Top 10 concert picks for Sarasota-Bradenton-Charlotte: May 12-18

Duane Betts

Before embarking on a national Dog Daze Acoustic Tour, guitarist and singer-songwriter Duane Betts will play a show in his hometown of Sarasota. The son of Allman Brothers Band founding member and longtime Sarasota County resident Dickey Betts, Duane has built his own musical career that's included both solo releases such as 2018's "Sketches of American Music" and stints in groups such as Allman Betts Band with fellow Allman Brothers progeny Devon Allman. Duane will be joined by two other Allman Betts Band members: Johnny Stachela and Berry Duane Oakley, a Sarasota County resident and the son of the late Allman Brothers Band founding member Berry Oakley. 7 p.m. Thursday, May 12; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; $25; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com

Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday

Who lives here?: 21 celebrities with homes in Sarasota and Manatee

Blood Brothers with Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia

Before they're set to play Bradenton Blues Festival later this year, acclaimed blues-rockers Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia will visit Port Charlotte with their Blood Brothers tour, showcasing each act for a set before ending with both onstage together. Both performers are recent Blues Music Awards winners, with Zito's 2021 full-length "Resurrection" winning Blues Rock Album this year, a category he also won along with Blues Rock Artist in 2021. The South Florida-based Castiglia, meanwhile, won Blues Rock Artist this year, shortly after releasing his latest full-length "I Got Love" on Zito's Gulf Coast Records. 6 p.m. Thursday; Kings Gate Ballroom, 24000 Rampart Blvd., Port Charlotte; $35; thephoenixradio.com

Selwyn Birchwood

After visiting Bradenton's Cottonmouth last week, Florida-based blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Selwyn Birchwood will play another area show at Englewoods on Dearborn. Birchwood just won the Song of the Year Blues Music Award for his track "I'd Climb Mountains" off last year's Billboard blues albums chart-topping "Living in a Burning House," his third full-length for renowned blues label Alligator Records. He previously won a Best New Artist Debut Blues Music Award in 2015 for his first Alligator album "Don't Call No Ambulance." 7 p.m. Thursday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $10; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com

Ben Prestage

Self-described “Deep South swamp music” artist Ben Prestage plays Bradenton restaurant and venue Cottonmouth this weekend. Growing up in rural Florida, Prestage later lived in Memphis where he learned how to play drums simultaneously while singing and performing other instruments as a street performer, a one-man-band setup he’d bring back to the Sunshine State. Though he’s a favorite of the Florida blues venue circuit, he’s also developed a national and international following, including touring Europe in the past. 7 p.m. Friday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul

Tony Monaco Hammond B3 Organ Trio

Fogartyville's live music lineup this week includes jazz Hammond B3 organist Tony Monaco. Inspired to play the instrument after hearing renowned jazz organist Jimmy Smith, who he later got to know in real life, Monaco embarked on his own musical career that's included numerous albums, most recently this year's "Four Brothers." Monaco is set to be joined at the show by LaRue Nickelson on guitar and Rick Costa on drums. 7:30 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Friday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $22, $20 members, $11 students; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

Punta Gorda Seafood & Music Festival

Locally based Paragon Festivals produces this free festival featuring three days of food, drink and live music by blues and rock artists. Houston gospel-influenced singer Annika Chambers, who just won her second Soul Blues Female Artist Blues Music Award this year, will top the bill Sunday. Also headlining are guitarist, singer-songwriter and former Anna Maria Island resident Damon Fowler, who released the Billboard blues album chart-topping full-length "Alafia Moon" last year, on Friday, and former Hubert Sumlin bandleader/guitarist Sean Chambers on Saturday. 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; Laishley Park, 120 Laishley Court, Punta Gorda; free admission; paragonfestivals.com

Pride | Be Fabulous Arts & Music Festival

The 12th annual Sarasota LGBTQ festival, formerly known as Harvey Milk Festival, concludes with a free daylong concert Saturday in Sarasota's Rosemary District. Detroit alt-pop artist Jax Anderson, who released the album "Songs for Every Condition" last year with guests including MisterWives and PVRIS, headlines along with New York City queer-pop musician SuperKnova, whose music has appeared on the Showtime series "Work in Progress." The concert will also feature several Florida musicians including Hovercar from St. Pete, Tuesday Again from Orlando, and MeteorEYES and Grace Cespedes from here in Sarasota. 2:30 p.m. Saturday; Rosemary Park, 531 Central Ave., Sarasota; free admission, $75 VIP; fabaf.org

Haitian Flag Day Festival

May 18 is Haitian Flag Day, a commemoration of the country's independence from France and the creation of its flag. To celebrate the holiday, Haitian Connection of Manasota will host this free festival at Palmetto's Sutton Park the weekend before with food, drinks and entertainment including live music. Haitian artist JBeatz, who won two awards at the International Reggae and World Music Awards in 2016 including Haitian Entertainer of the Year, is among the musicians scheduled to perform at the event. 1 p.m. Saturday; Sutton Park, 1036 Sixth St. W., Palmetto; free admission; 941-278-6456; facebook.com/hcom1804

Halie Loren

Selby Gardens' Historic Spanish Point Campus will host singer and songwriter Halie Loren this weekend as part of its Garden Music Concert Series. Though Loren's music is largely associated with jazz, it draws from numerous influences, with the track "How to Dismantle a Life" from her most recent full-length, 2018's "From the Wild Sky," recalling Regina Spektor with its piano-driven melody. Lo-fi producer Slumberville also recently used her song "Cuando Bailamos" as the basis for the track "When We're Dancing." 1 p.m. Sunday; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Historic Spanish Point Campus, 337 N. Tamiami Trail, Osprey; $15, $10 ages 5-17, $7 member guests, free members/ages 0-4; 941-366-5731; selby.org

Matthew Curry

Englewoods on Dearborn's live music lineup this week will also feature Matthew Curry, kicking off a string of local dates for the blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. Curry's fans include Peter Frampton, The Doobie Brothers and the Steve Miller Band, all of whom he's opened for, and Fender Guitars, which tapped him for its Fender Accelerator Tour. Curry has also appeared onscreen in the 2015 David Spade comedy "Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser," portraying the late Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman and Jacksonville native Ronnie Van Zant. 7 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com

If you would like to be considered for this story, please email ticket@heraldtribune.com with your event information at least 10 days before our Thursday publication date. Show schedules are subject to change; check with venues in advance to confirm or for questions on COVID-19 protocols.

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 10 Sarasota-Bradenton-Charlotte concert picks, May 12-18