Thunder By The Bay is celebrating its 29th year, and the lineup just announced is one for the Suncoast record books. Cheap Trick, Bret Michaels and the Marshall Tucker Band will headline the 2027 Music & Motors Festival at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, running February 19-21. Suncoast Charities for Children executive director Lucy Nicandri shared the news on Suncoast View, and the weekend promises the same mix fans have come to love: live music, custom bike and car shows, a biker rodeo, charity rides, vendors, food, drinks and on-site camping.
The bigger story is where the money goes. The James M. Doss Charitable Foundation has confirmed a $50,000 match grant on all donations outside sponsorships, available now through the festival. That means every dollar donated gets doubled. Thunder By The Bay is the charity’s largest fundraiser of the year, and since it began, the event has raised $3.3 million for ten local nonprofits serving more than 10,000 individuals with special needs and their families across Southwest Florida.
Whether you’re a longtime rider, a music fan marking the calendar, or a neighbor looking for a way to give back, this festival delivers on all fronts. February 19-21 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds is the date to hold. Which headliner are you most excited to see take the stage?
