René Schlegel

René Schlegel is playing the New World Biergarten on Friday, November 13, from 5 PM to 7 PM. He's a singer-songwriter, and the set is built around what he calls feel-good pop-fusion jazzy-reggae jams. It's a bit of a mouthful, but it gives you a fair idea of where the sound lands: pop melodies with a reggae backbone, a bit of jazz in the mix, and a general lean toward the lighter, more upbeat side of things.

Since he's a singer-songwriter, the songs come from him, and the 'jam' part of the description suggests there's room for the music to stretch out rather than sticking to a rigid arrangement. If you're into reggae that doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't mind a pop sensibility running through it, that's the territory he's working in. The 'feel-good' part is his own way of describing the mood he's going for, so it's the kind of thing that fits a late-afternoon slot on a Friday.

It's a short set, two hours on the dot, and it's free to get in. The Biergarten is part of the New World Tampa complex, so it's a spot you can just drift into. If you're around on a Friday afternoon and want some live music without having to commit a whole night or a ticket price to it, this is a low-stakes way to spend a couple of hours. René Schlegel, Friday, November 13, 5 PM to 7 PM at the New World Biergarten, and it's free.