By Brent Michael, Rock At Night Tampa Senior Correspondent
Venue: Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg, Florida–April 4th, 2025
Gypsy Star: Web, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Youtube
I hadn’t realized it’s been since August 2017 that I last wrote about this band! Of course, I’ve stopped by their gigs in between, but never put fingers to keys. It’s time to correct that. Of course, the band has evolved in several ways since then, let’s start there.
The core of the band, the songwriting team of Belinda Brodsky and Billy Keen, remains. Everyone else has changed, but voice remains the same. Or voices, I should say. Some changes were results, directly or indirectly, from our old friend Covid-19. Some venues have disappeared, some have downsized, some have changed personalities and/or owners, and of course we’ve all gotten older. So we, and especially the music industry, has had to adapt.
For Gypsy Star, that has meant changes in personnel, and paring down to fit into smaller venues at times. The band’s core components are now four people: Billy and Belinda, of course, with Billy playing guitar and singing lead along with Belinda playing an eclectic assortment of instruments and adding her lead vocals. Kimara Lee’s role has expanded, she no longer just a belly dancer (though she still performs that role excellently as well) but adds vocals, percussion, including bongos, little egg-shakers, and a xylophone. She also plays an “encourager” role, bringing some of the shy folks out onto the dance floor!
The latest addition is Lolly “Ms. Pop” Sonmez, keyboards, vocals, and Mistress of the Red Whistle!
Lolly hails from South Africa, has a British accent, and is just as lively and entertaining as the rest of the crew!
I’m trying to avoid repeating things from my earlier article, so I’ll just bring you up to date. Along with headlining shows at numerous venues in Florida and throughout the eastern U.S. including the Palladium Theatre in St. Petersburg, FL; Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, FL; Central Park Performing Arts Center in Largo, FL: Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI; Andrea Clearfield’s Salon in Philadelphia, PA; The Triad Theatre in NYC, NY; Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY; The Tin Pan in Richmond, VA and more, they have also released two new songs and videos, beginning with “Far Beyond My Wildest Dreams” released in July of 2021. On September 14, 2022, Gypsy Star released their latest single, a catchy Latin-inspired, upbeat dance tune called… “Dancing To The Beat Of Your Heart” along with an official music video for the song. I’m expecting a new album, but they were tight-lipped about dates.
I want to take a moment to mention the venue, one I could only imagine: the Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, FL. Not a huge venue, but it had great acoustics, provided a great backdrop, and attracted a full-house crowd! And now, what you’ve been waiting for: more photos and video!
Photo Gallery
VIDEO
When not in custody, I've been involved with music, photography, and writing my entire life. Ever since I was a young boy and played those silver tunes, I've had the beat, but being a drummer didn't suit me so I became a lead singer, which lasted a few years. Settling down, sort of, I translated my knowledge of audio and glib tongue into mobile emcee work, and my training as a photographer and videographer into a living in the wedding, party, bar/bat mitzvah, and entertainment industry. During this time I also managed to bamboozle my way into a master's degree in writing, worked for a couple of magazines (yes, I took photos for a nudist magazine!), have photographed hotels, done commercial work (shot the cover of Tablet and Capsule magazine), published a few articles, hosted some public access shows (a couple times in drag, but that's another story), and generally made a nuisance of myself until I landed here.
- Imagine a Night at the Museum – with Gypsy Star! - April 7, 2025
- Jannus Live invaded by GIANTS! - March 2, 2025
- Hooked Up with TBMOM at Magnanimous Brewing! - January 28, 2025
