St. Paddy’s String Show to open season

COLLINSVILLE — Bridge Street Live opens its doors for the season with a St. Paddy’s String Show on Friday, March 16 at 8 p.m at 41 Bridge Street, Collinsville.

The performance features Last Fair Deal with Five in the Chamber. Last Fair Deal is Connecticut’s most progressive and enduring string band for the twenty-first century. They are joined by Five in the Chamber, an award-winning bluegrass quintet from New Haven. Special St. Paddy’s drinks will be available all night.

Last Fair Deal continues to redraw the map of American roots music with energy and creativity. With performances that are “rambunctious and funloving” (Scott Alarik, The Boston Globe), their eclectic repertoire reflects influences from bluegrass, jazz, acoustic rock and contemporary singer-songwriters, and features their own original material as well as unique interpretations of classic songs from the likes of The Beatles, John Hiatt, Nat King Cole, and The Band. Performing as a trio, Paul Howard (guitar/vocals), Tom Hagymasi (fiddle/vocals), and Phil Zimmerman (banjo/mandolin/ vocals) fan the flame that has kept this band relevant since the 70’s. These three skilled instrumentalists

and powerful singers continue to break new ground.

Five in the Chamber is a New Haven-based bluegrass band that drives hard and carries a big pick. They respect the tradition, the trailblazers and the renegade outlaws. The final product is an eclectic balance of American roots music which both reinterprets and redefines the bluegrass songbook.

Formed in 2011, Five in the Chamber has spent the last several years building a catalog of music that showcases the group’s strong vocals, musicianship, and passion for genrebusting. The band released their debut album, “Live in the Chamber,” in 2013 to rave reviews. Five in the Chamber consists of Ken McEwan (guitar/vocals), Pete Kaufman (banjo/vocals), Dave Casali (upright bass/vocals), David Sasso (mandolin/ vocals), and Kat Wallace of Plywood Cowboy (fiddle/vocals).

Tickets for the March 16 performance at Bridge Street Live are $20 general admission and $30 VIP Reserved Seating, and are available now at www.41bridgestreet.com or by calling 860-693-9762. Tickets may also be purchased on the day of the show during Box Office hours, 5-9 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Last Fair Deal Last Fair Deal joins Five in the Chamber for a string show at Bridge Street Live in Collinsville on March 16.