Top 5 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Englewood, Anna Maria Island, Palmetto
Like many weeks in July and the Sarasota area's off-season, this week's concert picks largely consist of talented musicians who call Florida home. However, we do kick things off with a reggae musician from California, who visits the area while on tour with a group from Maryland.
There'll also be two Florida blues bands, one of which has earned multiple Blues Music Award nominations, playing the same Sarasota County venue. And even more locally, we have a Sarasota-formed duo playing a sold-out show and another Sarasota-based band playing...well, all over the place, with five area shows this week. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
Aaron Wolf
San Diego musician Aaron Wolf will visit Oscura on Friday while on tour with Maryland band and fellow reggae act The Harbor Boys. Wolf, whose sound blends reggae, folk and hip-hop, tours following the release of last year's full-length "Running on Hope" and before he returns to San Diego this fall to play reggae music festival Mission Bayfest alongside such acts as Sublime, Slightly Stoopid and 311. Wolf and The Harbor Boys, who themselves recently played the Baltimore music festival Never Early Fest with bands such as Deep Blue Something, The Pietasters and Bikini Trill, will be joined by Space Kamp, Zion Albert and Percy Abain. 7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show Friday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $15 advance, $20 day of; 941-201-4950; oscura.live
Kid Royal Band
Kid Royal Band.
After playing Bradenton restaurant and blues music venue Cottonmouth last week, Kid Royal Band will visit another one of the area's top blues spots, Englewoods on Dearborn, this weekend. The band is fronted by the St. Pete-based Chris "Kid" Royal, who — like many blues musicians — took to the music at a young age, starting to perform around 15 years old and developing a local reputation as a guitar prodigy. Musicians that Royal has performed with include "his biggest musical hero" Ronnie Earl, including a 2019 concert at a Salt Lake City hospice for the homeless. 6:30 p.m. Friday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
Jah Movement
Jah Movement's Damie Caines and Shantel Norman.
Sarasota reggae band Jah Movement play several shows this week, including Jungle Hideaway (formerly Cabana Inn) on Friday and Southern Soul Rib & Seafood Festival on Saturday. The group's lineup includes co-lead vocalists Shantel Norman and Damie Caines, who used to perform in fellow reggae band Democracy with his late father, Oswald "Ham" Caines. 9 p.m. Friday; Jungle Hideaway, 2525 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-303-3737; sarasotajunglehideaway.com; 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday; Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1402 14th Ave. W., Palmetto; ticket costs vary; eventbrite.com; Noon Sunday; Gulf Drive Cafe, 900 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach; 941-778-1919; gulfdrivetiki.com; 9 p.m. Wednesday; Rock N Barrel Bar & Grill, 6916 14th St. W., Bradenton; 941-251-3958; facebook.com/rocknbarrelbargrill; 9:30 p.m. Thursday, July 17; The Gator Club, 1490 Main St., Sarasota; 941-366-5969; thegatorclub.com
Ariella & Nicolaas
Ariella & Nicolaas, the duo comprising singer Ariella McManus and guitarist (and McManus' husband) Nicolaas Kraster, will play a sold-out show at Sarasota's Fogartyville on Saturday. Sarasotans may recognize their names from Ari and the Alibis, the "jazzy bluesy funky soul" group that McManus and Kraster played in before the band disbanded. The duo draws from a similarly diverse blend of musical influences, naming singers Etta James and Amy Winehouse, flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía and blues rocker Roy Buchanan among their inspirations. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Saturday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $25, $20 members, $13 students ages 13 and up (sold out as of press time); 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
J.P. Soars and the Red Hots
J.P. Soars.
Englewoods on Dearborn's live music lineup this week also includes Boca Raton blues guitarist/singer-songwriter J.P. Soars and his band the Red Hots. The group was nominated for four Blues Music Awards in 2022: Band of the Year, B.B. King Entertainer and Instrumentalist — Guitar for Soars, and Instrumentalist — Drums for his bandmate Chris Peet, who scored another nomination in the same category this year. Soars also plays in the supergroup Southern Hospitality with Grammy-nominated pianist Victor Wainwright and fellow Floridian Damon Fowler. Can't make this show? Soars and the Red Hots will also play Cottonmouth on July 18 and Punta Gorda's Celtic Ray on July 19. 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
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