Top 6 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, Englewood
As October and its lineup of local events presses on, we have another wide-ranging week of live music, with this edition of concert picks spanning multiple cities in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. We start with a Blues Music Award-winning South Florida guitarist and singer-songwriter performing in Bradenton, with another musician from the same region and genre also playing the Friendly City — for the three-year anniversary of a venue and restaurant — as well as one of our area's top Irish pubs and a reopening Sarasota County spot.
This week's lineup also includes a trio of free events featuring live music: the latest installment of a Lakewood Ranch block party and concert series, a family-friendly kickoff to a local orchestra's 75th anniversary season, and a reggae show on Venice Island. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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Albert Castiglia
South Florida-based, nationally acclaimed blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Albert Castiglia will visit Bradenton's Birdrock Taco Shack this weekend. After playing in groups including late blues great Junior Wells' band, Castiglia embarked on a successful solo career, earning Blues Music Awards for Blues Rock Album in 2020, Blues Rock Artist in 2022, and both awards this year. Castiglia also performs with fellow blues-rock favorite Mike Zito as the Blood Brothers, recently winning a Rock Blues Album Blues Blast Music Award for their self-titled debut full-length. 7:30 p.m. Friday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $20 advance, $25 day of; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco
R.J. Howson and Friends
Music on Main, the free monthly concert series and block party on Lakewood Ranch's Main Street, will feature blues guitarist and singer-songwriter R.J. Howson and musician friends of his in October. Howson, who lived in the blues hub of Chicago before relocating to the Sarasota area, says he'll be joined by bassist/vocalist Berry Duane Oakley — a member of Allman Betts Band, and son of the late Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley — and drummer Mike Fender. Along with live music, Music on Main features food vendors, beer trucks and kids' games and activities. R.J. Howson and Friends will also play at Big Top Brewing Company on Sunday for its Blues & Brews concert series. 6 p.m. Friday; 8100 Lakewood Main St., Lakewood Ranch; free; 941-907-9243; lakewoodranch.com
Sarasota Orchestra Free Family Concert
Sarasota Orchestra will kick off its 75th anniversary season with a concert that's free and fun for the whole family. Titled "Ferret in the Orchestra," the narrated concert is specially designed for elementary and middle school-aged audiences and will feature a combination of high-energy classical music and favorite popular tunes. Christopher Confessore of Brevard and Alabama symphony orchestras conducts and Gregory Smith, who has composed music for Disney's theme parks, narrates the concert, which will run one hour long with no intermission. 7 p.m. Friday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; free; sarasotaorchestra.org/family-concert
J.P. Soars and the Red Hots
Another South Florida-based, nationally acclaimed blues act visits our area this weekend when J.P. Soars and the Red Hots play multiple shows, including Cottonmouth's third anniversary. The group received four Blues Music Awards nominations last year: Band of the Year, B.B. King Entertainer and Instrumentalist — Guitar for Soars, and Instrumentalist — Drums for his bandmate Chris Peet. Soars also plays in the supergroup Southern Hospitality with Grammy-nominated pianist Victor Wainwright and fellow Floridian Damon Fowler. 8 p.m. Friday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net; 6:30 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul; 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 12; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
Reggae Nights on the Island
This event aims to bring Caribbean vibes to Venice Island, featuring two reggae bands playing a free concert in downtown Venice's Centennial Park. Ocala's Propaganjah, which describes its sound as "soul and R&B-filled Caribbean reggae with a heavy edge," will perform with Tampa's ichroniq, who just recently visited the Sarasota area opening for Kash'd Out at their concert last month at Big Top Brewing Company. The concert takes place at Centennial Park's gazebo, with attendees encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. 5 p.m. Saturday; Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave., Venice; free general admission, $20 VIP; facebook.com/reggaenightslive
Chris O'Leary Band
Sarasota County restaurant and blues venue Englewoods on Dearborn is set to return from a month-long vacation, with singer/harmonica player Chris O'Leary and his band among its first music acts back. O’Leary spent six years fronting the blues group The Barn Burners alongside the late great The Band drummer-singer Levon Helm before going solo, getting nominated for a Best New Artist Debut Blues Music Award and winning a New Artist Debut Release Blues Blast Music Award for his 2010 album “Mr. Used to Be.” Can't make this show? The band is also scheduled to play Cottonmouth on Oct. 13. 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top concerts in Sarasota Bradenton Lakewood Ranch Venice Englewood
