Looking for live music? Here are some of my best bets for touring bands, original tunes, big acts and otherwise cool shows this Octoberin Southwest Florida. I’ll add more as venues announce new shows.
This list focuses mostly on original music and interesting concerts. Check individual venues for cover bands and other shows.
ACMA
- Every Sunday: Songwriters Circle, weekly event where local songwriters get together, perform their original songs and get feedback from the group. Anyone is welcome. Just bring your guitar! 2-5 p.m. Free.
- Oct. 27: Rebecca Folsom, folk/pop/Americana songs from the singer/guitarist with a four-octave vocal range.Ray Cerbone opens. 7-9 p.m. $10-$15.
The Americana Community Music Association Listening Room inside All Faiths Unitarian Church, 2756 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. americanacma.org
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BARBARA B. MANN PERFORMING ARTS HALL
- Oct. 26: Toto, classic rockers bring ‘Africa,’ ‘Rosanna’ and more hits to south Fort Myers. The "40 Trips Around The SunTour" launched July 30 in Vancouver. It's named after the group's new greatest-hits album. 8 p.m. $42-$105.
- Oct. 29: The Simon & Garfunkel Story, acclaimed jukebox musical/concert that recreates the sounds and songs of folk duo Simon & Garfunkel using video projection,spectacular lighting and a full live band. It features “Mrs Robinson,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Homeward Bound,” “Scarborough Fair,” “The Boxer,” "The Sound Of Silence’ andmany more hits. One night only. 7:30 p.m. $31-$57.
Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com
THE BARREL ROOM
- Every Sunday: Joe Delaney & Don Mopsick, the jazz duo performs every Sunday for The Barrel Room’s Jazz Brunch. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.
- Every Tuesday: Pro Blues Jam, Anna Maria Island bluesman Jason Haram leads this weekly blues jam. 8 p.m. Free.
- Every Thursday: The Dan Miller & Lew Del Gatto Quartet, featuring trumpeter Miller (who has toured and recorded with Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis and more) and saxman Del Gatto (formerly of the Saturday Night Live band) playing jazz every week in this local quartet. 7-10 p.m. Free.
- Oct. 26, Tas Cru, rowdy, irreverent and passionate blues singer-songwriter with a verbal flair and memorable hooks. 9 p.m. $5.
- Oct. 27: The Rockin’ Jake Band, blues, funk and zydeco act from Southeast Florida featuring Rockin’ Jake on harmonica and vocals. 9 p.m. $5.
The Barrel Room, 2214 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 333-2225 orbarrelroomfortmyers.com
BERT’S BAR.
- Oct. 26: Mike Imbasciani and his BluezRockers, the young Southwest Florida bluesman has been singing and playing guitar professionally since age 5. 7:30 p.m. Free.
- Oct. 27: Brother Love, local blues band that plays covers and originals. 7 p.m. Free.
Bert’s Bar & Grill, 4271 Pine Island Road, Matlacha. 282-3232 orbertsbar.com
BIG BLUE BREWING
- Oct. 26, Sheena Brook, local country singer-songwriter who competed in March 2017 on “The Voice.” She’s a regular at local venues and festivals.. 9 p.m. to midnight. Free.
Big Blue Brewing, 4721 S.E. 10th Place, downtown Cape Coral. 471-2777 or bigbluebrewing.com
BUCKINGHAM BLUES BAR
- Ongoing: Open Stage Blues Jam, twice-weekly blues jam open to all musicians and hosted by bar owner and bluesman Tommy Lee Cook. 3-6 p.m. every Sunday, 8-11 p.m. every Wednesday. Free.
Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Road, Buckingham. 693-7111 or buckinghambar.com
BUDDHA ROCK CLUB
- Every Sunday: A200, modern rockers from Southwest Florida. About 10 p.m. Free.
- Every Tuesday: Sideshow Bob’s Electric CircusJam Night, local bands perform and jam with guitarist/comedian Sideshow Bob and friends. Buddha Bar usually announces the guest band the week of the show. About 9 or 10 p.m. Free.
Buddha Rock Club, 12701 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 482-8565 orbuddharockclub.com
CIGAR BAR LIVE
- Every Wednesday: The Electric Mud, the gritty and soulful rock band from Fort Myers plays during Ladies Night. 8 p.m. to midnight. Free.
Cigar Bar Live, 1508 Hendry St., downtown Fort Myers. 337-4662 or worldfamouscigarbar.com/live
FORT MYERS BREWING COMPANY
- Oct. 26: The Freecoasters, locals who play a catchy, danceable mix of reggae, soul, pop and ska, including covers and originals. Plus food trucks. 6:30-10:30 p.m. Free.
Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Unit 28, south Fort Myers. 313-6576 or fmbrew.com
GEORGE & WENDY’S SANIBEL SEAFOOD GRILLE
- Oct.27: The Pitbull of Blues Band, frontman Josh Rowand — otherwise known as The Pitbull of Blues — and his high-energy band known for its fun mix of traditional and original blues. 9 p.m. to midnight. Free.
- Oct. 31: Rex Bongo Band, local blues, roots-music and swamp country-rock trio. 8-11 p.m. Free.
George & Wendy’s Sanibel Seafood Grille, 2499 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island. 395-1263 or sanibelseafoodgrille.com
HOWL
- Every Thursday: HOWL Open Jam, local musicians jam together with host Frankie Colt, a house drum kit and some surprises (including comedy and burlesque performances). 8-11 p.m. $5.
HOWL, 4160 Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers. 332-0161 or !! CHECK BACK!! howlftmyers.com
LANI KAI
- Oct. 26: Tyler Kluesner, acoustic and modern rock singer/guitarist who plays covers and his own originals. He’s also frontman for Dolt and guitarist for The Fall Down. 5-9 p.m. Free.
- Oct. 31: The Freecoasters, locals who play a catchy, danceable mix of reggae, soul, pop and ska, including covers and originals. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free.
Lani Kai Island Resort, 1400 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach. 463-3111 or lanikaiislandresort.com/beach-activities
OLD SOUL
- Oct. 27: Metal and Soul, Old Soul hosts its first-ever metal night with the bands NXT DMNSN, EUNOI, Cry Out For and Escape. 6 p.m. to midnight. Free.
Old Soul Brewing, 10970 S Cleveland Ave., Suite 402, Fort Myers. 334-4334 orfacebook.com/OldSoulBrewing
PATIO DE LEON
- Oct. 26: The Pitbull of the Blues, frontman Josh Rowand — otherwise known as The Pitbull of Blues — and his high-energy band known for its fun mix of traditional and original blues.. 7-10 p.m. Free.
Patio De Leon in downtown Fort Myers (the brick-paved outdoor area near Cigar Bar, Space 39, Downtown House of Pizza and Indigo Room, just southwest of First and Hendry streets). facebook.com/ThePatioFortMyers
PIZZANDO LOBO EVENT CENTER
Oct. 26: Halloween party with Control,the cumbia band performs at this Halloween party that includes opening act Incadenable and a costume contest. 8 p.m. $25.
Pizzando Lobo Event Center, 2649 Fowler St., Fort Myers. 601-7476 or facebook.com/Pizzando-Lobo-Event-Center-2229296843962209
RACK’EM
- Oct. 26: Frankenstein Friday, singer-songwriter K-Sea hosts this Halloween party with live music by Katie & Kyle, TwoFace, Lazy Dayz, Falseta, Longfinger and The freejects. 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Free.
Rack’em Spirits & Times, 1011 S.E. 47th Terrace, downtown Cape Coral.facebook.com/RackemspiritsandTimes
THE RANCH CONCERT HALL & SALOON
- Oct. 26: Upchurch the Redneck, comedian and country rapper otherwise known as Ryan Upchurch. 9 p.m. $25.
The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com
THE SHELL FACTORY
- Every Wednesday: Dance Nights with Jerry Dycke, the singer/songwriter/keyboardist performs covers of country songs, ballads, waltzes and more, plus some of his own solo music. Dycke is a former recording artist for Sun Records, the Memphis studio famous for Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. Three of his songs have made it onto the Billboard Top 100 radio charts: "I Never Said Goodbye,” "Daddy Played Harmonica” and “Beethoven Was Before My Time." He was inducted into theFlorida Country Music Association Hall of Fame in 1994. 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays. $6. Takes place in The Dolphin Room.
The Shell Factory & Nature Park, 2787 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers. 995-2141 or shellfactory.com
SLATE’S
- Oct. 30: Possum Gravy, high-energy Cape Coral string quintet that plays “bluegrass with a twist” and covers gospel, rock, bluegrass, country, blues and more. 7 p.m. Free.
- Oct.31: The Hot Buttered Nuggets, Fort Myers “vintage Americana” duo that performs classic swing, rockabilly, blues and more. Bandleader Douglas Everton plays guitar and vocally “impersonates” the sounds of the brass and woodwind instruments, drum solos and more. 7 p.m. Free.
Slate’s, 4820 Candia St., Cape Coral. 540-6800 or slatescapecoral.com
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EVENT CENTER
- Oct. 26: Dweezil Zappa, the guitarist and former MTV veejay performs songs by his late father, Frank Zappa, on the new “Choice Cuts!” world tour. Frank Zappa’s weird, avant-garde, often hilarious songs include “Peaches en Regalia,” “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow,” “My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama,” “Cosmik Debris” and the 1982 novelty hit “Valley Girl” (Frank Zappa’s only Top 40 hit). 8 p.m. $50-$80.
- Oct. 27: The Wallflowers, rock band best known for “One Headlight” and other 90s hits, led by Jakob Dylan, son of Bob Dylan. 7 p.m. $46-$56.
Southwest Florida Event Center, 11515 Bonita Beach Road S.E., Bonita Springs. 245-9910 or swfleventcenter.com
SOUTH STREET
- Oct. 27: The Rusty Wright Band, Winter Haven blues-rock band that plays what it calls “aggressive progressive roots music.” 8 p.m. Free.
South Street City Oven and Grill, 1410 Pine Ridge Road, Naples. 435-9333 or southstreetnaples.com
SPACE 39
- Every Thursday: Space Jam, weekly soul/funk jam open to everyone. 8 p.m. to midnight. Free.
Space 39 Art Bar & Martini Lounge, 39 Patio de Leon, downtown Fort Myers. 204-9949 or space39artbar.com
Want your band to be considered for the Live Music calendar and The News-Press’s various entertainment calendars? Just visitevents.news-press.com and enter details about your upcoming shows. You can also email concert details (including times and ticket prices) and high-res band photos to crunnells@news-press.com. No cover bands, please!
