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Top 5 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Palmetto
Editor's note: As of press time, the National Hurricane Center was monitoring a disturbance expected to stall off the Southeast U.S. coast later this week, which could affect your Fourth of July weekend in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
This week's local events calendar will be largely be dominated by the Fourth of July holiday, so it'll be fairly quiet when it comes to concerts. Yet that doesn't mean local live music lovers are totally out of luck — in fact, there'll even be a few shows on the Fourth of July itself.
Those include a reggae band, some of whose members played Tampa's MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre the previous night, as well as a blues rocker's group. Said blues rocker is also one of multiple musicians who'll take part in a concert Saturday, while a former Sarasotan and member of the Tampa-founded Southern rockers the Outlaws plays a homecoming show. We close things out with a concert featuring two of Tampa Bay's most acclaimed jazz musicians. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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Anna Maria Island Irish pub and music venue Freckled Fin will celebrate the Fourth of July with a concert by Sarasota reggae-ska group Soul Purpose IV. The band's lineup includes Kevin Offitzer, who's also the drummer for California's Stick Figure, and Cody Moore, who also plays saxophone and keyboards in St. Petersburg's The Hip Abduction — with both of those groups having played Tampa's MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre the night before on a reggae triple-bill with Stephen Marley. Soul Purpose IV's lineup also includes Pat Monahan, Richy Kicklighter, Dr. Soppa and D-Arrow. 7 p.m. Friday; Freckled Fin Irish Pub, 5337 Gulf Drive N., Holmes Beach; 941-251-3930;
Bradenton restaurant and blues spot Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, meanwhile, will celebrate the Fourth of July with Kid Royal Band performing on its back patio. The St. Pete-based band is fronted by 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. 7 p.m. Friday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $5; 941-243-3735;
Kid Royal is also one of the artists set to take part in this Fourth of July weekend celebration at Palmetto's Waypoint Bar & Grill featuring harmonica player and singer T.C. Carr and musician friends. Also set to perform are guitarist Josh Nelms, bassist Vinnie Seplesky, and drummer Dennis McCarthy, who've played with Carr in groups including the Mad Beach Band, Josh Nelms Trio, and T.C. Carr and the Bolts of Blue. The event will also feature barbecue and Pabst Blue Ribbon to give it that Fourth of July cookout feel. 5 p.m. Saturday; Waypoint Bar & Grill, 11000 U.S. Highway 41 N., Palmetto; 941-212-6600;
Sarasota-raised guitarist and singer-songwriter Chris Anderson will play another homecoming show at Big Top Live. Anderson is a former member of Tampa-formed Southern rockers the Outlaws, best known for the songs "Green Grass & High Tides" and "There Goes Another Love Song." Anderson also released the 1995 solo album "Old Friend," with its title track co-written with Warren Haynes and later recorded by the Allman Brothers Band as the final song on their final studio album, 2003's "Hittin' the Note." 7 p.m. Saturday; Big Top Live, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; free general admission, $16.52 VIP seating; 941-371-2939;
Jazz Club of Sarasota's Monday Night Jazz Cabaret series, held in Florida Studio Theatre's John C. Court Cabaret, will feature the return of Daniela Soledade and Nate Najar for a concert titled "Love & Bossa Nova Live." Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro and now based in St. Pete, singer Soledade released her latest album "Deco Tropical" earlier this year. Guitarist Najar, another of Tampa Bay's best-known musicians in the jazz scene, has released numerous albums of his own including 2022's "Jazz Samba Pra Sempre," featuring Soledade as a guest on multiple tracks. 6:30 p.m. doors, dinner/drinks, 7:30 p.m. show Monday; John C. Court Cabaret, 1265 First St., Sarasota; $34-$39 (sold out as of press time); 941-260-9951;
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 5 concerts this week Sarasota Bradenton Anna Maria Island Palmetto
