became oversaturated pretty quickly and people just weren’t coming to the shows as much.”

To rebuild the local music scene, I wanted to create something that felt a little more special than your average concert. So in August 2021, Hernandez gathered a group of bands, including his own, and hosted the first Indie Night at Crowbar in Ybor City.

Between live bands, the speakers blasted nostalgic playlists loaded with songs by Arctic Monkeys, Two Door Cinema Club and the like. The event was a success.

Hernandez, now 26, has hosted more than 30 Indie Night events since then. Most of it has taken place in Florida’s major college cities and towns, from Tallahassee and St. Augustine to Miami. But he also brought the concept to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and the Carolinas.

The benefits are twofold: fans can discover their new favorite local artist, and up-and-coming bands can play wildly popular events that often sell out.

Ahead of this Saturday’s Indie Night show at the Floridian Social in St. Petersburg, Hernandez shared some of his favorite emerging Florida artists.

tampa bay bands

rohna: Hernandez grew up attending intense shows at places like Transitions Art Gallery and Neptune Lounge. Energy and big sound come through in his alternative rock band, which also incorporates influences from jazz, hip-hop and classic rock. Listen to: “Water of roses“

Miroux: A melodic indie band with a dance-pop air, Miróux He has already opened for artists such as Young the Giant, Bon Jovi, The 1975 and Cage the Elephant. Listen to: “Palms“

Pilot Jonez: The theme here is fusion: think R&B funk and groove, bright indie rock guitars and big catchy hooks you’ll want to sing along to. “If I was still good at skating, this is what I would listen to all day while skateboarding,” Hernandez said. Listen to: “Rolling Hello!“

Central Florida Bands

Quail Hollow: With roots in both Tampa and Gainesville, Quail Hollow is a band and a conservation project. Members founded a nonprofit organization to help environmental causes and organized benefit concerts to aid their mission. Their sound mixes an earthy folk vibe with classic rock. Listen to: “lost at sea“

Lady Heroine: This Orlando alternative group shines with layers of sweet vocal harmonies over spunky punk rock riffs. Listen to: “calamity jane“

0 miles per hour: Hernandez calls it here first: This rowdy pop-punk and emo gang from Orlando is the Indie Night alum most likely to sign a deal over the next year. “Both times (at Indie Night), it seemed like a hardcore show,” Hernandez said. “Everyone was jumping on stage. “Everyone was moshing.” Listen to: “Prague“

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south florida bands

mustard service: “Imagine a band that looks and feels like an indie rock band but has influences from bossa nova, jazz and even hip hop and psychedelic rock,” Hernández said. The effect is a new sound called “zest pop”: simple, funky and danceable. Listen to: “Domino“

The hail: Some members of Hails have been playing music together since they were teenagers in South Florida. They completed their lineup and catchy sound while attending the University of Florida in Gainesville and have since moved to Miami. Listen to: “Fiona“

Cannibal children: Expect tropical vibes, upbeat electronic tunes, and creative music videos from this South Florida-based band. Listen to: “No more hills to die on“

North Florida Bands

Twin Suns: The Jacksonville group combines bright surf rock with a psychedelic beat. Their music is like having a cocktail on the beach. Listen to: “Ode to the suns“

turn: Starting in a Fernandina Beach garage when they were teenagers, Flipturn has honed a summery, anthemic sound that’s earned them playing spots at Gasparilla Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and Bonaroo. The band has almost 1.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Listen to: “chicago“

If you go: Indie Night

The next local Indie Night will take place on Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Floridian Social in St. Petersburg. Mustard Service, Rohna, Miróux and Pilot Jonezz will perform, with music starting at 6:30 pm. Purchase tickets online for $20 through Eventbrite or the day of the show for $25. This is an event for those over 18 years of age.

Indie Night will also be held at The Beacham in Orlando on Friday. The Mustard Service, Cathedral Bells, Rohna, mirror pieces and Lady Heroine will perform.

To find out about future Indie Night events, follow us on social media at instagram.com/indienightlive and tiktok.com/@indienightlive. Listen to Indie Night playlists and find out more here.