calendar
OL’ BLUE EYES March 16 Sinatra and Beyond, Fort Myers
When Tony DeSare gets behind the piano the audience can expect a fresh take on old-school classics. A jazz artist, singer and pianist, DeSare, together with the Southwest Florida Symphony, performs all the Frank Sinatra hits we’ve grown to love. “Fly Me to the Moon,” “My Way,” and “New York, New York” are among the tunes he’ll be singing at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. swflso.org
ROCK ON! March 22 The Lords of 52nd Street, Sanibel
Supporters of the arts rock out at Sanibel’s BIG ARTS annual fundraiser with The Lords of 52nd Street, a band formed by the musicians who backed singer Billy Joel from 1976 to 1981. With a full open bar and a rousing rock concert followed by dessert, more drinks and dancing, there’s little doubt that this will be a night to remember—or maybe forget. bigarts.org
YOU’LL WANT SECONDS March 22-24 Marco Island Seafood and Music Festival
In Florida, it’s hard to pass on a seafood festival. This one on Marco Island combines music with an abundance of seafood specialties: grouper sandwiches, crabcakes, stone crab claws, jambalaya, crawdads, chowder and shrimp po’boys. After you sample your favorite and wash it down with beer or wine, visit the arts and crafts booths. If you bring the family, the kids have their pick from a bounce house and trampoline to rock climbing walls and slides. Veterans Community Park will be packed, so plan on arriving early. marcoislandseafoodandmusicfestival.com
ART-FILLED STREET March 23-24 Naples DowntownArt Show
Naples beautiful 5th Avenue South is turned into one huge art gallery. The Naples Downtown Art Show brings together 250 artists who display their paintings, sculptures, pottery and other works of art on the city’s most fashionable avenue. The top talent and quality of work presented at the show makes this a standout event. Last year artists from 37 states and three countries participated in the juried event. naplesart.org
GRAB A LAWN CHAIR March 30 Sounds of Jazz & Blues, Cape Coral
Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to Tarpon Point Marina for a night of music. Taking the stage to open the Sounds of Jazz & Blues show is Gruv Therapy, followed by B-Side Jones. The headliner is The Rippingtons. Besides general admission tickets, music lovers can opt for a Jazz Experience ticket, which includes a buffet-style meal and two drinks (beer or wine), or the Jazz VIP ticket, which includes a welcome gift, upgraded buffet and unlimited drinks. capeconcerts.com
HEAR THE ROAR April 3-21 The Lion King, Fort Myers
From an animated Disney film to one of the world’s top musicals, The Lion
King has won not only numerous awards, but also the hearts of millions. The third longest-running Broadway show is a display of exotic Africa in every aspect: costumes, makeup, choreography and music, including Elton John’s and Tim Rice’s Oscarwinning “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” The stage production in full splendor comes to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. bbmpah.com
UP ON THE ROOF April 4 The Gala on the Rooftop, Fort Myers
Be among the first to experience Sidney’s on the Rooftop. The new performance and event venue, complete with a sculpture garden, at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center will overlook the Caloosahatchee River and downtown Fort Myers. At this grand-opening gala fundraiser, guests enjoy cocktails, dinner, an intimate musical performance and the unveiling of the new space. Visit the website for tickets. sbdac.com
OLYMPIC GOLD April 18 The Stars on Ice, Estero
If you’ve ever watched the Olympics on television and found yourself mesmerized by the moves of figure skaters—whether solo performances or dancing duos—then The Stars on Ice presented by Musselman’s tour is a show you don’t want to miss. In a true Olympics fashion, the gold, silver and bronze medalists shred ice and spin through the air as they dazzle the audience at the Hertz Arena. The lineup includes figure skaters Ashley Wagner and Jason Brown, and ice dancers Meryl Davis and Charlie White; Maia and Alex Shibutani; and Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue. hertzarena.com
TRIO OF RHYTHM April 19 Jazzy Nights, Fort Myers Come for an evening of cocktails and smooth jazz. The Marcus Roberts Trio wraps up the Jazzy Night series at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. Three talented guys—Marcus Roberts on the piano, Jason Marsalis on the drums and Rodney Jordon on bass—perform as a true trio, sharing equally in shaping the direction of the music by changing its tempo, mood, texture and form at any time. Cocktails are at 7 p.m., followed by the performance at 8 p.m. sbdac.com THE ARTS & BEYOND April 24-May 7 The Stay in May Festival, Naples An array of talent descends on Naples for this music and arts festival that aims to give visitors and seasonal residents reasons to stay through the month of May. The event kicks off with a pre-festival concert (March 14) by the Berlin Philharmonic’s Scharoun Ensemble. You can pick and choose from a lineup that includes concerts, art classes, film showings, chef’s dinners and more. The events are held at venues throughout Naples. stayinmay.com COUNTRY POP April 25 The Miss Me More Tour, Estero Young, beautiful and one of the hottest female country singers, Kelsea Ballerini arrived on the scene big time in the last few years. The country-pop singer and songwriter’s first three singles soared to the top of the chart—something no female country artist has done since Wynonna Judd in the 1980s. She’ll perform “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” and “Peter Pan” on stage at the Hertz Arena. Joining her is country crooner Brett Young, whose romantic “Sleep Without You” and “In Case You Didn’t Know” songs have earned him a solid following. hertzarena.com TOTI Media, Inc. does its best to ensure that information in this calendar is up to date. However, we still encourage our readers to call ahead for detailed information before attending these local events.