The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Halloween’s not all black — it’s blue, too
Big doings as Halloween rolls in. Music venues of all kinds are having parties. Along with the seasonal events are some excellent club shows.
Infinity Music Hall, both in Norfolk and Hartford, has some of the blues brightest stars. Friday in Norfolk, Samantha Fish, who has been moving her way to the top of the Blues world one guitar lick at a time, hits the stage.
Hailing from Kansas City, Fish has been on a major roll ever since Ruf ’s 2011 release, Girls with Guitars. She went on to win the Blues Music Award (BMA) for “Best New Artist Debut” in 2012. Fans have seen Fish’s evolution as songwriter, gunslinger and lyricist. Touring pretty much non-stop, has added a variety of experiences to her talents. You can find her shifting gears to slide-guitar balladry as well.
For Fish, who first started showing up at a local blues club and began soaking up the sounds of visiting modern blues guitar masters. Then going back to the ’80s heroes and following the lineage to the pre-war Delta masters, like Son House and Skip James. With those influences as her template, she incorporated the sounds of the classic rock alongside contemporary artists in putting together a sound that would become her own.
Saturday, move over to Infinity Music Hall Hartford for Quinn Sullivan. People are always looking for the future of the blues, and Quinn Sullivan is on a path to being one of the players taking the blues forward. He is good and getting better.
Sullivan blew everyone away when he guest spotted with Buddy Guy at 8 years old. Today his band is filled with long time pros, letting Sullivan use the guitar as another part of his body. He has been a music professional for more than 75 percent of his life. He’s shared the stage with numerous stars and he opened for B.B. King. He has performed on concert and festival dates throughout the United States, traveled overseas and played several editions of the Experience Hendrix Tour. He’s also appeared on national TV, with guest appearances on The Tonight Show, Oprah, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Conan and The Ellen DeGeneres show.
He is already being compared to some of the greats, a judgment you can make after seeing him. The house will be rocking, so don’t miss out.
Sunday, the Connecticut Blues Society holds its Solo Duo Challenge Finals (1 p.m.) at the Pine Loft Café. The players are vying for the opportunity to represent the state in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge. Performing will be The Sugar Lemons, Steve Hatch, The Coffee Grinders, and Drew Blood & Kid Cameron. The winner will join Jake Kulak & the LowDown, the band winners.
Christ Episcopal Church of Bethany and Woodbridge present the Lazer Lloyd “We Love Our Veterans Tour” on Saturday. Lloyd is a singer/ songwriter/guitarist and an international recording artist influenced by Americana, rock, blues, gospel, folk, country, southern rock, and the great guitar traditions of power and groove from Hendrix to Wes Montgomery. Then add a little psychedelic spice to complete the show.
The Alexis P. Suter Band is heading to Daryl's House for a Thursday show. Often seen there for the Gospel Brunch, now you get to see the full show. Suter’s powerful and emotion-filled voice wins fans whenever she performs. Surrounded by a fine backing crew, her shows are one you walk away talking about.
The Bijou Theatre brings in Jonathan Edwards on Friday and then Sunday, it is the David Bromberg Quartet.
Black-Eyed Sally's has The Blues Project, Friday. The Blues Project, three years in the making, is a gathering of folks between Massachusetts and Connecticut. They mix old and older style blues, the depth and clarity of The Blues Project sound is one not to be missed. You’ll hear the music of Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, James Cotton, Etta James, SRV, Eric Clapton, Blues Brother’s and more.
A number of venues are putting a touch of blues in their festivities. On Wednesday, The Acoustic Café has a Balkun Brothers Halloween with Tracy Jo and the Toads.
Peaches on the Waterfront brings in Otis and the Hurricanes on Saturday for the annual Halloween Costume Party.
Also on Saturday, it is 4th Annual Halloween Party at The Turning Point with Old Number 7 Band.
Mischief Night 2018 with Someone You Can Xray Sobieski is Saturday at the John III Club. Cambridge Brew House has a Pre-Halloween Blues Bash on Saturday with Rich Badowski. Over at Carmine's Bar Grill & Stage on Saturday, Richie and The Red Hots will host the Halloween Party.
CRAVE on Wednesday has a Halloween Costume Party on the Veranda with music by George Lesiw, David Allen Rivera and Lee-Ann Lovelace. The Noble Jay Brewing Company brings in TSC Acoustic on Saturday for Noble Jay’s Halloween Party.
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts on Saturday has a Spooky Swing Dance Party. Enjoy dancing or watching the Spooky Swing Dance Party with The Shiny Lapel Trio and friends for a wild night of dancing with a slightly spooky twist.
Jake Kulak & the LowDown are playing at the Simsbury Chili Fest being held at Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center, Saturday.