Top 8 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Punta Gorda, Englewood

We'll soon welcome December and a fresh lineup of local events, but not before we first bid farewell to November with a busy last week of live music.

This week's concert picks feature multiple Grammy winners, including a bluegrass fiddler and a blues-rock guitarist. Meanwhile, Sarasota's premier performing arts hall Van Wezel will host two Grammy-nominated musicians — another blues-rock guitarist, and a smooth jazz saxophonist on a Christmas tour that's part of the local winter holiday events calendar — while another Grammy-nominated act will play a headlining show ahead of performing at this year's Bradenton Blues Festival. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.

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Steve Arvey and Rev. Billy C. Wirtz

Roots-blues musicians Rev. Billy C. Wirtz and Steve Arvey will team up once again to play together, this time at Fogartyville in Sarasota. Along with hosting the weekly radio show The Rhythm Revival on WMNF, the Rev. Billy C. Wirtz has a dedicated following as a musician, blending irreverent lyrics with serious boogie-woogie piano chops. The Bradenton-based Arvey, meanwhile, is one of the area's busiest bluesmen, as well as a renowned cigar box guitarist. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Friday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $20, $16 members, $10 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

Terry Hanck Band

Blues saxophonist and singer-songwriter Terry Hanck will perform in both Sarasota and Manatee counties this week. Hanck has won three Blues Music Awards for Instrumentalist — Horns and earned several more nominations in the category, as well as in Song of the Year for his track "Appreciate What You Got." Along with his solo career, Hanck toured with Elvin Bishop of "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" fame for more than a decade, later appearing as a guest on Bishop's 2011 live album "Raisin' Hell Revue." 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. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501;  englewoodsondearborn.com

Jason Carter and Friends

Fogartyville's live music lineup this week will also include the return of acclaimed fiddler Jason Carter, joined by musician friends on the Lowdown Hoedown Tour, named after Carter's 2022 album of the same name. Carter has played in renowned bluegrass act Del McCoury Band for more than 30 years, winning six Fiddle Player of the Year International Bluegrass Music Association Awards and three Bluegrass Album Grammys out of 12 overall Grammy nominations. He'll be accompanied by bassist Alan Bartram, guitarist Cody Kilby, banjo player Cory Walker and mandolinist Chris Henry. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show Sunday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $26, $22 members, $13 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

Dave Koz

Just in time for the winter holiday season, Grammy-nominated smooth jazz saxophonist Dave Koz, joined by musician friends, will return to Van Wezel on his 2023 Christmas Tour. Koz has released numerous Christmas albums, including last year's "Dave Koz & Friends: Christmas Ballads," with a tracklist ranging from traditional holiday favorites such as "Silent Night" to a medley of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" and "Imagine." Koz will perform along with guitarist Jonathan Butler, singer Rebecca Jade, fellow saxophonist Marcus Anderson, and 16-year-old multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Justin Lee Schultz. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $70-$85; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org

Paul Nelson Band

After recently playing Englewoods on Dearborn, Grammy-winning blues-rock guitarist Paul Nelson will visit Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar in Punta Gorda. Nelson played in the band of and produced albums for guitar icon Johnny Winter, winning a Best Blues Album Grammy for Winter's posthumously released 2014 record "Step Back," which also topped Billboard's blues albums chart and won the Blues Rock Album Blues Music Award. Nelson has produced and performed on other musicians' records, and released 2016's "Badass Generation" with his own band. 6 p.m. Wednesday; Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar, 201 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-505-2489; facebook.com/leroyspg

Joe Bonamassa

Van Wezel's live music lineup this week will also include the return of blues rocker Joe Bonamassa. The guitarist and singer-songwriter earlier this year released the full-length "Blues Deluxe Vol. 2," which commemorated the 20th anniversary of his 2003 album "Blues Deluxe" and topped Billboard's blues albums chart. Along with a solo career with multiple other No. 1 Billboard blues albums and three Grammy nominations — including a Best Contemporary Blues Album nomination last year for his full-length "Royal Tea" — Bonamassa was previously a member of the group Bloodline alongside Sarasota County resident Berry Duane Oakley. 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; sold out as of press time; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org

Mark Hummel and James Cotton Band

Just a few days before playing Bradenton Blues Festival, harmonica player and singer-songwriter Mark Hummel and the James Cotton Band will headline nearby Village of the Arts restaurant and venue Cottonmouth. The musicians will pay tribute to Cotton, the harmonica player who performed on Grammy-winning albums including Muddy Waters' "Hard Again" (1977) and his own "Deep in the Blues" (1996) before his death in 2017. Hummel himself earned a Best Blues Album Grammy nomination for producing and performing on 2013's "Remembering Little Walter," paying tribute to another late blues harmonica great. 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul

SIRSY

Upstate New York pop-rock act SIRSY will visit Punta Gorda Irish pub and venue Celtic Ray this week. Comprising vocalist-drummer Melanie Krahmer and guitarist Rich Libutti, SIRSY has a sound larger than one might expect from the duo, with the pair known to play multiple instruments live. The group's releases include the full-length "Coming Into Frame," with the opening track "Cannonball" appearing on the Showtime series "Shameless." Can't make this show? SIRSY will also play Bradenton's Birdrock Taco Shack on Dec. 1. 7 p.m. Thursday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net

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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 in Sarasota, Bradenton, Punta Gorda, Englewood