The top concerts taking place in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties this week.
Last week may have been relatively quiet for live music — indicative of the overall event slowdown in May as we leave snowbird and tourist season in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties — but that's not the case this week, with this concert picks installment featuring nearly twice as many music acts. That includes a rising country star who, as of press time, was sharing space with names like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé on Spotify's Hot Hits USA playlist.
This week's genre and globe-hopping concert picks also include a Grammy, Latin Grammy and Juno Award-winning Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter and a deathcore band all the way from Denmark. You'll find some of the many talented musicians who call Florida home as well, including multiple Blues Music Awards nominees and a benefit concert for an area drummer and his family. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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Alex Cuba
Acclaimed Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Cuba will visit Fogartyville in Sarasota for a show Friday. Cuba has been nominated four times for the Best Latin Pop Album Grammy, finally winning in 2022 for his album "Mendó," beating out a field that included pop star Selena Gomez. He's also won four Latin Grammys, including Best New Artist in 2010, and two Juno Awards (Canada's equivalent of the Grammys) for World Music Album of the Year. He's also collaborated with other musicians such as Nelly Furtado, co-writing multiple songs on her 2009 Spanish-language album "Mi Plan." 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Friday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $36, $32 members, $18 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469;fogartyville.org
Victor Furtado
Fogartyville's live music lineup this weekend will also include Virginia-born, now Nashville-based clawhammer banjo player Victor Furtado on Saturday. Furtado was the recipient of the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Prize in 2019 at 19 years old, the youngest musician to receive the award. Now 24 years old, Furtado has released multiple solo albums as well as last year's "Jake Eddy Meets Victor Furtado," a collaboration with the West Virginia bluegrass guitarist, whose brother Carter Eddy appears on the album as well. Carolina Schott will also perform. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Saturday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $22, $18 members, $11 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469;fogartyville.org
Joanna Connor
Bradenton's Birdrock Taco Shack, one of the top spots to see nationally touring blues musicians locally along with sister restaurant/venue Cottonmouth, will welcome Chicago blues singer-songwriter Joanna Connor this weekend. Connor's lengthy recording career includes releasing multiple albums on the esteemed blues label Blind Pig in the '80s and '90s, 2021's Billboard blues album chart-topping "4801 South Indiana Avenue"on Joe Bonamassa's Keeping the Blues Alive Records, and last year's "Best of Me" on Mike Zito's Gulf Coast Records. She also scored a Blues Music Awards nomination for Instrumentalist — Guitar last year. 7 p.m. Saturday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $25 advance, $30 day of; 941-545-9966;facebook.com/birdrocktaco
Big Al and the Heavyweights
After recently playing Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar (as well as Cottonmouth), Louisiana blues band Big Al and the Heavyweights are set to visit fellow Punta Gorda spot Celtic Ray this weekend. The band is led by "Big Al" Lauro, who used to perform as the Unknown Blues Band with Warren Haynes of Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule fame before the group's current iteration. The band frequently pays tribute to their Louisiana home in their music, with songs such as "Cajun Roux," "Hey, Hey Mardi Gras" and "Happy Mardi Gras to You." 8 p.m. Saturday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115;celticray.net
Pat McDonald and family benefit
Pat McDonald, a drummer who's played in area bands such as Kettle of Fish and The Monsoons as well as the Charlie Daniels Band for several years, recently suffered a stroke, while his wife Jen was diagnosed with breast cancer. To help the family, Stottlemyer's Smokehouse will host this benefit concert with acts including Kettle of Fish and The Monsoons as well as R.J. Howson, Mike Kach, Al Fuller Trio, Bain Beakley, Berry Oakley Jr., Kara Nally, Dirty Byrd and Twinkle, plus planned guest appearances by Damon Fowler (playing another area show that day; keep reading) and Chris Anderson. There will also be food and drink for purchase, giveaways and auctions, including a guitar signed by the event's performers and another by country duo Big & Rich. Noon Sunday; Stottlemyer's Smokehouse, 19 East Road, Sarasota; 941-312-5969; stottlemyerssmokehouse.com
Damon Fowler
Singer-songwriter, guitarist and former Anna Maria Island resident Damon Fowler returns to Sarasota's Big Top Brewing Company for its Blues & Brews Sunday concert series. Fowler topped Billboard's blues chart and earned a Blues Rock Album Blues Music Award nomination for his 2021 studio album "Alafia Moon," which he followed up with last year's "Live at the Palladium," recorded at the titular St. Pete venue. Along with his solo career, Fowler also played with the late Allman Brothers Band members Dickey Betts and Butch Trucks, and has played in the supergroup Southern Hospitality with Grammy-nominated pianist Victor Wainwright and fellow Floridian J.P. Soars. 3 p.m. Sunday; Big Top Brewing Company,975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939;bigtopbrewing.com
Ben Prestage
Celtic Ray's live music lineup this week will also include the return of Florida-raised, self-described "Deep South Swamp Music" performer Ben Prestage. The musician 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. 2 p.m. Sunday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115;celticray.net
Cabal
If you're looking for something a bit different from Florida tropical music, might we suggest Danish deathcore? Copenhagen band Cabal, which plays the genre blending death metal (which in fact has deep roots to sunny Florida) and metalcore and are signed to renowned heavy music label Nuclear Blast Records, will visit Bradenton's Oscura this weekend on the Cursed City Tour. They'll be joined by New Jersey groups Born A New and Float Omen, as well as Florida's own Gas, Death of a Deity and Spiritual Chaos. 6:30 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show Sunday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $15 advance, $20 day of; 941-201-4950;oscura.live
Tucker Wetmore
Big Top, which has become one of the top spots locally to see nationally touring country musicians, will also host a rising star in that genre this week when Tucker Wetmore performs there. This year, Wetmore released the singles "Wine Into Whiskey" and "Wind Up Missin' You," both of which not only charted on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, but also the overall Billboard Hot 100.Each song has also racked up more than 30 million plays on Spotify, which has featured Wetmore on official playlists including Hot Country and Hot Hits USA. Need further proof of his rising star? As of press time, his Big Top show is sold out. 7 p.m. Wednesday; Big Top Brewing Company,975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; sold out as of press time; 941-371-2939;bigtopbrewing.com
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