William Shatner is trading the captain's chair for a microphone stand when he brings his heavy metal band to downtown St. Petersburg. Shatner and his group, William Shatner and The *uckers, are scheduled to perform at Ferg's Pavilion on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027, bringing a lineup of seasoned rock musicians and the 95-year-old Star Trek icon himself to the stage.
According to 10 Tampa Bay, the show is part of a tour supporting the band's upcoming album, and Orlando-based heavy rock trio The Ludes will open. Tickets are on sale online through Ferg's Pavilion and TicketWeb, starting at $46, and purchasers need to use the keyword Ferg's to complete the transaction, per the same report. Ferg's Pavilion sits at 1320 Central Avenue, according to WFLA, which also reported that tickets were scheduled to go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m.
Ferg's Sports Bar was founded in 1992 and has grown into a 70,000-square-foot entertainment complex, the 10 Tampa Bay report notes. Owner and founder Mark Ferguson said the timing of Shatner's announcement felt surreal, coming after the Rays' World Series run and Ferg's selection as one of Tampa Bay's best concert venues, according to the same account.
Shatner's Band Debuted at Riot Fest
Shatner formed William Shatner and The *uckers in September 2026, and the group made its live debut at Riot Fest in Chicago's Douglass Park on Sept. 20, per Riot Fest, which described the lineup as an all-star band featuring Marcus Nand, Phil Soussan, Britt Lightning and Fred Aching. That Riot Fest set featured reimagined songs from Shatner's musical catalog alongside previews of tracks from his upcoming heavy metal album, the festival noted.
During the debut performances, the band covered Ozzy Osbourne's “Crazy Train,” Motörhead's “Ace of Spades” and Metallica's “Enter Sandman,” according to Hot Press. The band also played three original songs at those shows, the outlet reported. Bassist Phil Soussan previously played bass for Ozzy Osbourne, according to 10 Tampa Bay's report, adding another layer of metal pedigree to the project.
An Album Still Taking Shape
The band's debut album is titled What the F Is Heavy Metal?, according to USA Today, which reported that as of Sept. 14, 2026, the album did not yet have a release date. Hot Press, however, reported that the album was coming out this winter. The 10 Tampa Bay report states the album is expected in winter 2026-2027, and that the band will tour in support of it.
Shatner told USA Today that it was his label, Cleopatra Records, that first floated the idea of making a heavy metal album. He also said he planned to perform for half an hour at a music festival in the desert in spring 2027, though USA Today noted that festival's lineup had not been released as of mid-September. Shatner is best known for playing Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, a role that has followed him through decades of unexpected musical side projects.
A Possible Second Florida Stop
Florida fans may get more than one chance to catch the band. An Eventbrite listing cited by the dossier shows a William Shatner and The *uckers concert planned for Friday, Feb. 26, 2027, at Mount Dora Music Hall in Mount Dora, with promotion from Red Comet Productions. Shatner himself posted on X that he would perform live with the band at Mount Dora Music Hall that Friday, calling it his latest musical adventure and promising incredible music planned for the night.
Whether St. Petersburg crowds show up expecting Captain Kirk nostalgia or genuine metal riffs, Ferguson's enthusiasm suggests Ferg's is treating the booking as a milestone moment for the venue. With tickets already moving and a second Florida date rumored down the road in Mount Dora, Shatner's unlikely late-career pivot into heavy metal is proving to have real staying power on the road.
