Birchwood, Duarte to headline Suncoast Blues Festival

If this year’s Bradenton Blues Festival doesn’t quench your thirst for great live blues music in an outdoor setting, you only have to wait a few more weeks for another.

The third annual Suncoast Blues Festival, which is set for Jan. 27-28 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, announced its lineup on Wednesday. As in past years, it’s full of treats for the blues gourmet.

Probably the most familiar name to area music fans is Selwyn Birchwood, the Florida-based, internationally known guitarist. In 2013, Birchwood won the Blues Foundation’s 2013 International Blues Challenge and the Albert King Guitarist of the Year Award. Birchwood will headline the second day of the festival.

Venerable Texas blus-rocker Chris Duarte is slated to headline Friday. Jams featuring festival musicians follow the headliner each day.

Others slated to play are the Balkun Brothers, whose website describes them as a psychedelic rock ’n’ roll band; Canadian singer Jordan Patterson, who’s been compared to both James Cotton and Lenny Kravitz; Tommy Z, whose recent album hit No. 8 on the Billboard blues charts; soulful Chicago blues singer Charles Wilson; acclaimed Houston blues singer Annika Wilson; Studebaker John, who has released 17 albums since 1979; and Chicago singer-guitarist Carl Weathersby.

Here’s the schedule:

Friday

5 p.m.: Gates open

6 p.m.: Balkun Brothers

7:15 p.m.: Jordan Patterson

8:30 p.m.: Chris Duarte

Saturday

11 a.m.: Gates open

Noon: Tommy Z

1:15 p.m.: Charles Wilson

2:30 p.m.: Annika Chambers

4 p.m.: Studebaker John

5:30 p.m.: Carl Weathersby

7 p.m.: Selwyn Birchwood

Details: Jan. 27-28, Sarasota Fairgrounds, 3000 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota. 6 p.m.-about 9:30 Friday, noon-about 8 p.m. Saturday. Friday $15 advance, $20 at the gate; Saturday $25 advance, $30 at the gate; two-day pass $35 advance, $45 at the gate, $60 reserveed.; 941-748-7585, suncoastbluesfestival.com.

This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Birchwood, Duarte to headline Suncoast Blues Festival."