How do you find out about new artists? Is it through friends? Through Spotify or Apple music suggestions? Via the radio? How about at a two-day concert? And while that seems like an expensive way to find out about new artists, the tickets for The Next Big Thing last year started at just $35 a day. That includes the headliner of each day, along with the newer acts.

If you wanted to go to both days, including fees, you could get two days of concerts for under $100, if you act fast and prices remain the same this year. Now that sounds worth it – you probably spend about that paying for your streaming service every year! No matter how good the sound quality is, live music always outperforms recording.

About the Event

As the name suggests, 97X The Next Big Thing concert is put on by the radio station 97X, Tampa Bay’s New Alternative Station. If you’re in the Tampa area and tune in (or stream online), you can hear anyone from Billie Eilish, to the Revivalists, to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, to even Sum 41. The music they play on their station gives you a good idea of the kind of diversity they’ll book for this years’ event.

This particular concert has been running for twenty (ish) years, so they’ve worked out the kinks by now. If you’re going to spend money on a concert ticket, it’s better to do so with something established, rather than something that’s bound to be the next Fyre festival.

This Year’s Event

To find out exactly who is taking the stage this year, you’ll have to watch the 97X page for announcements (or listen, daily). Tickets usually go on sale in the late summer and are cheapest around that time.