The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Black-eyed & Blues Festival returning Saturday
It is heading towards summer and more blues acts are on the move. At this time of year, festivals and outdoor concerts pop up everywhere. One also gets a chance to see the acts taking advantage of the good weather to travel New England.
The 18th annual Blackeyed & Blues Festival takes place at Bushnell Park on Saturday, from 2-11:30 p.m. Admission is free and food is provided by Blackeyed Sally’s, served from 4-10 p.m.
Opening the fest is Grayson Hugh & the Moon Hawks. They are followed by last year’s IBC representatives the Danny Draher Band, and a New England Blues Harmonica Showcase featuring the Kosher Kid, Diane Blue, and Racky Thomas, with the Ricky King Russell Band backing them up.
Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood will rock the stage before a festival favorite, the Funky Dawgz Brass Band, comes on. Later in the evening you’ll hear The Alchemystics and closing the fest is 7 Below: A Tribute to Phish.
Also on Saturday is Marz Fest at 3 p.m. The outdoor event takes place at the Skungamaug River Golf Club. Marz Fest honors Richard Marzialo, an excellent musician who was well respected locally and nationally and passed away too soon. Blues Beat remembers him not for his talent, but for the friendliness and fun he brought with him. The Redliners and Friends are providing the entertainment.
Gina Sicilia visits 41 Bridge Street Live on Friday. A strong blues vocalist and captivating live performer, Sicilia brings her new album “Tug of War” to Bridge Street, with an opening set performance by Brian Dolzani.
“Tug of War” (2017, Blue Elan Records) celebrates Sicilia’s status as one of the rising voices in modern blues and marks a potent evolution in her songwriting. The 11-song set is Sicilia’s seventh release since her emergence on the blues scene a decade ago. Today, Sicilia’s experience and the fully realized powers of her warm, flexible, emotionally nuanced singing resonate like never before. Her 2007 debut, “Allow Me to Confess,” the album garnered her first Blues Music Award nomination, for Best Debut Artist. Since then, Sicilia has remained active, regularly releasing albums and playing 150 dates each year.
Opener Brian Dolzani is a classic troubadour in the lineage of Dylan, Petty, Browne, and Young, and brings years of songwriting experience into his live performances.
On Saturday, the Balkun Brothers take the stage at Infinity Music Hall in Hartford for a special record release party. Mixing heavy rock and funk grooves with traditional styles of delta and electric blues, the Balkun Brothers are crafting a unique sound and style all their own. Formed in 2010 by the brothers Nick and Steve Balkun, they have released their second album, “Devil on TV” this spring. To celebrate their latest recording, the band is returning to Hartford for two performances.
Joining them will be the NYC progressive rock trio, Consider the Source, as well as Jake Kulak and the LowDown. Drummer Nick “The Hammer” Balkun says their goal for the upcoming shows is to deliver “the most energy we can put forth” for their fans.
“The Balkun Brothers received the 2017 New England Music Award for Best Rock Band in New England by the fans in this region — a true honor and accomplishment for us as a group. We’re proud to represent our home region wherever we play,” says Nick Balkun.
Supporting act for the Infinity Music Hall show, Jake Kulak and the LowDown was also a nominee at the NEMA’s this year for the category New Act of The Year. The Balkun Brothers were also voted Best Blues Band in Connecticut at the Connecticut Music Awards for the last four years in a row. Their live shows and instudio recordings seamlessly transition between rock, blues, funk, jam, punk, psychedelia and everything in between.
Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk has a Thursday show with John Cleary. Sunday, The Mohegan Sun Wolf Den has David Foster & The Mohegan Sun All-Stars. They are getting ready for a big concert in Willimantic next weekend.
The Hungry Tiger is featuring a Sunday guitar madness all-star reunion featuring George T. Gregory, Jeff Pevar, Greg Baril, and special guests.
Rocky Lawrence again joins The Coffee Grinders Duo for a benefit concert at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Meriden.
The Connecticut Blues Society IBC Finals were held last weekend. Once again, the VFW was filled with blues fans ready to enjoy an afternoon of some of Connecticut’s finest. They were treated to a great display of talent as five bands showed their talents. The winner, headed to Memphis, is EasyBaby. Other bands participating include The Brandt Taylor Band, The Redliners, Black Snake Boots, and the Mike Crandall Band.
Some sad news regarding J’s Crab Shack and Liviu’s Invitational Series. Due to venue licensing requirements, J’s Crab Shack will discontinue having live music. Thursday June 15 is the last show at this venue. It was been a great run and some special times. While artists need to be paid for their work, the strict licensing structure hurts the venues that develop talent and give a broader audience exposure.
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.