Top 6 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Englewood

This edition of concert picks marks the first full week of 2024, and while it'll be quieter than most weeks in January's local events calendar, that doesn't mean we'll be lacking noteworthy concerts. In fact, this week features two separate singers and actresses who've both performed on Broadway and released original music visiting our area for shows.

This week will also see the return of an annual Celtic Winter Jam, and like most weeks in Sarasota-Manatee, it'll feature multiple acclaimed blues performers, including a two-time Blues Music Awards winner and two four-time BMA nominees. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.

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Biscuit Miller

Blues bassist and singer-songwriter Biscuit Miller, who recently celebrated his birthday with a bash at Englewoods on Dearborn, will play another area show at Cottonmouth in Bradenton. 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. 8 p.m. Friday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $5; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul

Maria Wirries

Singer and actress Maria Wirries was 13 years old when she started performing concerts at Glenridge Performing Arts Center, with the venue's musical director Alan Corey also serving as her voice teacher, and now she'll return to its stage for a night of music. Since her time in the Sarasota area, Wirries has appeared in the Broadway and touring productions of “Dear Evan Hansen” and the off-Broadway revival of “Kinky Boots.” She also performs her own original music, releasing the 2020 album "Just Keep Singing" and 2022 EP "Summer Ends." 7:30 pm. Saturday; Glenridge Performing Arts Center, 7333 Scotland Way, Sarasota; $20-$25; 941-552-5325; gpactix.com

Mitch Woods

Cottonmouth will also welcome "rock-a-boogie" pianist and singer Mitch Woods this weekend. Woods has released numerous albums on esteemed blues label Blind Pig Records including 2019's "A Tip of the Hat to Fats," recorded at the famed New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Last year he released a deluxe edition of his 2017 album "Friends Along the Way" — featuring guest musicians including Van Morrison, Taj Mahal and Elvin Bishop — that earned a Blues Music Award nomination for Acoustic Blues Album in 2018, with Woods also earning his third nomination in the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player category. 7 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10 advance, $15 day of; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul

Celtic Winter Jam

The annual Celtic Winter Jam, celebrating the new year with a full day of live music, will return this weekend to Bradenton brewery 3 Keys Brewing's beer garden. Topping the bill will be Orlando folk band Beemo, whose song "Did For You" appeared in the acclaimed 2021 film "Red Rocket" (Perhaps director Sean Baker discovered them while filming his previous movie, 2017's "The Florida Project," in the Orlando area.) Sarasota Celtic pub/punk rock band Clover's Revenge, who visited Ireland last year, will also perform, with Ennis Pruitt rounding out the lineup. 2-10 p.m. Saturday; 3 Keys Brewing & Gastrobrew, 2505 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $8, free ages 14 and under; 941-218-0396; 3keysbrewing.com

Kat Riggins

Hailing from Miami, blues singer-songwriter Kat Riggins will head to Englewoods on Dearborn this week for what the venue says will be her first show there in years. Riggins earned two Blues Music Awards nominations last year, for Soul Blues Female Artist and Soul Blues Album for 2022's "Progeny." She was nominated for Soul Blues Female Artist in 2022, too, and for Contemporary Blues Album in 2021 for "Cry Out," her debut on Mike Zito's Gulf Coast Records. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $10; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com

Nellie McKay

Singer-songwriter and actress Nellie McKay will return to Fogartyville this week. McKay made a splash with her 2004 debut album "Get Away from Me," earning praise from outlets including Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone, and has released music ever since, most recently last year's full-length "Hey Guys, Watch This." She also appeared on Broadway in the 2006 revival of "The Threepenny Opera" and in the 2007 film "P.S. I Love You," which also featured her music on its soundtrack, as have other movies such as "Private Life" and TV shows such as "Grey's Anatomy" and "Weeds." 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show Thursday, Jan. 11; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $40, $35 members, $17.50 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 6 concerts near me this week in Sarasota Bradenton Englewood