The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Live shows returning to Connecticut
More shows are coming every week, and it won’t be long before Blues Beat starts up the schedule blog again. Keep checking so you don’t miss out.
It is time for another outdoor concert presented by The Ridgefield Playhouse. Grace Potter is performing two shows Saturday at Ballard Park at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. You may remember when Potter was first on stage, as the opening act for Derek Trucks back in 2006. She’s been a headliner for many years. While not a deep blues act, she has shared the stage with many blues stars as well as the Rolling Stones, Willie Nelson, Robert Plant, the Allman Brothers and Mavis Staples, to name just a few. She also has played every major music festival from Lollapalooza to Bonnaroo.
Her latest album and second solo LP, “Daylight,” released in October 2019, comes after a turbulent, life-altering four-year hiatus that had the acclaimed singersongwriter contemplating whether she would ever record another album. “Daylight” is the most emotionally revealing, musically daring work of her career. Patrons are asked to park in the
Ridgefield Playhouse parking lot and take a five-minute walk to Ballard Park, or take the provided shuttle. Next Saturday, Potter will be at the Twilight Concerts on the Farm at South Farms in Morris.
It is time for Blues at the Beach, when The Cobalt Rhythm Kings visit the East Haven Town Beach fro 12-2:30 p.m. Saturday. Come lounge on the beach by the lapping waves of Long Island Sound and listen to The Cobalt Rhythm Kings lay down some soulful blues. It’s their first gig since March 1, and they are ready to go. Because of COVIDrelated
restrictions, only East Haven residents and their guests are allowed. Some great seafood is available in the neighborhood.
It’s good to see breweries coming back into the music scene. Righteous Continental Live is playing at Kinsmen Brewing on Friday.
The Misty Blues Duo will perform a tribute, “Queens of The Blues” on Friday, outdoors at The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, Mass.
This year, it is not safe to gather for the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival, so it will livestream a full day of past performances on Focus Springfield Community TV, the Jazz & Roots websitem mwww.springfieldjazzfest.com, and on Facebook on Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
For more than 20 years, Misty Blues has been an institution in the Berkshire music scene. Lead vocalist Gina Coleman was born to sing the blues. For this special performance, she pays homage to the pioneering women of color who became the matriarchs of the blues, including: Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown and Koko Taylor. Please call the box office for more information or to purchase tickets.
Friday, Daryl’s House presents Quinn Sullivan. On Sunday it is a live (stream) at 9 pm with the Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman as she streams from one of the East Coast’s premier hotspots with Chris Bickley, Lorne Entress and Michael Colbath. Live music is everything so jump in the river, and let’s swim n’ stream. https://www.ticketweb.com/event/christineohlman-rebel-montezdaryls-house-tickets/10673255?pl=daryl
Albert Castiglia and Chris Raabe are at Daryl’s House on Wednesday.
Saturday at 4 p.m., the Clubhouse Grille brings in Wendy May and George Lesiw.
Saturday at 6 and 8 p.m., The Balkun Brothers take the Falcon Outdoor Stage. Known for their explosive live shows, the Brothers are reinventing the term “power duo” with their heavy hitting, new-age, psychedelic rock n’ roll with a dash of blues.
Seydurah and her Avecmoi Band of Blues hits The Falcon Outdoor Stage Sunday at 6 and 8 p.m. The performance shows multiple musical genres including jazz, big band, R&B, classical, standards, and a strong affinity for the blues.
FTC has another poster auction with a new 1969 poster professionally framed and matted. Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and Sons of Champlin teamed up to play this two-day show at Winterland in October 1969. Bill Graham’s wife, Bonnie MacLean Graham, designed the image.
Received a greeting from the premiere issue of Rock And Blues International magazine. Based out of Houston, they are looking for blues artists who can be shared with the rest of the world on its pages. The aim is to showcase more great artists as well as interesting news about the Blues. The email address is rockandbluesinternational@gmail.com. Read the new issue of Rock And Blues International at http://www.rockandbluesinternational.com
A new piece of legislation, the Save Our Stages Act, has been introduced to Congress on behalf of live music venues. The bill, introduced by Sen. Klobuchar (DMN) and Sen. Cornyn (R-TX), is a bipartisan effort and would provide a lifeline to independent venues, promoters, festivals, and more.
Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.