Big event for Allman Brothers Band fans coming to downtown Sarasota

Sarasota and Manatee counties share a deep connection with the Allman Brothers Band. Dickey Betts is among the area's many celebrity residents, and Gregg Allman called the region home for a period before passing away in 2017.

Later this month, the legacy of the Allman Brothers will be celebrated at one of downtown Sarasota's most popular venues. The event will include an appearance by a renowned rock author who has written two bestselling books about the band, followed by a concert featuring Allman Brothers music. The band will include the son of founding Allman Brothers member Berry Oakley, as well as musicians who performed with Dickey Betts' and founding member Butch Trucks' respective solo bands

Yes, it will be a big night for Allman Brothers Band fans — myself included!

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Bestselling rock author Alan Paul and the music of the Allman Brothers Band at McCurdy's Comedy Theatre in downtown Sarasota

On Oct. 23, McCurdy's Comedy Theatre in downtown Sarasota will host an appearance by New York Times bestselling author Alan Paul. His books include two exceptional works about the Allman Brothers, including his latest release, "Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album that Defined the 70s." It  focuses on the classic album "Brothers and Sisters," which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary and includes such hit songs as "Ramblin' Man," "Jessica," "Southbound" and "Wasted Words."

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a pre-concert Q&A with Paul. Guests will hear about the creative process behind the Allman Brothers' most commercially successful album, the treasure trove of never-before-heard interviews with original band members that Paul used to write the book "Brothers and Sisters," as well as the band's significant impact on Southern rock and popular music in general. I will moderate the Q&A.

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Allman Brothers tribute to feature former Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks' group members as well as Allman Betts Band member

Next, there will be an Allman Brothers Band tribute performance celebrating the 50th anniversary of the album "Brothers and Sisters," featuring some of the region's best musicians. Mike Kach, a longtime member of Dickey Betts' band, will handle vocals and keyboards. Berry Duane Oakley, a member of the Allman Betts Band along with founding Allman Brothers Band offspring Devon Allman and Duane Betts, will play bass and share vocal duties. Thorson Moore, who played in Butch Trucks' Freight Train Band, will be on guitar and vocals. Local standouts RJ Howson (vocals and guitar) and Garrett Dawson (drums) round out this all-star lineup, which will also feature author Paul, an accomplished musician.

Signed copies of Paul’s book, "Brothers and Sisters," which should be mandatory reading even for casual Allman Brothers fans, will be available for purchase. I'm enjoying reading it a second time ahead of the Q&A session, which I promise will be the kind of lively conversation that us Allman Brothers Band fans love to engage in. Finally, I can't wait to hear many of my favorite Allman Brothers songs performed by these top-shelf musicians.

Rock author Alan Paul and music of the Allman Brothers is 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at McCurdy's Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota. Tickets are $31 and can be purchased at mccurdyscomedy.com.

Wade Tatangelo has written the liner notes for Dickey Betts' last two albums: “Official Bootleg Volume 1” (2021) and "Ramblin' Man Live at the St. George Theatre" (2019). Tatangelo's 2020 in-depth interview with Betts is quoted in Alan Paul's bestselling new book "Brothers and Sisters." In addition to writing about the Allman Brothers, Tatangelo serves as Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and contact him by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.​​​​​​

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Big event for Allman Brothers Band fans coming to Sarasota