Author Archives: suze72

Terrific Intimate Blues Performance

What a treat it was to see Janiva Magness and Xenia Dunford in such an intimate setting as Extended Play at Alternate Root TV!

Janiva Magness

Janiva Magness

I will fully describe the venue and the Sessions in another post, but suffice it to say that this venue imitates your living room, both for the artist and the audience.

Xenia Dunford

Xenia Dunford

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Jazz Show Added To Extended Play At Alternate Root TV

I know this is a last minute announcement, but the Extended Play Sessions at Alternate Root TV has added their first jazz show to the schedule.

alternateroot

The artist is The Brad Ellenberg Quintet and the date is Friday, May 16 at 7 pm.

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Dancing The Night Away With The Mavericks

Yes, I saw The Mavericks two nights in a row – they are that good!

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Sunday night’s show was at The Wilbur which afforded me a different experience than the previous evening did. The floor was general admission standing, so I decided to stand at the stage rather than sit in the front row of the mezzanine. I am so glad I did.

Eddie and Raul

Eddie and Raul

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Hear American Roots Music In A Unique Setting

I have not yet attended one of the Extended Play Sessions shows at the Alternate Root Studio.

alternateroot

I am looking forward to my first session on Wednesday, May 14, with Janiva Magness and Xenia Dunford. Read the rest of this entry

The Mavericks Hosted A Dance Party!

The Mavericks were one of my top ten concerts of 2013 and I could not wait to see them again, now that I know their music much better.

The Mavericks

The Mavericks

I thought this would be a different experience considering The Capitol Center for the Arts is a seated venue, but I was wrong. There was as much energy coming from the band and the audience as there was at the show I saw last year (the demographic was generally older than I see at most other concerts I attend). Read the rest of this entry

‘Sugar Man’, Alive And Well At Boston’s Orpheum Theatre

Finally, I scored a ticket to see Sixto Rodriguez, the enigmatic subject of the film ‘Searching for Sugar Man‘! I became aware of Rodriguez two years ago and have been trying since then.

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He has been playing to ever-increasing audience sizes, so instead of seeing him at an intimate venue such as Johnny D’s where he played 18 months ago, I saw him at the Orpheum Theatre which is not huge but is not intimate either.

Rodriguez

Rodriguez

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The Ever-Expanding Newport Folk Festival Lineup

Newport Folk Festival Logo
Newport Folk Festival Logo

Week 12 started off with something different!

The Festival announced today that, while there are additions to be made to the lineup, those additions will be made when they are able. That means my regular Thursday post about the lineup is ending and I will post as the acts are announced.

This week’s additions to the Festival lineup are:

The Bluegrass Situation – they will be presenting a workshop stage with lots of special guests

Deering Banjos Presents Communion – Willy Mason, Hamilton Leithauser, Bear’s Den, and Leif Vollebekk have been added to this Museum Stage presentation

All Newport’s Eve – this is not a part of the Folk Festival but many of the artists who have been announced so far are already part of the Folk Family, including Joe Fletcher who is curating the event

The Haden Triplets – having an album produced by Ry Cooder (not to mention being the daughters of jazz great Charlie Haden) is all I needed to read to make me excited about seeing them at the Festival

The lineup, so far, includes:

Friday:  The Devil Makes Three, Band of Horses, Death Vessel, Jenny Lewis, Phox, Robert Hunter, Reignwolf, Jimmy Cliff, Lake Street Dive, Tall Tall Trees, Noah Gundersen, Ryan Adams, Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer, Sun Kil Moon, Mandolin Orange, Deering Banjos Presents Communion

Saturday:  Shakey Graves, The Oh Hellos, Benjamin Booker, Nickel Creek, Shovels and Rope, Houndmouth, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, The Milk Carton Kids, Aoife O’Donovan, Willie Watson, Puss n Boots, Lucius, Deer Tick, Kurt Vile and the Violators, John Reilly and Friends, Pokey LaFarge, The Haden Triplets

Sunday:  Hurray for the Riff Raff, Mavis Staples, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Trampled by Turtles, Gregory Alan Isakov, Lucero, Caitlin Rose, Conor Oberst, Dawes, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Leif Vollebekk, The Lonesome Trio, Jeff Tweedy, Valerie June, The Deslondes, Ages and Ages, The Berklee Gospel and Roots Choir, Pegi Young and The Survivors, The Bluegrass Situation

Lowell Summer Music Series Season Pass On Sale!

The full lineup for the Lowell Summer Music Series has been announced, which means that the season pass is on sale! If the lineup interests you, the season pass is a fine way to see lots of great shows for less than $25 per show (presuming you see all shows).

Lowell Summer Music Series

Lowell Summer Music Series

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The Lowell Summer Music Series Adds An Interesting Show

The most recent announcement from the Lowell Summer Music Series is for a triptych of musicians (and not a trio, since they are all doing their own sets).  I’m pleased to announce that Ben Taylor, Heather Maloney, and Adam Ezra will perform at the Series on Friday, August 15.

Lowell Summer Music Series

Lowell Summer Music Series

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A Wonderfully Perfect Jazz Storm

There are times – they don’t occur often – when every aspect of an evening converges to produce perfection. Last night’s Kevin Harris Project show at Regattabar provided such an evening.

Kevin Harris

Kevin Harris

I was not familiar with Kevin Harris. To be honest, I had a hole in my schedule that I wanted to fill with some good music, and this show sounded intriguing. That is quite an understatement!

Kevin

Kevin

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