Looking for live music? Here are some of my best bets for touring bands, original tunes, big acts and otherwise cool shows this May in Southwest Florida. I’ll add more as venues announce new shows.
This list focuses mostly on original music and interesting concerts. Check individual venues for cover bands and other shows.
ACMA
Every Sunday: Songwriters Circle, weekly event where local songwriters get together, perform their original songs and get feedback from the group. Anyone is welcome. Just bring your guitar! 2-5 p.m. Free.
May 19: ACMA Benefit Showcase: ACMA singer-songwriters perform and tell the stories behind the songs at this fundraiser for the nonprofit group. 7-9 p.m. $10-$15.
May 26: Cottondale Swamp, the Weeki Wachee band plays Florida swamp rock, Southern Americana and outlaw country. They’re fronted by Kenny Grube, an Elvis tribute artist for the last 10 years. Robert Lloyd opens. 7-9:30 p.m. $10-$15.
The Americana Community Music Association Listening Room inside All Faiths Unitarian Church, 2756 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. americanacma.org
BARBARA B. MANN PERFORMING ARTS HALL
May 18: Victor Manuelle, the salsa star has been topping the Latin charts since the early 90s with his romantic tunes. He’ll perform his biggest hits. 8 p.m. $52-$132.
May 26: The Rock Pack: The Legends of Rock, this classic rock series features former lead singers from Kansas (John Elefante), Journey (Kevin Chalfant), Toto (original singer Bobby Kimball) and Chicago (Bill Champlin). Plus Jimy Sohns of Shadows of Knight. 8:30 p.m. $66-$129.
Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or bbmannpah.com
THE BARREL ROOM
Every Thursday: The Dan Miller & Lew Del Gatto Quartet, featuring trumpeter Miller (who has toured and recorded with Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis and more) and saxman Del Gatto (formerly of the Saturday Night Live band) playing jazz every week in this local quartet. 7-10 p.m. Free.
May 18: The Paul Nelson Band, The Grammy-winning blues singer-guitarist and producer brings his tour to downtown Fort Myers. 9 p.m. $10.
May 25: RJ Howson & Friends, the roots rocker/bluesman honed his guitar-playing chops at well-known Chicago blues clubs such as Buddy Guy's Legends and Rosa's Lounge. 9 p.m. $5.
May 26: Mark Telesca, West Palm Beach blues singer, guitarist and bassist known for expressive musicianship and storytelling lyrics. 9 p.m. $5.
The Barrel Room, 2214 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers. 333-2225 or barrelroomfortmyers.com
BEACH RECORDS
May 26: 239 Summer Underground Fest: Returning festival featuring Southwest and Southwest Florida musical acts and visual artists John Wayne Gretzky, Brooke V., Mengyao Xiong, Going Out, Demigod Duo, Pocket of Lollipops, Alex Bowman, The Glow of Streetlights, Spoken Spittas and more. 3 p.m. to midnight. Free.
Beach Records, 16120 San Carlos Blvd., Unit 10, south Fort Myers. 878-7806 or facebook.com/BeachRecords
BIG BLUE BREWING
May 19: The Electric Mud, gritty and soulful rock band from Fort Myers. 9 p.m. Free.
May 25: Sheena Brook, local country singer-songwriter who competed in March 2017 on “The Voice.” 9 p.m. Free.
May 26: Betty Fox Band, Tampa blues/funk/soul favorites. 9 p.m. Free.
Big Blue Brewing, 4721 S.E. 10th Place, downtown Cape Coral. 471-2777 or bigbluebrewing.com
BUCKINGHAM BLUES BAR
Ongoing: Open Stage Blues Jam, twice-weekly blues jam open to all musicians and hosted by bar owner and bluesman Tommy Lee Cook. 3-6 p.m. every Sunday, 8-11 p.m. every Wednesday. Free.
May 18: Gypsy Elise & The Royal Blues, Grammy-nominated rockin’ blues band from Orlando. 8-11 p.m. $10.
May 25: Bryan Lee, award-winning New Orleans bluesman often called the “Braille Blues Daddy.” Legally blind since age 8, Lee is considered by many to be a living legend. He won a 2011 Blues Music Award and was also nominated for a 2010 Grammy. 8-11 p.m. $10.
Buckingham Blues Bar, 5641 Buckingham Road, Buckingham. 693-7111 or buckinghambar.com
BUDDHA ROCK CLUB
May 18, 19 and 20: A200, modern rockers from Southwest Florida. About 10 p.m. Free.
May 25-26: The Clanton Gang, hard-rocking local act that plays both originals and cover tunes. About 10 p.m. Free.
Buddha Rock Club, 12701 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 482-8565 or buddharockclub.com
CHARLOTTE COUNTY CULTURAL CENTER
May 18: Paisley Craze, this act bills itself as “the ultimate '60s party band.” Expect high-energy covers of 60s rock and Motown songs from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, The Monkees, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson and more. 7 p.m. $20.
Charlotte County Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte. 941-625-4175 or theculturalcenter.com
CIGAR BAR LIVE
Every Wednesday: The Electric Mud, the gritty and soulful rock band from Fort Myers plays during Ladies Night. 9 p.m. to midnight. Free.
Cigar Bar Live, 1508 Hendry St., downtown Fort Myers. 337-4662 or worldfamouscigarbar.com/live
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS (THE RIVER DISTRICT)
May 18: Music Walk, downtown Fort Myers comes alive with music at this monthly celebration with bands in the streets and inside the bars and venues. 6-10 p.m. Music Walk takes place on the third Friday of every month. Free. Downtown Fort Myers. downtownfortmyers.com/music_walk
Downtown Fort Myers. fortmyersriverdistrictalliance.com
FORT MYERS BREWING COMPANY
May 19: Opposite States, Fort Myers band that blends reggae, rock, punk and blues. 7-30-10:30 p.m. Free.
Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Unit 28, south Fort Myers. 313-6576 or fmbrew.com
GEORGE & WENDY’S SANIBEL SEAFOOD GRILLE
May 18: The Marty Stokes Band, local band known for its raw, ferocious blues power. 9 p.m. to midnight. Free.
May 25: The Hipnauticals, Matlacha band known for its hip originals and covers played in the style of old-fashioned swing music, R&B and rock with an upright bass and more. 9 p.m. to midnight. Free.
George & Wendy’s Sanibel Seafood Grille, 2499 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island. 395-1263 or sanibelseafoodgrille.com
HOWL
Every Thursday: HOWL Open Jam, local musicians jam together with host Frankie Colt, a house drum kit and some surprises (including comedy and burlesque performances). 8-11 p.m. $5.
May 18: Metal Night: Get your heavy metal fix with Chlover, Sevensins, Born Beneath and Irras One. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. $5.
May 26: West Berlin and Speaker, Syracuse melodic hardcore act West Berlin and Canadian metalcore band Speaker bring their tour to Fort Myers. Plus opening acts Joshua Creek, Skyhacker and No Life Left. 9 p.m. to midnight. $10.
HOWL, 4160 Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers. 332-0161 or howlftmyers.com
LANI KAI
May 23 and 30: Radio Ghost, Fort Myers trio that plays rock covers and originals. 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free.
May 24 and 31: Soulixer, local funk/rock act influenced by bands such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Cage the Elephant. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free.
May 25 and 26: A200, modern rockers from Southwest Florida. 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Free.
Lani Kai Island Resort, 1400 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach. 463-3111 or lanikaiislandresort.com/fort-myers-beach-music
LEE CIVIC CENTER
May 26: Jacob Forever and Leoni Torres, reggaton star Jacob Forever and pop-salsa singer Leoni Torres perform. Plus the opening act, comedian Robertico. 7 p.m. $40-$60.
Lee Civic Center, 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers. 1-800-668-8080 or ticketon.com
RACK’EM
May 19: Punk/Ska Night, ska/punk sounds from local acts Bargain Bin Heroes, The Problem Addicts, Offset Era and Suburban Swamp Kids. 9 p.m. Free.
May 28: Mayday!, boundary-bending Miami rap-rock group with emcees Wrekonize and Bernz. Plus Little Stranger, Konshintz, TwoFace and more opening acts to be announced. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
Rack’em Spirits & Times, 1011 S.E. 47th Terrace, downtown Cape Coral. facebook.com/RackemspiritsandTimes
THE RANCH CONCERT HALL & SALOON
May 18: Big Smo, the country rapper and reality-TV star returns to The Ranch. 9 p.m. $19 and $46.
May 19: Zoso, Led Zeppelin tribute act that brings Plant, Page and company to life onstage. 9 p.m. $18.
May 25: Billy Currington,SOLD OUT.
The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 985-9839 or theranchfortmyers.com
THE SHELL FACTORY
Wednesday Dance Nights with Jerry Dycke, The singer/songwriter/keyboardist performs covers of country songs, ballads, waltzes and more, plus some of his own solo music. Dycke is a former recording artist for Sun Records, the Memphis studio famous for Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. Three of his songs have made it onto the Billboard Top 100 radio charts: "I Never Said Goodbye,” "Daddy Played Harmonica” and “Beethoven Was Before My Time." He was inducted into the Florida Country Music Association Hall of Fame in 1994. 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays. $6. Takes place in The Dolphin Room.
The Shell Factory & Nature Park, 2787 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers. 995-2141 or shellfactory.com
SLATE’S
May 22 and 29: Possum Gravy, high-energy Cape Coral string quintet that plays “bluegrass with a twist” and covers gospel, rock, bluegrass, country, blues and more.
May 23 and 30: The Hot Buttered Nuggets, Fort Myers “vintage Americana” duo that performs classic swing, rockabilly, blues and more. Bandleader Douglas Everton plays guitar and vocally “impersonates” the sounds of the brass and woodwind instruments, drum solos and more. 7 p.m. Free.
May 24-25: The Pitbull of Blues Band, frontman Josh Rowand — otherwise known as The Pitbull of Blues — and his high-energy band known for its fun mix of traditional and original blues. 7:30-10:30 p.m. Free.
May 26: Swing 2 Bop, jazz quartet featuring trombonist Herb Bruce and a rotating group of players. 7 p.m. Free.
Slate’s, 4820 Candia St., Cape Coral. 540-6800 or slatescapecoral.com
SOCIETY
May 24: SOWFLO, popular local surf-rock-reggae band known for its good vibes, lighthearted melodies and a name that comes from a contraction of “Southwest Florida.” 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Free.
May 27: The Freecoasters, locals who play a catchy, danceable mix of reggae, soul, pop and ska, including covers and originals. 4-8 p.m. Free.
May 26: Soulixer, local funk/rock act influenced by bands such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Cage the Elephant. 7-11 p.m. on May 17, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on May 26. Free.
Society at Bell Tower Shops, 13499 Bell Tower Drive, Suite E-518, south Fort Myers. 334-0900 or societyfortmyers.com
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EVENT CENTER
May 25: Big bad Voodoo Daddy, swing revival stars bring their 25th anniversary tour to Bonita Springs. 8 p.m. $34-$60.
May 31: Patty Smyth and Scandal, pop-rock act best known for the hits “The Warrior” and “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” (frontwoman Smythe with Don Henley). 8 p.m. $30-$60.
Southwest Florida Event Center, 11515 Bonita Beach Road S.E., Bonita Springs. 245-9910 or swfleventcenter.com
SPACE 39
Every Thursday: Space Jam, weekly soul/funk jam open to everyone. 8 p.m. to midnight. Free.
May 25: Sarah Hadeka, Naples singer/songwriter/keyboardist who performs pop, rock, blues and occasionally country. Her influences include Tori Amos, Ben Folds and The Cure. She performs covers and originals. 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Free.
May 26: Dale Robinson Blues Band Featuring Steve Arvey, Australian Blues band playing a mix of originals and covers. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free.
Space 39 Art Bar & Martini Lounge, 39 Patio de Leon, downtown Fort Myers. 204-9949 or space39artbar.com
— Want your band to be considered for our Live Music calendar and The News-Press’s various entertainment calendars? Just visit events.news-press.com and enter details about your upcoming shows. You can also email concert details (including times and ticket prices) and high-res band photos to crunnells@news-press.com. No cover bands, please!
Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells (News-Press) (Facebook), @charlesrunnells (Twitter), @crunnells1 (Instagram)