Top 10 concert picks in Sarasota, Bradenton, Englewood, Port Charlotte
As we enter the thick of February's event calendar, it'll be another packed week of concerts locally, including two music festivals stretching over three days. Sarasota's annual Thunder by the Bay motorcycle and music fest returns this weekend with one of the biggest names in Southern rock and a country-rap star headlining, while the latest local seafood festival features free live music including a Juno Award-winning blues singer.
There'll be plenty of star power elsewhere on stages this week, including award-winning and nominated artists across genres including Latin jazz, bluegrass and blues, as well as the current touring version of one of the best-known names in pop and rock music. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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SIRSY
Upstate New York pop-rock act SIRSY will visit Bradenton's Birdrock Taco Shack during a lengthy string of Florida dates that sees them returning to the Sarasota area in March. Comprising vocalist-drummer Melanie Krahmer and guitarist Rich Libutti, SIRSY has a sound larger than one might expect from a duo, with the pair known to play multiple instruments live. The group's releases include the full-length "Coming Into Frame," with the opening track "Cannonball" appearing on the Showtime series "Shameless." 7 p.m. Friday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; free; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco
Alfredo Rodríguez and Pedrito Martinez
The Ringling hosts this pair of Grammy-nominated Cuban musicians for two nights of concerts as part of its Art of Performance series. Pianist Alfredo Rodríguez earned a Grammy nomination in the Best Instrumental Arrangement category for the song "Guantanamera," while percussionist/vocalist Pedrito Martinez's group scored a Latin Jazz Album nomination for its 2013 self-titled full-length, with Rodríguez and Martinez also both featured on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series. Along with their solo work, including Martinez's 2021 album "Acertijos" featuring Eric Clapton among its guests, the musicians teamed up for the 2019 album "Duologue." 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Historic Asolo Theater at The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; sold out; 941-360-7399; ringling.org
Tas Cru
Syracuse, New York-based blues musician Tas Cru continues his string of local dates with shows at Sarasota's Big Top and Bradenton's Cottonmouth. Tas Cru is on the road after releasing his latest album "Riffin' the Blue" earlier this month, featuring guests such as blues-rocker Mike Zito and pianist/organist Bruce Katz. His previous releases include 2016's "Simmered & Stewed," which earned a Best Emerging Artist Album Blues Music Award nomination. 7 p.m. Friday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com; 7 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
Thunder by the Bay
The annual Sarasota music and motorcycle festival returns this weekend featuring three days of performers, including two headliners. Jacksonville-formed Southern rockers 38 Special, known for songs such as early '80s hits "Caught Up in You" and "Hold On Loosely" and still featuring founding member Don Barnes, top the bill Saturday. Country-rap artist Colt Ford, who's had No. 1 albums on both genres' Billboard charts and scored a platinum single with his song "Workin' On," headlines Sunday. 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday; Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; $10 advance per day, $15 day of, free ages 12 and under; thunderbythebay.org
Port Charlotte Seafood and Music Festival
Locally based Paragon Festivals' lineup of area seafood and music festivals continues with its latest event in Port Charlotte, featuring three days of food, drink and live music. Kicking off the festivities Friday is Canadian-born musician Crystal Shawanda, who started as a country singer before switching to the blues, winning multiple Juno Awards (Canada's equivalent of the Grammys), including Blues Album of the Year. Other notable names include the Miami-based The Lee Boys, one of the biggest names in the sacred steel genre, who headline Saturday. 4-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday; Charlotte County Fairgrounds, 2333 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte; free admission; 941-487-8061; paragonfestivals.com
Becky Buller Band
Fogartyville will welcome a big name in the bluegrass genre when Becky Buller performs there this weekend. The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has won 10 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, including being the first woman to win Fiddle Player of the Year. Buller is also a member of the supergroup The First Ladies of Bluegrass, featuring the first women to win an IBMA Award in various instrumental categories, including guitarist and recent Grammy winner Molly Tuttle, banjoist Alison Brown, mandolinist Sierra Hull and bassist Missy Raines. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Saturday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $24, $20 members, $12 ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
Hans Condor
Bradenton's Oscura, which has hosted a bevy of indie and punk acts since reopening at a larger new location last year, will welcome an out-of-town act in the latter genre this weekend with Hans Condor. Hailing from Nashville, the group released the 2021 full-length "Breaking & Entering" and has a sound blending punk, garage rock and metal (the album's song titles name-drop rock 'n' roll, death metal and Motörhead.) No Pants Maurice and Caught Fire also perform. 5 p.m. doors, 6 p.m. show Sunday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; no cover; 941-201-4950; oscura.live
Paul Thorn
Fogartyville's live music lineup this week will also include roots singer-songwriter Paul Thorn, visiting the Sarasota venue after regularly playing The Blue Rooster prior to its closure last year. A former professional boxer whose career included a televised bout with former world champion Roberto "Hands of Stone" Durán, Thorn released his first album "Hammer and Nail" in 1997 and has continued ever since, most recently with 2021's "Never Too Late to Call." The album follows his 2018 gospel song covers collection "Don't Let the Devil Ride," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard blues album chart. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show Monday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $40, $37 members (sold out as of press time); 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
The Beach Boys
Van Wezel will welcome back The Beach Boys to the Sarasota venue this week. The group's discography should need no introduction, with albums such as "Pet Sounds" and songs including "Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows" that are regularly considered among the greatest in pop music. Fans should keep in mind that the band's touring lineup does not feature Brian Wilson, who has performed separate shows with fellow founding Beach Boy Al Jardine at Van Wezel in recent years; however, it does still feature co-founder Mike Love, as well as longtime member Bruce Johnston. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; sold out as of press time; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org
John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band
Renowned Chicago blues musician John Primer, who played Bradenton Blues Festival in 2019, will return to the area for shows at Englewoods on Dearborn and Cottonmouth. Along with playing alongside blues legends such as Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters, serving as a lead guitarist and bandleader for the latter, Primer has earned two Grammy nominations for his contributions to the albums "Chicago Blues: A Living History" and "Muddy Waters 100." He's also won three Blues Music Awards, most recently for Traditional Blues Male Artist in 2021. 6 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $10; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com; 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $20; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
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Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best live music concerts Sarasota Bradenton Englewood Port Charlotte
