Keeping Time

Nada Surf Drummer Ira Elliot Maintains a Low Profile Despite His Rock Star Bona Fides

"There’s a thriving music scene here, which I had not expected," Elliott, who moved to Sarasota in 2012, says. "I feel quite at home.”

04/07/2025 By John Thomason

Coming Attractions

A New Concert Club Concept Bringing Big Name Talent Is Coming to Sarasota

Kicking off at McCurdy's as Music Mondays: The Master Series, WhiteLeaf Events is bringing notable live performers to intimate spaces—and ramping up for a membership-model private concert club.

04/19/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Rock Out

Where to Hear Live Local Music in Sarasota and Bradenton

After buzzy energy of the early 2000s and 2010s, the pandemic and changing economics took a toll on the local music scene. But there is still one out there—and it's been struggling to recover and find itself again.

01/24/2024 By Stephanie Churn Lubow

The Beat Goes On

Celebrated Percussionist Gerardo Veléz Brings Rhythm and Style to Sarasota

Veléz has been a percussionist for the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Spyro Gyra, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, and Nile Rodgers and Chic.

09/07/2023 By Andrea González

Memory Keepers

The Owners of Upshot Video Productions Have Started a Podcast to Honor Their Customers

David and Lani Helms create lasting relationships with their customers, who come to the couple to help preserve precious memories but often become friends.

07/27/2023 By Kim Doleatto

Let the Sunshine In

How Sarasota’s Bones Howe Helped Shape America's Pop Music Landscape

Howe worked with Elvis, the 5th Dimension, Tom Waits and dozens of other pop music luminaries.

07/26/2023 By Clayton Trutor

Don't You Dare Miss It

WSLR Show to Feature Acclaimed Percussionist Gerardo Velez and Sarasota Magazine

Velez, who has worked with artists like Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie, will join Juan Montenegro in the studio on Friday, April 28. Sarasota Magazine editor in chief Cooper Levey-Baker will also be there.

04/27/2023 By Staff

El Fuego

Juan Montenegro Will Talk Salsa With Izzy Sanábria and Sarasota Magazine on WSLR This Friday

Sarasota Magazine managing editor Bethany Ritz will join Montenegro and Sanábria to discuss the Salsa King's influence.

03/06/2023 By Staff

Let's Dance

Local Salsa Fans Keep the Genre Alive by Connecting With Its Rich History

Salsa surged in popularity in the 1970s, primarily through the immigrant diaspora dancing to the fusion of the new sounds of Caribbean and African beats with jazz rhythms.

03/01/2023 By Andrea González

New tunes

Local Musician Dean Johanesen’s New Album Ties Into Sarasota's History

Johanesen's new album, Cautionary Tales, pulls inspiration from Sarasota's circus legacy with upbeat guitar riffs, jazzy horns and lots of storytelling.

12/12/2022 By Yasi Bahmanabadi

Jam Out

Three Musical Acts We Love

Want to update your music catalog? Check out these three local acts.

09/12/2022 By Allison Forsyth and Chloé Cuyler

Up and coming

Singer Aurora Newcomb Discusses Her New Single and Her 'Magical Folk-Punk' Sound

The Sarasota artist launched her music career at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

04/20/2022 By Chloé Cuyler

International Music

Historic Asolo Theater Presents 'Sharing Grandmothers'

The multidisciplinary musical event will be on stage for two nights only this weekend, as part of The Ringling's Black History Month celebrations.

02/10/2022 By Chloé Cuyler

Music of Now

ensembleNewSRQ Comes Back, Live

The chamber music ensemble plans a return to presenting new works, in person.

09/15/2021 By Kay Kipling

Smashing Success

A New Kind of Stress Relief Invites Destruction

It's been a tough year and you've earned the right to destroy some stuff.

07/09/2021 By Kim Doleatto

Killing It

Emanne Beasha Wins the Golden Buzzer on America's Got Talent

The 10-year-old opera singer from North Port gets the Golden Buzzer from guest judge Jay Leno in the Judges' Cut round of the show.

08/12/2019 By Olivia Letts

An American Band

A New Generation of Allman and Betts Teams Up For a Debut Album and Tour

The Allman Betts Band features Gregg Allman's son Devon, Dickey Betts' son Duane, and Berry Oakley Jr., son of the late great bassist Berry Oakley, an Allman Brothers staple.

08/02/2019 By Kay Kipling