Weekend Sounds March 31- April 2

BRADENTON – This Friday is the second weekend of Music in the Park, the free concert series hosted at Bradenton’s Riverwalk Park. Also Friday, Trey Wanvig returns to Cottonmouth in VOTA and Rye Road heads to the "Big Top." Saturday brings more live music, with Kettle of Fish in Sarasota while Igor & Red Elvises and the Jason Haram Trio each perform in Bradenton. Check out the Bradenton Times Weekend Sounds to see what bands you can catch and where.

Realize Bradenton's seven-week live concert series, Music in the Park, has returned to Bradenton’s downtown Riverwalk Park! This Friday, the family-friendly free concert will feature a performance by the Glass Onion–a Beatles tribute band.

Each Friday evening through May 5, a different band will take to the park’s amphitheater stage for the free community concert, from 6:00- 8:00 pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs–and their furry companions on leashes are welcome as well! Food, beverages, beer, and wine will be available for purchase at the concerts.

The Riverwalk Mosaic Amphitheater is located at 606 3rd Avenue West, Bradenton, Riverwalk Park.

Trey Wanvig is a 20-year-old blues guitarist and vocalist from Sarasota, Florida. Performing in front of audiences since the age of 14, Wanvig has earned his reputation as a professional performer as well as growing an impressive resume.

Wanvig’s resume includes performing at multiple blues and music festivals including the Waterfront Blues Festival (Portland, Oregon); Bradenton Blues Fest (Bradenton, Florida), Tall City Blues Fest (Texas); Dunedin Wines the Blues (Dunedin, Florida); Blues from The Top (Colorado); and Giving Hunger the Blues (Sarasota, Florida), as well as performing alongside great artists in the blues and blues rock world, including Eric Gales, Shemekia Copeland, Bob Margolin, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Annika Chambers, Janiva Magness, Toronzo Cannon, Paul DesLauriers, Shakura S'Aida, Biscuit Miller, Kenny Neal, Bryan Lee, Doug MacLeod, Ben Rice, Sarah Grace, Tas Cru, Gabe Stillman, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson.?

An ambassador for the United by Music North America organization, Wanvig released his first album titled Roadside Blues in January of 2018, most of which was written when he was just 14 years old. Cover $5.

About the Venue:

Located in Bradenton Village of the Arts, Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen has quickly become one of Bradenton’s more popular outdoor music venues. Known for his eclectic southern dining, Chef Dave Shiplett puts his creative spin on southern classics serving up his brand of southern soul food in this 100-year-old cottage that doubles as an art gallery. The venue offers craft beer, wine, a list of creative hard ciders, and non-alcoholic beverages. Reservations are recommended due to limited capacity. 1114 12th Street West, Bradenton.

Country-rock band Rye Road returns to the "Big Top" stage to perform in the expansive beer garden of Sarasota’s favorite Brewery. Rye Road has been rocking audiences up and down the Gulf Coast of Florida for over a decade. Their sound is a unique blend of new country and rock. The band features Pete Tamburin’s emotional vocals and country-influenced guitar, drummer Dan Garrido’s solid rhythms and amazing high harmonies, the energetic and booming bass lines of Bryant Crawford, and the soaring keyboards of Tim Meyer. Catchy, accessible melodies under lyrics that everyone can relate to, a sound sure to rock and move you! No cover.

About the Venue:

Big Top Brewing Company is a Sarasota-based production brewery. Valuing their great town and its great history, they set out to add in a great local beer. A complement to Sarasota’s historical associations with The Ringling Circus, performing arts, famous architecture, the best art and design schools, and world-renowned tourism, Big Top Brewing artistically crafts world-class beers, inspired by their hometown. Featuring brewing, tasting, and live music from some of the area’s best performers. A great outdoor venue with an expansive beer garden and porch bar. 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota.

Igor & Red Elvises return to Bradenton’s VOTA Birdrock Taco Shack this Saturday! As an independent band, Red Elvises have produced 12 studio albums, two live albums, a live concert DVD, and a Greatest Hits compilation. Igor Yuzov grew up in the former Soviet Union and left Russia for America with his "Folk'n'Roll" band Limpopo, and was personally greeted by Ronald Reagan. In 1993, Limpopo won Ed McMahon's Star Search.

In 1995, Igor dreamed that Elvis Presley came to him and told him to start playing rock'n'roll. Igor and his Russian friends became Red Elvises. Evolving over the years, Igor’s music has been labeled "Siberian Surf Rock." Over the past 20 years, the Red Elvises have toured all over the world with occasional breaks to record new music and to participate in film and television projects. Tickets are $25.

About the Venue:

Located in Bradenton Florida's Village of the Arts,Birdrock Taco Shack is not your average taco joint, but a unique funky-fun taco spot and live music venue. Owner and chef David Shiplett–also the owner of popular Cottonmouth South Soul Kitchen–doesn’t serve up just any tacos. Dave has worked as a Chef in San Francisco, San Diego, Sarasota, and now Bradenton. Dine inside the eclectic artsy shack or outdoors on the porch and back patio. Great food, good people... and TACOS! 1213 13th Avenue West, Bradenton

On Saturday, the Jason Haram Trio takes the stage at Cottonmouth. The hard-hitting power trio leans toward the Texas Blues sound of Jason Haram’s many guitar heroes. Haram gained his guitar-playing inspiration from big names like T-Bone Walker, Johnny Winter, Chris Duarte, Jimmie Vaughan, and younger brother Stevie, but he says he also derives his inspiration from some of our area's most talented guitarists like Damon Fowler, Al Fuller, Josh Nelms, Matt Walker, and others. Joined by drummer Aaron Fowler and bassist Todd Cook, Haram rounds out the trio with his driving electric guitar and lead vocals. No Cover.

Kettle of Fish has been performing in clubs, pubs, and venues across Manatee and Sarasota, as well as across Florida and the U.S., for years. Lead singer, guitarist, and band founder Dana Lawrence is one of the area’s favorite singer-songwriters, performing original music. Kettle of Fish is a band with an ever-fluid rotation of talented local and guest musicians. If you like the sound of the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Otis Redding, Robert Cray, the Neville Brothers, Buddy Guy, Stevie Wonder, the Allman Brothers, or The Grateful Dead, you will love Kettle of Fish.

About the Venue:

Hart's Landing is Sarasota’s oldest saltwater fishing bait and tackle store. Located near downtown Sarasota at the foot of the John Ringling Causeway, the rustic building is a piece of "Old Florida" amongst the downtown Sarasota condominium skyline. Nestled beside Eloise Werlin Park, Hart’s bait shop sells more than just bait, they offer light bites, snacks, and beverages. There are plenty of benches, lawn space for your own chairs or blankets, and public restrooms available. A perfect bay-view, real Florida, evening-in-the-park venue to take in local live music. 920 John Ringling Causeway, Sarasota.

Join James Varnado as he hosts Cottonmouth’s Sunday "Jazz and Blues Open Jam“. Born in New Orleans, James Varnado relocated to Florida’s Gulf Coast in 2006. The locally known and respected drummer has years of performances under his belt. Varnado has performed and toured with the likes of George Porter Jr (The Meters), Charmaine Neville (Neville Bros Family), Tab Benoit, Mem Shannon Blues Band, Jon Cleary, Dickey Betts (of the Allman Brothers), The Dixie Cups (Doo Wop), and has shared the stage with various local bands.

The Sunday jam offers audiences something a bit more like a variety show, leading the jam with opening songs, and welcoming a rotation of other talented local guest musicians to join the stage. A jam session that's guaranteed to bring sound surprises you won’t hear anywhere else. No cover.

Join RJ Howson, Mike Kach & Friends for Sunday Blues and Brews!

RJ Howson picked up his skillful guitar chops performing and sharing the stage with blues icons and fellow musicians at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Rosa's Lounge, Kingston Mines, BLUES on Halstead, and many other clubs in the Windy City as well as countless other venues across the Midwest.

Mike Kach, keyboardist to Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Kach's soulful vocals can be heard on Betts originals like No One Left to Run with It, Nobody Knows, and Southbound. Kach's own ballad, Get Away, appeared on the Dickey Betts & Great Southern's live CD/DVD set Rockpalast: 30 Years of Southern Rock.