Top 5 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Englewood, Punta Gorda
With Christmas on Monday and all the surrounding holiday festivities, it'll be a quieter than usual week in December's local events calendar, including for concerts. Yet if you're hoping to see some live music this week, perhaps with friends or family visiting from out of town for the holidays, don't worry: you'll still have some options.
Notable concerts this week will include a Grammy-nominated Tejano and norteño group performing as part of the grand opening festivities for a new venue, a Sarasota native and former member of a famed Tampa Southern rock band returning to the area for a homecoming show, and a two-time Blues Music Award winner playing a gig that doubles as a birthday bash. Another Blues Music Award-nominated musician will play two local venues this week, as will a former member of Buddy Guy's band. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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Ben Prestage
Florida-raised, self-described "Deep South Swamp Music" performer Ben Prestage will play shows both at the beginning and end of this week at Bradenton's Cottonmouth and Punta Gorda's Celtic Ray, respectively. Prestage grew up in rural Florida and later lived in Memphis, where as a street performer he started playing drums with his feet while simultaneously singing and playing other instruments, a setup he'd bring back to his home state. His repertoire of instruments he plays includes the diddley bow, which earned him a Blues Music Award nomination for Instrumentalist — Other in 2012. 7 p.m. Friday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10 advance, $15 day of; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul; 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net
Siggno
The Grammy-nominated, Santa Rosa, Texas-based group Siggno will visit Sarasota for a show that will also celebrate the grand opening of Strobes Venue, according to event organizers. Playing the regional Mexican music of norteño and Tejano, Siggno have earned two Grammy nominations: Best Tejano Album for 2002's "Por Amor" and Best Norteño Album for 2008's "Six Pack," with both categories since discontinued and replaced with Best Música Mexicana Album (including Tejano.) The group's most recent album is last year's "Sobrevivir." 10 p.m. Saturday; Strobes Venue, 3251 17th St., Sarasota; $35, VIP tables also available; 941-304-9377; tickeri.com
Rattlebone
Singer-songwriter, guitarist and Sarasota native Chris Anderson, also a former member of Tampa-formed Southern rock group the Outlaws, will return to the area for a show with his more recent project Rattlebone. Along with the Outlaws and Rattlebone, Anderson released the 1995 solo album "Old Friend," with its title track co-written with Warren Haynes and later recorded by the Allman Brothers Band as the last song on their last studio album, 2003's "Hittin' the Note." Former ABB member David Goldflies and Mike Kach of ABB co-founder Dickey Betts' band Great Southern join Anderson, along with Mark Serio and Garrett Dawson. 7 p.m. Saturday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; free, $15 reserved VIP seating; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com
Frank Bang
Also set to play multiple shows locally this week is bluesman Frank "Bang" Blinkal, who will visit Cottonmouth and Englewoods on Dearborn. The performer started out in the blues hub of Chicago, working at Buddy Guy's Legends club before joining the blues legend's band as a touring guitarist for five years. These days, he serves as a frontman himself, having released albums such as 2016's "The Blues Don't Care" under the name Frank Bang & The Cook County Kings. 7 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10 advance, $15 day of; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul; 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
Biscuit Miller
Englewoods on Dearborn's live music lineup this week will also include a birthday bash for blues bassist and singer-songwriter Biscuit Miller, who turns 62 years old a few days after the show. A two-time winner of the Blues Music Award for Instrumentalist — Bass, Miller has released albums including 2019's "Chicken Grease" and 2010's "Blues with a Smile," a fitting title for the charismatic performer. Along with leading his own group, Miller performed for years in the bands of other blues musicians such as Lonnie Brooks and Anthony Gomes. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
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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 5 concerts this week in Sarasota Bradenton Englewood Punta Gorda
