Sarasota and Bradenton Concerts

The Purple Hall

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall opened on Sarasota Bay in January 1970. William Wesley Peters designed it, and its lavender paint earned it the nickname the Purple Cow. It brings in touring musicians, comedians and the Sarasota Orchestra, and the city has spent years debating what should eventually replace it. For opera and orchestral nights, the Sarasota Opera House downtown is the other big room. Start with classical for both.

Small Rooms Worth Knowing

• Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center has a room of about 105 seats and books Americana, folk, blues, jazz and world music several nights a week during season.
• Ringling Underground turns the courtyard of the Ringling Museum of Art into a monthly Thursday night show from September through May, usually pairing a Sarasota band with a Florida band and a national act.
• The Gator Club fills a restored brick building downtown with R&B and Top 40 bands.

Bradenton

Oscura is one of the few rooms in the area built mainly for live music. It moved into a larger space in 2022, and punk and indie bands are its biggest draw. Over by the Village of the Arts, Motorworks Brewing puts bands in its beer garden, and the brewery itself fills a 1923 building that once housed a car dealership. See indie and alternative for that side of the calendar.

Venice

The Venice Performing Arts Center opened in 2012 on the Venice High School campus and seats about 1,090. It hosts the Venice Symphony, concert bands and plenty of tribute shows.

Getting Around

Summer is quieter on the roads and wetter in the evenings, and afternoon storms can push outdoor shows around until the rainy season ends in mid October. Hurricanes are a June through November concern. The ticket is the place to confirm times and rules for the night. For arena tours and the big amphitheater, head north to Tampa. For more Gulf coast stops, see St. Petersburg and Fort Myers.