Weekend Sounds January 6-8

BRADENTON – The 941 music scene is coming into 2023 strong! Live music lovers will find multiple shows of various genres to choose from this weekend, with some notable shows lined up on Friday and Saturday nights right here in Bradenton. Check out the Bradenton Times Weekend Sounds to see what bands you can catch and where.

Join Sycamore Shade at Cottonmouth this Friday to celebrate the VOTA restaurant and music venue’s two-year anniversary! Sycamore Shade is an acoustic ensemble known for its rich bluegrass harmonies and its living room performance style. The band showcases familiar old-time folk, Americana, and bluegrass standards as well as original compositions, playing a wide variety of music from bluegrass to contemporary music. No cover.

About the Venue:

Located in Bradenton Village of the Arts, Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen has quickly become one of Bradenton, Florida’s more popular outdoor music venues. Music is hosted on their intimate 80-seat capacity patio garden, a perfect setting under the branches of towering live oaks in the heart of VOTA. Known for his eclectic southern dining, Chef Dave Shiplett puts his creative spin on southern classics serving up his brand of southern soul food in this 100-year-old cottage that doubles as an art gallery. The venue offers craft beer, wine, a list of creative hard ciders, and non-alcoholic beverages. Reservations are recommended due to limited capacity. 1114 12th Street West, Bradenton.

The Dr. Dave Band is a high-energy country and classic rock band. They’ve received five Reader's Choice Awards–including 2021 Reader's Choice Best Local Musical Group/Performer– for their feel-good, make-ya’ smile performances. Band leader Dr. Dave plays guitar, electric fiddle, and banjo. Dr. Dave describes their music as "Kick-grass country-rock." No cover.

Since its opening in 2014, Motorworks Brewing has become one of the most awarded breweries in Florida, with over 22 national and international medals. With 20+ beers on draught, a full liquor bar, wine, and a rotating batch of seasonal and specialty brews available, Motorworks is a great place to join friends for a fresh pint of beer or a cocktail. Its tree-canopied Beer Garden hosts a raised deck, games, an outdoor stage, ample patio seating, and plenty of room to dance. Food offerings from local food trucks. 1014 9th Street West, Bradenton, near the Village of the Arts.

Hot Club of SRQ will tell you they play gypsy jazz deeply rooted in the style of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. This trio's music simply swings and is full of beauty and romance. The Hot Club of SRQ’s sound can best be described as a 21st-century hybrid of the famous Quintette du Hot Club de France. The likeness of these two ensembles is the violin and guitar that create the fire and magic that make their music so captivating. Another likeness is the infectious groove known as La Pompe, which literally means the pump, and is an unmistakable hard-swinging rhythmical characteristic of this music. This style of swing jazz is more accessible to a broader audience. No cover.

About the Venue:

Located in Bradenton Florida's Village of the Arts, Birdrock is a unique funky-fun taco spot and live music venue. Owner and chef David Shiplett–also the owner of popular Cottonmouth South Soul Kitchen–doesn’t serve up just any tacos. Dave has worked as a Chef in San Francisco, San Diego, Sarasota, and now Bradenton. Dine inside the eclectic artsy shack or outdoors on the porch and back patio. Great food, cool people... and TACOS! 1213 13th Avenue West, Bradenton.

This Saturday at Birdrock, catch back-to-back performances by two of SW Florida’s favorite reggae ska bands. The free show runs from 5-10 p.m. with the bands alternating performances.

Soul Purpose IV is a locally-based dynamic reggae ska band that brings listeners those "feel-good vibes." Band members include Pat Monahan (lead vocals), Richy Kicklighter (guitar), Kevin Offitzer (drums), and Cody Moore (sax). This band is a jammin' good time, high energy, reggae grooves sure to get you movin’!

Indigo I, fronted by Cuban female vocalist Daymi Giron, is a Fort Myers-based reggae fusion band. Giron brings the band’s sound a twist of Amy Winehouse with her vocals. On Saturday, Indigo will be joined by special guest musician and violinist, Jonathan Lawrence of the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra. Reggae with violin? Yes, please!

"Country rock, island style." Singer-songwriter Eric Von is a Nashville recording artist, born and raised in Cortez, Florida. Von started playing guitar and writing music at just twelve years of age and was performing live by fourteen. Eric spent three years in Nashville, playing on Broadway, and writing and recording his second CD. His song, I Can't Help but Smile made it to number 64 on the Country Breakout Charts. In 2007, Von was named the Colgate Country Showdown winner for Central Florida, and advanced to secure the title of Colgate Country Showdown winner for the State of Florida that same year. In 2008 he was named the winner of Kenny Chesney’s Next Big Star of the Tampa Bay Area. No cover.

About the Venue:

Located in one of the oldest fishing villages in the United States, the Cortez Kitchen is a live music venue and restaurant. Named for the body of water it sits on and known by locals as "the kitchen" due to its bountiful supply of fish and seafood, visitors love the laid-back Florida feel of Cortez Kitchen as well as the live music every weekend. Offering a full bar, old-fashioned seafood, and seaside views. 4528 119th Street West, Cortez, Bradenton.

Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio return to the Motorworks beer garden stage this weekend. Twinkle has worked with Aerosmith, Dickie Betts, Rod Stewart, Gregg Allman, and countless others. In the '90s, she was signed to Warner Brothers for her debut album Haunted by Real Life, produced by Patrick Leonard (Madonna, Roger Waters, Pink Floyd) where it gained ready attention on the jazz/pop charts for its title song. Rock Soul Radio members are lead vocalist Twinkle, guitarist Lenny Brooks, bassist Tony LeClerc, and Benny Puckett on the drums. No Cover.

Performing at venues around the Suncoast, The Boomers is a rock band based in Bradenton that plays a wide range of songs from 1964 to 1969. Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Bob Cary, lead guitarist Ted Mork, keyboard/saxophonist Bob Hepler, bass player Todd Bohlmann, and drummer Mike Kennedy play an energetic mix from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Steppenwolf, The Grass Roots, The Monkees and many more of the decade's iconic bands. No cover.

About the Venue:

Mattison's Riverwalk Grille is located along Bradenton's Riverwalk Park downtown. Mattison's and its staff pride themselves on their commitment to using sustainable practices and serving only foods that are hormone and antibiotic-free. They work with small family farms and source their produce and seafood locally. While their food draws a crowd, their live music gets them on their feet–the outdoor dining patio is spacious with plenty of room for dancing! 101 Riverfront Blvd, Bradenton.

Join Passerine in Sarasota for Sunday songs in the park. Passerine’s distinctive sound combines the crisp rhythms of an acoustic guitar, the haunting voices of the fiddle and dobro (resonator slide guitar), and the resonant lows of an acoustic bass with inventive vocal harmonies and songwriting. Supported by the sounds of acoustic strings, Passerine offers a fresh take on traditional folk and bluegrass music, as well as a repertoire of original songs that range from sweet ballads to the edgier side of contemporary Americana. No cover.

Located in Payne Park, downtown Sarasota, CafŽ in the Park captures the spirit of a quintessential urban cafe terrace. It's the perfect place for a great coffee, a fresh sandwich, and live music. The family-friendly spot has menu selections of healthy cafŽ-style food, non-alcoholic beverages, beer, and wine, all served in a community park setting. Truly a great place to catch a live show. Please no outside food or drink. 2010 Adams Lane, Sarasota.

Kettle of Fish has been performing in clubs, pubs, and venues across Manatee and Sarasota, as well as across Florida and the U.S., for years. Lead singer, guitarist, and band founder Dana Lawrence is one of the area’s favorite singer-songwriters. Kettle of Fish is a band with an ever-fluid rotation of talented local and guest musicians. If you like the sound of the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Otis Redding, Robert Cray, the Neville Brothers, Buddy Guy, Stevie Wonder, the Allman Brothers, or The Grateful Dead, you will love Kettle of Fish. No cover.

About the Venue:

East of I-75 on Fruitville Road, Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse is an open-air barbecue restaurant set under an expansive outdoor tiki hut, including an old-Florida style Tiki-bar. Established by the Stottlemyer family, the family-friendly restaurant and live music venue serves brisket, ribs, pulled pork, sandwiches, and salads in a unique atmosphere. Reservations are accepted. 19 East Road, Sarasota.