Top 8 concert picks for shows this week in Sarasota and Bradenton

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This week's local concerts feature musicians spanning multiple genres, cultures, states and countries. Jamaican reggae singer and recent Grammy nominee Etana will headline the closing event for the free, multi-day grand opening of downtown Sarasota's The Bay Park, while Brooklyn Latin band Los Hacheros tops the bill at a salsa party at The Ringling and New Orleans musicians Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs and Big Al and the Heavyweights play local shows.

The latter band also kicks off a weekend of music at Bradenton's Cottonmouth, which appears to be getting back on its feet after recent damage caused by Hurricane Ian. Other notable concerts include a Grammy-winning vocal group kicking off Jazz Club of Sarasota's new season, and a rock group featuring members of multiple well-known Florida bands playing a local headlining show in between music festival dates. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.

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The Manhattan Transfer

The Manhattan Transfer.
The Manhattan Transfer.

Initially set to headline Sarasota Jazz Festival before the pandemic struck, Grammy-winning vocal group The Manhattan Transfer now kicks off Jazz Club of Sarasota's 43rd season with a Sailor Circus Arena concert. The band's numerous Grammy wins over its decades-long career include their 1979 rendition of Weather Report's "Birdland" earning both Best Jazz Fusion Performance and Best Arrangement for Voices for Janis Siegel, who still performs in the group along with fellow longtime members Alan Paul and Cheryl Bentyne. Liston Gregory III will also perform. 7 p.m. Friday; Sailor Circus Arena, 2075 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota; $60-$120; 941-260-9951; jazzclubsarasota.org

The Darling Fire

The Darling Fire.
The Darling Fire.

After recently releasing the new album "Distortions," and in between performances at last month's Furnace Fest in Birmingham, Alabama and this year's upcoming annual punk extravaganza Fest in Gainesville, The Darling Fire will play a headlining show at Bradenton's Oscura. Featuring members from other Florida rock groups such as Further Seems Forever, Shai Hulud and The Rocking Horse Winner, The Darling Fire blends shoegaze, post-hardcore and metal for a sound that's heavy yet melodic. Slap of Reality and In Transit, whose members include Oscura co-owner Ben Bakker, also perform. 7 p.m. Friday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $10; 941-201-4950; oscura.live

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Big Al and the Heavyweights

Big Al and the Heavyweights.
Big Al and the Heavyweights.

Louisiana blues band Big Al and the Heavyweights plays two Sarasota-Manatee shows this weekend, visiting Bradenton's Cottonmouth and Sarasota's Big Top. The group is led by "Big Al" Lauro, who played in the ’90s with Warren Haynes of Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule fame as the Unknown Blues Band. Big Al and the Heavyweights often pay tribute to their Louisiana home on their records, including tracks like "Cajun Roux" and "Hey, Hey Mardi Gras," and most recently released this year's album "Love One Another." 7 p.m. Friday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul; 3 p.m. Sunday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com

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Los Hacheros

Los Hacheros.
Los Hacheros.

As part of its Art of Performance season, The Ringling hosts a Hot Salsa Party this weekend featuring an introductory salsa dance lesson, food and beverage available for purchase, and musical headliners Los Hacheros. The Brooklyn-based band draws from various Latin musical styles such as salsa and bomba, and plays instruments including the guitar-like tres originating from Cuba. Los Hacheros' releases include 2012's "Pilon" and 2016's "Bambulaye," with the group appearing on NPR Music's popular Tiny Desk Concert series the same year as the latter album's release. 7 p.m. Saturday; The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; $35, $100 VIP; 941-359-5700; ringling.org

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The Applebutter Express

Also set to visit Cottonmouth this weekend is self-described "uncut ukulele funk" group The Applebutter Express. The group is based in Tampa but has Sarasota-Manatee ties, with married band members Shannon and Kyle Biss meeting at a Bradenton record store. The Applebutter Express has earned national recognition as well, getting tapped to play massive music festival Bonnaroo in 2012 and having their track "Hey My Brotha" appear in the 2014 Reese Witherspoon film "The Good Lie." 7 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $5; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul

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Etana

Etana.
Etana.

Downtown Sarasota's The Bay Park concludes its 10 Days at the Bay grand opening celebration with a free concert headlined by Jamaican reggae singer Etana. The musician is a two-time Grammy nominee, earning a Best Reggae Album nomination earlier this year for her most recent full-length, 2021's "Pamoja," along with a previous nomination in the same category for her 2018 album "Reggae Forever." Also performing will be local reggae favorites Jah Movement, as well as the duo Ariella featuring Ariella McManus and Nicolaas Kraster, formerly of Ari and the Alibis. 6 p.m. Sunday; The Bay, 655 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; free; 10daysatthebay.org

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Johnny Sansone

Cottonmouth closes out a busy weekend of live music with Johnny Sansone, who will play the restaurant and venue's Hillbilly Gospel Brunch. The singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist released his latest album "Into Your Blues" earlier this year, with special guests including Little Freddie King and fellow harmonica player Jason Ricci (who's set to play Cottonmouth next month.) Sansone has also earned multiple Blues Music Awards nominations, winning Song of the Year for the title track to his 2011 album "The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too." 11:30 a.m. Sunday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $15; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul

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Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs

Shamarr Allen.
Shamarr Allen.

Sarasota's Fogartyville welcomes back trumpeter and singer Shamarr Allen and his group the Underdawgs this week. Hailing from New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward, Allen is part of the long lineage of brass players from the city, naming his 2018 album "True Orleans." His sound also heavily incorporates hip-hop and R&B, featuring New Orleans bounce music breakout star Big Freedia on that album's opening track "Greatest Place in the World," and releasing a cover of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak duo Silk Sonic's "Leave the Door Open" last year. 6:45 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show Thursday, Oct. 27; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $20, $18 members, $10 students 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

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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 Sarasota, Bradenton concerts near me this week