Top 10 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Englewood
It's another busy week for live music locally, particularly for blues and bluegrass fans. Multiple Blues Music Award-winning and nominated artists will visit our area this week, including one who just picked up another nomination among the recently announced 2023 nominees. Meanwhile, a Bradenton restaurant and music venue will host two days of bluegrass bands this weekend, including a previous Bonnaroo performer.
Not feeling the blues (or bluegrass)? You still have plenty of options this week, including the current lead singer of a big-name rock band playing a solo headlining show, or former members of a renowned Southern rock group performing their hits. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
More fun this weekend:Looking for something to do? Our top 5 things in Sarasota and Manatee this weekend
More fun this month:100-plus fun things to do in January in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
Other big-name shows:Biggest concerts, comedians coming to Sarasota, Tampa Bay from January to March
Enuff Z'Nuff
Big Top will host a national act this weekend when Illinois glam rockers Enuff Z'Nuff visit the Sarasota brewery and venue Friday. The group rose to fame with their 1989 self-titled debut album, featuring the charting hits "New Thing" and "Fly High Michelle," and both songs' music videos, with The New York Times naming the former one of 15 Essential Hair-Metal Videos and Beavis and Butt-Head lampooning the latter. The group still features founding member and bassist Chip Z'Nuff, who's also picked up frontman duties in recent years, including on last year's full-length "Finer Than Sin" and 2021's Beatles covers album "Hardrock Nite." 7 p.m. Friday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; $17; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com
David Wilcox
Renowned singer-songwriter and guitarist David Wilcox will return to Fogartyville in Sarasota this weekend. Wilcox signed with A&M Records to release 1989's "How Did You Find Me Here," releasing multiple other albums with the label in the '90s and having his track "Chet Baker's Unsung Swan Song" recorded by k.d. lang under the name "My Old Addiction" for her 1997 album "Drag." His most recent album was 2018's self-released "The View from the Edge," winning the USA Songwriting Competition the same year. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Friday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $30, $25 members, $15 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
Albert Castiglia Band
South Florida blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Albert Castiglia visits Bradenton restaurant and music venue Birdrock Taco Shack after just recently receiving his latest Blues Music Award nomination. Castiglia earned a nomination for his 2022 full-length "I Got Love" in the Blues Rock Album category, which he previously won in 2020, along with Blues Rock Artist last year. Prior to his solo career, Castiglia had a stint touring with blues legend Junior Wells as his lead guitarist until Wells' death in 1998. 7:30 p.m. Friday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $15 advance, $20 day of; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco
Village Bluegrass Festival
Meanwhile, Birdrock Taco Shack's sister restaurant Cottonmouth, located in the same Village of the Arts neighborhood, will host two days of bluegrass music this weekend. Tampa-based "uncut ukulele funk" group The Applebutter Express, whose married members Kyle and Shannon Biss met at a Bradenton record store and have gone on to play Bonnaroo and have their music appear in the Reese Witherspoon film "The Good Lie," will perform Friday. Other bands performing Saturday include Sycamore Shade, Stumble Creek, Passerine, The Stillhouse Shakers and The Wandering Hours. 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
Tommy DeCarlo
The Center of Anna Maria Island's Bradenton Gulf Island Concert Series continues with a solo show by Tommy DeCarlo, current lead singer for "More Than a Feeling" rockers Boston. DeCarlo joined Boston after the death of original frontman Brad Delp in 2007, touring with the group and appearing on their 2013 album "Life, Love & Hope," also releasing the solo album "Dancing in the Moonlight" last year. His Anna Maria Island show will feature two other members of a rock group as special guests: August Zadra and Jimmy Leahey, of former Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung's band. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show Saturday; The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria; $55 and up; 941-778-1908; centerami.org
King Margo
Fogartyville will also host a double-bill of folk/Americana duos this week when it welcomes King Margo and Alice Howe & Freebo. The Nashville-based King Margo, comprising Rachel Coats and Lucciana Costa, performs after releasing their latest album "Waters Rise" last year. Opening for them will be the pair of singer Alice Howe and bassist Daniel "Freebo" Friedberg, best known for his work playing and recording with Bonnie Raitt. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Saturday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $20, $18 members, $10 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
The Kennedys
Listening Room of Sarasota, which has brought touring singer-songwriter acts to the area for intimate concerts, welcomes back folk-rock group The Kennedys this weekend. The Kennedys have no relation to the political dynasty of the same name, but are rather named after married members Maura and Pete Kennedy, who both formerly played in Nanci Griffith's band. The group has released numerous studio albums, most recently 2018's "Safe Until Tomorrow," along with 2014's "Dance a Little Closer: The Kennedys Sing the Songs of Nanci Griffith," paying tribute to their former bandmate. 6:30 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show Sunday; Music Compound, 1751 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; $25 donation; email lrsrq@yahoo.com
Damon Fowler
Days after releasing his new live album, recorded at St. Petersburg's The Palladium, guitarist, singer-songwriter and former Anna Maria Island resident Damon Fowler will visit Big Top and Englewoods on Dearborn for shows. "Live at the Palladium" follows Fowler's 2021 full-length "Alafia Moon," which topped the Billboard blues album chart and earned a Blues Music Award nomination for Blues Rock Album. Along with his solo career, Fowler plays in the group Southern Hospitality with Grammy-nominated pianist Victor Wainwright and fellow Floridian J.P. Soars. 3 p.m. Sunday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com; 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
The Chris O'Leary Band
Englewood on Dearborn's live music lineup this week will also include singer and harmonica player Chris O'Leary with his band. O’Leary spent six years fronting the blues group The Barn Burners alongside legendary The Band drummer-singer Levon Helm before going solo, nominated for a Best New Artist Debut Blues Music Award and winning a New Artist Debut Release Blues Blast Award for his 2010 album “Mr. Used to Be.” O'Leary most recently released the 2019 album "7 Minutes Late." 6 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
Once an Outlaw
Big Top this week will also host this show highlighting the music of Tampa-formed Southern rockers the Outlaws, featuring former members of the group. The Sarasota-raised Chris Anderson, whose musical career also includes his 1995 solo album "Old Friend" with a title track that was later recorded by the Allman Brothers Band, will perform with fellow former Outlaw Harvey Dalton Arnold and others. Expect to hear Outlaws favorites such as their 1975 Top 40 hit "There Goes Another Love Song" and the nearly ten-minute track "Green Grass and High Tides." 7 p.m. Thursday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; $15; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com
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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 near me in Sarasota, Bradenton area
