TOP 10 CONCERTS
March and its lengthy lineup of local events, including plenty of concerts, kicks off this week. A Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-inducted vocal duo still featuring one of its original singers will be among the performers visiting our area, along with multiple Blues Music Award and Latin Grammy-nominated musicians.
Some of those BMA-nominated performers will be playing two separate Sarasota County music festivals this weekend, both spanning three days and featuring free admission. And a concert series featuring up-and-coming artists is set to make its return, headlined this month by a comedic musical group whose fans include Jack Black and his band Tenacious D. Here are this week’s highlights. Event details are subject to change.
Renesito Avich and Friends
Cuban-born, Sarasota-based musician Renesito Avich, who is known for playing the Cuban-originating tres and has been nominated for two Latin Grammys, will return to Fogartyville for two shows this weekend. Avich earned his latest Latin Grammy nod last year in the Best Instrumental Album category for his 2023 full-length “Tres.” His other Latin Grammy nomination came the year before in the Best Traditional Tropical Album category for 2022’s “Café con Cariño.” 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Friday and Saturday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $30, $26 members, $15 students ages 13 and up; 941894-6469; fogartyville.org
Sean Chambers Red Hot Blues Festival
The three-day blues music festival will kick off Friday with its namesake, former Hubert Sumlin band member and solo artist Sean Chambers, performing with the Savoy Brown Rhythm Section. Saturday will feature Sarasotabased bluesman RJ Howson with special guest Les Dudek, who played on the Allman Brothers Band’s classic 1973 album “Brothers and Sisters” and its famed tracks “Ramblin’ Man” and “Jessica,” as well as Sarasota blues-rock prodigy Trey Wanvig and Blues Blast Music Award-nominated Bradenton band Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones. The festival will close out Sunday with Damon Fowler and J.P. Soars, two Blues Music Award-nominated solo artists who also play together in the supergroup Southern Hospitality. 7 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Big Top Brewing Company, 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; free, $30 reserved seat all three days; 941-371-2939; bigtopbrewing.com
Englewood Food Truck Rally & Music Festival
Some of the same musicians playing Sean Chambers Red Hot Blues Festival will also perform this weekend at this other three-day Sarasota County music festival, organized by the locally based Paragon Festivals. Damon Fowler, J.P.