Top 5 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Osprey, Punta Gorda
We're nearing October and its onslaught of new local events, but there's still some fun to be had in September, including arguably the biggest concert of the month this week. Just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop this year, a pioneering rap group will visit Sarasota's Big Top Brewing Company for a concert, joined by members of another classic hip-hop act.
Other festivities include the conclusion of a popular outdoor summer concert series and a Sarasota community radio station and music venue celebrating the arrival of fall with a free festival, with other genres represented in this week's concert picks including reggae, ska, R&B and punk. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
More events this week: Free concert on the bay and more fun things to do this weekend in Sarasota, Bradenton
100-plus fun things to do in October in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
50+ fun things to do in September in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties
Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday
The Freecoasters
Punta Gorda Irish pub and music venue Celtic Ray Public House's live music lineup this week includes ska-reggae-soul group The Freecoasters. Though the group hails from nearby Fort Myers, they've found fans nationally, with Jesse Wagner of Los Angeles reggae band The Aggrolites producing their two full-lengths, 2021's "A Different Kind of Heat" and 2016's "Show Up." The Freecoasters are also set to play Washington, D.C.'s famed venue Black Cat (which just recently celebrated its 30th anniversary) later this year with two big names in ska, The Slackers and Mustard Plug. 8 p.m. Friday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net
Jah Movement
Local reggae favorites Jah Movement will close out Van Wezel's popular free outdoor summer concert series Friday Fest, with multiple other chances to see them this week locally in Sarasota, Bradenton and Osprey. The group's members include soulful singer Shantel Norman and Damie Caines, who formerly played in fellow reggae band Democracy alongside his late father Oswald "Ham" Caines. 5 p.m. Friday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; free; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org; 1 p.m. Saturday; The Bamboozer, 313 Old Main St., Bradenton; 941-748-7795; facebook.com/bamboozer941; 8 p.m. Saturday; The O Bar, 748 S. Tamiami Trail, Osprey; 941-966-1251; facebook.com/theobarosprey; 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28; The Gator Club, 1490 Main St., Sarasota; 941-366-5969; facebook.com/thegatorclubsrq
Slap of Reality
Fans of punk, particularly its history here in Florida, will want to be sure not to miss this show at Bradenton's Oscura. Topping the bill is Tampa's Slap of Reality, who rose to prominence in the late '80s and early '90s but remain active today, releasing the new album "Goodbye, Me" last month and set to perform alongside hardcore legends Gorilla Biscuits in November at Tampa's The Brass Mug. They'll be joined by Defrauded, whose name may ring a bell because it features members from Venice punk group No Fraud and other bands, Sarasota's Caswell the Mighty, and Las Nadas, whose members include Doug Holland, owner of Jerk Dog Records in Bradenton. 7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show Saturday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $5; 941-201-4950; oscura.live
Fall Fest
Sarasota community radio station 96.5 WSLR and venue Fogartyville welcome the public to this free festival celebrating the fall season, featuring live music. R&B artist Me Umbra from Sarasota will perform along with reggae act Natural Vibes, which includes WSLR programmer Marco Ciceron, and DJ GratiDude, host of “Attitude of Gratitude” on WSLR. The event will also include CDs for sale, studio tours, Venice Photo Booth, Big Blue Grilled Cheese Company truck, and beer and wine available for purchase. 6 p.m. Sunday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; free; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
Sugarhill Gang
Those looking to celebrate the 50th birthday of hip-hop locally will be hard-pressed to find a better option than this Sarasota show featuring a pioneering rap group, plus the members of another classic hip-hop act. Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" was the first rap single to be a Billboard Top 40 hit in 1979, long before hip-hop became the most popular genre in the U.S., and has since been inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame and Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. They'll be joined by Melle Mel and Scorpio of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-inducted group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, whose 1982 track "The Message" was named the greatest hip-hop song of all time by Rolling Stone (with "Rapper's Delight" coming in at No. 2.) 7 p.m. Thursday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; $40; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com
If you would like to be considered for this story, please submit your event to tinyurl.com/SubmitEventHeraldTribune at least 10 days before our Thursday publication date.
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top concerts near me in Sarasota, Bradenton, Osprey, Punta Gorda
