The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Live music, art show open the new year
MIDDLETOWN — The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center has announced the following shows and events for New Year’s Eve and the first weeks of January. Shows require tickets; reservations are encouraged. For information, call 8603474957 or go to www.buttonwood.org
Fire of Hope, Dec. 31, 13 p.m. The Buttonwood's fourth free annual Peace Gathering will be held from 13 p.m. “We are in challenging, everchanging times. We need guidance to help us navigate and handle the difficulties that befall us. Hear the wisdom of Annaita Gandhy, as she talks about the natural energies of 2020, planetary alignments, world consciousness and how we can best manage them and actually help our world through our deliberate actions. We will write our Hopes for the future and burn them ceremoniously, with music and singing. Bring your best intentions for our humanity,” event organizers said in a release.
Story City Troupe, Jan. 3, 8 p.m., $10. Story City Troupe uses
The Moth Formula: all are true, personal stories, often funny, sometimes amazing, poignant or ironic and often based on a single theme for the evening. This month's tellers: Saul Fussiner, Wendy Marans, Cynthia Rojas,
Maire Greene, Jeff Freiser, Joyce Teed, Margot Camacho, Denise Santisteban. Topic is Teller's Choice". Also, the audience is invited to participate and share a story of their own, time permitting.
The Subliminals, Jan. 4, 8 p.m,. $10. The Subliminals are an instrumental jazz/groove band from New London, Connecticut comprised of musicians all in local working bands. They are bonded by a desire to play unique music created by our heroes, and to do so with passion, freedom, and the energy of the audience. Their foundation is made of drums, percussion, bass, keys, guitar, and a horn. The house is built by Miles, Scofield, Herbie, and many more.
Art Reception: Elizabeth Ann McNally, 24 p.m., Jan 4. “Wildlife in the Tree.” Elizabeth Ann McNally is an artist and printmaker residing in New Britain.
She chooses to work in both narrative and nonrepresentational content. Key elements in her narrative work are animals, humor, and the graphic use of line. In her nonrepresentational art, color, line, pattern and the properties of the material and medium, are the sole focus of compositions.
Django's Reserve, Jan. 10, 8 p.m., $15.
January 10, 810 pm, $15 Django’s Reserve is an all acoustic ensemble that came together because of three guitarist’s mutual admiration of the music of the legendary Django Reinhardt. Luke Hendon, John Florio and Preston Parish weave their way from jazz standards of the 30’s and 40’s up to the present with tasty harmonies and original arrangements.
Sharkey and The Sparks, 7 p.m., Jan. 11, $15, $5 youth 16 and under. Sharkey and The Sparks, a fatherson duo, play mutually beloved covers from '60s, '70s, and '80s, as well as a handful of original songs.