Albert Castiglia headlines 21st Giving Hunger the Blues festival

Local blues fans already are getting excited about the Bradenton Blues Festival in early December, but they don’t have to wait that long for a full day of great live music.

Giving Hunger the Blues, the area’s oldest blues festival, returns this weekend. It gets going at noon Saturday (gates open at 11:30 a.m.) and keeps going until 9:30 p.m., on multiple stages right along Sarasota Bay on the grounds of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center.

Some of the area’s best-known bands are on the lineup, but the headliner is nationally known singer-guitarist Albert Castiglia. He is based in Miami and 20 years ago he was named “best blues guitarist in Miami” by the Miami New Times.

But he’s played all over the country, starting with his first high-profile gig as the the lead guitarist for Junior Wells’ touring band.

Castiglia was on the lineup for the Bradenton Blues Festival in 2013, and he’ll be back in town on Dec. 2, during Bradenton’s “Blues Weekend,” for a gig at Ace’s.

This weekend’s festival is about more than great blues in a beautiful setting — there’s a mission to the music. Giving Hunger the Blues benefits the Mayor’s Feed the Hungry Program, which provides thousands of meals to people in need, including a lot of children, and the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County, which offers a wide range of services.

Here’s the blues lineup:

Noon-12:45 p.m.: Fogt’s Music All Stars

1-1:45 p.m.: Art Of Blues

1-1:45 p.m.: Ship of Fools

2-2:45 p.m.: Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio

4-4:45 p.m.: Reverend Barry & Funktastic Soul featuring the Hellacious Horns

5-6 p.m.: RJ Howson/R&B Stage

6:15-7:45 p.m.: Albert Castiglia

8-9:30 p.m.: John Nemeth

At the same time all that blues and jazz is going on, jazz-oriented bands will perform on the Jazz Stage. Acts include Sarasota Jazz Project, Booker Jazz Ensemble, Hot Club SRQ, Synia Carroll & The Billy Marcus Trio, Michael Ross Quartet, Renesito, Tom Carabasi Samba Jazz, Gumbi Ortiz & New Groove City and Marion Meadows.

Details: 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Oct. 28 (rain or shine), grounds of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. $20 plus service charge general admission, $75 plus service charge VIP, children under age 12 free. Bring lawn chairs. No pets or coolers. 941-953-3368, givinghungertheblues.org.

This story was originally published October 25, 2017 at 4:22 PM with the headline "Albert Castiglia headlines 21st Giving Hunger the Blues festival."