Weekend Sounds: May 9-11

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.

Memphis Lightning
Cottonmouth
Thursday - 6:30 p.m.

All before the age of 21, Lightning has played with the late Great Blues Legend Eddie Kirkland, Buddy Guy, Tab Benoit, Big Sandy, Bloodshot Bill, Sean Mencher (High Noon, Ronnie Dawson), Bill Kirchen (Commander Cody) and Marty Sammon to name a few. He was selected as the first youth artist to represent the state of Maine in the International Blues Challenge Youth Show Case. Four years cancer free, Lightning has lived the blues and has proven to be among the greats, and compared to some of the biggest names to ever hit the blues, country and rock scene. Lightning fast, explosive stage show and soulful playing, Lightning is a showman at heart. He is currently endorsed by WB Gear(link on the bottom of the page) and Intune Guitar Picks.(Link on the bottom of the page) Guitar Gifts 4 U, Big Bends, SIT STRINGS, Lace Music Products, L-Guitar, Mental Cases, Mahalo Amps Steve Arvey Killer Strings, Barefoot Buttons, Williams Custom Guitars and Mainly CBGs Cigar Box Guitars.

Big Red - Going between the low driving Bass and groovin' on the skins, ridin' the back beat, and the backbone of Memphis Lightning is Grammy nominated and international touring and recording artist Darren "Big Red" Thiboutot. He has recorded and or played with artists such as Eddie "Bluesman" Kirkland, Pinetop Perkins, Lazy Lester, The Hoodoo Kings, Tab Benoit, Kenny Neal, Sonny Landreth, G.E. Smith, Clyde Stubblefield, T-Bone Wolk, Richard Bell, Christine Ohlman, Lucky Peterson, Troy Turner, Big Jack Johnson, Cub Koda, Colleen Sexton, ect.

ON THE KEYS - Rick Curran "Mr. Mayhem"

Proficient Perfection doesn't even do this man justice, with bowel shaking sustain and power like no other, the screaming organ sounds blended with the right amount of soul best describes this man!

ON THE DRUMS - Mr. Rock

A truly fantastic and ever changing character.

Cover $20.

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.

Steve Arvey
Harry's Grill AMI
Friday - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Steve Arvey began his career playing the Chicago blues circuit during the ’70s. During that period he shared the stage with many of the legendary blues masters from the Windy City. Now living in Florida, Steve is a fixture at major festivals and nightclubs throughout the South, Europe, and the Caribbean. He is also considered by many to be one of the top cigar box guitar players in the world today.

In the year 2001, Arvey recorded his album Fine Line, in 2002, he set out on his first tour in Australia. Arvey's growing popularity earned him a slot at the 2005 Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival. It was in 2005 that Arvey discovered the Cigar Box Guitar. He later signed to Warner International and appeared on the compilation CD from that festival which included tracks from Dave Matthews, REM, Jack Johnson, and other notable artists. No cover.

About the venue:

Harry's Grill AMI - Live music. Indoor, outdoor pet friendly patio dining. Craft beer, imported wines. Burgers, wings salads sandwiches and dinners.

Steve Rand
Rocco's Italian Kitchen
Friday - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Steve Rand is originally from the Boston area where he attended The Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, he studied jazz guitar and arranging. Rand has played and arranged for jazz bands, big bands, rock, funk, top 40 bands, theater and recording sessions throughout the country.

Rand puts his own flavorings and arrangements to smooth jazz songs by the likes of George Benson, Al Jarreau, Lee Ritenour, Earl Klugh and others.

Inspirations:
George Benson, Lee Ritenour, Frank Gambale, Juan Carlos Quintero, Larry Carlton, Andres Segovia, John Williams, Mozart, Stravinski, Julian Bream, Freddie Hubbard, Don Sebesky, Ralph Vaughn Williams, The Beatles, Claude Debussy and countless other musical giants. No cover.

About the venue:

Rocco’s Italian Kitchen is a family-style restaurant with a full bar offering a truly authentic Italian dining experience. From mouth-watering shrimp scampi to decadent lasagna and chicken parmigiana, our red-sauce Southern Italian cooking will delight your taste buds, tasting so good it will make you say “Fuggedaboutit.”

Mumbo Jumbo
Peggy's Corral
Friday - 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Mumbo Jumbo: 

Barry Hynes - Lead Guitar
Barry is from Maine and has shared the stage with Commander Cody, Ronnie Earl, Joe Ely, and Rick Derringer, among many New England greats. Barry's style includes a mix of Americana, rock, and blues.

Paul "Fish" Frechette - Drums and Percussion
Fish and Barry started playing together in Maine at a young age, and he has been the driving force in all the bands he's played in. His influences include Matt Abts, Terry Bozio, and Butch Trucks.

Scott Mosher - Bass
Scott's musical journey has included original projects, blues, and jam bands. He also ran an open mic night in Manhattan before moving to Sarasota. He's been laying down the groove with MJB since 2017.

No cover.

About the venue:

We are a biker friendly establishment with a great atmosphere of good times to be noted by our ceiling of pictures. A down home atmosphere where everyone is welcomed. Great Music, Great Staff & People..

Come "Re Discover" Peggy's "Rockin" Corral..

All Music provided by:
The Tampa Bay Music Network & Vic Lima - aka " The "Beanie Guy"

John Allen James
Wicked Cantina (AMI)
Friday - 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

"You sound like Bob Dylan," people often tell John Allen James, "except you can sing!" That doesn't make any sense to him, either. "But everyone means it kindly," he says, "so I don't argue."

John never intended to sound like anyone else. Unlike most musicians, who cut their teeth on songs of others, he wrote and recorded two albums of his own music before he learned his first cover song.

John does mean to write songs with heart and brains. A reviewer of John's 2018 release Fire Sky wrote, "John Allen James delivers a very versatile and beautiful album on which he proves that it should now be over with those Dylan comparisons. He is going to grow very big on his own!" Another critic described John's 2016 album Harder Roads as "timeless, enduring, yet also current and relevant." American Songwriter Magazine chose the title track of John's debut album Light of Day for its Daily Discovery feature.

John played all the instruments except for drums and did all the production on his first two albums before enlisting the help of studio musicians for Fire Sky. John has returned to a one-man-band approach for his subsequent EPs – 2022's Jericho. and 2023's Love Songs of Outlaws and Squared. No cover. 

About the venue:

Wicked Cantina is on a mission to bring fresh, authentic (on the spicy side) Austin style Tex Mex to town. Our restaurants are locally owned and operated by some taco eating, margarita drinking fanatics who can't wait to share their love of the Austin cuisine with you.

All of our food is hand made in-house daily. We specialize in delicious, Austin style Tex Mex as well as tasty American classics. Fresh food, fresh modern family friendly vibe, full liquor bar and ample parking await you.

Lisa & The All Terrain Band
Island Time Bar & Grill
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Lisa led one of the top event bands in NJ for over 25 years, has done demo work submitted to Madonna and Pat Benetar. She has opened for KC and The Sunshine Band. Happily retired from her Corporate gig, she moved to Sarasota where she hits the tennis courts, grabs the microphone and frequents dog beach.

No cover.

About the venue:

Island Time Bar and Grill is located on Anna Maria Island’s Bridge Street. Situated on the ground floor beneath the Bridge Street Bistro, Island Time Bar & Grill offers an open "no-walls" tropical indoor/outdoor beachside bar setting with welcoming gulf breezes. Their varied menu serves from their upstairs restaurant, Bridge Street Bistro, featuring fresh ingredients, surf-to-turf, and made-from-scratch recipes by chef Jimmy Lopatinski. Full bar, beachy cocktails, specialty, and classic margaritas, and cold beer! 

Soul Circus Cowboys
Woody's River Roo
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Hailing from Florida, Soul Circus Cowboys bring genuine, gasoline-drenched southern rock to life. Their eclectic blend of musical tastes, influences, and styles, combined with diverse life experiences, makes them the band to watch.

No cover.

About the venue:

Woody's River Roo -- A gorgeous river view, friendly people, great food, good drinks, and experiences you won't forget - all waiting for you at The Roo with a view and the only thing missing is YOU. 

Vic & Caro
Fogartyville
Saturday - 8:00 p.m. 

Vic & Caro, the unique young duo from Nashville TN, blend their diverse musical talents to create a fresh mixture of American roots music, contemporary pop and R&B, manifesting in a easy listening yet captivating show. Complex harmonies atop Victor’s gritty and traditional banjo playing and Caro’s rhythmic guitar playing creates a sound you don’t want to miss!

Victor Furtado the 25-year-old Nashville based banjo player grew up amongst the bluegrass and old-time communities of Virginia and North Carolina where he attended bluegrass fiddlers conventions and obtained a reputation as one of most talented and innovative banjo players on the scene. Victor has received many awards for his playing, most notably the Steve Martin Award for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass in 2019. Shortly after graduating Berklee College of Music in 2023 with a degree in music performance, Victor moved to Nashville and began playing with Sam Grisman Project, and in his duo, Vic & Caro. Victor has recorded several albums of his own, and been featured on albums such as Highway Prayers by Billy Strings, Roving Jewel by Sophie Wellington, and many more.

Carolina Schott is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. She grew up in Boston, Massachusetts urban neighborhoods where she was exposed to a wide range of musical styles. Her deep-rooted passion for music began at an early age, with training in Latin Pop, R&B, Jazz, Musical Theater, and Opera, she has crafted a diverse and compelling sound.

In 2016, Carolina gained national recognition as a contestant on Univision’s La Banda, making it to the Top 24. Carolina writes all of her own songs and has released multiple singles and an EP showcasing her artistry. Her dedication to her craft earned her a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where she graduated in 2023. Carolina has performed on stages, from Fenway Park to cathedrals in Assisi, Italy.

Now based in Nashville, she is involved in the folk and country music scene and collaborating with Victor Furtado in a dynamic musical duo. As a young artist, Carolina Schott continues to forge her own path by fusing her influences with singing and songwriting. She will soon release new music both alone and with the musical duet Vic and Caro.

Victor Furtado & Carolina Schott| Saturday, May 10, 8 p.m. | Doors open at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $20 members; $25 not-yet-members; $13 students (13+)

For tickets, click here.

About the venue:

Fogartyville is a special gathering place for those who truly appreciate music and community. Nothing draws people together like a shared musical experience, and the listening room atmosphere at Fogartyville enables people to fully appreciate that experience.

Blues and Brews: RJ Howson & Friends
Big Top Brewing
Sunday - 8:00 p.m. 

Fire branded in the Chicago blues circuit, roots rocker and bluesman RJ Howson picked up his skillful guitar chops performing and sharing the stage with blues icons and fellow musicians at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Rosa's Lounge, Kingston Mines, BLUES on Halstead and many other clubs in the Windy City and playing countless shows all over the midwest. RJ continues to be steeped in the southern stews since moving to Florida with openers for Butch Trucks & the Freight Train Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Molly Hatchet, Buddy Guy and a host of legendary musicians.

Having played music since being a child, RJ has played everything from Chicago Blues to Funk, Soul, Rock, Gospel, Country, Salsa and World Music. "My goal is to use music to show that the roots of all people are the same and to play it forward while paying tribute to the past and my mentors". 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.

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

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