Top 12 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Anna Maria, Englewood, Punta Gorda

As we leave January and enter February and a fresh new lineup of local events, it'll be another busy week of live music, with Grammy, Blues Music Award and International Bluegrass Music Association Award-winning or nominated acts among those performing in our area. Those include a group that's up for a Grammy next weekend, who'll headline a music festival in Charlotte County.

Also taking place this week are a tribute to "Time in a Bottle" musician Jim Croce, performed by his singer-songwriter son, and a musician who grew up in Sarasota returning to pay tribute to his former "Green Grass & High Tides" group the Outlaws. There'll be plenty of shows featuring the talented musicians who currently call the Sarasota area home, too, including a performer releasing an album the same day and an original band night. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.

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A.J. Croce

The Center of Anna Maria Island's Bradenton Gulf Island Concert Series continues with "Croce Plays Croce" featuring singer-songwriter A.J. Croce celebrating the music of his father, the folk musician Jim Croce, who died in a 1973 plane crash. Jim Croce's catalog includes the No. 1 hits "Time in a Bottle" and "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," as well as "I Got a Name" from his posthumous album of the same name. A.J. Croce's own recording career started with his 1993 self-titled debut full-length, co-produced by T-Bone Burnett. 6 p.m. Friday; The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria; sold out as of press time; 941-778-1908; centerami.org

Champ Jaxon Band

Punta Gorda 13-year-old blues-rock guitar prodigy Champ Jaxon will play SandBar Tiki & Grille in Englewood on Friday, the same day his new live album "An Evening with the Champ Jaxon Band" is set to be released. Recorded at Venice's Troll Music, the album features two new originals, songs from Jaxon's 2021 debut "The Grove" and some of the band's favorite covers. In 2021, Jaxon also appeared on "Ellen," jamming with and receiving a guitar from guest host and country star Brad Paisley. 7 p.m. Friday; SandBar Tiki & Grille, 1975 Beach Road, Englewood; 941-460-8280; sandbartikigrille.com

Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers

The weekend before this year's Grammys, nominated New Orleans band Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers will headline the Charlotte Harbor Chili, Beer and Music Fest. The group's "Live at the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival" is up for Best Regional Roots Music Album, with their previous release "Top of the Mountain" earning a nomination in the same category in 2018. Accordionist-vocalist Dopsie hails from a musical family that includes his late father Rockin' Dopsie and brother Anthony Dopsie, with the two Dopsie brothers collaborating on "Nothin' But the Best," also nominated for the Regional Roots Music Album Grammy. 11 a.m. Saturday; Laishley Park, 150 Laishley Court, Punta Gorda; $7.50 advance, $10 day of general admission, VIP tables available; eventbrite.com

Chew with Liquid Pennies

Bradenton cafe and venue Oscura will host a show this weekend headlined by Atlanta experimental/psychedelic rock group Chew, which describes its sound as the "antithesis of glossy pop riffs and recycled arrangements." They'll be joined by fellow psych-rockers Liquid Pennies from St. Petersburg, whose fans include Mike Watt of Minutemen and fIREHOSE fame, who's had them appear on his radio program "The Watt from Pedro Show" multiple times. Emo band Jensu, also from St. Pete, rounds out the lineup. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Saturday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $10; 941-201-4950; oscura.live

Original Band Night

Multiple Sarasota area bands who play their own original music will come together for this event. Performers will include psych-rock group Physical Plant, singer-songwriter Lesa Silvermore and her band, R&B-pop artist Me Umbra and reggae/R&B band Treedomm. The event will also feature a local designers fashion show, other fashion artisans, and health and beauty vendors. 7:30 p.m. doors, 8:30 p.m. show Saturday; BOLD Cowork Sarasota, 1680 Fruitville Road, Sarasota; $15 advance, $20 day of, $5 students; eventbrite.com

Jackson Stokes with Melody Trucks

For its Blues & Brews Sunday concert series, Big Top will host Jackson Stokes and Melody Trucks, two musicians with ties to the lineage of the Allman Brothers Band. Stokes is known for his collaborations with Devon Allman, Gregg Allman's son and esteemed musician in his own right, with Stokes having played in Allman's touring band and Allman producing Stokes' 2019 self-titled debut album. Melody Trucks, meanwhile, is the daughter of late Allman Brothers Band founding member Butch Trucks, and the cousin of Derek Trucks. 3 p.m. Sunday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; free admission; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com

Steve White and Jay Taylor

McCurdy's in downtown Sarasota will host this event featuring its regular entertainment — stand-up comedy — combined with live music. The former will be provided by Steve White, who's appeared on "Def Comedy Jam" and numerous Spike Lee films, including the director's 1989 classic "Do the Right Thing." He'll be joined by country musician Jay Taylor, who was born in Manatee County in Duette and now lives in Nashville and appeared on season three of "The Voice" during auditions. 7 p.m. Monday; McCurdy's Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; $35; 941-925-3869; mccurdyscomedy.com

Damon Fowler Band

Singer-songwriter, guitarist and former Anna Maria Island resident Damon Fowler will play Englewoods on Dearborn this week. Fowler topped the Billboard blues album chart and earned a Blues Music Awards nomination for Blues Rock Album with his 2021 full-length "Alafia Moon," which he followed up with last year's "Live at the Palladium," recorded at the titular St. Pete venue. Along with his solo career, Fowler has also played in the bands of founding Allman Brothers Band members Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks, and in the supergroup Southern Hospitality with Grammy-nominated pianist Victor Wainwright and fellow Floridian J.P. Soars. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com

Johnny Rawls

Englewoods on Dearborn's live music lineup this week will also include Johnny Rawls, kicking off a string of local dates for the soul-blues singer-songwriter and guitarist. Rawls has won two Soul Blues Album Blues Music Awards, for 2018's "I'm Still Around" and 2009's "Ace of Spades," and has been nominated several other times in the same category and for Soul Blues Male Artist. He's nominated again in both categories at this year's Blues Music Awards, after releasing his latest album "Walking Heart Attack" last year. 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $10; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com

Shawn Lane and Richard Bennett

Two acclaimed bluegrass musicians who've performed together will return to Fogartyville this week. Singer and fiddle/mandolin player Shawn Lane is a founding member of Blue Highway, which has earned three Grammy nominations and won numerous International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, while guitarist and vocalist Richard Bennett played in J.D. Crowe and the New South, including on the Grammy-nominated 1994 album "Flashback." The pair, who also released the 2019 collaborative EP "Land & Harbor," will be joined by bassist Michael Godwin at this show. 7 p.m. Thursday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $25, $20 members; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

Once an Outlaw

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Anderson, who grew up in Sarasota, will return to the area for a show with his group Once an Outlaw. Anderson is a former member of Tampa-formed Southern rockers the Outlaws, known for their tracks "There Goes Another Love Song" and "Green Grass & High Tides," with Once an Outlaw featuring other musicians who've played in the Outlaws and similar acts. Anderson also released the 1995 solo album "Old Friend," with the title track co-written with Warren Haynes and later recorded by the Allman Brothers Band as the last track on their last studio album, 2003's "Hittin' the Note." 6 p.m. Thursday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; $20, $35 reserved table seat, $300 VIP table for eight; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com

Ringling Underground

Ringling Underground, the monthly concert series held in The Ringling's courtyard that's free for students, will return in the new year after taking January off. Telula, a funk group that takes inspiration from greats such as Stevie Wonder along with contemporary influences including Vulfpeck, will serve as this month's headliner. They'll be joined by fellow funk group Treis and Friends from Central Florida and singer-songwriter BRIANA! and her band Lemon Royale. 8 p.m. Thursday; The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; $15, free students with ID/members; 941-359-5700; ringling.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 12 concerts in Sarasota Bradenton Anna Maria Englewood Punta Gorda