We kick off this installment of Sarasota-area concert picks starting over Memorial Day weekend with a show commemorating another date on the calendar: Bob Dylan’s 85th birthday, as multiple musical acts celebrate the iconic singer-songwriter.
Bradenton venue Oscura’s always-eclectic musical lineup will include a metalcore band from London this weekend, while Punta Gorda’s Celtic Ray Public House will also feature a diverse selection that includes a former member of blues legend Buddy Guy’s touring band (who’ll also play a show in Bradenton), a ska-punk group, and a “Deep South Swamp Music” one-man band.
Here are this week’s highlights. Event details are subject to change.
Bob Dylan’s 85th Birthday Bash
Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will turn 85 years old on Sunday, and a group of Florida musicians will celebrate Dylan and his birthday with a concert. The show is presented by and features Tallahassee singer-songwriter Grant Peeples, who performs a convincing cover of Dylan’s Oscar-winning 2000 track “Things Have Changed” with Grammy-winning musician Ruthie Foster on his 2012 album “Prior Convictions.”
Bradenton alt-Americana act Have Gun, Will Travel will also perform, as will the St. Augustine-based Chelsea Saddler, and Anna Maria Island world musician Trevor Bystrom with his stepdaughter Nora Bear. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Friday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $35, $30 members, $17 students ages 13 and up (sold out as of press time); 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org
Frank Bang
Bluesman Frank “Bang” Blinkal is set to play both Punta Gorda’s Celtic Ray and Bradenton’s Cottonmouth this week. The performer started out in the blues hub of Chicago, working at Buddy Guy’s Legends club before joining the blues legend’s band as a touring guitarist for five years.
These days, he serves as a frontman himself, having released albums such as 2016’s “The Blues Don’t Care” under the name Frank Bang & The Cook County Kings. 8 p.m. Friday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net; 7 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
Confessions of a Traitor
Oscura in Bradenton will welcome Confessions of a Traitor from London for a show Saturday. The Christian metalcore band visits the venue after releasing “This Pain Will Serve You” last year on Facedown Records, with the album featuring numerous guest musicians including labelmates HolyName and War of Ages and landing on multiple Billboard charts, including No. 6 on Christian and No. 24 on Hard Music.
Syracuse, New York’s Fight From Within and Indianapolis’ ExitWounds will also perform, along with Tampa’s Spiritual Chaos and Ocala’s Foreverless. 7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show Saturday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $15 advance, $20 day of; oscura.live
Victims of Circumstance
Celtic Ray’s lineup this week will also include Clearwater ska-punk group Victims of Circumstance. The band’s releases include 2007’s “Do It Yourself,” produced by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ Tim “Johnny Vegas” Burton, and 2009’s “Roll the Dice,” produced by former Big D and the Kids Table member Steve Foote.
They’ve also released three “Decades” EPs featuring ska covers of songs from throughout the decades, ranging from Del Shannon’s 1961 hit “Runaway” to Taylor Swift’s 2019 track “You Need to Calm Down.” 8 p.m. Saturday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net
Ben Prestage
Florida-raised, self-described “Deep South Swamp Music” performer Ben Prestage will also play Celtic Ray, something of a semi-regular venue for him. The musician grew up in rural Florida and later lived in Memphis, where as a street performer he started playing drums with his feet while simultaneously singing and playing other instruments, a setup he’d bring back to his home state.
His repertoire of instruments he plays includes the diddley bow, which earned him a Blues Music Award nomination for Instrumentalist — Other in 2012. 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net
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, Punta Gorda
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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