The Ultimate Gulf Coast Guide to Live Music, Outdoor Entertainment & Fun Places to Go

From Tampa & St. Pete to Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, North Port, Port Charlotte & Punta Gorda

Looking for live music, a waterfront spot to grab a drink, somewhere to dance, or simply a fun place to spend an evening?

One of the best things about living on Florida’s Gulf Coast is the incredible variety of entertainment within an easy drive.

You can listen to a band while watching the sunset, discover a hidden piano bar, spend an afternoon at an outdoor waterfront venue, dance the night away, or see a major national artist in concert.

Whether you live here full-time, spend your winters in Florida, are visiting the area, or are considering making the Gulf Coast home, knowing where the locals go is part of experiencing the Florida lifestyle.

This guide takes you from Tampa and St. Petersburg south through Bradenton and Sarasota to Venice, Wellen Park, North Port, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, highlighting some great places to eat, drink, listen to live music and simply enjoy life along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

So the next time someone asks…

“What should we do this weekend?”

Start here.

SARASOTA

Sarasota has an incredible arts and entertainment scene, and live music is a big part of it.

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

For larger concerts and nationally recognized performers, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall should always be on your radar.

Its unmistakable purple building and waterfront location on Sarasota Bay make attending a performance here feel distinctly Sarasota. The calendar changes throughout the year and can include concerts, touring productions, comedians and other major performers.

Definitely check the upcoming schedule when you're looking for a special night out.

Mattison’s City Grille

If you want dinner, drinks and entertainment without committing to a traditional concert, Mattison’s City Grille in downtown Sarasota is a fun choice.

Its outdoor location puts you right in the middle of downtown, and live music makes it easy to have dinner and then stay awhile.

It's also a great starting point if you want to explore downtown Sarasota afterward.

Big Top Brewing Company

Big Top Brewing is another Sarasota-area spot worth watching.

Along with craft beer and food, Big Top regularly features entertainment, live music and special events.

It has a relaxed atmosphere that works especially well when you're looking for a casual night out with friends.

Siesta Key

You really can't write a Gulf Coast entertainment guide without including Siesta Key.

Siesta Village is filled with restaurants, bars and entertainment, and you can frequently find live musicians playing around the Village.

The Big Tiki Lounge is one place to check for live entertainment, but part of the fun of Siesta Key is simply walking through the Village and seeing what's happening that night.

Grab dinner, listen to some music and make an evening of it.

St. Armands Circle

St. Armands is another wonderful place to combine dinner, shopping, cocktails and entertainment.

Cha Cha Coconuts is a fun, casual place to check for live music and that tropical Florida atmosphere.

You can also wander the Circle, grab dessert afterward and enjoy one of Sarasota's most recognizable destinations.

More Sarasota Music

Also keep an eye on entertainment schedules at places such as:

The Gator Club
Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center
Downtown Sarasota restaurants and bars
Siesta Key Village venues

Sarasota's entertainment scene changes constantly, so there is almost always something new to discover.

BRADENTON & ELLENTON

Head north from Sarasota and you'll find even more live music and outdoor entertainment.

Woody’s River Roo

Woody’s River Roo in Ellenton is one of those quintessential Florida destinations.

Located along the Manatee River, Woody’s regularly features live bands along with casual food, drinks and waterfront views.

If your ideal Florida afternoon involves sitting outside with a cold drink while listening to a band near the water, put Woody's on your list.

This is definitely one of those places where you can arrive for lunch and suddenly realize you've been there all afternoon.

Motorworks Brewing

Motorworks Brewing in Bradenton is another great live-music destination.

Its beer garden regularly hosts musicians and bands covering styles such as rock, country, reggae and blues.

The outdoor setting gives it a laid-back atmosphere that works well for groups and casual nights out.

Oscura

If you're interested in discovering musicians rather than simply hearing background music while having dinner, check the calendar at Oscura in Bradenton.

Oscura is more of a true music and entertainment venue, hosting local and touring artists and a variety of musical styles.

It's a good one to watch when you're looking for something different.

VENICE, NOKOMIS & WELLEN PARK

Heading south, Venice and the surrounding communities offer several very different live-music experiences.

Zebra Lounge

Tucked away in downtown Venice, Zebra Lounge offers something completely different from the typical Florida tiki-bar experience.

It's an intimate piano bar featuring live pianists, cocktails and plenty of opportunities for a sing-along.

It's a great choice when you want an entertaining night out without driving to Sarasota or Tampa.

Downtown Wellen

Downtown Wellen has quickly become one of the area's best gathering places.

Live music is regularly performed beneath the Heritage Tree, creating a relaxed outdoor setting surrounded by restaurants, drinks and places to sit and enjoy the evening.

Downtown Wellen also hosts special entertainment and community events throughout the year, including popular dueling-piano nights.

It's particularly enjoyable when the weather cools down and everyone is outside.

Nokomo’s Sunset Hut

For waterfront atmosphere, check the entertainment schedule at Nokomo’s Sunset Hut in Nokomis.

As the name suggests, this is one place where timing your visit around sunset can make the experience even better.

Food, drinks, Florida sunsets and live music are a pretty difficult combination to beat.

Snook Haven

Snook Haven has long been one of Venice's most unique Old Florida destinations.

Known for its riverfront setting, casual food and live entertainment, it's unlike almost anywhere else in the area.

The property has been undergoing redevelopment, so check its current operating status and entertainment schedule before making plans.

NORTH PORT

North Port continues to grow, and so does the entertainment scene around it.

Because North Port sits between Venice/Wellen Park and Port Charlotte, it's also an excellent jumping-off point for exploring live music in either direction.

Downtown Wellen is only a short drive for many North Port residents, while Port Charlotte's restaurants and entertainment venues are just to the south.

Keep an eye on local restaurants, community events and seasonal festivals as North Port continues to add new entertainment options.

PORT CHARLOTTE & PUNTA GORDA

Don't overlook Charlotte County when you're searching for live entertainment.

There are some really fun options here.

Visani Italian Steakhouse and Comedy Theater

Visani in Port Charlotte combines dinner with ticketed entertainment.

Although it's well known for comedy, the schedule also includes musical performers, tribute shows and other entertainment.

It's a great choice when you want dinner and a show all in one place.

The Twisted Fork

The Twisted Fork in Port Charlotte is another venue to watch closely.

Its entertainment calendar regularly includes live bands, tribute acts and special events.

This can be a particularly fun option when you're looking for a livelier night out rather than background dinner music.

Head into Punta Gorda

Drive a little farther south and downtown Punta Gorda opens up even more possibilities.

Punta Gorda has a wonderful nightlife scene, especially when Florida's weather is at its best.

Places worth checking include:

TT’s Tiki Bar
The Celtic Ray
Dean’s South of the Border
Fishermen’s Village
Downtown Punta Gorda restaurants and bars

Between Fishermen’s Village, downtown Punta Gorda and the waterfront establishments around Charlotte Harbor, it's easy to turn live music into an entire afternoon or evening.

ST. PETERSBURG

If you're willing to make a drive for a great night out, downtown St. Petersburg deserves its own category.

St. Pete has one of the most interesting and diverse entertainment scenes on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Jannus Live

Jannus Live is one of the area's best-known outdoor concert venues.

Located right in downtown St. Petersburg, its open-air courtyard setting makes seeing a concert here a completely different experience from attending a traditional arena show.

Check the schedule because touring artists and bands change throughout the year.

The Floridian Social

The Floridian Social is another beautiful St. Pete venue worth watching.

Its historic atmosphere gives concerts and special performances a completely different feel.

Discover Local Music

If you enjoy discovering local musicians and smaller performances, check the entertainment calendars at places such as:

Ruby’s Elixir
Bayboro Brewing
Cage Brewing
The Ale & The Witch

Ferg’s

Ferg’s is practically a St. Pete institution.

Best known as a huge sports bar and gathering place, Ferg's also frequently features live entertainment.

And because so many of these destinations are surrounded by restaurants, bars, galleries and other entertainment, downtown St. Pete makes it very easy to turn a concert into an entire night out.

TAMPA, YBOR CITY & THE RIVERWALK

Tampa deserves much more than one entry on this list.

Depending on your mood, you can spend an afternoon along the Riverwalk, listen to live music outside, see a major national artist or head into Ybor City for nightlife and dancing.

Armature Works

Armature Works is one of my favorite Tampa destinations for combining food, drinks and atmosphere.

Located along the Hillsborough River and Tampa Riverwalk, this beautifully restored historic building is home to Heights Public Market and a collection of restaurants, bars and gathering spaces.

One of the best parts is that everyone can choose what they want to eat and then meet back up to enjoy the outdoor spaces.

Grab a cocktail, find a spot near the river and check the entertainment calendar for live music and special events.

Nearby Stones Throw adds another fun waterfront option with drinks, seafood and live music along the river.

Armature Works is the kind of place where you don't necessarily need a detailed plan. Go hungry, explore and see what's happening.

Sparkman Wharf

Sparkman Wharf offers another version of Tampa's outdoor lifestyle.

Located along the downtown waterfront near Channelside and Amalie Arena, Sparkman Wharf combines an outdoor dining garden, multiple food concepts, drinks, lawn seating and entertainment.

It's a fun place to meet friends before a Tampa Bay Lightning game, concert or night downtown.

But you don't need another event as an excuse to go.

Grab something to eat, get a drink and enjoy the outdoor atmosphere.

MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

For major touring concerts, check the schedule at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre.

This large outdoor concert venue brings national artists to Tampa throughout the year.

One particularly fun feature associated with select concerts is The Backyard.

The Backyard is an open-air lounge experience where you can find food and BBQ, drinks, lawn games, shaded seating, DJs and local musicians.

There's even a large outdoor screen where guests can continue watching the concert while hanging out in the lounge.

If you've ever thought the atmosphere surrounding a concert can be almost as much fun as the concert itself, this is exactly that kind of experience.

Ybor City

For something completely different, head into Ybor City.

Ybor has a long history tied to Tampa's nightlife and continues to offer everything from concerts and DJs to rock, alternative music and Latin dancing.

The Ritz Ybor is one of the neighborhood's best-known entertainment venues and hosts concerts, DJs and special events.

If dancing is more your style, Ybor is also a great area to look for salsa, bachata and other Latin-music nights.

More Tampa Live Music

Other Tampa venues worth checking include:

New World Tampa
Skipper’s Smokehouse
Hooch and Hive
Tampa's major arenas and concert venues

Between Ybor, the Riverwalk, Armature Works, Sparkman Wharf and MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre, you could spend several weekends exploring Tampa and have a completely different experience every time.

MAKE A NIGHT OF IT

One of my favorite things about living on Florida's Gulf Coast is that you don't have to travel very far to find something completely different to do.

You can spend Friday evening listening to music in downtown Venice.

Saturday afternoon could mean a waterfront band in Sarasota or Bradenton.

Saturday night could turn into a concert and dinner in St. Petersburg or Tampa.

And Sunday afternoon might be spent listening to music somewhere along the water in Punta Gorda.

Sometimes the best nights aren't the ones you plan weeks ahead.

They're the nights when someone says:

“There’s a great band playing tonight. Want to go?”

And off you go.

SAVE THIS GULF COAST ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

Here are some of the destinations to keep on your radar:

Sarasota: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall • Mattison’s City Grille • Big Top Brewing • The Gator Club • Fogartyville • Siesta Key • St. Armands Circle

Bradenton & Ellenton: Woody’s River Roo • Motorworks Brewing • Oscura

Venice, Nokomis & Wellen Park: Zebra Lounge • Downtown Wellen • Nokomo’s Sunset Hut • Snook Haven

North Port: Local events and festivals • Downtown Wellen • Easy access to Venice and Port Charlotte entertainment

Port Charlotte & Punta Gorda: Visani • The Twisted Fork • TT’s Tiki Bar • The Celtic Ray • Dean’s South of the Border • Fishermen’s Village

St. Petersburg: Jannus Live • The Floridian Social • Ruby’s Elixir • Bayboro Brewing • Cage Brewing • The Ale & The Witch • Ferg’s

Tampa & Ybor: Armature Works • Sparkman Wharf • MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre & The Backyard • The Ritz Ybor • New World Tampa • Skipper’s Smokehouse • Hooch and Hive • Ybor City

IMPORTANT: Live-music schedules, operating hours and entertainment offerings change frequently. Always check directly with the venue before making the drive.

Living the Florida Gulf Coast Lifestyle

Knowing an area isn't just about knowing the neighborhoods and homes.

It's knowing where to watch an incredible sunset.

Where to take friends when they come to visit.

Where to grab a great dinner.

Where to hear a great band.

Where to dance.

And where to go when it's Friday afternoon and someone asks:

“So…what are we doing tonight?”

That's part of what makes living along Florida's Gulf Coast so much fun.

And after more than 20 years in real estate, I've learned that when people are deciding where they want to live, they're not simply choosing a house.

They're choosing a lifestyle.

Whether you're thinking about Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Wellen Park, North Port, Port Charlotte or somewhere in between, there is always something new to discover along Florida's Gulf Coast.

Save this guide, share it with a friend, and check back because there will always be another great place, or another great band, to add to the list.

Tracy Jones, Broker Associate, REALTOR®
White Sands Realty Group

Serving buyers and sellers throughout Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Port Charlotte and Florida's beautiful Gulf Coast.