Top 5 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton
We're now in the thick of August and its lineup of local events, including live music. This week's concert picks start with a South Florida-based blues guitarist, singer-songwriter and winner of two Blues Music Awards earlier this year, playing Bradenton on what also happens to be his birthday.
Other shows this week include a Sarasota brewery and venue hosting, separately, another South Florida act that specializes in sacred steel music and another acclaimed blues act playing as part of a Sunday Blues & Brews concert series. Not feeling the blues? Sarasota will also be host to two noteworthy jazz concerts later on in the week. Here are this week's highlights. Details are subject to change.
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Albert Castiglia
South Florida guitarist, singer-songwriter and multiple-time Blues Music Award winner Albert Castiglia will celebrate his 54th birthday by playing Bradenton restaurant and venue Birdrock Taco Shack the same evening. Castiglia won his two latest Blues Music Awards earlier this year for Blues Rock Artist and Blues Rock Album, two categories he previously won in 2022 and 2020, respectively. Along with his solo career, Castiglia and fellow blues-rock favorite Mike Zito perform together as the Blood Brothers, with the duo releasing a self-titled album earlier this year and playing shows including last year's Bradenton Blues Festival. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; $20 advance, $25 day of; 941-545-9966; facebook.com/birdrocktaco
The Lee Boys
Miami-based group The Lee Boys, one of the biggest acts of the sacred steel music genre, returns to Sarasota brewery and venue Big Top this weekend. Featuring brothers Alvin, Derrick and Keith Lee along with their nephews, the group plays in the sacred steel tradition, originating from church services featuring steel guitar for a sound that blends gospel with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The Lee Boys visit Sarasota shortly before playing Summerfolk in Ontario, Canada and a September tour with fellow Floridian Melody Trucks, daughter of the late Allman Brothers Band founding member Butch Trucks. 7 p.m. Saturday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com
Big Al and the Heavyweights
Big Top's live music lineup this weekend also includes Louisiana blues band Big Al and the Heavyweights, who play the brewery and venue for its Blues & Brews Sunday concert series. The group is led by "Big Al" Lauro, who played in the ’90s with Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule fame as the Unknown Blues Band. Big Al and the Heavyweights often pays tribute to their Louisiana home on their albums, including tracks like "Cajun Roux" and "Hey, Hey Mardi Gras," and most recently released last year's full-length "Love One Another." 3 p.m. Sunday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com
Rebecca Richardson and Dan Heck
Jazz Club of Sarasota's Monday Night Jazz Cabaret concert series, featuring musicians in the genre performing Monday evening shows at Florida Studio Theatre's John C. Court Cabaret in downtown Sarasota, continues with Rebecca Richardson and Dan Heck. The married couple of vocalist Richardson and guitarist/bassist Heck previously lived and performed in Seattle and New York City before moving to Naples in 2005, where they've remained since. Richardson and Heck will be joined at this show by Michael Ross and James Kerwin. 6:30 p.m. doors, dinner/drinks, 7:30 p.m. show Monday; John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota; $34-$39; 941-260-9951; jazzclubsarasota.org
Synia Carroll and Friends
Sarasota jazz vocalist Synia Carroll performs with fellow musician friends at this Fogartyville show, which will also preview Carroll's upcoming CD, scheduled for a fall release. Carroll's previous releases include 2016's "Here's to You...", featuring her take on standards such as "My Favorite Things" and "My Baby Just Cares for Me" as well as Nina Simone's "Be My Husband," with Carroll also having performed a Simone tribute show at venues such as St. Pete's The Palladium. Joining Carroll will be pianist Tom Pizzi, bassist Joe Porter, drummer Mark DeRose and guitarist Chuck Stevens. 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show Wednesday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $28, $24 members, $14 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 5 concerts near me this week in Sarasota, Bradenton
