Cottondale Swamp is a Florida Swamp Rock, Southern Americana, and Outlaw Country Band from Florida. Weeki Wachee, FL is our ground zero. Mermaid Shows and the Gulf of Mexico! Original Florida swamp rock with authentic country sensibilities and a heart of rock 'n roll.  

Cottondale Swamp celebrates the back roads, small towns and the seedy underbelly of the “Old Florida” that is fast disappearing. We write songs that celebrate the people, places and uniqueness of our southern most state.  

 

Led Zeppelin 50th Anniversary Show

Led Zeppelin 50th Anniversary Show

Welcome To Cottondale Swamp

Cottondale Swamp - Back in the saddle again! 

Cottondale Swamp version 2.0 is alive and well! New songs and new shows! A new album is in the works as well.

Cottondale Swamp is comprised of twin brothers Mark Hoag (guitar/vocals), Michael Hoag (bass/vocals), Michael's son Zachary Hoag on guitar and vocals, and the incomparable Michael LaBella on drums and vocals.  A historical side note - Mark Hoag and Michael LaBella played together for the last 10 year in the band Four Barrel Billy (a busy working rockabilly and roots band from New Haven, Connecticut). 

Cottondale Swamp has had a storied history that has tested our endurance, our resolve, and has reaffirmed our love of making music together. Making music with family and friends is incredible. Our trials and tribulations have certainly provided fodder for new songs and reaffirmed our love of playing music as Cottondale Swamp.

We recently played several shows that really rocked! Our friends, our community and fans all came out and let us know that we are part of something really special. Tampa, FL radio station WMNF, asked Cottondale Swamp to be part of three shows (Tom Petty Tribute, John Fogerty Tribute, John Prine Tribute). These gigs provided us with the opportunity to try out our new line-up, and it couldn't have gone better. Not that we were surprised! These shows led us to official debut at Jannus Live - St. Petersburg, FL on November 4th - where we played a full-on Cottondale Swamp show. We have a pretty extensive back catalog of original music from our last two albums (2016 / 2021). And we tested out some brand new songs too!

 

Jannus Live / St. Petersburg, FL / 11/4/2022

Let's get our Rock and Country on this Saturday in St. Pete! 

St. Pete Side Lot presents Cottondale Swamp and Fiddler and the Crossroads!

7 PM - Cottondale Swamp is a Florida Swamp Rock, Southern Americana, and Outlaw Country Band from Florida. Weeki Wachee, FL is our ground zero. Mermaid Shows and the Gulf of Mexico! Original Florida swamp rock with authentic country sensibilities. Cottondale Swamp celebrates the back roads, small towns and the seedy underbelly of the “Old Florida” that is fast disappearing. We write songs that celebrate the people, places and uniqueness of our southern most state. The band will be playing songs from their new 2021 album!

9 PM - Fiddler and the Crossroads Trio features Blues Hall-of-Famer and official fiddler for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Greg Holt. They are a Cajun/Blues band that will take you to the crossroads of Blues and Cajun music with upbeat versions of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams and other greats, plus great originals! Very high energy, fun music!

Jannus Live - April 16th 2021 - THANK YOU! 

Folks, we had a great night! For us the night went as well as we could have hoped for. The band sounded great, the energy was way up. The crew at Jannus Live were awesome and they did a fantastic mix! The first show of 2021 was a success! Next up, May 15th at the Orpheum in Ybor City supporting the incredible Daniel Donato.

Check out a tidbit of "Lou's Tattoos" from Saturday night at Jannus! CLICK HERE

April 16th - Cottondale Swamp @ Jannus Live - FREE SHOW / FREE CD! 

Please join Friday, April 16th for a FREE SHOW at Jannus Live! It's our CD Release Party and a co-bill with Greg White Jr.!

The first 100 people get a copy of our new CD! This is our first show in 2021! We couldn't be more pumped to be playing the iconic Jannus Live, formerly known as Jannus Landing.

Jannus Live is a large outdoor venue located in downtown St. Petersburg. Due to COVID Safety concerns, attendance is being limited to 550 people.

P.S. - Next week we will be announcing a super cool show we just booked with one of our favorite Nashville artists!

NEW Single! Still Waiting - Released August 24th! Listen NOW! 

Listen to our latest single -  Still Waiting   CLICK HERE!

Still Waiting is the first SINGLE from our upcoming album - Greetings from Cottondale Swamp

The new album should be in our hands and available in late September. We'll have a release date soon!

Don't forget to vote for Cottondale Swamp! Voting is still open for Creative Loafing "Best of The Bay. We are in multiple categories: Best Country Act (Original), Best Band (Original), Best Roots/Alt-Country Act (Original).  VOTE HERE!

Three Important Things! 

Three things! 


1. Cottondale Swamp has a new album coming out in September, 2020! We are super excited to finally release our second album Greetings from Cottondale Swamp.


2. Our new SINGLE "Still Waiting" will be released August 17th. Stay tuned! 


3. Please vote for Cottondale Swamp. Voting opened for Creative Loafing "Best of The Bay". We are in multiple categories: Best Country Act (Original), Best Band (Original), Best Roots/Alt-Country Act (Original). 

VOTE HERE

 

New Show Announcement: The Independent Bar - TAMPA 

Sunday, May, 17th @ 6:30 PM - The INDEPENDENT BAR & CAFE TAMPA presents Cottondale Swamp! The band will be playing songs from their new album. The band has a unique take on Americana, outlaw country and Florida swamp rock. The Independent is Seminole Heights' Original World Class Beer Hall and has been a favorite neighborhood gathering spot serving craft beer, wine, cafe fare, gourmet coffee and tea for ten years!

A Special Show - Sunday, November 17th @ Skipper's Smokehouse! 

Special Announcement: The most exciting gigs are the ones that just drop into your lap, a bolt of lightning from out of the blue. This is just one of those gigs. The Steepwater Band is on tour and passing through Tampa this coming weekend. They booked a “last minute” show at Skipper’s Smokehouse this Sunday, November 17th. The Steepwater Band is one of our favorite bands and when the phone rang, we answered! Cottondale Swamp will open the show this coming Sunday. 

The Steepwater Band is making some serious waves with their last album, “Shake Your Faith” (Diamond Day Records).  In the last year The SteepwaterBand been on tour with some our favorite bands, including.: ZZ Top, Gov’t Mule and Blackberry Smoke! 

You have probably heard The Steepwater Band already, and you didn’t know it. Their songs have been featured on television and movies for years. Including my favorite show “Better Call Saul” and others such as: NCIS (CBS), Good Wife (CBS), Vegas (CBS), Gods, Guns & Automobiles (History Channel), Invisible (Disney), Shameless (Showtime), Five Year Engagement (Universal), My Name is Earl (NBC and a many more… 

Cottondale Swamp has a new record coming out in early 2020 that is going to be called “Welcome to Cottondale Swamp”. This Sunday will be playing songs from the new record! Last weekend we played a great set at the Dunedin Wines The Blues, one of Florida’s biggest blues festivals. Yeah, yeah, Cottondale Swamp isn’t your typical blues band, but we have written some scorching southern rock tinged blues songs and many of original songs have a bluesy rock and outlaw country feel. 

Please come out on Sunday to Skipper’s Smokehouse and welcome The Steepwater Band on there Skipper’s debut! 

Sunday, November, 17th 

Doors at 4 PM 
5 PM Cottondale Swamp 
6:30 PM The Steepwater Band

Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door 

Link for Tickets: TICKETS

 

News from the Black Lagoon and the deep recesses of Cottondale Swamp... 

You can feel the season slowly change into autumn down here in Cottondale Swamp. The alligators are moving a little slower the rattlesnakes only come out during the heat of the day. But, the band Cottondale Swamp is up to a whole bunch mischief. In addition to playing a few gigs here and there and putting the final touches on some new songs we are playing a couple real interesting shows.

November 1st - 2 PM to 3 PM - WMNF Live Music Showcase / 88.5 FM (Tampa) A live radio show on everybody's favorite radio station, WMNF Tampa / 88.5 FM! The Live Music Showcase features an interview with the band and then the band plays live in the studio. We'll play songs to promote the November, 2nd "On Broadway: The WMNF Tribute to Musical Theater" show at Skipper's Smokehouse. Cottondale Swamp will also play songs from their upcoming album.

November 2nd - On Broadway: The WMNF Tribute to Musical Theater / Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa, FL. The doors open at 6 PM. Cottondale Swamp goes on around 10 PM. Musical theater can be special for its intricate music, for its heartwarming characters, for its comedy, for its poignant message, or because it’s plain fun….. and for sheer quality. For the last century, Broadway musicals are where some of the greatest songwriters have written many of the greatest songs. Tickets only $12 advance/$15 day of.  Go to WMNF.org or call 813-238-8001 for tickets—NEVER a service charge! Musical Artists: Anika Sky, We've Got You Covered, Divine AF, JCT 27, Talk to Mark, Sunset Bridge Band, Ricky Wilcox and The Moonsnakes, Parson Brown, The Jazz Hands, Cottondale Swamp, The Flow Sisters, Acclaimed Jazz Siren and Song stylist, Katt Hefner

November 9th - Dunedin Wines the Blues. The Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association presents the 29th annual Dunedin Wines the Blues Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019 on Main Street in downtown Dunedin Event Opens at 12:00 PM until 11:00 PM. This music festival is getting bigger and bigger every year. Last year of 30,000 people attended! Cottondale Swamp plays the main stage around 1 PM!

November 16th - JAMMIN ON THE GREENS - Sheriff's Youth Ranch Fund Raiser. Come out and enjoy amazing music, actives for the family, and of course fun on the driving range! All proceeds to benefit Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. Music Lineup: 4 PM - Easy Posse, 5:30 PM - Cottondale Swamp, 7 PM - Chad Montana, 9 PM - Caroline Kole

 

 

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Previous events

WMNF Presents: A Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty

Saturday, May 28th, 2022

Doors open at 6pm, Music to be 7pm-11pm

Skipper’s Smokehouse – 910 Skipper Rd, Tampa, FL 33613

Creedence Clearwater Revival was the biggest band in America between 1968 and 1972. They released seven albums and a string of double-sided hit singles, while in 1969 and 1970, they even outsold The Beatles!

Now you can relive the music at WMNF’s Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty. 12 Tampa Bay bands will perform 3-4 songs each: over 35 songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival and lead guitarist/singer John Fogerty!

St. Pete Side Lot presents Cottondale Swamp and Fiddler and the Crossroads! Cottondale Swamp is a Florida Swamp Rock, Southern Americana, and Outlaw Country Band from Florida. Weeki Wachee, FL is our ground zero. Mermaid Shows and the Gulf of Mexico! Original Florida swamp rock with authentic country sensibilities. Cottondale Swamp celebrates the back roads, small towns and the seedy underbelly of the “Old Florida” that is fast disappearing. We write songs that celebrate the people, places and uniqueness of our southern most state. The band will be playing songs from their new 2021 album! Fiddler and the Crossroads Trio features Blues Hall-of-Famer and official fiddler for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Greg Holt. They are a Cajun/Blues band that will take you to the crossroads of Blues and Cajun music with upbeat versions of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams and other greats, plus great originals! Very high energy, fun music!

We are proud to announce that Cottondale Swamp is opening a show for Nashville guitar sensation Daniel Donato on May 15th at the Orpheum in Tampa (Ybor City). The Cosmic Cowboy (Danny Donato) released a new album that is making a big splash. He is an incredible guitar player that has been tearing up Nashville for many years. He was basically a child prodigy who went on to play with the top Nashville artists. He spent several years playing at Robert’s Western World (which is where we discovered him). Now, at the ripe old age of 25, he is considered one of the top Nashville chicken-pickin tele-shredders. He will blow your mind!

Tickets: $12adv - $15day of show - $20 balcony access

The INDEPENDENT BAR & CAFE TAMPA presents Cottondale Swamp! The band will be playing songs from their new album. The band has a unique take on Americana, outlaw country and Florida swamp rock. The Independent is Seminole Heights' Original World Class Beer Hall and has been a favorite neighborhood gathering spot serving craft beer, wine, cafe fare, gourmet coffee and tea for ten years!

The Steepwater Band / Cottondale Swamp

Skipper's Smoke House, 910 Skipper Road , Tampa, FL 33613

Skipper's Smokehouse presents: The Steepwater Band and Cottondale Swamp. A night or roots rock 'n roll. Doors at 4 PM: About The Steepwater Band / BY CREEM MAGAZINE - "Not only do these longhairs know their Johnny Winter and their Johnnie Walker, they sure as shootin' dish it out in a nuclear hoedown of dirty fuzztone lead and slide guitar riffs." Doors at 4 PM, Music at 5 PM

Musical theater can be special for its intricate music, for its heartwarming characters, for its comedy, for its poignant message, or because it’s plain fun….. and for sheer quality. For the last century, Broadway musicals are where some of the greatest songwriters have written many of the greatest songs.

WMNF will present an evening of Broadway songs, done by an eclectic array of area bands. Bands and artists include: Ricky Wilcox and The Moonsnakes; Cottondale Swamp; Mark Warren; Sunset Bridge Band; Parson Brown; Jct 27; and Minister Brad Gilmore performing selections from “Hamilton”.

WMNF - Live Music Showcase / 88.5 FM

WMNF Radio - 88.5 FM

A live radio show on everybody's favorite radio station, WMNF Tampa / 88.5 FM! The Live Music Showcase is on-air 2 PM to 3 PM. The show includes an interview and the band plays live in the studio. They'll play songs to promote the November, 2nd "On Broadway: The WMNF Tribute to Musical Theater" show at Skipper's Smokehouse. Cottondale Swamp will also play songs from their upcoming album.