Jannus Live facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Jannus Live

Entrance to venue
Former names	Jannus Landing (1984-2009)
Address	200 First Ave N STE 206 St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Owner	Global Entertainment
Type	Outdoor
Capacity	2,000
Construction
Opened	1984 (1984)
Renovated	1999, 2009

Jannus Live (which used to be called Jannus Landing) is a cool outdoor place to see concerts in St. Petersburg, Florida. It's located in the historic part of Downtown St. Petersburg. This courtyard venue has hosted many concerts for both local bands and really famous artists. It was started in 1984 by Bob Barnes, Bill Pendergast, and Gene Bryant. The venue was named after a pilot named Tony Jannus.

In 2009, the venue got a big makeover. It reopened in March 2010 with a new owner, Jeff Knight, and new management. That's when it became "Jannus Live." Many people say it hosts the most concerts in the whole Tampa Bay Area. In 2010, Jannus Live won awards like "Best Small Concert Venue" and "Best Back in the Saddle" from the Creative Loafing Best of Bay Awards. This venue is known for being an outdoor standing-room-only spot. You can't bring your own chairs inside.

A Look Back: Jannus Live's Story

This outdoor music hall first opened in 1984. It was created to bring reggae and punk rock shows to the Tampa Bay Area. When it first opened, only local bands played there. The first really famous band to play was Red Hot Chili Peppers in December 1987. They came back in 1989, and that show almost caused the venue to close! This was because of some issues with noise rules. Since then, Jannus Live has become a popular place for mid-sized rock concerts.

A part of the venue is also a nightclub called Club Detroit. This club has a small balcony where you can watch concerts from above. The venue also has another nightclub area separate from the main concert space. Jannus Live is famous for its two tall poles on the stage and in the audience area. A large tarp, like a circus tent, stretches across the top. Davey Havok, a famous musician, once said in an interview that the pole in the audience is covered in a sticky substance. This is supposedly to stop fans from trying to climb the poles!

In 2009, the venue faced some challenges with its previous owner. However, new operators, Jeff Knight and Bill Edwards, took over and reopened the music venue in March 2010. They made some great improvements! They added special suites, a cool lounge area, and even a koi pond on the back deck.

Awesome Artists Who Played Here

The Ramones played here in 1988!