Boston singer-songwriter Kevin So performs in Sarasota

Boston has long been known as a great music town, from its great classical and pops orchestras, to alt-rockers Lemonheads and the Pixies, classic rockers Boston and Aerosmith and teen groups New Edition and New Kids on the Block.

Singer-songwriter Kevin So hasn’t garnered the same kind of international fame that a lot of the biggest Boston bands have, but among music connoisseurs inside and outside of Boston he’s regarded as one of the best.

He’s known as a boundary-stretching songwriter and performer who blends rhythm and blues and hip hop. He’s garnered praise from such diverse talents as Billy Bragg, Martin Sexton, Mary Lou Lord, Richie Havens, David Wilcox and Keb Mo. As far back as 1995, the Boston Globe described So as “riveting” and “impeccable.” He has been nominated eight times for the prestigious Boston Music Awards.

You can find out what so many Bostonians and his fellow singer-songwriters already know when So plays on Friday at Fogartyville in Sarasota. His performances are reportedly high-energy affairs that combine intense songwriting, entertaining story-telling and foot-stomping rhythms.

Details: 8 p.m. May 19, Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota. $12 advance, $15 day of show. 941-545-5635, fogartyville.org.

This story was originally published May 17, 2017 at 4:22 PM with the headline "Boston singer-songwriter Kevin So performs in Sarasota."