Top 5 concert picks for shows this week in Sarasota, Bradenton and Punta Gorda
It's hard to believe how fast time has flown, but we're already heading into September, which means snowbirds will soon start flocking back to Sarasota and Manatee. And with them comes a larger lineup of local events, including concerts.
As school starts back up, Ringling Underground — the concert series held in the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art's courtyard that's free for college students — will make its return Sept. 1. Other notable shows taking place this week include Indian classical musicians Vinay Desai and Shankh Lahiri at Fogartyville (which, pro-tip, also offers heavily discounted tickets for students ages 13 or older.) Here are this week's highlights; event details are subject to change.
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Vinay Desai and Shankh Lahiri
Fogartyville in Sarasota this week will welcome Vinay Desai and Shankh Lahiri, who play North Indian, or Hindustani, classical music, an ancient style that was popularized in recent years by musicians such as Ravi Shankar. Desai plays the santoor, a hundred-string instrument that has its origins in the valleys of Kashmir and has a tonal quality that puts listeners in a meditative state. Once the ambience is built, Desai will be joined by Lahiri, who plays the tabla, a pair of hand drums. 8 p.m. Friday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $22, $20 members, $10 students; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
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Trey Wanvig
Trey Wanvig, a talented-beyond-his-years blues rock musician who calls Sarasota home, plays brewery and venue Big Top Brewing Company this weekend. The 20-year-old guitarist and singer-songwriter has been performing since his early teens, including releasing the 2018 EP "Roadside Blues" that he mostly wrote when he was 14 years old and recorded when he was 15. Like a previous Sarasota County show that Wanvig played after receiving his pilot's license, those who attend have the chance to receive a prize pack and flight with Wanvig. 7 p.m. Friday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com
Hymn for Her
Bradenton restaurant and blues/roots venue Cottonmouth's live music lineup this week includes alt-Americana act Hymn for Her, back in the States after recently touring Europe. Featuring husband and wife Wayne Waxing and Lucy Tight, the group previously visited Europe when they were chosen to play England's massive music festival Glastonbury in 2017. Hymn for Her has also earned recognition from Rolling Stone, which named the track "Blue Balloons" from their 2018 album "Pop-n-Downers" one of the 10 best country and Americana songs of that week. 7 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $5; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
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Ringling Underground
Ringling Underground, the monthly concert series featuring indie musical acts playing in The Ringling's courtyard that's free for college students, returns for the fall semester with this show. Naples-formed glam rock 'n' roll group Roxx Revolt & the Velvets, who Sarasotans may remember from their performance last year at what's now known as Pride | Be Fabulous Arts & Music Festival, are joined by St. Pete grunge-rockers Hovercar, who played this year's festival. Sarasota's own avant-pop act The Tilt, which recently released the new album "Up the Gospel," rounds out the lineup. 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1; The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; $15, free college students with ID, members; 941-359-5700; ringling.org
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Ben Prestage
Self-described "Deep South swamp music" performer Ben Prestage returns to one of his regular spots, Punta Gorda Irish pub and venue Celtic Ray. The multi-instrumentalist grew up in rural Florida before later living 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 circuit, he's also developed a national following, recently playing shows in New England and New York. 8 p.m. Thursday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net
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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: Top 5 Sarasota, Bradenton, Punta Gorda concerts this week near me
