Top 8 concert picks for shows this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Englewood and Punta Gorda
It's another wide-ranging week of live music in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties, with a blend of genres from local, national and even international musicians. Latin Grammy and Billboard Latin Music Award-winning Cuban reggaetón duo Gente de Zona play Sarasota's Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Friday, for instance, while U.K. Americana duo The Black Feathers visits the nearby Fogartyville Media and Arts Center.
In Manatee County, meanwhile, Oscura hosts Tulsa, Oklahoma punks Cliffdiver for a headlining show on their way to play The Fest in Gainesville. It kicks off a busy week for the recently reopened Bradenton cafe and venue that also includes an album release show for a local band and an Oct. 31 concert, for those who don't already have Halloween plans. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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Gente de Zona
Sarasota has hosted multiple concerts featuring big names in Latin music in recent weeks, and now it hosts another at the city's best-known venue, with Cuban reggaetón duo Gente de Zona playing Van Wezel. Rising to fame for their appearance on Enrique Iglesias' 2014 hit "Bailando," as well as their 2015 No. 1 U.S. Tropical Airplay singles "La Gozadera" and "Traidora" both featuring Marc Anthony, Gente de Zona have won multiple Latin Grammys and Billboard Latin Music Awards. Earlier this year, the pair released its latest album "De Menor a Mayor," featuring their platinum single "Muchacha" with singer Becky G. 8 p.m. Friday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $40 and up; 941-304-9377; tickeri.com
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Cliffdiver, Michael Cera Palin
Update: Cliffdiver posted on social media Friday afternoon that they are canceling their Oscura show due to a health issue involving their drummer.
On their way to perform at Gainesville's annual punk extravaganza Fest this weekend, Cliffdiver will play a headlining show at Bradenton's Oscura. The Tulsa, Oklahoma group's sound blends emo, pop-punk and ska, featuring Florida's Skatune Network on the opening track "New Vegas Bomb" from their debut album "Exercise Your Demons," released earlier this year on SideOneDummy Records. They'll be joined by Atlanta's Michael Cera Palin, whose discography includes a emo-punk rendition of Sheryl Crow's "If It Makes You Happy." Indie rockers Youth Antics from Parrish also perform. 7 p.m. Friday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $12 advance, $15 day of; 941-201-4950; oscura.live
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The Black Feathers
Fogartyville welcomes folk duo The Black Feathers, hailing from Gloucestershire, England and comprising songwriters Ray Hughes and Sian Chandler, for a concert this weekend. The pair has been touring the U.S. following the release earlier this year of their latest album "Angel Dust & Cyanide," featuring originals as well as a twangy cover of Portishead's classic "Glory Box" as its lead single. Sarasota husband-and-wife duo Lazy Daisies open the show. 7:15 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Friday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $18, $15 members, $9 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
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Foolish Relics album release show
Oscura's live music lineup this weekend will also include a concert by Bradenton ska band Foolish Relics, celebrating their recent album release. The group put out the full-length "Too Old?" earlier in October, with notable songs including its title track (which also features the band's name within its lyrics) and the anti-bullying anthem "Words on Bathroom Walls," featuring Brittany Luna of Catbite. Sarasota punk rockers The Hellians and Bradenton singer-songwriter Emily Roff will also perform at the show. 7 p.m. Saturday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $8; 941-201-4950; oscura.live
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Igor & Red Elvises
Siberian surf rock group Igor & Red Elvises' tour of Florida continues. Growing up in the former Soviet Union, Igor Yuzov fell in love with the forbidden sounds of rock ‘n’ roll and founded Red Elvises after moving to California, releasing albums like 1996′s “Grooving to the Moscow Beat” and 1997′s “Surfing in Siberia.” The group is still going strong, releasing new albums throughout the 2010s. Igor & Red Elvises are also set to play Bradenton's Birdrock Taco Shack next weekend. 7 p.m. Sunday; Munchies 420 Cafe, 6639 Superior Ave., Sarasota; 941-303-3304; facebook.com/munchies420fl; 7 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com; 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net
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Roxx Revolt & the Velvets
Oscura closes out this year's Halloween weekend with a show taking place on Oct. 31 itself, featuring rock bands from throughout Southwest Florida. Naples-formed glam rock 'n' roll group Roxx Revolt & the Velvets, who Sarasota-Manatee residents may remember from their performance last year at what's now known as Pride | Be Fabulous Arts & Music Festival, top the bill. They'll be joined by Tampa's P.M.Tiger, who released the album "My Love Music" earlier this year, and Sarasota alternative rock/punk/ska band Neverless. 7 p.m. Monday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $8; 941-201-4950; oscura.live
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J.P. Soars' Gypsy Blue Revue with Anne Harris
Bradenton restaurant Cottonmouth, which has become one of the top places to see national blues acts locally in recent years, will welcome back J.P. Soars' Gypsy Blue Revue with Anne Harris this week. South Florida guitarist and singer-songwriter Soars earned four Blues Music Awards nominations this year with his group the Red Hots, including Band of the Year and B.B. King Entertainer. Violinist and singer-songwriter Harris, meanwhile, has performed both as a solo musician, most recently releasing 2019's "Roots," and alongside other artists including Blues Music Award winner Otis Taylor. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $25 advance, $30 day of; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
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Ringling Underground
Ringling Underground, the concert series held in The Ringling's courtyard that features hip, up-and-coming musicians and is free for college students, continues this month. Headlining November's concert will be Miami electronic act Jean Jacket, which was previously tapped to play that city's massive music festival III Points. St. Pete lo-fi group and recent Creative Loafing Best of the Bay winners Chlorinefields will also perform, along with Sarasota psych-prog-funk rockers Physical Plant. 8 p.m. Nov. 3; The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; $15, free college students with ID/members; 941-359-5700; ringling.org
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota, Bradenton, Punta Gorda area's best live music concerts
