The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
This Saturday is packed with great music
Seems like Saturday is blues central here in Connecticut. Two major events are happening. It is the annual Stafford Springs Blues Festival starting at 12 p.m., while over in Willimantic, The Shaboo Stage at Jillson Square is celebrating its opening beginning at 7 p.m.
The Stafford Springs Blues Festival has continued to grow, and it’s an event blues fans look forward to — a family friendly festival with a lineup of local and national acts.
The Coffee Grinders will provide the side stage entertainment while the acts change. Opening the fest is Carl Ricci & 706 Union Ave., followed by Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers; Bruce Katz Band; Biscuit Miller and The Mix; and the Joe Moss Band with Sean Chambers. Don ODell will be videoing the Joe Moss set at the fest. Connecticut blues favorite MC, Tom Retano will handle the microphone.
A number of food vendors including Backroads Smokin' BBQ, Angry Skillet and Black-Eyed Sally's Southern Kitchen & Bar will be there to feed fest-goers. Vendors and free parking keep it easy going. Blankets, chairs and small umbrellas are OK, as are coolers but no glass. This is a rain or shine event.
The Stafford Art Society presents its 3rd annual Main Street Blues, Friday from 6-9 p.m., with live music at 64 Main with Mike Bloomer & Rich Badowski. Many of the shops along Main Street will be open and will host artisan vendors.
Saturday is a celebration of the brand new Shaboo stage at Jillson Square in Willimantic. Join the Shaboo All-Stars and Get the Led Out, the American Led Zeppelin band, for a full-day celebration. In addition to an amazing day of music, attendees can enjoy various food vendors and a beer tent organized by the Willimantic Brewing Company.
David Foster and the Shaboo All-Stars feature Christine Ohlman, James Montgomery, Bruce John, John Cafferty, Michael “Tunes” Antunes, Mike Finnigan and NYC’s Uptown Horns.
The new facility will have the capability to host today’s adult contemporary artists and symphonies. This event is a benefit for Covenant Soup Kitchen, Windham Area Interfaith Ministry, and Windham Region No Freeze Project.
The Shaboo Stage will have its inaugural concert featuring award-winning R&B singer Peabo Bryson and long-running Latin pop and rock star Jose Feliciano on Friday night. Money raised by this concert will assist Generations Family Health Center Generations, which has been providing quality healthcare to those less fortunate in Eastern Connecticut for 35 years.
Biscuit Miller & the Mix will be down at Black-Eyed Sally’s, following the Stafford Springs Blues Festival. Miller and his band, The Mix, have been touring extensively ever since he won his first Blues Music Award in 2012, and had to squeeze in their recording sessions during breaks in the tour. Known for his high-energy shows and blazing, million-dollar smile, Biscuit aims to please. He is a born entertainer and is at home on the stage, where he connects with his audience through a fun and funky approach to the blues.
This is a dedicated group of musicians with an amazing depth of talent. Over the years, Miller played with many respected blues. One day, he received a phone call asking him to come back home to sub for Chicago’s own legendary Lonnie Brooks, who needed a bass player for one night. That one night lasted for over 10 years, and Miller became the permanent bass player for the Lonnie Brooks Band.
On Friday, The Redliners are playing at Black-Eyed Sally’s.
The southwestern part of the state is busy too. The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts on Saturday has Ranky Tanky. Sunday, Brennan's Shebeen Irish Bar and Grill is hopping with The Hot Club of Black Rock. The Acoustic Café brings in Creamery Station w/Miz on Thursday.
Sunday at 4 p.m., the Chris Leigh Band is opening for Lance Lopez at the Hygienic Art Park, bringing an evening of Texas Blues and Barbecue (BBQ provided by Jack Chaplin of Daddy Jack's). Lopez draws on his Texas and New Orleans influences, a reflection of the blues he grew up with. One of his goals is the preservation of blues/rock.
On Saturday night, Daddy Jack’s has Lisa Marie with Phil Diiorio, Tommy Reed and Bobby Christina.
It’s good to see the Mattabesett Canoe Club continuing it blues activities. Friday, Roberto Morbioli will play; Wednesday’s Cypress Open Jam will be in honor of John Blumenfeld, led by Terri and Rob Duo.
Infinity Music Hall Norfolk has Satisfaction, a Rolling Stones tribute band, on Saturday. Then Thursday, Infinity welcomes Scott Sharrard, longtime Gregg Allman band lead guitarist, for a night of pristine blues rock. Over his career, he has sat in with all the greats, and is now out on the road on his own. Don’t miss this opportunity to see one the best blues bands in the circuit today.
Wednesday, Otis and the Hurricanes are playing “Under the Stars” at Waveny Park in New Canaan.
Saturday, Danny Draher is at Ouzo Blue, and down at Café 9 Wednesday has Eliza Neals & The Narcotics with Orb Mellon.