—Sarasota has long punched above its weight class as a cultural arts capital. For a city of its size and scale, the sheer volume of world-class opera, ballet, and theater is staggering. Yet, for years, local music aficionados grappled with a frustrating reality: the city’s live pop, rock, and blues scene often lagged behind, forcing fans to fight I-75 traffic to catch major touring acts in Tampa or Orlando.
Today, that narrative is rapidly changing. Sarasota is evolving into a true musical mecca, and a new wave of intimate, high-caliber live performances is proving that you don’t need a stadium to see a legend.
—Magic at McCurdy’s: Joan Osborne and Jimmy Vivino
—Look no further than the recent Music Mondays: The Master Series at McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre. The intimate venue recently hosted multi-Grammy-nominated powerhouse Joan Osborne (pictured above sharing a moment with a couple of thrilled Longboat Key muscic lovers).
Osborne captivated the room with soulful reinterpretations of Bob Dylan classics, reflecting her
critically acclaimed 2017 album, Songs of Bob Dylan. Fans were treated to a masterclass in vocal artistry ahead of her highly anticipated new release, Dylanology Live, dropping on April 25th. The upcoming live album features heavy hitters like Robert Randolph and Jackie Greene, but Sarasota fans got to experience that artistic range right in their own backyard.
The momentum at McCurdy’s continues on March 16 with a rare Florida appearance by Jimmy Vivino, the 30-year music director for Conan O’Brien and current guitarist/co-producer for blues-rock legends Canned Heat. Vivino—who calls himself “just a bluesman with a job” despite sharing stages with everyone from Levon Helm to Warren Haynes—will be joined by special guest star Michelle Malone. An Atlanta-based road warrior and guitar hero, Malone brings 30 years of rebellious roadhouse rock, grit, and gospel to the stage.
—The Maestro Behind the Music
—Who is pulling these heavy-hitting talents into a comedy club on Ringling Boulevard? Enter Siesta Key resident Barry Weisblatt.
Armed with nearly four decades of top-tier music industry experience, Weisblatt moved from New York to Sarasota in 2019 and immediately recognized the vacuum in the local live music market. He isn’t your average local promoter; he’s a heavyweight veteran who began in the mailroom of Associated Booking Corp in New York and evolved into a celebrity talent agent. Since founding WhiteLeaf Events in 2002, he has produced private shows featuring everyone from Paul McCartney and Elton John to Sting and Alicia Keys.
While the McCurdy’s series offers public access to incredible artists, Weisblatt’s ultimate vision for Sarasota’s music renaissance is even more exclusive: the Whiteleaf Private Concert Club.
—The Concept: VIP Meets The Green Room
—Inspired by a similar model in Charlotte, North Carolina, Weisblatt designed Whiteleaf to strip away everything annoying about modern live music—packed stadiums, bad acoustics, and parking nightmares—and amplify everything great about it.
Rather than a transactional list of VIP perks, the Whiteleaf model is designed to foster a genuine community of local music enthusiasts. The club operates on an annual membership basis—starting around $5,400—that shifts the focus entirely from public ticket sales to curated, intimate experiences. Instead of navigating stadium crowds, a capped roster of just 150 members and their guests attend three private, star-studded concerts during the winter and spring season. Each evening is structured as a holistic event, beginning with a 90-minute catered networking reception before transitioning into a standing-room, boutique performance that eliminates the barrier between the artist and the audience. Beyond the music, the model also emphasizes community impact, ensuring a donation is made to a local charity at every single show.
—Rocking the Venue: Don Was & The Pan Detroit Ensemble
—If anyone doubted the caliber of talent Whiteleaf’s private club could pull, a recent February showcase put those doubts to rest. Six-time Grammy-winning producer and musician Don Was brought his Pan Detroit Ensemble to Sarasota for an unforgettable private jam at the Venue @ LEC.
The evening was a piece of living musical history. Opening act Josh Daniel surprised the crowd by performing an acoustic set with Was, sitting in on bass for the haunting “Only A River.” Weisblatt and Was then hosted a short Q&A, swapping stories about producing the Rolling Stones and Gregg Allman’s swan song, Southern Blood.
The main event featured Don’s band—a powerhouse lineup of Detroit musicians, including Eminem’s long-time producer Luis Resto on keys, and jazz saxophonist Dave McMurray. Following a touching visual tribute to Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, the band launched into a complete performance of the Dead’s album Blues for Allah, celebrating its 50-year anniversary. It was exactly the kind of “I-can’t-believe-I’m-seeing-this” moment Weisblatt promised.
—Join the Renaissance
—Sarasota’s live music scene has officially arrived, and whether you are looking for a ticketed night out or an exclusive, rock-and-roll luxury membership, the options are better than ever. Weisblatt ultimately hopes to open a permanent, independent music hall in Sarasota, but until then, the music is loud, the drinks are flowing, and the commute is just a short Uber ride away.
- —To learn more about the Monday Masters Concert Series and grab tickets for Jimmy Vivino ($79), visit: www.mccurdyscomedy.com (Located at 1923 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota | 941-925-3869).
- —To learn more about exclusive membership and upcoming private shows (like The Spin Doctors) at Whiteleaf Private Concert Club, visit: www.whiteleafevents.com or www.whiteleafconcertclub.com.
