The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters in concert
Blues Beat doesn’t want to rush the season, but it is always good to have some warm thoughts this time of year. What could be better than thinking about a summer blues festival? Word just came from the Stafford Springs Blues Festival that the date is set. It will take place on Aug. 3. It’s a fine hometown gathering that has grown every year.
It’s a busy blues weekend, as some national names are hitting the state. Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters come to Infinity Hall Hartford on Saturday. A four-time Blues Music Award Winner and “Guitar Player of the Year,” he most recently received the award on May 2018. Earl comes into town with an established reputation. He has performed with an endless number of greats such as Carlos Santana, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton, The Allman Brothers and more. Earl’s love for the Allmans had him invite Jaomoe to join him at a Connecticut concert. He played the night with a two-drummer setup. Earl performs with an intensity that hasn't cooled in close to four decades of playing. His shows just keep getting better and his enthusiasm is catching.
Earl has served as an Associate Professor of Guitar at Berklee College of Music and has taught at the National Guitar summer workshop in Connecticut. Known for his clean, clear tone, he has a sound that stays with you.
Earl has released a number of acclaimed albums on many record labels. Many debuted on the top ten Billboard Blues charts and received wide critical acclaim. In 2014, Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters celebrated 30 years as a band. He is one of the most serious blues guitarists you can find today.
Adding to the Broadcasters’ sound is vocalist Diane Blue, a favorite to many Connecticut, and her contributions just enhance the band.
Junior Watson, a West Coast blues legend, makes a rare area appearance. BlackEyed Sally's has done it again, bringing in a national act fans are waiting to see. Circle Thursday on your calendar for a memorable time.
With nearly 30 years of experience, Watson has reached near cult status. He has done what all great artists do: blending diverse styles to create a sound all his own. Besides his mastery of blues and swing, he adds his own cartoon-like twist to everything he plays.
You’ll never know what he will do, and when asked, often he doesn’t know himself. His artist resume is as large as it is impressive. A founding member of The Mighty Flyers, he stayed with the band for 10 years, then left to join Canned Heat for another 10 years. He then toured for a while with LA-based harmonica player/vocalist Lynwood Slim. All along the way, he has backed up and recorded with the whos-who of the blues.
Get ready to start the week end Friday when STAX of SOUL takes the stage. It is a soul pumpin’ tribute to the great artists of the Stax Record Label. A killer band complete with horn section, it authentically captures the sound and power of this “feel good” genre of music, which crosses the age barrier like no other, and makes you want to dance all night.
On Saturday, spend the night with The Remedies Band fundraiser event at Sally’s; a night of great music and for a good cause. The Remedies, UConn Health House band, has laid down the challenge to the medical student musicians to determine who is truly “master of musical medicine.” Student bands include Bad Medicine, the Heartthrobs and the Yankauers. Come see the ED Docs battle the students for medical and musical supremacy in an effort to raise money to benefit South Park Inn Medical Clinic. a free, full-coverage clinic providing primary care services to transient residents of the South Park Inn.
The Wadsworth Antheneum is showing “Horn From the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story” on Friday.
The Butterfield band was born in Chicago when Butterfield and his friends headed to the Chicago blues clubs. Eventually the Hall of Fame band was created and with the addition of Sam Lay, it became America’s first integrated blues band. The Butterfield Blues Band is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a number of its members are in the Blues Hall of Fame.
It is International Blues Challenge week in Memphis. Connecticut is represented by Jake Kulak & the LowDown in the Band Division. Steve Hatch is competing in the Solo/Duo bracket. The International Blues Challenge is the largest event of its kind, with bands from around the world coming to Memphis. Some of today’s prominent blues players have made an appearance at the IBC.
The landmark Painted Pony in Bethlehem has been saved, and will reopen as a restaurant after all. A potential buyer stepped up at the eleventh hour, forcing the cancellation of an auction to sell off the restaurant’s equipment and furniture that was set for later in the day.
Get the complete Blues Beat schedule on Thursday at the blog http://bluesbeatnews.word press.com/. Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.