The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Bringing the Woodstock experience to life
41 Bridge Street Live is once again hosting Back to the Garden 1969 — The Woodstock Experience, on Saturday. This year has seen a number of celebrations of the Woodstock Music Festival’s Golden Anniversary. The ultimate rock concert, a celebration of peace, love and music, at fifty years old, is still fresh in many minds. Now let Back To The Garden help you back to the time of the Woodstock Era.
Formed by Gary Adamson in 2009, this is a group of versatile musicians and singers have come together to celebrate the music and spirit of the Woodstock Era. The music of BttG 1969 recreates the classic sounds associated with Woodstock. The musical performances are a tribute to the artists who made Woodstock great, including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jimi Hendrix, Sly & The Family Stone, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Richie Havens and all the rest.
The Experience: BttG 1969 brings you a full multimedia theatrical event, recreating the Woodstock Experience through period costuming, lighting, video and sound bites. Storytelling also enhances the mood, with tales of the festival, the legendary artists who performed, and the backdrop of the tumultuous decade of the 60s.
Back To The Garden 1969 is a tribute to a very special moment in time, and to the many artists whose music will forever be known as “Classic.” From nostalgic Baby Boomers to their children’s generation and all those in between, there is something in this show for everyone.
The Connecticut Blues Society’s Monthly Jam series is scheduled for the first Sunday of each month at The Pine Loft Café from 15 p.m. It is hosted by The Connecticut Blues Society All Stars — River City Slim, Phil Caron and Joey Primo. Jammers are welcome, mics and amps are provided. This month’s special guitar guest is Michael St. George.
The Connecticut Blues Society announced the winners of Prelim 1 of the Solo/Duo Challenge: The Balkun Brothers and Ron and Peter. The two winners will compete against two winners from Prelim 2, plus a wild card on Oct. 13. The Finals are set for Oct. 20
The Connecticut Blues Society is hosting a Fall Harvest Party at the Hannon Hatch VFW, Oct. 26. More details to follow.
Max Weinberg’s Jukebox takes center stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Friday. The longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band invites the audience to create the set list he and his crack fourpiece group will play that night, everything from the Beatles to the Stones to Springsteen’s greatest hits. Since he has played with BB King, some blues would be in order.
BlackEyed Sally’s has the Paul Nelson Band on Saturday. Nelson is a top guitarist, songwriter and producer. He served as fellow guitarist to the legendary rock/blues icon Johnny Winter. He also has toured the world performing and or recording along side an endless who’s who.
Nelson received a Grammy award for his work performing on and producing Winter’s “Step Back” winning “Best Blues Album of the Year” highlighting his already long list of Grammy Nominations as well as the BMA “Blues Music Award” for “Best Blues/Rock Album.”
Friday it is The Claudettes who fuse Chicago piano blues with the fullthrottle energy of rockabilly and punk and the sultriness of ’60s soul to write a thrilling new chapter in American roots music. Johnny Iguana pounds the piano alongside seductive singer Berit Ulseth.
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center has The Blues Project 2019 on Saturday. The show features original founders Steve Katz and Blumenfeld. The Blues Project is a band from the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City that was formed in 1965, and originally split up in 1967. Their songs drew from a wide array of musical styles. They are most remembered as one of the most artful practitioners of pop music, influenced as it was by folk, blues, rhythm & blues, jazz and the pop music of the day.
Best Video is bringing in Peter Menta, also known as Washboard Slim of Washboard Slim and the Bluelights, on Saturday. It is time for the younger set as he brings his Children’s Music show into the Performance Space. The event starts at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Best Video, Frog Hollow’s bluegrass and blues takes the stage.
Infinity Music Hall Norfolk has Davy Knowles on Sunday. From the very start, Knowles earned the respect of fans, media and musicians alike, including some of his own musical heroes.
British Blues legend Bernie Marsden says, “Davy Knowles plays, writes and sings with maturity. He’s immersed himself in the styles of many great players and has emerged with his own brand, playing with a smile on his face.”
Harley Davidson of Danbury has its Biketober Fest this Sunday. Eran Troy Danner and his electric band will be playing at 11 a.m.
Norwich Arts Center continues its Wednesday blues night with the Sonya Rae Taylor Band. She has been likened to a “fiery female combination of Warren Haynes, Bonnie Raitt, and Amy Winehouse.” She provides soaring vocals and scorching guitar work backed by guitar phenom Ryan Taylor and a tight rhythm section that will excite and delight you. This is the start of the second season of the Norwich Arts Center’s Blues on Broadway series on the stage of the Donald L. Oat Theater Wednesday. For more details go to norwicharts.org.
As schedules and times change, it is good practice to call the club and confirm. Get the complete Blues Beat schedule on Thursday at the blog http://bluesbeatnews.wordpress.com/. Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.