The top concerts taking place in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties this week.
Jimmy GeurtsSarasota Herald-Tribune
We're nearly at the end of June and into a new month's fresh lineup of events, but not before a few more notable concerts come our way. As is often the case, it's a good week to be a blues fan, with acclaimed musicians in the genre — including multiple Blues Music Awards nominees — playing shows across Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.
If you're not feeling the blues, you have other concert options too, including a Cuban reggaetón singer performing at a Latin restaurant and lounge in Sarasota, and a Massachusetts metal band playing a DIY music venue and cafe in Bradenton. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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El Chacal
Just outside downtown Sarasota on North Washington Boulevard, Mexican restaurant Bombón also regularly hosts concerts by notable Latin musicians, including El Chacal this weekend. The Havana-born Cuban reggaetón singer started out performing in groups such as Clan 537 before starting a successful solo career. That includes a guest spot on IAmChino's 2016 single "Ay Mi Dios" alongside hip-hop/pop star (and former Florida tourism ambassador) Pitbull, which currently has more than 400 million streams on Spotify. 9:30 p.m. Friday; Bombón Restaurant & Lounge, 1118 N. Washington Blvd., Sarasota; $65;tickeri.com
E.G. Kight Trio
"Country-flavored Southern-fried blues" guitarist and singer-songwriter E.G. Kight's trio plays both Venice's Troll Music and Bradenton's Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen this weekend. Kight scored two Blues Music Awards nominations last year for Traditional Blues Female Artist and Acoustic Blues Album, the latter for 2021's "The Trio Sessions." She's been nominated for numerous other Blues Music Awards during the course of her career, including Song of the Year twice for her tracks "Southern Comfort" and "Nothin' Ever Hurt Me." 8 p.m. Saturday; Troll Music, 628 E. Venice Ave., Venice; $20;941-484-8765;trollmusic.com;6 p.m. Sunday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $15; 941-243-3735;facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
Frank Bang
Also playing multiple area shows this week is Frank "Bang" Blinkal, who visits Cottonmouth and Englewoods on Dearborn.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 CookCounty Kings. 7 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $10 advance, $15 day of; 941-243-3735;facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul; 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com
Ben Prestage
Florida-raised "Deep South Swamp Music" performer Ben Prestage visits Punta Gorda Irish pub and venue Celtic Ray this week. Prestage 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, June 29; Celtic Ray Public House, 145 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-916-9115;celticray.net
Mouthbreather
Bradenton cafe and DIY music venue Oscura, which lately has been host to several area bands' album release shows, welcomes an out-of-town act in Massachusetts' Mouthbreather. The group, whose sound blends hardcore, mathcore and metal, visits Oscura as part of a national tour that also includes co-headlining Knoxville Hardcore Fest and playing Pug Fest in Michigan alongside other such artists as Prince Daddy & the Hyena, Oso Oso and Pool Kids. Illuminate Me, Fatal Frames and Ceraburial also play the Bradenton show. 7 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show Thursday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $10 advance, $15 day of; 941-201-4950;oscura.live
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Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
