Category Archives: Uncategorized
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
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
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
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)
A Fine Guitar Performance
This was another show that I attended based on a friend’s suggestion. I had heard of Pierre Bensusan, the French-Algerian guitarist who is celebrating his 40th anniversary as a musician, but had never seen him perform or even heard more than a few numbers.
Pierre Bensusan
Pierre performed to a sold-old crowd last week at Club Passim, which I knew would be the perfect place to see him.
Pierre
An Italian Star Shines
I had not heard of Zucchero before a friend mentioned this concert to me and how much she wanted to see him. I decided to attend without so much as watching a YouTube video of him.
Zucchero
Zucchero is a huge star in Italy and, judging by the reaction of the audience, he’s big here as well.
Zucchero
Another Week Of Newport Folk Festival Lineup Announcements!
- Newport Folk Festival Logo
The 11th week started off with an interesting announcement, as has every week before this week!
This additions to the Festival lineup are:
Kurt Vile and the Violators – a folk-rock guitar-playing singer-songwriter from Philadelphia about whom I’ve heard good things, so I’ll get an opportunity to see him
Mandolin Orange – a duo from North Carolina who are garnering a lot of excellent press
Ages and Ages – they are not familiar to me, but after listening to a video clip I’m excited to see them!
John Reilly and Friends – I had no idea this fabulous actor is also a musician! I hope I get a chance to tell him that one of my most memorable theatre experiences (and I’ve had a lot of great ones) was seeing him and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Sam Shepard’s play ‘True West’ in which they switched roles every two days.
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
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
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
Lowell Summer Music Series Keeps Hitting Home Runs
The most recent announcement is, I believe, a first for the Lowell Summer Music Series – a true co-bill. I’m pleased to announce that Howie Day and Carbon Leaf will each perform full sets on Saturday, August 2.
Lowell Summer Music Series
suze reviews the blues 