Category Archives: music
‘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.
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
The Ever-Expanding Newport Folk Festival Lineup
- 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
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
Suzanne Vega, Eclectic Singer-Songwriter, Performs
While I cannot say I closely followed her career, I have enjoyed Suzanne Vega for many years.
Suzanne Vega
I decided to see Suzanne who is touring in support of her recent release, ‘Tales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles’, for my first foray to The Center for the Arts in Natick, a small venue in a former firehouse. Read the rest of this entry
Lovely Mellow (In A Good Way) Show At The Paradise
The Milk Carton Kids (MCK) are riding high, in part due to their talent and in part from their appearance in ‘Another Day, Another Time‘ (the documentary about the New York City concert that presented the music of ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’).
The Milk Carton Kids
Last night, they performed to a sold-out crowd at The Paradise Rock Club, a venue not known for presenting folk acts. Hopefully they will consider adding similar acts (and MCK again, although I predict they will be booking larger venues) after MCK’s stellar performance. Read the rest of this entry
More Lineup Announcements From Newport Folk Festival!
- Newport Folk Festival Logo
This week started with an unusual announcement.
This additions to the Festival lineup are:
Deering Banjos Presents Communion – curating a series of performances at the Museum Stage; sounds like a great concept
The Berklee Gospel and Roots Choir – they performed last year and were a great way to start Sunday’s lineup at the Fort Stage
Pegi Young and The Survivors – yes, she happens to be married to Neil Young but she has a successful career of her own and I’m excited to know I’ll be seeing her at the Festival
Pokey LaFarge – yet another artist who’s been on my radar to see, and now I’ll get the chance
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
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
Another Fascinating Announcement From Lowell Summer Music Series
The most recent announcement from the Lowell Summer Music Series is for a type of band that isn’t usually on my radar, but I trust the judgment of the Series. I’m pleased to announce that Classic Albums Live will perform The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ in its entirety along with other Beatles’ hits at the Series on Friday, September 5.
Lowell Summer Music Series
Berklee Singer-Songwriters Rocked The Coffeehouse
After being enthralled with Susan Cattaneo‘s performance in Amy Black’s Muscle Shoals tribute show, I knew I had to hear her play her own songs. I noticed that she was on the schedule at St. John’s CoffeeHouse Concerts, a coffee house series close to home that I had never attended (and to be honest did not know existed), and jumped on the chance to see her.
Susan Cattaneo
Last weekend, Susan, a songwriting professor at Berklee College of Music, was on the bill with Kelly Riley, a Berklee alumnus.
Kelly Riley
Who Knew Hip-Hop Bluegrass Would Be So Good
The concept of combining hip-hop and bluegrass music fascinated me. I love bluegrass, but knew almost nothing about hip-hop.
Gangstagrass
Last week, the hip-hop bluegrass band Gangstagrass performed at Johnny D’s, one of my favorite venues in the Boston area.
Gangstagrass (Adriel, Rench, and Dan, l to r)
suze reviews the blues 