As we bid farewell to June, and welcome July and its new lineup of local events this week, this concert picks installment features shows in both months. With Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties out of tourist and snowbird season, all this week's musicians are Florida locals, including two Blues Music Award-nominated artists playing a show together and another pair paying tribute to some of the best-known music in '70s/'80s post-punk.
Our area's numerous Fourth of July festivities also factor into this week's concert picks, including an annual festival featuring a genre-spanning lineup of live music. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.
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Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio
One of the area's most popular rock acts, Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio will play shows in Bradenton, Punta Gorda and Sarasota this week — the last show as the musical entertainment for Nathan Benderson Park's pre-Fourth of July Fireworks on the Lake event. The group is fronted by "Twinkle" Schascle Yochim, who was signed to Warner Bros. in the '90s and released the 1991 album "Haunted by Real Life" under the name Schascle. 7 p.m. Friday; Motorworks Brewing, 1014 Ninth St. W., Bradenton; 941-567-6218; motorworksbrewing.com; 6 p.m. Saturday; TT's Tiki Bar, 33 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda; 941-637-6770; ttspg.com; 5 p.m. Wednesday; Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota; free general entry, $25+ parking, $100 VIP; 941-358-7275;nathanbendersonpark.org
Ordinary Boys, New Dawn Fades
While tribute shows are commonplace these days at local music venues, this Oscura show offers something a bit different than most of them by focusing not on classic rock or pop but rather post-punk and new wave. Miami's Ordinary Boys pays tribute to The Smiths, the English band known for classic 1980s albums such as "The Queen is Dead" and "Meat is Murder," as well as the solo discography of the band's frontman Morrissey. Meanwhile, New Dawn Fades plays the music of Joy Division as well as New Order, the band formed following the 1980 death of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show Saturday; Oscura, 816 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton; $15 advance, $20 day of; 941-201-4950;oscura.live
Ben Prestage, Damon Fowler
David Shiplett, chef/owner of Village of the Arts restaurants and venues Birdrock Taco Shack and Cottonmouth, will celebrate his 65th birthday with a double-bill of acclaimed musicians in the blues/roots genre. Florida-raised, self-described "Deep South Swamp Music" performer Ben Prestage is a one-man-band whose repertoire of instruments he plays includes the diddley bow, which earned him a Blues Music Award nomination for Instrumentalist — Other in 2012. Fowler, meanwhile, topped the Billboard blues chart and earned a Blues Rock Album Blues Music Award nomination for his 2021 full-length "Alafia Moon," with his follow-up studio album "Barnyard Smile" released this month. Prestage will also play Punta Gorda's Celtic Ray at 4 p.m. Saturday. 6 p.m. Sunday; Birdrock Taco Shack, 1213 13th Ave. W., Bradenton; free; 941-545-9966;facebook.com/birdrocktaco
Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones
For this month's Blues Brunch, Mattison's Riverwalk Grille in downtown Bradenton will feature one of the top acts in the area and genre with Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones. The group was nominated for four Blues Blast Music Awards last year including Blues Band, Bass Guitarist of the Year, Live Blues Album for "Groovin' at Groove Now!" recorded in Basel, Switzerland, and Historical or Vintage Recording for the 20th anniversary reissue of their debut "Double Down." Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones are also set to play Milwaukee's massive music festival Summerfest on the Fourth of July. 11 a.m. Sunday; Mattison's Riverwalk Grille, 101 Riverfront Blvd. Suite 120, Bradenton; 941-896-9660; mattisons.com
Fourth Fest
Palmetto's annual Fourth of July festival, which has featured national names in music such as Wynonna Judd, Smash Mouth and Charlie Daniels Band, will be a little different this year. The event is moving from Sutton Park to Riverside Park, and will feature a genre-spanning lineup of Tampa Bay and Sarasota-Manatee musicians. Tampa R&B/soul group The Beatdown Band will perform, along with Sarasota pop/rock/country five-piece Scarlet Drive and Bradenton country act One Night Rodeo, who won Great American County's "Next GAC Star" competition in 2008. 5 p.m. Thursday, July 4; Riverside Park, 801 Riverside Drive, Palmetto; 941-723-4988;facebook.com/palmettocra
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