We kick off May and a fresh events calendar in the Sarasota area with some noteworthy concerts, particularly in the world of ’60s and ’70s pop and rock.
Those include America of “A Horse with No Name” fame at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall; Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone, with both the band and Noone having hits with “I’m Into Something Good,” at Venice Performing Arts Center; and “Romeo’s Tune” singer-songwriter Steve Forbert at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre in downtown Sarasota. Even the metal show in this week’s concert picks is from that era: a band formed in 1974 that brought Metallica on their first tour. Here are this week’s highlights. Event details are subject to change.
America
Pop-rock act America will return to Van Wezel on Friday, visiting the venue on the Happy Trails Tour. The band rose to fame in the 1970s with earworms such as their Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit “A Horse with No Name” (with the group winning the Best New Artist Grammy that same year), “Sister Golden Hair” and “Ventura Highway.”
Still featuring founding member Dewey Bunnell — Gerry Beckley retired from touring in 2024 — America has continued to release new music into the 2000s and ’10s, including 2007’s “Here & Now,” which saw the group collaborating with and covering younger artists such as My Morning Jacket and Nada Surf. 7 p.m. Friday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $131-$151; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org
Raven
Bradenton’s Oscura will hold another metal concert — albeit featuring a band from an earlier generation than the more contemporary groups it usually hosts — when it welcomes Raven on Sunday. The heavy metal band hailing from Newcastle, England was formed in 1974 by brothers John and Mark Gallagher (who both still play in the group) and Paul Bowden, and were signed to Atlantic Records in the mid-1980s.
In 1983, Raven also brought Metallica as an opening act on the latter’s first tour, a favor Metallica returned by having Raven open for them at a 2014 stadium show in Brazil. Slackjaw, Midnight Vice and Othalan will also perform. 7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show Sunday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $20 advance, $25 day of; oscura.live
Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
In the ’60s, the pure pop pleasure of hits like the Carole King co-written “I’m Into Something Good” catapulted into fame the British group Herman’s Hermits, fronted by the clean-cut Peter Noone. Now the singer tours as Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone (not to be confused with the version of Herman’s Hermits that tours with original member Barry Whitwam.)
Noone also had solo successes with a new recording of “I’m Into Something Good” for the movie “The Naked Gun” and a version of David Bowie’s “Oh! You Pretty Things” released before Bowie’s classic “Hunky Dory” rendition. 7:30 p.m. Sunday; Venice Performing Arts Center, 1 Indian Ave., Venice; $66; 941-488-1115; venicetheatre.org
Seth Walker
North Carolina Americana-blues singer-songwriter Seth Walker will return to Fogartyville in Sarasota on Sunday. His visit comes a little over a year since releasing his latest album “Why the Worry,” featuring Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers as a co-producer and a title track written by Rix’s bandmate Oliver Wood.
Walker’s other releases include 2009’s “Leap of Faith,” which reached No. 2 on Billboard’s blues albums chart, and 2016’s “Gotta Get Back,” which landed at No. 6 on the same chart. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show Sunday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $27, $22 members, $13 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
Steve Forbert
McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre in downtown Sarasota will once again partner with WhiteLeaf Private Concert Club to present singer-songwriter Steve Forbert for a show. Forbert had his biggest hit with the 1979 earworm “Romeo’s Tune,” which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later covered by country star Keith Urban and appeared in the 2007 Noah Baumbach film “Margot at the Wedding” along with his other song “Goin’ Down to Laurel.”
Forbert also earned a Best Traditional Folk Album Grammy nomination in 2004 for his album “Any Old Time” paying tribute to country pioneer Jimmie Rodgers. 7 p.m. Monday; McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre, 1923 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; $49; 941-925-3869; mccurdyscomedy.com
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 5 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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