The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Robert Cray to perform at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den
One of the leading blues entertainers, Robert Cray, will be at The Mohegan Sun Wolf Den Thursday. A guitarist and songwriter, Cray’s approach to writing, recording and playing music has brought him to the top of his profession. He has created a sound that rises from American roots and arrives today both fresh and familiar. In just over 40 years Cray and his band have recorded 20 studio releases, 15 of which have been on the Billboard charts, and played bars, concert halls, festivals and arenas around the world. There are five Grammys with Cray’s name on them, and he has a suitcase full of W.C. Handy Blues awards.
Café 9 has a busy weekend. Start off Friday with the happy hour show from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring Ditty Mack. Always entertaining and engaging, Ditty Mack will get you started in the right direction.
Sunday at 4 p.m., it is Johnny Nicholas & Hell Bent. When it comes to Americana Roots music, especially the blues, Nicholas is an amazing talent. For four decades he has been showing his consummate musicianship and vocal skills, and has graced live music scenes across the country and abroad. Nicholas has toured, performed and recorded with many true blues and Americana Roots Music legends.
He recorded and toured with Johnny Shines and Snooky Pryor, producing and playing guitar on their W.C. Handy Awardwinning album Back to the Country. He was also a lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with Asleep at the Wheel, when they won their first of many Grammy Awards. He gave Blues Guitar Icon Ronnie Earl his first gig in the now legendary band Guitar Johnny and the Rhythm Rockers. He can wow a festival crowd of thousands or a small room.
On Thursday, Café 9 has The Revelers.
A double feature is coming up at the Infinity Music Hall venues. Take your choice Friday; in Norfolk, it is Tinsley Ellis. He grew up in southern Florida and first played guitar at age 8. He found the blues through the back door of British Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, The Animals, Cream, and The Rolling Stones. And for guitars, he especially loved the Kings — Freddie, B.B. and Albert. His love for the blues solidified when he was 14. At a B.B. King performance, Tinsley sat mesmerized in the front row. When B.B. broke a string on Lucille, he changed it without missing a beat, and handed the broken string to Tinsley. His fate was sealed; he had to become a blues guitarist. And yes, he still has that string.
In 1975, he joined the Alley Cats, a gritty blues band that included Preston Hubbard, of Fabulous Thunderbirds fame. Eventually, he set off on his own and has carved out his place in the blues.
Now if you want to really get your feet moving, Infinity Hartford is your spot. Friday, the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s, with over 20 years together, are in town. In the band’s first years, having secured their legendary residency at the Derby nightclub in Los Angeles, they reminded the world, in the middle of the grunge era, that it was still cool to swing, big band style. Today the high-energy nine-piece ensemble continues the party and takes things to the next level.
Soccer Palooza takes place at Millwoods in Wethersfield, Saturday. Providing the sounds will be Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood. Adding to the festivities the Wethersfield High Reunion Classes will be attending and there will be Food Trucks as well for this free concert.
Thursday, Pitchell is at Rooftop 120 for an acoustic show.
The Balkun Brothers always touring and creating a name for themselves amongst the top rockblues bands in the USA and worldwide are setting up shop on Thursdays through Septembet at Black-eyed Sally’s. Each Thursday, they will be in residence at Sally’s with a special guest.
If you are near the Knickerbocker on Saturday Sugaray Rayford will be playing. A dynamic performer, he has been nominated for the prestigious BB King Entertainer award from the Blues Foundation. Rayford nominated for 4 Blues Music Awards 2016.
Thursday at the Knick, the Knickerbocker All Stars will be featured in a Rhythm & Roots Festival Pre-Show Party. Rhythm & Roots will take place over Labor Day weekend in Ninigret Park, Charlestown, Rhode Island.
A cadre of good blues performers are playing over the weekend. Known for its high energy and almost constant dancing, R&R will keep you moving.
Another event on the horizon is the Westport Blues Views and BBQ, set for Sept. 3.
Mark your calendar for the fourth annual 2 Left Feet Blues Festival on Sept. 17. It’s being held at the Simsbury Performing Arts Center, and some big blues names are coming in.
An interesting event takes place in Worcester on Saturday, called BMovie Blues, a tribute to the Blues Brothers at the Cove Music Hall. Get the complete Blues Beat schedule on Thursday at the blog http:// blues beat news. wordpress. com/. Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.