Top 5 concerts this week near me in Sarasota, Bradenton, Punta Gorda

The best concerts happening this week in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

Last week’s concert selection was a rarity in that it didn’t feature our region’s most popular genre of music: the blues. Fortunately for blues lovers, that’s not the case this week, as local concerts include a winner of multiple Blues Music Awards (he won his last one earlier this year) and a band that lives here in Bradenton and earned four Blues Blast Music Award nominations last year.

Don’t worry if you’re not a big blues fan, this week’s concert picks also include reggae-rock, indie-folk, and emo-punk — the latter genre showcased in a concert honoring a local musician who passed away earlier this year. Here are this week’s highlights. Event details are subject to change.

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Music for Joe: A Memorial Concert

Joe Bucci, a musician who played drums in the Bradenton post-emo grunge rock group The Losing Game, died earlier this year of cardiac arrest. In his honor, Bradenton venue Oscura will host Music for Joe: A Memorial Concert , with all ticket proceeds going to the Bucci family. The Losing Game will perform alongside fellow Friendly City act, punk and emo cover band Suburban Wasteland, as well as reunion sets from Sarasota electronic rock duo Colours (who were previously signed to Victory Records) and Bradenton rock group The Prospect. Doors open at 7 p.m. Friday, show time is 8 p.m. Friday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $10; 941-201-4950; oscura.live

Doug MacLeod

After winning his last Blues Music Award earlier this year, guitarist and singer-songwriter Doug MacLeod will return to our area for a show at Fogartyville in Sarasota. Primarily playing acoustic guitar, MacLeod won this year’s Acoustic Blues Album Blues Music Award for his full-length album, “Raw Blues 1” (with MacLeod releasing the follow-up, “Raw Blues 2,” in April) and will win the 2023 Acoustic Blues Artist award. In addition to multiple previous wins and nominations in the same categories, MacLeod has been nominated for Song of the Year three times. Doors 7 p.m., show time 8 p.m. Saturday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $20, $18 members, $10 students; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones

After a number of out-of-state performances, including Milwaukee’s massive Summerfest music festival, Bradenton-based blues band Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones will play a hometown show in Cottonmouth. The group earned four Blues Blast Music Awards nominations last year, including Blues Band, Bass Guitarist of the Year, Live Blues Album for “Groovin’ at Groove Now!” recorded in Basel, Switzerland, and Historical or Vintage Recording for the 20th anniversary reissue of their debut, “Double Down.” The Blues Blast Music Awards also nominated the group for Blues Band in 2019, while Deming won the Sean Costello Rising Star Award in 2013. 6:30 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul

Seranation

Oscura’s live music performances this weekend also include St. Pete reggae-rock group Seranation. The band was featured on “The House That Bradley Built,” a charity compilation in honor of Sublime’s late lead singer Bradley Nowell, and has collaborated with Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome, releasing multiple singles on his Fresh Goods label. Seranation’s 2018 full-length album, “Livin’ the Dream,” was released on Pepper’s Law Records label, with the group planning to release its next album later this year. Holmes Beach world musician Trevor Bystrom and Deltona reggae band The Sub Herbs are also scheduled to perform. Doors are 7 p.m., showtime is 8 p.m. Sunday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $20; 941-201-4950; oscura.live

Matt Walden

Indie-folk singer-songwriter and Manatee High School graduate Matt Walden returns to the area for a show at Punta Gorda Irish pub and music venue Celtic Ray. Walden, who now lives in Fort Myers, released his latest full-length album, “This Album is About Heartbreak,” last year. Just a few weeks ago, Walden released the single “A Game,” which joins a song catalog that also includes his 2018 collaboration with YouTube star Joey Kidney, “Milestone,” which currently has over 10 million plays on Spotify. 7 p.m. Tuesday; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115; celticray.net

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