The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Bringing electric blues to Black-eyed Sally’s
Blues Music Award winner John Németh will perform live on stage this Friday
Black-eyed Sally’s has a big time weekend of shows. Friday, John Németh will be playing, followed on Saturday by Monster Mike Welch.
Németh is an American electric blues and soul harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. He has received two Blues Music Awards for Soul Blues Male Artist in 2014 and Soul Blues Album in 2015. In 2013 alone, he was nominated five times for a Blues Music Award, making nine such nominations in total.
He has recorded nine solo albums since 2002, having also backed Junior Watson, Anson Funderburgh and Elvin Bishop. He has opened for Robert Cray, Keb’ Mo’ and Earl Thomas.
He is an entertaining vocalist with a big dose of soulfulness. You can include Németh as one of the artists that has helped revitalize classic soul and R&B styles in recent years.
Monster Mike Welch is an American electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was nominated for a Blues Music Award in 2017 and 2018. Welch has released seven albums to date, and was a member of Sugar Ray & the Bluetones before forming his own group with Michael Ledbetter (who died earlier this year).
Having been playing the blues since his youth, Welch has grown over the years to become a solid all-around guitar master. With him will be veterans of the Bluetones Anthony Geraci and Mudcat Ward. Joining them is Liviu Pop.
Hunt Hill Farm on Saturday has Dave Robbins & the Incredible Amplifires. The proceeds are donated back to the local community, helping kids and others in the Arts and Culinary. Local food, brews, ciders and wines will be available along with some hot live blues. It is a great event, in a lovely area. You can help support a worthy endeavor and have fun at the same time. For more information on Hunt Hill Farm, go to www.hunthillfarm.org.
The Falcon has a full weekend with a Friday show with the Alexis P. Suter Band and Saturday it is Gabriel Butterfield & Friends. Alexis P. Suter has a way to bring the depth and warmth of Gospel music in combination with the grit of the blues. She then makes the music her own, blending together for a captivating piece of today’s blues music.
Saturday, Gabriel Butterfield & Friends will be performing the music of blues icon Paul Butterfield. Lead by his son Gabriel Butterfield on drums, Jimmy Eppard, vocals and guitar, and Jim Curtin, Bass, Special guests include Bruce Katz of the Bruce Katz Band), keys, and Jackson Kincheloe of Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds on harp.
The Rich Badowski Blues Band is holding a CD release party at The Maple Tree Café on Friday. Harmonica ace Badowski is backed by a talented band. They will provide an evening of fun and energy.
FTC Stage One on Monday continues its Films That Rock series with Jimi Hendrix: Electric Church.
Rocky Lawrence and The Coffee Grinders make a stop at Christopher Martins on Friday. They provide some straight out Delta Blues.
Saturday, Shawn Taylor will be at Stones Throw Riverside Roots. Then on Sunday, Taylor will be at Lenny’s for an Afternoon Roots session, starting at 1 p.m.
Jerry Garcia has not been forgotten in the blues clubs. The Stomping Ground has August First on Friday. August First is a “BluesGrassicana” project from New England that celebrates the many musical incarnations of Jerry Garcia. Saturday, The Turning Point has Reflections, a group celebrating, remembering and loving the music of Jerry Garcia & The Grateful Dead.
Once again the breweries and wine venues around the state do their share of bringing in the blues. Friday, Ramblin’ Dan Stevens (5 p.m.) is at Chamard Vineyards. Sarah’s Wine Bar hosts him on Saturday. And Sunday, Stevens (1:30 p.m.) is at Steady Habit Brewing Co.
Labyrinth Brewing Company: Sunday, The Coffee Grinders (2 p.m.); Manchester.
On Saturday, Hanging Hills Brewery has Orb Mellon entertaining and Brewery Legitimus brings is Eran Troy Danner, solo acoustic (6:30 p.m.).
As February ends, The Blues Foundation reminds us that this is the Month of HART. Donations from your heart to the HART Fund to help The Blues Foundation keep blues musicians healthy. The HART (Handy Artists Relief Trust) Fund supports blues musicians and their families in financial need due to a broad range of health concerns. The Fund provides for acute, chronic, and preventive medical, vision, and dental care as well as funeral and burial expenses.
Donations to the the HART Fund also help provide free health screenings for musicians throughout the year where doctors, nurses, and other health practitioners are on site to provide a variety of medical tests including but not limited to blood pressure, pulse, cholesterol, diabetes, Hepatitis C, PSA screenings for prostate cancer, and other key medical evaluations.
Get the complete Blues Beat schedule on Thursday at the blog http://bluesbeatnews.word
press.com/.