Tuesday, 8 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. $45-$85. (727) 791-7400.
Dismiss this declaration as hyperbole if you must, but Tuesday night's Kenny Loggins/Christopher Cross concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall could be the musical highlight of 2011 in Tampa Bay. Snicker if you want, but "yacht rock" isn't a farce; it's a soothing, mental balm that wraps around you like a warm blanket. Look for a night of non-stop hits from their '70s and '80s catalogs. Cross will open with a slew of heart-mending ballads including Think of Laura, Sailing and Best That You Can Do followed by the prickly Ride Like the Wind. Loggins will crank things up further with Footloose, Danger Zone and This Is It. And just when you think your soul can fly no higher, Kenny will come crashing down, leaving you sobbing and vulnerable with the wrenching Return to Pooh Corner. — Steve Spears