Heatwave is a behemoth.  WMNF’s annual celebration of some of the best and most eclectic music the country has to offer is now in its 31st year and has ballooned way beyond its early days as an event that could be contained at the Cuban Club alone.  In 2012, WMNF’s Tropical Heatwave has expanded to include 14 different stages spread across 11 different venues.  Hell, it even has its own beer now.

WMNF’S 31ST ANNUAL TROPICAL HEATWAVE: THE BASICS
TICKETS | HOW TO GET THERE | BAND LIST

Included in this year’s list of new venues are The Ritz Ybor (and it’s sideroom — remember when it was called “The Infinity Room”?), Skatepark of Tampa’s own cafe/restaurant — The Bricks, and Eighth Avenue’s Centennial Park amongst others.

SUB AP!’S GUIDE TO WMNF’S 31 ANNUAL TROPICAL HEATWAVE 2012
VENUES + MUST SEE BANDS | SCHEDULE + MAPS | FOOD + DRINK 

“Heatwave gets bigger every year,” WMNF Program Director Randy Wind told SubAp! in a recent interview. “As [it] has come to dominate Ybor City for one night, other venues have asked to be involved.  Adding the Ritz is a major new venue which brings Heatwave to Ybor’s main drag Seventh Avenue and gives us a third stage for major acts — [it] also gives insurance in the event of rain.”

INTERVIEW: WMNF PROGRAM DIRECTOR RANDY WIND

Rain or shine, the community at large will arrive en masse to Ybor City for nearly 12 hours of music spread across 14 city blocks.  Navigating the event isn’t exactly a cakewalk, but even those who get off track are bound to have a good time.  ”Heatwave is about discovery and  I’m going to name 5 bands I have not seen but I will be excited to check out,” added Wind, ” [but] Somebody else will pick five different bands and be just as right on.”