Top 8 concert picks this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Osprey, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda
It's another big week for touring musicians coming to Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties, with rock hitmakers Foreigner visiting Van Wezel and rap-rockers Crazy Town and Kottonmouth Kings performing a double-bill show at Big Top Brewing Company. Charlotte County Fairgrounds will even serve as the site of a two-day country music festival, featuring national headliners in the genre both days.
There'll be shows featuring some of the many talented musicians who call Florida home too, including a benefit event supporting local artists who suffered significant loss during Hurricane Ian, with a lineup of performers that includes former members of The Moody Blues, Yes and Lou Reed's band. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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Joe Crookston
A favorite local venue for traveling singer-songwriters, Fogartyville will welcome another name in the genre this week with Joe Crookston. Based in Ithaca, New York, Crookston's accolades include a Rockefeller Foundation songwriting grant to travel that state's Finger Lakes region for a year and write songs, incorporating some into his 2008 album "Able Baker Charlie & Dog." In recent years, he has also performed in livestream concerts honoring Bob Dylan and the late John Prine, held by State Theatre of Ithaca, alongside artists such as Joan Baez and Rhett Miller. 7:15 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Friday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $22, $20 members, $11 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
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Field of Dreams Country Classic
Charlotte County Fairgrounds hosts this country music festival, featuring national headliners each night. Jordan Davis, who has numerous No. 1 country airplay hits such as "Slow Dance in a Parking Lot" and "Buy Dirt" with Luke Bryan, will top the bill Friday along with Bailey Zimmerman, Chase Matthew, Southbound 75 and Allie Colleen. Gary Allan, who's had hits since the 1990s including No. 1 country songs "Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)" and "Nothing On But the Radio," headlines Saturday along with country duo LoCash (who recently played Big Top Brewing Company) and others. 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Charlotte County Fairgrounds, 2333 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte; $55 single day, $95 weekend general admission, VIP also available; eventbrite.com
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Curtis Salgado
Blues Music Award-winning singer-songwriter and harmonica player Curtis Salgado will play Punta Gorda Woman's Club this week, as well as Bradenton's Birdrock Taco Shack after the initial date was rescheduled due to Tropical Storm Nicole. Earlier this year, Salgado won his latest Blues Music Award in the Soul Blues Male Artist category as well as earning nominations for Instrumentalist — Vocals and Contemporary Blues Album for "Damage Control," his latest full-length for renowned blues label Alligator Records. Salgado is also known for inspiring The Blues Brothers, with their 1978 album "Briefcase Full of Blues" dedicated to him. 7 p.m. Friday; Punta Gorda Woman's Club, 118 Sullivan St., Punta Gorda; $40-$55; thephoenixradio.com; 7 p.m. Monday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $25; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco
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Crazy Town, Kottonmouth Kings
This week's live music lineup at Sarasota brewery and venue Big Top will include a double-bill of two big names in the rap-rock genre, Crazy Town and Kottonmouth Kings, on their Crazy Kings Tour. Best known for their No. 1 hit "Butterfly" off their 1999 debut full-length "The Gift of Game," a platinum-selling album, Crazy Town's current lineup still features co-founding member Seth Binzer. Kottonmouth Kings has also released music from the late 1990s to the modern day, including appearing on the soundtrack to the 1997 hit horror film sequel "Scream 2." Post-industrial band Zeistencroix will also perform. 7 p.m. Saturday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; $25; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com
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Jason Ricci and Joe Krown
Renowned blues musicians Jason Ricci and Joe Krown, who released the collaborative album "City Country City" under the title Ricci/Krown last year, will also perform together at Bradenton restaurant and blues spot Cottonmouth. Ricci won his third Instrumentalist — Harmonica Blues Music Award earlier this year, playing the same instrument on stage alongside Tom Morello and Zac Brown in tribute to The Paul Butterfield Blues Band during the group's 2015 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Meanwhile, Joe Krown is known both for playing piano and organ in Kenny Wayne Shepherd's band and his solo career that's made him a regular New Orleans Jazz Fest performer. 5:30 p.m. Sunday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $12; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
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Hurricane Ian benefit
SWAMI (South West Area Music Industry) and Venice's Troll Music join forces for this benefit event, raising funds for five local musicians and entertainers who suffered significant loss during Hurricane Ian: Patti Highland, Rick Duncan of Maiden Cane, Randy Stephens, Tom Marcellis, and Luke Halpin of former "Flipper" fame. Those scheduled to perform include Ellard-James "Moose" Boles, who previously played bass in Lou Reed's band, and Patrick Moraz, who had stints as keyboardist in The Moody Blues and Yes. The event will also feature a raffle, with prizes including rare autographed photos provided by Halpin. 2 p.m. Sunday; Casey Key Resorts — Mainland, 1660 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey; free admission; gofundme.com
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The Slambovian Circus of Dreams
Fogartyville's live music lineup this weekend will also include New York State-based band The Slambovian Circus of Dreams. The group visits after releasing their latest album "A Very Unusual Head" earlier this year, showcasing their eclectic, psychedelic sound. This year also sees the group adding newcomers to its lineup, with vocalist Joziah Longo and longtime bandmates Tink Lloyd (accordion, cello, mandolin, flute) and Sharkey McEwen (guitar) joined by RJ McCarty (bass, keyboard, sax) and Matthew Abourezk (drums). 7:15 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Sunday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $27-$30, $25-$28 members, $13.50-$15 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
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Foreigner
Van Wezel's 2022-23 season features perhaps its biggest musical name yet (at least, until Bonnie Raitt the following evening) with rock band Foreigner, visiting on their Greatest Hits Tour. The band should have plenty of hits in their discography to choose from, including their chart-topping power ballad "I Want to Know What Love Is" and other hits throughout the '70s and '80s including "Feels Like the First Time," "Hot Blooded," "Double Vision" and "Waiting for a Girl Like You." The group still features founding member Mick Jones, though in recent years he has played on a case-by-case basis due to his health. 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; sold out; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best live music concerts in Sarasota, Bradenton, Port Charlotte area
