Weekend Sounds: June 6-8

BRADENTON — It's another weekend, and you know what that means. If you guessed another great lineup of local, talented musicians in Manatee, Sarasota, and surrounding counties, you would be correct. Check out The Bradenton Times Weekend Sounds to see what bands you can catch at your favorite venues.

Raiford Starke
Jiggs Landing Outpost
Friday - 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 

Some astute fans were asked which two artists they would combine to describe one Raiford Starke, and they said:

"John Prine meets Ted Nugent."

"Merle Travis meets Link Ray."

"Jimmy Page meets Jerry Reed."

"Doc Watson meets Johnny Guitar Watson."

Actually, Raiford Starke is nothing if not David Allan Coe meets Jimi Hendrix, an outlaw country folk singer steeped in southern rock and psychedelic blues guitar. He’s an American original.

Colin Kenny is proud of his real name, but got stuck with the gallows humor of "Raiford Starke" long ago, branded by prison walls without ever having walked through their gates. It’s a Florida brand, the duo of state pens in the name recognizable to locals and fans of Ol’ Sparky, but Raiford Starke’s only crime is indecent distortion.

Raiford Starke was lead cowboy in the band of an Indian chief, becoming a legend among the Seminole. He’s left Virginia, worked oil fields in Texas and hocked his guitar in Memphis. He’s played festivals in Europe and Oklahoma and has sat around the campfire picking with some of music’s greats. He could drop names if he wanted to. Touring a personal circuit around the big lake and along the fringes of the Everglades, his career is off the grid. Raiford Starke might play "Freebird" for you, but he won’t tweet.

At the turn of the century, Colin Kenny cut his first solo album as Raiford Starke, recorded in the Big Cypress swamp (where Phish happened to be holding their millennium concert and invited the guitarist and aforementioned Indian chief on stage to jam). He’s been selling Speak Me at his shows ever since, pressing a hundred at a time and moving thousands over the years with "Girl From Immokolee" becoming an underground country hit and veritable anthem of the region, so much so that in 2013 Raiford Starke has made a new video for the song and revived Big Cypress Records to finally release it online.

Right now Raiford Starke is playing at some glitzy tribal casino or Joanie’s Blue Crab shack in Ochopee. He’s performing original music and renditions from a muddy American songbook. If it doesn’t come out on Big Cypress Records or thereabouts, you’ll have to travel through Florida’s backwaters to hear it, because the man doesn’t emerge too often. We’ll keep you posted when he does, so stay dialed to this station!

 By John Stacey for Big Cypress Records

No cover.

About the venue:

Jiggs Landing Outpost features a light menu, adult & soft beverages, snacks and Yoder's ice cream. Live music Thursdays through Sundays, 3 hours before sunset.

Julia Brown w/ Jack'd Up
Clancy's Irish Sports Pub
Friday - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 

Julia Brown is described as having a "Big Voice" and can be seen with her own project 'The Julia Brown Band'. She covers Southern Rock, Dance, Blues, Country, Soul, Funk, and R&B genres.

Julia has performed across Michigan, Maryland, Florida, and Georgia at various venues, music festivals, and private events.

Current collaborations include The Julia Brown Band with Bryan Spainhower, Ben Hammerbacher, and Tyler Lawrence Pietruszka. Duo collaborations include Jon Hartsfield, Bill Sawilchik, and Jordan Sidwell. Former member of Sarasota's 'Jack'd Up', and continues to join onstage for music festivals and other select events. 

No cover.

About the venue:

Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub is in Bradenton off Cortez Rd. Clancy’s is known for its bar-fare food, full liquor bar, live entertainment, and, most of all – fun! Their casual and relaxed atmosphere has been described as, "Irish Tavern meets Jimmy Buffet." Music is provided inside and outside, with their outdoor venue featuring a coastal vibe and famous Tiki-hut bar. 6218 Cortez Road West, Bradenton.

Stockton Bros. 
Gulf Drive Cafe
Friday - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 

Stockton Bros. - Acoustic duo of two brothers (Cam and Tony Stockton), bringing tight harmonies and a family inspired passion for FEEL GOOD music. No cover.

About the venue:

Established in 1981, Gulf Drive Café has been a part of Anna Maria Island’s unique history for over forty years. It sits directly on the spectacular sugar white sands and turquoise-emerald views of the Gulf of Mexico on Anna Maria Island’s south end. A tropical family-friendly eatery that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, the Café was named one of the “Best Breakfasts in Florida” by Southern Living Magazine. Our restaurant, bar and event space covers 450 square feet of waterfront. Offering fresh Florida seafood, cocktails and other specialties, guests of this island hot spot relish the shimmering Gulf and multi-colored sunset backdrop.

Anthony Gomes 
Joyland 
Friday - 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

With a guitar slung over his shoulder and the amps turned up full tilt, Anthony Gomes electrifies blues and rock at a 21st century crossroads of his own. The Canadian vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and producer wails with all the force of a hurricane in the Mississippi Delta and enough fret-burning fireworks to leave his strings in flames.

Over the years, he’s toppled the Billboard Blues Chart at #1, earned the endorsement of legends such as B.B. King, tallied tens of millions of streams, and packed shows on multiple continents. In 2022, he makes his Rat Pak Records debut with High Voltage Blues, amplifying his soul and spirit like never before.

Cover $29.26

About the venue:

Joyland Live Music Night Club in Sarasota is one of the area’s best experiences for live music. Our concert-quality sound system delivers premium sound fidelity, while elevated seating areas provide enhanced views of the stage and dancefloor. Concerts often feature national music artists.

Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night, along with dance music from the best DJs in Southwest Florida. Joyland is your favorite dance club to party with friends, meet new friends, dance, and enjoy the best live music in the Sarasota-Bradenton area.

Hot Club of SRQ Trio
Post Kitchen Bar
Saturday - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 

Hot Club of SRQ -

The heart of this ensemble is the violin and vocals of Keven Aland, the guitar of Jon McLaughlin and bass playing of Glenn Stevenson. Their string jazz ensemble has been thoughtfully cultivated and crafted for over a decade. There is a genuine warmth and connection that is unique to this ensemble. This group can swing ferociously then suddenly hypnotize you with a beautiful ballad.

Beyond the genre of Gypsy Jazz, their vast repertoire includes Rumba Flamenco, Bossanova, Samba, Tango, BeBop, Modern Jazz, swing, Afro Cuban and the great American songbook. All members of HCSRQ have education backgrounds in Music Performance and have been commissioned to write, arrange and perform a variety of world music over the years including dances from Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, an Appalachian arrangement and a "Broadway" themed performance at the Straz Center in Tampa.

No cover.

About the venue:

Post Kitchen & Bar is a full service restaurant serving Modern American Cuisine with Global influence using the freshest Local Ingredients.

Located at The Shoppes at UTC, you will find our Raw Bar serving the freshest Oysters, Sushi and other Raw Bar specialties. Our made from scratch menu showcases Bright Produce, Pasta, Seafood and Premium Steaks. An exciting collection of Champagne & Sparkling wine to pair with our Raw Bar, as well as other Wines from around the world. Craft Cocktails and an extensive American Whiskey & Bourbon Collection. We look forward to serving you.

Al Donadi
Tamiami Tap
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 

Over the past 10 years Al Donadi has been playing "live" on a weekly basis mainly on the West Coast of Florida. Living and working in the area allows him to connect with many of the local musicians, who all have influenced him in becoming the musician he is today.

"Everyone I've made music with has influenced me in someway or another. From small porch jams to festival stages; In Pennsylvania and down the east coast to the Florida community, So many talented souls I've had the opportunity to musically communicate with."

His last album was completed at the Spirit Ranch Studio with legendary Bud Snyder who engineered/produced The Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman Band, Dickey Betts and Great Southern, and Warren Haynes Gov't Mule.

"Im thankful for the musicians who worked hard with me creating this album. Jeff Arevalo on drums, Steve Duerst on bass, Dennis Wage on Hammond organ, Latonya Oliver - vocals, Justin Green - Saxophone, Eddie Tobin - piano. I couldn't have done it without you!"

Al continues to write and is working on another album.  No cover.

About the venue:

Live Music Friday & Saturday Nights
Our mission here at Tamiami Tap is to be the neighborhood entertainment night spot for the whole family right here in Historic Laurel Park in Downtown Sarasota Florida.

Black Valley Moon
Cottonmouth
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 

Starting in 2019 by Down By Law guitarist Sam Williams, Black Valley Moon is a guitar-centric, garage rock band. A unique musical blend of surf, rockabilly, horror punk, goth, the band released 'The Baleful Sounds Of Black Valley Moon' LP and 'Spectral Melodies' EP as an instrumental trio before joining forces with vocalist Ray Vega. With Ray up front, they released the 3 song 'Vampirella' ep. Their first vocal-fronted full-length, 'Songs From The Black Valley', was released in the Winter of 2022. With an aesthetic and lyrical focus on drive-in horror movies and comic books, Black Valley Moon continues to bring their dark, retro sounds to the masses with continual live shows, festival appearances and new recordings.

Ray Vega - Vocals

Sam Williams - Guitar

Don Butler - Bass

Trixie Cadaver - Drums

No cover. 

About the venue:

Cottonmouth - Bradenton Florida’s music venue serving southern soul cuisine and live music on our beautiful patio in the Village of the Arts. Dave Shiplett and crew will to serve you and give you an evening you will long remember with seating inside and outside and art from local artists on display. Cottonmouth is the place to hang and feed your soul.

The Lee Boys w/ Melody Trucks
Big Top Brewing
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. 

The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father was a pastor and a steel player himself. “Sacred steel” is a type of music described as an inspired, unique form of Gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The musical genre is rooted in Gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations.

The Lee Boys have taken their modern expression of Sacred Steel on the road and have become a pre-eminent touring ensemble. These engaging artists work well in a variety of venues ranging from intimate club settings to performing arts centers to large festival stages. Their music attracts audiences from the jamband, folk, blues and Gospel worlds. Over the past 20 years, The Lee Boys have released four albums, packed prestigious venues, and spread their music and message beyond the church pews through residencies, recording studios and concerts across the world.

The Lee Boys have performed for more than 750,000 music fans at festivals throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Their unique sound has attracted musical artists such as Allman Bros. Band, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Robert Plant, Robert Randolph, Derek Trucks, Mavis Staples, Gov’t Mule, Del McCoury, Traveling McCourys, Victor Wooten, Blind Boys of Alabama, Black Crowes, John Legend, and The Roots – all of whom have performed with the Lee Boys and/or invited them to tour with them.

No cover. 

About the venue:

Big Top Brewing Company is a Sarasota-based production brewery. A complement to Sarasota’s historical association with The Ringling Circus and the performing arts, Big Top has set out to create great beer worthy of the history and culture that is Sarasota. Featuring brewing, tasting, and live music from some of the area’s best performers. A spacious outdoor venue with an expansive beer garden, porch bar, and food truck. 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota.

Singular Sonic
Fiorelli Winery & Vineyard
Sunday - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

A truly multi-talented solo artist, Singular Sonic naturally takes the crowd on a joyful ride hitting all of your favorite tunes of the last few decades… You simply won’t be able to resist singing along and even jumping out of your seat to dance! Relying merely on vocals, a soulful “high-vibin’ “presence and his faithful guitar, which may include Loop and Harmony pedals or even backing tracks… In short, this multi-faceted performer (drums, bass or piano anyone?) offers up all of the entertainment and musical talent you need to decidedly render your very special event a "Singular" one.

No cover. 

About the venue:

Fiorelli winery was started with humble beginnings in 1998, now more than 20 years later we are happy to continue sharing our love of wine with our guests who we consider a part of our family!

For more local music listings in Bradenton and throughout the area, check out GoTonight.com or download the GoTonight app.

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