Weekend Sounds: April 25-27

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.

Evita
MPAC
Thursday - 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

APRIL 24-MAY 4
Historical Musical Opera

Evita charts the young and ambitious Eva Peron’s meteoric rise to sainthood. Set in Argentina between 1934-1952, the Tony-winning musical follows Eva Duarte on her journey from poor illegitimate child to ambitious actress to, as wife of military leader-turned-president Juan Peron, the most powerful woman in Latin America, before her death from cancer at age 33.

Rated PG.

This show is sponsored by MCR Health and is part of our Action Through Acting Series. Learn more about MCR Health at their website.

John Frinzi
Whiskey Joe's
Friday - 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

John Frinzi blends folk, pop and country, delivering a sunny, laid-back beach vibe. A gifted singer and songwriter, Frinzi has built an audience through craft and originality. An early demo caught the ear of legendary pedal steel guitarist Doyle Grisham, a longtime member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, and their working relationship led to John's first album, “Into The Dawn.” His second release, “Shoreline,” showcases Frinzi's versatility as a songwriter and vocalist with many of the songs co-written by Tom Corcoran, co-writer of the Buffett classics,“Fins,” and “Cuban Crime of Passion". Most recently, John teamed up with multi-platinum songwriter and producer Aaron Scherz to release "Blue Sky View". Singles from all of these albums remain in regular rotation on Sirius/XM's Radio Margaritaville.

A seasoned live performer, Frinzi has toured nationally, performed in the Caribbean and Europe and has been featured at major festivals including Musikfest, The Keith Sykes Songwriters Celebration, Key West Songwriters Festival, Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival and has shared the stage with acclaimed artists including Jesse Winchester, Mac McAnally, The Coral Reefer Band, Todd Snider and Maria Muldaur. No cover.

About the venue:

Whiskey Joe's  is open 7 days a week for Lunch and Dinner. Some things may have changed, but our mouthwatering island-inspired dishes, amazing waterfront views and tiki cocktails have not! Come by land or sea, as we have pull-up docks available. We're located next to the old Johnny Leverock's restaurant in Rocky Bluff and five minutes from the Ellenton Premium Outlet Mall. We look forward to serving customers in the surrounding areas of Manatee County, Ellenton, Bradenton, and Sarasota.

Sweet Fleet
Music in the Park
Friday - 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

From the Nicks'-penned "Dreams" to Mcvie's "Everywhere", their impact and artistry is matched by few. Their music still is hugely popular 5 decades later; gaining traction in all age groups, filling venues and sparking new & renewed love for an old band.

This passion is what drives Sweet Fleet.

What’s really special is that everyone in this tribute to Fleetwood Mac is below 25 years old.

Sweet Fleet was formed in early 2020 by Sarasota-based music teacher Greg Burke.

The group went through multiple different Stevie Nicks’ before settling on then-15-year-old Alyssa Dodge in late 2021.

No cover.

About the venue:

Weather permitting.

Music in the Park:

Bring a chair or blanket, friends, and your leashed pups to this free, family-friendly music series.

Fridays, April 11–May 2, 2025, 6–8 p.m.
At the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion
452 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205

Piper & the Hard Times
Cottonmouth
Friday - 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Piper & the Hard Times delivers intense, eclectic and rhythmically dynamic blues-based music flavored with R&B, soul and rock. The band has an instrumental prowess that enables them to improvise with flair, while still creating music that has a melodic appeal that can immediately connect with audiences who want both a high degree of musical competence and songs with strong grooves and catchy hooks.

In January 2024 they took top honors in the band division at the prestigious International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, Tennessee. The core of the band, Al “Piper” Green, Steve Eagon, and Dave Colella have been playing and writing together for over 20 years. Over the course of three days in February 2024, Nashville-based Piper & the Hard Times held court in the legendary Ronnie’s Place at Soundstage Studios in Nashville to record Revelation.

The album features a collection of 12 original songs deeply anchored in the blues from the New Orleans-flavored groove of “Trouble Man” to the Texas shuffle “The Hard Times”, the funk-rock “Heart for Sale”, and the slow ache and emotion of “Twenty Long Years.”

Cover $25

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.

The Champ Jaxson Band
Big Top Brewing
Friday - 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Champ Jaxon is a thirteen year-old aspiring blues-rock musician based out of Southwest Florida. Champ was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2010 and his family relocated back to their hometown in Florida in 2013 when he was three years old.

Champ has performed over 120 gigs with The Champ Jaxon Band in nine different states. He first performed on Music Row in Nashville in 2021 when he was just ten years old and Beale Street in Memphis a year later, representing the Southwest Florida Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge. He appeared on “The Ellen Show” with guest host Brad Paisley in December of 2021 and made his acting debut on NBC’s “Ordinary Joe” a month later. Champ also performed at the 2022 Young Artist Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, where he took home the “Outstanding Instrumentalist” honors.

In May of 2021, a video of Champ performing The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See” went viral and was seen by the band, which led to them inviting Champ to a show and calling him up to perform that song with them. Two months later, they asked him to fill in on lead guitar for an entire set in Birmingham, AL, opening for the band Alabama at Oak Mountain Ampitheatre.

Champ has also been called up to play alongside The Allman Betts Band, Eric Gales, Chris Andersen (Outlaws), Scott Sharrard (Gregg Allman Band, Little Feat), Damon Fowler, and Frank Bang, among others. Additionally, The Champ Jaxon Band has been a supporting act on bills that included Gov’t Mule, Blackberry Smoke, Old Crow Medicine Show, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and more.

The Champ Jaxon Band’s debut album, “The Grove”, was released in December 2021 and includes six original songs and one cover. The album was recorded at Farmadelica Sound in Bokeelia, FL and includes two songs that have music videos. In addition to a organically grown following at live shows, Champ’s social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Youtube) have over 85,000 combined followers and millions of views.

Champ’s signature guitar is a 1959 Les Paul Special he bought at Carter’s Vintage in Nashville. He also has a Gibson Flying V and Gibson SG, along with a Brad Paisley signature Telecaster gifted by Mr. Paisley himself on “The Ellen Show”, where they jammed together to end the episode. Champ also plays two custom-built Blind Armadillo guitars, Red Bear & Apollo, handmade for him locally in Venice, FL, by luthier Victor McGuire. Regardless of the guitar he decides to pick up, he plays them all through his Harry Joyce Custom 30W amplifier and speaker cabinet.

The Champ Jaxon Band also includes Champ’s father, Nate Winkler, (manager/rhythm guitar), Brent Adam (drums), and Nick Rosado (bass). Champ has been a student at The Rock Box Music School & Stage in North Port, FL, since 2019 and has also studied under Scott Sharrard. When he’s not performing, Champ is a normal kid who enjoys video games, Legos, Star Wars and Marvel movies, and spending time outdoors.

Cover GA free; VIP $12.

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.

Betty Fox Band
Cottonmouth
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

With an extensive background in gospel and a lifelong passion for soul music, Betty Fox has come a long way from her southern roots to headlining festivals and captivating thousands with her raw swagger and unwavering talent. Once the 2015 representative of the Suncoast Blues Society, an International Blues Challenge Finalist, and 5 time winner of Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay, she is now recieving accolades on an international scale for her 5 star debut, "Peace In Pieces" topping the Roots Music Report Charts and getting rave reviews from critics and fans alike. One thing is for sure, Fox is truly proving herself a force to be reckoned with.

To support her talent, she has carefully selected musical heavyweights to set herself up for nothing less than well deserved success. In fact, this dynamic quartet has skyrocketed to the Florida spotlight, playing on multiple notable music festivals including the world renowned Tampa Bay Blues Festival, and the largest free music festival in the US: Springing the Blues. This band has competed in the International Blues Challenge making it to the finals 8 of 150 bands! They have opened for such artists such as Mavis Staples, Lucky Peterson, Jimmy Thackery, Marcia Ball, Southern Hospitality, and The Meter Men, for crowds amassing over 6,000 screaming fans! As many will tell you, you definitely don't want to miss this one of a kind musical experience!

Cover $10 ADV; $15 DOS

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.

Cabana Dogs
Motorworks Brewing
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Cabana Dogs is a modern Trop-Rock band based in Sarasota, Florida. Inspired by easy beach living and the carefree energy of a tropical vacation, Cabana Dogs’ music is a blend of country, soul, reggae, and classic rock ’n’ roll. Their unique coastal mix calls on Rock, Country and Dance music creating a carefree atmosphere wherever they go. Together, their strong presence radiates an infectious groove that will get anyone on their feet. 

Tips welcome.

About the venue:

Venue: BRADENTON’S BEER GARDEN AND TAPROOM - Join us for a lovely afternoon or evening in our famous Beer Garden under a 150-year-old oak tree or enjoy our Taproom that is full of our great beers, wine, spirits, and cocktails.

We strive to fine-tune award-winning craft beer delivered to satisfy anyone’s palate. Our beers and service are performance-driven, the same as the Hudson service center housed in our brewery during the 1940s and 50s.

Based on weather conditions, Live Music may be performed in the Taproom.

The Handlers with Mark Wagner
Oscura
Saturday - 8:00 p.m.

FMAM Events Presents:
The Handlers with Mark Wagner

Mechanics of Melody and Songs of the South, this Ballad bending and Soul blending Dirt Road Rock & Roll Duo are dead set on throttling up the tone, while keepin it Down Home. 

Riley “Rowdy” Anglen from Nashville, Tennessee, and JJ Revell from Tampa, Florida, have been wrenching on tour and hammering out songs together for nearly a decade. “After many years and a million miles of touring, The Handlers just seemed to form out of a close camaraderie, and a shared love to create music." says JJ. Rowdy adds, "We thought to ourselves, we've done this for so long, for so many other people, why don't we just bootstrap and do it for ourselves." And like true Cowboys of a Craft, and with a little Divine Dixie inspiration, The Handlers fired up their engines, and put it in Gear. Current Releases can be streamed everywhere.

Cover $5 ADV; $10 DOS

Tickets, click here.

Doors 7 PM; Music 8 PM
All Ages - Under 18 Requires Parent or Guardian

About the venue:

OSCURA has been reimagined and relaunched in the neighborhood of Old Manatee, with award-winning food and beverage programs, creative events, quality live music, and entertainment.

We are taking that established brand that was built over two and a half years in the previous location and adding new layers; with aesthetics that represent our view of Bradenton past, present and future.

Al Fuller's Midnight Movers Blues Brunch
Mattison's Riverwalk Grille
Sunday - 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Al Fuller, well known amongst Sarasota’s music lovers and in the community of musicians has been an accomplished musician since his youth. Al has brought his playing skills to the foreground, and developed those special relationships it takes to create a band that works well, and works together.

Rich MacDonald has been Al's drummer for a number of years, and more recent addition, Barry Sikes, joined the newly formed Al Fuller and the Moonlight Movers in 2019 as bassist. Their music includes great rock and roll cover tunes, and an assortment of blues, R&B, soul and country.

No cover.

About the venue:

Chef Paul Mattison, executive chef and proprietor of Mattison’s, operates a successful culinary group on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Located in Sarasota and Bradenton, each Mattison’s restaurant location is unique to its neighborhood, offering Chef Paul Mattison’s signature menu items, outstanding service, and quality ingredients, while supporting the community, regional farmers, and culinary suppliers. Mattison’s Catering is a chef-owned and operated company procuring fresh, natural, and local ingredients. Catering In-house and off-site, Mattison’s Catering Company offers experienced professionals, and custom menus.

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

Artists and local venues, you can now sign up and input your own calendar info directly into the Bradenton Times website. Click here to learn more.