Top 8 concerts this week in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Anna Maria, Palmetto

While we're already looking ahead to April, May and June's concert and comedy tour calendar, including music festivals, you'll find multiple music festivals already taking place this week in March in the Sarasota area. Sarasota Jazz Festival's 45th anniversary event continues, while Venice Blues Festival returns with an expanded three-day lineup and a new barbecue competition component, and a new blues music festival makes its debut in Palmetto.

Along with the performers at these festivals, which include Grammy-winning and nominated acts, other notable musicians visiting our area this week will include a member of a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band, who'll perform that group's best-known album in full as part of The Center of Anna Maria Island's Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series. Here are this week's highlights. Event details are subject to change.

Lauren Mitchell

A former Bradenton resident, blues singer Lauren Mitchell will return to the Friendly City to perform at Cottonmouth. Recently, Mitchell appeared on Count Basie Orchestra's 2023 album "Basie Swings the Blues," performing with Keb' Mo' on the track "Down Home Blues," with the record featuring other renowned blues musicians such as Buddy Guy and Bobby Rush and winning last year's Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album Grammy. Previously, Mitchell herself was nominated at the 2017 Blues Blast Music Awards for the Sean Costello Rising Star Award and Soul Blues Album for her solo full-length "Desire." 7 p.m. Friday; Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, 1114 12th St. W., Bradenton; $25; 941-243-3735; facebook.com/cottonmouthsoul

Sarasota Jazz Festival

The jazz music festival, celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, will conclude this weekend with two concerts at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium. Grammy-winning bassist Marcus Miller, known for his work with musicians such as Miles Davis and Luther Vandross and as a solo artist (including 2018's Best Contemporary Instrumental Album Grammy-nominated, Blue Note Records-released "Laid Black") will headline Saturday, with the Thomas Carabasi Quintet also performing. Organist Tony Monaco and saxophonist Eric Alexander top the bill Friday, joined by special guests James Suggs and Paul Gavin and opening act MJR Latin Project, led by Mauricio J. Rodriguez. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $60-$150 per concert; sarasotajazzfestival.com

Palmetto Blues Festival

Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa hosts this two-day music festival featuring numerous musicians in its namesake genre. Singer Annika Chambers, a three-time winner of the Blues Music Award for Soul Blues Female Artist (which she's nominated for again this year), and her husband and guitarist Paul DesLauriers will perform Saturday along with Sarasota's own Trey Wanvig, the Bradenton-based Doug Deming and Tampa Bay musician Charlie Morris. Friday will feature The Petty Experience, a tribute act celebrating Gainesville native Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Memphis Rub Band. 5 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday; Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, 600 U.S. 41, Palmetto; $10, $20 reserved seating (Friday); $20, $30 reserved (Saturday); $25, $40 reserved (both days); 941-304-3115; eventbrite.com

Venice Blues & BBQ

Returning last year after half a decade off, Venice Blues Festival will expand to three days for this year's event, along with adding a barbecue competition component. Dumpstaphunk, the New Orleans jam-funk band led by Grammy winner Ivan Neville, headlines Saturday, while Grammy-nominated and Blues Music Awards-winning boogie-woogie pianist/singer-songwriter Victor Wainwright and the Train top the bill Sunday. Allman Brothers Band tribute act Steeln' Peaches (who played the festival last year) headline Friday, with additional musical acts including Wainwright's Southern Hospitality bandmate Damon Fowler, performing Sunday as well. Friday-Sunday; Venice Airport Festival Grounds, 610 Airport Ave. E., Venice; $20-$25, $75 VIP per day, free ages 12 and under; venicebluesandbbq.com

The Moody Blues' John Lodge

The Center of Anna Maria Island's Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series will continue Monday with John Lodge, best known for his time as a bassist and vocalist for the Moody Blues. For his work with the group — where his bandmates included the late Graeme Edge, a former Bradenton resident — Lodge was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Lodge will play two sets, one of which will have him performing in full the Moody Blues' renowned 1967 album "Days of Future Passed," featuring the band's best-known song, "Nights in White Satin." 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:30 p.m. show Monday; The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria; $75 and up; 941-778-1908; centerami.org

Jacob Jolliff Band

Fogartyville's live music lineup this week will include mandolinist Jacob Jolliff and his band. Winner of the National Mandolin Championship in 2012, Jolliff was a member of the roots and bluegrass bands Joy Kills Sorrow and Yonder Mountain String Band in the 2010s. Under his own name, Jolliff's releases include last year's "Instrumentals, Vol. 2: Mandolin Mysteries," the follow-up to his 2018 album. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show Thursday, March 27; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $25, $20 members, $13 students ages 13 and up; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

Biscuit Miller Band

Sarasota County restaurant and live blues music spot Englewoods on Dearborn will welcome back bassist and singer-songwriter Biscuit Miller. A two-time winner of the Blues Music Award for Instrumentalist — Bass in 2012 and 2017, Miller has released albums including 2019's "Chicken Grease" and 2010's "Blues with a Smile," a fitting title for the charismatic performer. Along with leading his own band, Miller previously performed in the groups of other blues musicians such as Lonnie Brooks and Anthony Gomes. 6:30 p.m. Thursday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $10; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com

Sofia Talvik

Singer-songwriter Sofia Talvik, who performs "Americana/folk with Swedish roots," will return to Venice venue Troll Music for another concert this week. Talvik hails from Sweden, recording her most recent album — 2023's "Center of the Universe" — in the country's small rural village of Sulegång. Yet she has visited nearly all 50 states while touring and has numerous ties to America, including the Sunshine State, with her 2010 album "Florida" partially written during a period when she lived in Orlando. 7 p.m. Thursday; Troll Music, 628 E. Venice Ave., Venice; $25; 941-484-8765; trollmusic.com

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Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.