The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
5th annual 2 Left Feet Blues Festival this weekend
The big event this weekend takes place at the Performing Arts Center in Simsbury Meadows: The 2 Left Feet Blues Festival, with a schedule and lineup to make this a memorable weekend. The fifth annual festival will have live blues on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with after-parties at the Maple Tree Café. Simsbury.
Friday’s performers include Tom “The Suit” Forst, “King” Solomon Hicks, and Decker & Hally. The D. Smith Blues Band will be playing the after party.
Saturday’s headliner is the Savoy Brown band and Sunday, Walter Trout will close the show. Both these acts have new CDs being released this week. (As an aside, Trout has a very compelling story about his life-threatening illness and the value of organ donors.)
Saturday’s performers also include Paul Gabriel, The Rusty Wright Band, Noah Kesselman, Ghost Town Blues Band, Teeny Tucker and Jarekus Singleton. The after-party will be rocked by Carl Ricci & 706 Union Ave Band.
On Sunday, the lineup also includes David Julia, Taylor Made Band, The Billy Price Band and Dana Fuchs.
Mark Telesca will perform Saturday and Sunday. Saturday and Sunday Gates open at 10 am and music starts at 11 a.m. The blues offerings will cover a wide spectrum, illustrating the styles fans have been enjoying. For the first time, on-site camping is available. A variety of venders including the Connecticut Blues Society will also be there.
As you can see, there are a good number of musicians with state connections joining the nationally recognized players from the blues scene, showing Connecticut’s talented contributions to the blues. In addition, ome of the finest young talent will be showing what the blues future will contain.
Billed as “Blues For A Cause,” two organizations that will benefit from the proceeds and donations from this year’s festival. The first is Teen Cancer America, designed to help hospitals and healthcare professionals bridge the gap between pediatric and adult oncology care. Teen Cancer America aims to educate and support hospitals and outpatient facilities in the development of specialized units for this age group. Second is Musicians Lifeline, Inc., a volunteer organization that responds primarily to the medical and social needs of regional musicians and music professionals in our community.
Saturday also has some other benefit concerts. The St. Jeans Baptiste Society in New Britain hosts a Band Against MS Benefit from 12-6 p.m. Three local bands, Comstock Station, Wastin’ Bullets, and Grand Avenue will be on the main stage and music also in the lounge area. No cover, raffles, food and plenty of music.
At Hubbard Park, it is the Walk/Rally for Hope (2-8 p.m.) with the House Rockin’ Blues playing at 4 p.m.. The Roadway to Hope CT is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, advocacy and hope for those suffering from substance abuse disorder and the people who love them. Food, live music, speakers, Candlelight Vigil, with children’s activities will be around all day. For information, go to theroadwayofhopect.com.
Birchwood Farms Music Fest III is scheduled for Saturday, on Birchwood Road, Windsor. The featured band is Richie and The Red Hot Blues. Joining them are Sean U, Jack Rainfield Band, and Tiffany Nunes. Bring a chair; admission is free and kids are welcome.
Around the state venues, you’ll fined more blues. Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk has The Weight Band on Saturday and Thursday, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Black-Eyed Sally’s has a Friday show with IBM, Iacobucci, Bonito, and Montano. These three musicians decided to combined their unique talent and chops to form a classic power trio. They will be playing some interesting renditions of classic blues and Rock and roll with an intense jam vibe.
Saturday, Sally’s brings in Grayson Hugh & the Moon Hawks. Hugh’s piano playing has been called “a veritable cyclone of soul” and his voice has been compared to Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. With this appearance, he will be bringing the Moon Hawks back to Hartford.
Southington has a busy week, with The Groggy Frogg hosting Brandt Taylor on Saturday. Kinsmen Brewery brings Taylor (4-7 p.m.) in on Sunday and Smokin’ With Chris has Dan Stevens, Thursday.
Tuesday will be the first Fort St. Ice Bucket Challenge in Springfield. It will raise money for the ALS Association who will use that money for research to treat and cure this awful disease and to provide care and support to those who have it and their families. BluesHead will be playing from 4:30-6 p.m. in support of this worthy cause.
Stevens and Taylor also converge on Old Lyme; on Saturday, Stevens is at Black Hall Outfitters. Then Wednesday he is at Old Lyme Inn, while The Bee and Thistle Inn has Brandt Taylor (6-9 p.m.) on Wednesday.