Tonight in Sarasota: 2/27/16

The weather may be cold (again!), but it should be a hot night for live music in Sarasota:

• 7-10PM - Kat Crosby Band at J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe - blues with flavors of Texas swing
• 6-10PM - The Jayzz at Blase Cafe in Siesta Village - John Howard and friends with great harmonies on familiar favorites from 60s and 70s
• 8:30PM - Nikki Hill at The Blue Rooster in the Rosemary District, downtown - high-energy rockin' blues ($15 cover)

For complete daily listings, visit gotonight.com.

Tonight in Sarasota: 2/26/16

No question here. Guaranteed fun music night:

7-10PM - The Missing Links at J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe - nonstop greatest hits from the late 60s and early 70s; bring your earplugs, and your dancing feet.

For complete daily live music listings: gotonight.com

Tonight in Sarasota: 2/25/16

• 8PM - Strangled Darlings Touring Band at 210 Tavern (5045 Fruitville Rd) - interestingyoung non-local duo to check out; haunting sound, nice harmonies and mandolin)
• 6-10PM - Kettle of Fish at Marina Jack's (Sarasota bayfront)
• 7-11PM - Berry Oakley's ROCKLAB at S.K.O.B. (Siesta Key Oyster Bar)

For complete daily live music listings: gotonight.com

NEW FEATURE: "Tonight in Sarasota"

Especially for visitors to the Sarasota area, the array of live music performers and venues in this beautiful small-town city can be overwhelming. 

If you want to simply explore, you're sure to come upon talented musicians all around town. But if you're here for a limited time, you may appreciate some sure-thing structure to your evenings. 

That's the idea behind "Tonight in Sarasota", a new feature on this blog. 

Several nights a week, I'll hand-pick terrific spots for an evening of great music. 

For a complete daily listing of who's playing where, you can always check in with gotonight.com.

Tonight in Sarasota: 2/24/16

Get off the couch and enjoy fabulous live music in Sarasota tonight:

• 7-10PM - Buddy Gibson & Zack Yoder at J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe
• 5-7:30PM - Howlin' Bob on LeBarge Tropical Cruise (Sarasota Bayfront, $28)

For complete daily live music listings, visit gotonight.com.

Tonight in Sarasota: 2/23/16

Hands-down, this is your sure-thing tonight in downtown Sarasota:

7-10PM - Billy Seward Band at Mattison's City Grille (Lemon & Main)

For complete daily live music listings, visit gotonight.com.

Tonight in Sarasota: 2/20/16

• 8-11PM - Billy Seward Band at The Blue Rooster, 4th Street, downtown Rosemary District
• 7-11PM - Mumbo Jumbo at J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe, Old Packinghouse Rd
• 8-11PM - Lisa Ridings Band at Mattison's City Grille, Main St & Lemon Ave, downtown

I don't know how you'll decide. Three really fun choices tonight. Might have to just see them all.

For complete daily live music listings, visit gotonight.com.

Tonight in Sarasota: 2/18/16

Either band will leave you smiling. Good food at either joint:

• 7-10PM: Heather Downie Band at J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe, on Old Packinghouse Road
• 7-11PM: Berry Oakley's ROCKLAB at S.K.O.B. (Siesta Key Oyster Bar), in Siesta Village

For complete daily live music listings, visit gotonight.com.

Tommy Doerr's new CD, "Happy to Be"

It's always best to enjoy Sarasota musicians live. So many dimensions that can't be captured in a CD.

But it's also great to travel around with them in one's personal spaces, away from the distractions of chatting bar crowds and street noise. 

This week I'm enjoying the variety of moods and tunes on Tommy D's new CD, "Happy to Be." One of my faves so far is "Night Trippin'", which immediately engages with a happy calypso beat that captures the gigging musician's life on the road, traveling from setup to setup. 

Also, "Bubble", which reminds us that "We live a bubble/Of some kind/You live in a bubble/I live in mine," a tidy little evocation of the human condition. 

"Stranger" explores an experience familiar to those of us who leave our hometowns to live in a place more suited to our own needs, returning "home" to find that it no longer belongs to us, except in our memories.

Sample Tommy Doerr's CD here. Then get your own copy to drive around with.

Tommy D's CD, "Happy to Be"

Tonight in Sarasota: 2/17/16

Two super options for great live music in Sarasota tonight:

• 7PM - Mark Serio & Friends at Mattison's City Grille, including Howlin' Bob on vocals and guitar.
• 7PM - Kraig Kenning at JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe

You can enjoy dinner at either place. 

For complete daily live music listings, visit gotonight.com.

Tonight in Sarasota: 2/16/16

What a beautiful night it will be for live music on Siesta Key. Head over to Siesta Village for your choice of three excellent and unique performances. 

Enjoy dinner at one restaurant, then stroll around the village to catch the other musicians:

• 5-9PM - Tommy D at Aaron's Fish Camp 
• NOTE: Pick up Tommy's new CD, "Happy to Be".
• 7-10PM - Andres Colin at the Hub Baha Grille
• 6-9PM - Kettle of Fish band at Blase Cafe

For complete daily live music listings, visit gotonight.com.

Live Music Venues in Sarasota FL

Here's an updated list of selected live music venues all around Sarasota. It seems that you can't walk anywhere in this town without hearing live music!

For daily listings of who's playing where, remember to check gotonight.com.

Downtown Sarasota
Mattison's City Grille (Main Street)
Gator Club (Main Street)
Marina Jack's Dockside (Bayfront)
The Blue Rooster (Rosemary District)
Sarasota Farmers Market (Lemon Avenue, Saturdays 9-1)

Siesta Key
S.K.O.B. (Siesta Key Oyster Bar)
Aaron's Fish Camp
Cottage Restaurant
The Hub Baja Grille
Gilligan's
Siesta Key Farmers Market (Sundays, 9-1)

Southside Village 
The Five O'Clock Club (Hillview Street)
Fandango (S. Osprey Avenue)

S. Tamiami Trail
Walt's Fish House (5 nights/week)

Gulf Gate
Munchies

East Side
J.R.'s Old Packinghouse Cafe (Mon-Sat, 7-10)