98RockFest returns to Tampa's Amalie Arena

If you're a fan of hard rock, you probably plan on catching 98Rockfest every year. The annual concert in Tampa always features some of the hottest bands on the scene, with very reasonable ticket prices, plus some up-and-comers playing for free outside Amalie Arena.

This year's 98Rockfest is scheduled for Friday, with a solid lineup headed by Disturbed, who are gaining a lot of respect from audiences outside the hard-rock realm because of their ferocious version of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence."

Here's the whole lineup: 5:50-6:20 p.m. Sick Puppies, 6:40-7:25 p.m. Ghost, 7:50-8:50 p.m. Chevelle, 9:15-10:20 p.m. Shinedown and 10:50-11:55 p.m. Disturbed.

A couple of those acts -- Disturbed and Shinedown -- could probably fill Amalie Arena with a solo show. Disturbed has had five albums that hit the top of the Billboard Hot 200 chart, and Shinedown sold out Mahaffey Theater (which is admittedly much smaller than Amalie Arena) last year.

Ghost isn't as well known, but the theatrical Swedish band put on a show at the Ritz Theater in Ybor City last year that people are still raving about.

Outside in the afternoon there's a "Free Show/Pre Show" stage that features Stiched Up Heart from 2:30-2:50 p.m., Red Sun Rising from 3:10-3:50 p.m. and Pop Evil from 4:15-5 p.m.

Details: 5:50 p.m. April 29, Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Tickets: $29-$60 plus service charge. Information: 813-301-2500, amaliearena.com.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 6:06 PM with the headline "98RockFest returns to Tampa's Amalie Arena ."