Sarasota Live Music Venues

There are several venues in Sarasota that offer live music six or seven nights a week. This makes for an especially lively Sarasota nightlife scene, since you don't have to wait until the weekend to have fun listening to your favorite bands and solo performers.

UPDATE: The Irish Rover is closed.

In Gulf Gate, on Gateway Avenue, The Irish Rover is a smoke-free, family-friendly pub with a small bar in front and a spacious dining room with tables large enough for groups of friends to gather 'round. There's a full menu of comfort-food dinner items, as well as drinks, so you can stop in for a meal and stay for the music.
Owner Paul Duffy is a prodigious musician in his own right, expert on saxophone, trumpet, flute, guitar, keyboards, drums, bass, tin whistle, bagpipes, and vocals. He's played with Ben E. King, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Brian Johnson, Suzi Quatro, Chris de Burgh, Paul Hazel, The Corrs and Hazel O'Connor. The Irish Rover offers music Tuesday through Saturday, with a diverse lineup of musical styles. Current highlights include the Michael Kach Group (southern rock and blues) on Tuesdays; The Instigators (reggae and world music) on Thursdays; and Paul Duffy's Irish Night on Fridays. You'll see people of all ages at The Irish Rover, including kids. Oh, yes, on the first Sunday afternoon of the month, don't miss Jazz Juvenocracy and amazingly talented jazz band whose members are all middle school students.

On Main Street in downtown Sarasota, Sarasota Vineyard is a smoke-free wine-tasting bar/restaurant with a tantalizing menu that includes appetizers like baked brie, spinach and artichoke dip, specialty salads, gourmet flat bread pizza, main dishes and desserts. You have your choice of seating, from club chairs, high-top tables, and a bar in the front, to cozy booths in the back. Sarasota Vineyard presents live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Make a point of stopping by to hear Al Fuller and Gary Davis harmonize on folk-rock favorites and originals. Bain Beakley, who plays at The Irish Rover on Tuesday nights with the Michael Kach Group, also delivers strong vocals and guitar work in his solo act at Sarasota Vineyard.

Mattison's City Grille, an outdoor restaurant at the corner of Main Street and Lemon Avenue, in downtown Sarasota, is always hopping with impressive bands playing live music seven nights a week. T.C. and The Troublemakers is a sure thing on Saturday nights, with very danceable sets of rock, blues, and originals. You can have fun on the dance floor whether you've got a date or not. Simply get up and join the crowd moving to the beat. On Thursday nights, The Venturas' repertoire of jazz, pop and swing highlights lead singer Ally Couch's husky and soulful vocals.

J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe, on Old Packinghouse Road, one block east of Cattleman Road, near I-75, is a funky Old Florida, smoke-free, family-friendly restaurant with a small bar in the back, outside dining on the deck in front, and a tiny stage that serves up live music Monday through Saturday. Be sure to check out The Florida Mountain Boys (bluegrass), Kraig Kenning (slide guitar wizard), and the Al Fuller Band (blues, rock, originals) when they show up on the music schedule. Shows start at 7PM, so if you want a table and a short wait for your dinner, get there earlier to avoid the rush. The Old Packinghouse Cafe used to be part of a celery packing warehouse, thus the unusual name.

Marina Jack restaurant dominates the far west end of Main Street, where it meets Sarasota Bay. On the ground floor, in the back of the building, open to the breathtaking view of Island Park and the sunset over the John Ringling Bridge, there's a spacious bar, tables and chairs, and a spacious bandstand and dance floor where Sunday afternoons star Democracy, a very popular reggae band that draws a diverse and friendly crowd who can't keep their feet still as soon as the music starts. Notice the fluid and creative lead guitar by Richie Kicklighter, who also plays with The Instigators at The Irish Rover on Thursday nights. Reggae at Marina Jack goes from 4 - 9PM every Sunday. Dress is casual to glitzy, depending on your mood.