October starts this Sunday, bringing with it a fresh lineup of local events, including plenty of touring out-of-town performers. However, this week's concert picks highlight some of the many talented musicians from our own state, with all of the performers either current or former Floridians.
Former residents set to make their return this weekend include a rising star in the blues music world, and a Sarasota-raised guitarist and singer-songwriter who is also a former member of a famed, Tampa-founded Southern rock group. And as we enter October, a monthly concert series with up-and-coming artists will return with a lineup featuring musicians from throughout Florida. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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Champ Jaxon
Punta Gorda 13-year-old blues-rock guitar prodigy Champ Jaxon will head our way to play Sarasota brewery and venue Big Top Brewing Company. Jaxon appeared on "Ellen"in 2021, jamming with and receiving a guitar from guest host, country star Brad Paisley, as well as performing the original track "Born in the Grove" from his album "The Grove." He also made an appearance playing a guitar prodigy on NBC's drama "Ordinary Joe," which featured a cast including Booker High School graduate Charlie Barnett. 7 p.m. Friday; Big Top Brewing Company,975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; free general admission, $15-$25 VIP; 941-371-2939;bigtopbrewing.com
Jose Ramirez Band
Blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Jose Ramirez will return to Sarasota's Westcoast Black Theater Troupe for a concert this weekend. Initially starting out performing in his native Costa Rica, Ramirez relocated to the U.S. and had a stint playing in then-Bradenton-based blues musician Lauren Mitchell's band before releasing his 2020 debut solo album "Here I Come," nominated for a Best Emerging Artist Album Blues Music Award, followed by last year's "Major League Blues" on esteemed Chicago blues/jazz label Delmark Records. Ramirez recently suggested on social media that his current U.S. tour dates will be his last and he plans to move to Europe, so if you haven't seen him yet and have been meaning to, don't miss this show. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota; $30, $15 students/active military; 941-366-1505; westcoastblacktheatre.org
Chris Anderson and Rattlebone
Sarasota-raised singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Anderson, now based in Nashville, will return to his old home to perform at Big Top with his current project Rattlebone. Anderson formerly played in the Tampa-formed Southern rock group the Outlaws, best known for their songs "Green Grass & High Tides" and "There Goes Another Love Song." He released the solo album "Old Friend" in 1995, with the title track co-written by Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule guitarist Warren Haynes and later recorded by ABB as the final song on its final studio album, 2003's "Hittin' the Note." 7 p.m. Saturday; Big Top Brewing Company,975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; free general admission, $15 VIP seating; 941-371-2939;bigtopbrewing.com
Backtrack Blues Band
Bradenton restaurant and blues venue Cottonmouth's live music lineup this weekend will include Backtrack Blues Band. The group was formed in St. Petersburg in 1980 and has grown to earn national attention, including from blues-rock favorite Mike Zito, whose Gulf Coast Records signed the band and released their latest album "A Day by the Bay" earlier this year. The album was recorded live during their performance at last year's Tampa Bay Blues Festival in downtown St. Pete's waterfront Vinoy Park, where they shared a bill with musicians including JJ Grey & Mofro, Jimmie Vaughan and Larkin Poe. 7 p.m. Saturday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $7 advance, $12 day of; 941-243-3735;facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul
Rod MacDonald
Fogartyville, one of the top spots to see regional and national singer-songwriter acts locally, will welcome Florida-by-way-of-New York folk musician Rod MacDonald this weekend. MacDonald was part of the 1980s folk revival in New York City's Greenwich Village, co-founding the Greenwich Village Folk Festival, before moving to Delray Beach in 1995, later writing the song "My Neighbors in Delray" about the 9/11 hijackers who lived in the same city. He is also lead singer in the band Big Brass Bed, which takes its name from the lyrics of the Bob Dylan song "Lay Lady Lay" and plays Dylan's music. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Saturday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $20, $18 members, $10 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469;fogartyville.org
Ringling Underground
Ringling Underground, the monthly concert series held in The Ringling's courtyard with up-and-coming artists and free admission for students, continues in October. Miami's Plastic City Robot-A, which released the album "LLIY" earlier this year and blends genres including progressive rock, ambient and space rock, performs along with Noan Partly, a singer-songwriter, fingerstyle guitarist and Oklahoma native now living in the Tampa Bay area who describes her sound as "indie-folk with Midwest roots." Englewood experimental duo Movie Props rounds out this month's lineup. 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5; The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; $15, free students with ID and members; 941-359-5700;ringling.org
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