Top 10 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Englewood, Port Charlotte
We're now in the thick of November and what's arguably the busiest time of the year for local events, including live music — we easily could've made another entirely different list with all the shows taking place this week, before settling on these final top 10.
The biggest concert in town will be an iconic singer-songwriter, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and named one of the greatest musicians of all time by Rolling Stone, returning to Sarasota. Yet that's not the only big name musician visiting us this week, with other performers including a country star, and a pop-punk group formed in Bradenton playing a homecoming show that's also part of our area's winter holiday season kickoff. And like most weeks, it's a great time to be a blues fan in our area, with multiple Blues Music Award-winning or nominated musicians performing here. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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Travis Denning
After multiple country stars have visited our area for concerts recently, this weekend will feature one more, with Travis Denning headlining Joyland on his way to play Miami's Country Bay Music Festival. Denning is best known for his 2019 single "After a Few," which broke the record for the longest time a song stayed on Billboard's country airplay chart before landing in the No. 1 spot. This year, Denning has released multiple singles, scored a co-writing credit on country superstar Morgan Wallen's song "Devil Don't Know," and featured on Jon Langston's single "I Ain't Country." Jason White will also perform. 8:30 p.m. Friday; Joyland, 8341 Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota; $25 advance, $30 day of ages 21 and up, $35 advance, $40 day of ages 18-20; 941-210-4110; joylandsarasota.com
Have Gun, Will Travel and Austin Lucas
One of Sarasota-Manatee's most acclaimed bands will play a hometown show with a visiting musician when Have Gun, Will Travel and Austin Lucas perform together at Birdrock Taco Shack. The Bradenton-based alt-Americana group HGWT has had their music appear on the television shows "The Good Wife" and "The Ranch," and been covered by outlets such as NPR and No Depression. The Bloomington, Indiana-born folk-punk singer-songwriter Lucas hails from out of state, but his most recent album pays tribute to a famed Florida band: "Reinventing Against Me!," featuring covers of songs by the punk group whose singer Laura Jane Grace recently received Gainesville's Key to the City. 7 p.m. Friday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $10; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco
Tinsley Ellis and Marcia Ball
Two renowned blues musicians, guitarist Tinsley Ellis and pianist Marcia Ball, will play two nights of shows of "Acoustic Songs and Stories" at Fogartyville. Ellis earned his two latest Blues Music Award nominations earlier this year for Blues Rock Album, for 2022's "Devil May Care," and Blues Rock Artist, with Ellis also associated with rock groups such as the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead (his project Tinsley Ellis Blues is Dead performs blues and R&B songs recorded by the Dead and other Fillmore-era acts.) Ball, meanwhile, is the recipient of multiple Instrumentalist — Piano Blues Music Awards and was featured in the Clint Eastwood-directed "Piano Blues" episode of the series "The Blues." 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Friday and Saturday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; both shows sold out as of press time; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
We the Kings
Formed in Bradenton (their name comes from Martha B. King Middle School, which the band's members attended), We the Kings will play a homecoming show as part of Santa's Grand Arrival Parade at University Town Center. The pop-punk group rose to fame with their 2007 self-titled debut full-length and its platinum-selling single "Check Yes Juliet," followed by the 2009 album "Smile Kid," featuring the song "We'll Be A Dream" with Demi Lovato. The band has continued to release music, including the 2018 holiday album "Season's Greetings from the Sandbar" — with an opening rendition of "Silent Night" featuring the sounds of Anna Maria Island — that should make them a fitting performer for the event. 8:15 p.m. Saturday; University Town Center, 210 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; free; 941-552-7000; mallatutc.com
Johnny Sansone
Cottonmouth, Birdrock Taco Shack's sister establishment in the same Village of the Arts neighborhood, will welcome New Orleans singer-songwriter, harmonica player, accordionist and guitarist Johnny Sansone, not far from where he played the inaugural Bradenton Blues Festival in 2012. That same year, Sansone was nominated for numerous Blues Music Awards after the release of his album "The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too," winning Song of the Year for its title track. Sansone has released several more albums since then, including last year's "Into Your Blues," featuring guests Little Freddie King and fellow past Bradenton Blues Festival performer Jason Ricci. 5 p.m. Sunday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
Patti Smith
Iconic singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who was named Selby Gardens' first artist-in-residence and performed there twice last year, will return for “An Evening with Patti Smith Dedicated to Georgia O’Keeffe,” ahead of the gardens' upcoming exhibition "Yayoi Kusama: A Letter to Georgia O’Keeffe." Smith is known for her highly influential 1975 album "Horses," which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021 and named the 26th greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone in 2020, as well as her 1978 hit "Because the Night" co-written with Bruce Springsteen. Rolling Stone also named Smith the 47th best musical act of all time, and she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. 7 p.m. Wednesday; Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St., Sarasota; sold out as of press time; 941-366-5731; selby.org
Popa Chubby
Birdrock Taco Shack's live music lineup this week will also include blues rocker Popa Chubby. The guitarist and singer-songwriter, born Ted Horowitz, has credentials in both genres, having released albums on respected blues label Blind Pig Records and performed for a stint in the band of iconic punk rocker Richard Hell. Earlier this year, the New York City native released the live album "Live at G. Bluey's Juke Joint NYC" after previously releasing 2022's "Emotional Gangster" and 2021's "Tinfoil Hat," the latter album receiving a Blues Music Award nomination for Blues Rock Album. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $15 advance, $20 day of; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco
Chris O'Leary Band
Update: Chris O'Leary Band has cancelled its show Wednesday at Englewoods on Dearborn, according to the venue.
Shortly after the announcement of his signing to esteemed Chicago blues label Alligator Records, which is set to release his new album "The Hard Line" in January 2024, singer-songwriter and harmonica player Chris O'Leary will visit Sarasota County restaurant and blues venue Englewoods on Dearborn. Prior to his solo career, O’Leary spent six years fronting the blues group The Barn Burners alongside the late great The Band drummer-singer Levon Helm. He then struck out on his own with the 2010 album “Mr. Used to Be,” which was nominated for a Best New Artist Debut Blues Music Award and won a New Artist Debut Release Blues Blast Music Award. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
Walter Trout
The former lead guitarist of Canned Heat and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, turned successful solo musician, Walter Trout will visit our area to play The Event Center in Port Charlotte. Trout is a four-time Blues Music Award winner, twice each in the Blues Rock Album and Song of the Year categories, most recently winning in 2021 for the track "All Out of Tears" that he co-wrote with Teeny Tucker and his wife Marie Trout. That song appeared on his 2020 full-length "Ordinary Madness," with his most recent studio album being last year's "Ride." Shaw Davis & the Black Ties will also perform. 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16; The Event Center, 24411 Rampart Blvd., Port Charlotte; $40 general admission, $65 preferred seating; thephoenixradio.com
Damon Fowler Band
Also playing Englewoods on Dearborn this week will be blues/roots singer-songwriter, guitarist and former Anna Maria Island resident Damon Fowler. His most recent studio album was 2021's "Alafia Moon," which topped Billboard's blues albums chart and received a Blues Music Award nomination for Blues Rock Album last year, and earlier this year he released the live album "Live at the Palladium," recorded at the namesake St. Petersburg venue. Along with his solo career, Fowler has also played in the groups of founding Allman Brothers Band members Dickey Betts and the late Butch Trucks, and in the supergroup Southern Hospitality with Grammy-nominated pianist Victor Wainwright and fellow Floridian J.P. Soars. 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top concerts near me in Sarasota Bradenton Englewood Port Charlotte
