Top 8 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton

As we bid farewell to April, and welcome May and its fresh lineup of local events, some of each months' biggest concerts will take place this week. Those include a singer with multiple Grammy Hall of Fame-inducted songs and a blues rock band celebrating 50 years as a group, both playing Van Wezel, while nearby in downtown Sarasota, one half of a famed country duo will perform at the same theater currently hosting a production he wrote music for.

Other notable shows will include two punk gigs in Bradenton and a Sarasota concert paying tribute to musical acts such as The Allman Brothers Band, whose founding member and longtime Sarasota County resident Dickey Betts sadly died last week. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.

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Pre-Parade Punk Rock Party

Before this year's De Soto Grand Parade takes over Manatee Avenue in downtown Bradenton on Saturday, the venue Oscura on the same avenue will hold a Pre-Parade Punk Rock Party the night before. Those performing include Defrauded, featuring members from various area '80s hardcore bands such as Venice's No Fraud, Sarasota-Bradenton's Belching Penguin and Tampa's Slap of Reality. They'll be joined by Port Charlotte's The Anti-Don'ts (who released a split with '80s punk band MDC), Palmetto's Highest Crown and St. Pete's Human Error. 7 p.m. Friday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $5 advance, $10 day of; 941-201-4950; oscura.live

Damon Fowler

Guitarist, singer-songwriter and former Anna Maria Island resident Damon Fowler is set to play shows in both Bradenton and Sarasota this weekend. Fowler's most recent studio album, 2021's "Alafia Moon," topped the Billboard blues album chart and earned a Blues Music Award nomination for Blues Rock Album. Along with his solo career, Fowler has played in the groups of the late Allman Brothers Band co-founders Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks, and in the supergroup Southern Hospitality with Grammy-nominated pianist Victor Wainwright and fellow Floridian J.P. Soars. 7:30 p.m. Friday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $20 advance, $25 day of; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco; 3 p.m. Sunday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com

Johnny Mathis

Celebrated singer Johnny Mathis will return to Van Wezel on his The Voice of Romance tour. Mathis' career accolades include receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and having his renditions of "Chances Are," "Misty" and "It's Not for Me to Say" inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, plus five competitive Grammy nominations and two songs he sang — "Wild is the Wind" and "A Certain Smile," from the films of the same name — being nominated for the Best Original Song Oscar. Mathis is also known for his Christmas music, with his most recent album being last year's "Christmas Time is Here." 8 p.m. Saturday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $90-$110; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org

Jerk Dog Records 10 Year Anniversary Party

Jerk Dog Records in Village of the Arts will celebrate 10 years in business with a free, all-ages show held by their neighbors Birdrock Taco Shack. Those set to perform include the Burke brothers of Bradenton alt-Americana band Have Gun Will Travel, whose song "Our Fair City" references Jerk Dog Records ("There's a punk rock show at the record store in the Village of the Arts/And the music in the air ignites the fire in our hearts") and other Bradenton landmarks. Tiger 54, Teen Cobra, Las Nadas (whose members include Jerk Dog Records owner Doug Holland) and Sir Sympathy will also play the event benefiting ALSO Youth. 6 p.m. Saturday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; free; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco

Liz Longley

Sarasota's Fogartyville, one of the top spots to see nationally touring singer-songwriter acts locally, will host the Nashville-based Liz Longley this week. Longley is touring around this year's EP "It's Me Again," a collection of acoustic remakes of her cornerstone songs. Her previously released music, which includes her self-titled 2015 album, 2016's "Weightless" and 2020's "Funeral for My Past," has landed her on Spotify playlists such as Deep Dark Indie. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show Sunday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $25, $20 members, $12.50 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

Kristian Bush

Half of the country duo Sugarland, Kristian Bush wrote music for the stage production "Troubadour" centered on country music that's currently playing at Florida Studio Theatre, and Bush himself will perform at the theater this week. As a member of Sugarland, Bush earned several No. 1 country hits, three multi-platinum albums and a won a Grammy for the song "Stay." In more recent years, Sugarland released the song "Babe" featuring Taylor Swift, and just announced a tour with fellow country group Little Big Town. At his FST show, Bush will perform songs written for "Troubadour" along with his brother Brandon Bush — who he also plays in the jam band Dark Water with — and delve into the meaning and stories behind the music. 7:30 p.m. Monday; John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota; $39-$42; 941-366-9000; floridastudiotheatre.org

Dylan, Allmans, Grateful Dead and More

McCurdy's Music Monday series will return in April with this show paying tribute to rock icons such as Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band and Tom Petty. Charlotte, North Carolina singer-songwriter Josh Daniel, who received attention including a "Kelly Clarkson Show" segment for performing daily livestream concerts during lockdown, will perform with The Ramblin’ Rockers featuring locally based musicians RJ Howson, Mike Kach, Garrett Dawson, and Berry Oakley Jr. Don't be surprised if there's a particular tribute to recently departed Allman Brothers member Dickey Betts, especially with some of the Ramblin' Rockers' personal connections to him. 7 p.m. Monday; McCurdy's Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; $35; 941-925-3869; mccurdyscomedy.com

George Thorogood and the Destroyers

Blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter George Thorogood and his group the Destroyers will return to Van Wezel on a tour celebrating 50 years performing together, having played their first show at University of Delaware's Lane Hall on Dec. 1, 1973. Of their originals, the band is best known for "Bad to the Bone" — which has appeared in films ranging from "Christine" to "Terminator 2: Judgement Day" to "Shaun the Sheep Movie" — and "I Drink Alone." Yet they're also known for their covers including "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" and "Who Do You Love?", the latter written and recorded by the late former Floridian Bo Diddley. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $57-$85; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.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 8 concerts this week near me in Sarasota Bradenton