The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Good music arrives with Blues Caravan
The Blues Caravan 2018 is making its way to Connecticut. Join Mike Zito, Ally Venable and Bernard Allison Friday for a night of some serious blues guitar shredding and all around high energy rock & roll at Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk.
This year’s cast is one you will remember. If you follow modern blues, then you’ll have found Mike Zito’s fascinating career. He has become one of modern music’s sharpest songwriters. Zito has been fronting his own band, but gained fame as a key member of Royal Southern Brotherhood
Sponsored by Ruf Records, they seek to bring blues talent out to as many fans as possible. They struck it big with Lone Star powerhouse Ally Venable. She started singing at an early age in church and then in recent years picked up the guitar and found her passion establishing herself as a Texas Blues Guitar Slinger.
Some surnames command instant respect on the blues scene. Bernard Allison, the son of the mighty Luther Allison, has added to the family legend and carved out his own path as a world-class songwriter and performer.
Saturday, Jeff Pitchell’s Legends, featuring Michael Allman, will hit the stage. Sunday, Mindi Abair & the Boneshakers are playing.
One of America's great blues performers will be at Bridge Street Live on Saturday. James Montgomery, best known as the lead singer, blues harp player, frontman, and bandleader of The James Montgomery Blues Band, is back. Add his harmonica talent to his energy and knowledge of blues history and one is in for a great show.
When Montgomery plays the harmonica, you get a taste of the early Chicago. Whether he’s recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of 30 years, Montgomery plays with authority. While growing up in Detroit, he learned first-hand from the masters, James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells. Over the years, he's carried on in the tradition and continues to be a vital presence in blues as one of the most dynamic performers on the scene.
Montgomery collaborates and has toured with many artists, including the J. Geils Band, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers and others. He put on some moving shows with Johnny Winter.
The James Montgomery Band brings many memories for the Shaboo generation. His harmonica playing, singing and energetic stage show give him a reputation as one of top players on the blues scene. James Montgomery was signed by Capricorn Records to a multi-album deal and released his first vinyl LP album titled The James Montgomery Band – First Time Out in 1973. Since then he has paved the way in history as one of America's greatest blues performers, and we are honored to have him perform on our stage.
Opening the show is Jake Kulak & the LowDown, who will be representing Connecticut at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
The Pine Loft’s 14th Annual Connecticut Blues Society’s Solo/Duo Blues Challenge kicks off Sunday. Nine blues acts will take part in the challenge, to be held at the Pine Loft Café. The challenge is scheduled for three Sunday afternoons, Oct. 14 and 21 at 1 p.m., when the preliminaries take place. Performers will play 25-minute sets in this first rounds. The two acts receiving the most votes each night from the judges will return Oct. 28 for the Final Round.
Participants this year are scheduled as follows: Oct. 14, The Sugar Lemons, Steve Hatch, Joel Blumert, and Dan Labich. Playing Oct. 21 include Peaceful Revolution, The Coffee Grinders, The Delta Blues Boys, Davey Blues, and Drew Blood & Kid Cameron.
A panel of judges will award each act a score of one to ten in the categories of Blues Content, Vocals, Talent, Originality, and Stage Presence. These are the criteria used at the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge (IBC). The winner of this event will be Connecticut’s representative to participate in the Solo/Duo Division of the International Blues Challenge, sponsored by the Blues Foundation on Beale Street in Memphis, January 22-26, 2019.
Black-eyed Sally's has a Sunday, Jam for Jimmy, a musical tribute for Jimmy Biggins: His career on the saxophone brought him local and international fame. He played many gigs recently with the Shaboo All-stars. Friday, Eliza Neals & the Narcotics and Saturday, The George T. Gregory Band will be at Sally’s.
Saturday, Peaches On the Waterfront brings in Andy Aledort & The Groove Kings.
The Griswold Inn has an outstanding lineup on Wednesday. Ryan Hartt and original Blue Hearts, Eric Ducoff and Nick Toscano are joined by Mike Law.
The East Rock Concert Series in New Haven continues on Saturday with Shawn Taylor. He is joined by Giulia Millanta.
On Sunday, the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain has Dan Stevens and Friends at 3 pm.