The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Jimmie Vaughan’s ‘Story Tour’ at FTC
This week sees many big-name blues acts coming through the state, while Connecticut’s local, dynamic blues scene continues to rebound. Events are planned well into the fall.
Jimmie Vaughan’s “Story Tour” comes to FTC The Warehouse on Saturday. In true Texas fashion, Vaughan, a four-time Grammy winner, has helped breathe new life into the music that has been his lifeline all these decades. In 2019, his newest release, “Baby, Please Come Home” brought him back into the spotlight with yet another Grammy nomination and a Blues Foundation Award for Best Male Artist.
This year, he celebrates his life in the blues and on the road with the Jimmie Vaughan Story, a special limited-edition box set and book including over 200 photos covering his life and the breadth of his remarkable career. Vaughan says he still feels like he is just getting started, and is devoted to making sure he is able to give back to the music that has given him so much. The blues is in his blood, has been there since the start, and will stay there forever.
Thursday. CHIRP Concerts presents Marcia Ball, “the Queen of Gulf Coast party music. Ball, the 2018 Texas State Musician of the Year, has won worldwide fame and countless fans for her ability to ignite a fullscale roadhouse party every time she takes the stage. Born in Texas and raised in Louisiana, her Acadian heritage and a lifetime of absorbing Gulf Coast rhythm and blues is evident in her original songs and the classics she chooses to cover.
Roomful of Blues, the world-renowned, hornpowered, house- rocking blues band, will perform at Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk Saturday. The band’s latest Alligator Records release is “In A Roomful Of Blues.”
The Rhode Island-based group has been delighting audiences for more than 50 years. Often called “the best little big band in the blues,” the group has earned five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including seven Blues Music Awards. Twice, the prestigious DownBeat International Critics Poll selected them as Best Blues Band. Their musical quality brings the fans back and they count a multitude of loyal fans.
Kal David presents Rhinestones Revisited with Lauri Bono and Almost Ancient Band on Sunday at The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. David is in state for a number of shows.
Saturday, Center Line Band is opening for James Montgomery Super Session at the Hollow Blues of Summer Bash, held at the Hollow at Manchester Country Club. It’s a special fund raiser for Hidden Hills Homestead, an organization that provides support animals for military veterans.
Friday, Professor Louie & The Crowmatix will be in concert at Hilton Mystic Concert Stage. They have recorded as Rick Danko’s backing band and were the featured musicians on Garth Hudson’s solo CD. The group continues to perform in concert at the nation’s premier theatres.
Thursday, join the Mud Morganfield Blues Band at the Katherine Hepburn Culteral Arts Center. This will be an unforgettable evening of blues, with the closest that you can get to seeing the Father Of Chicago Blues himself, Mud’s dad — the iconic Muddy Waters, whom the New England Music Hall of Fame is inducting into their Hall of Fame.
The Cobalt Rhythm Kings are playing Friday, 7-9 p.m. at Old Grove Park at the Savin Rock beach off Captain Thomas Boulevard, West Haven. It’s part of West Haven’s 100th Anniversary “Centennial Celebration.” The rain date is Monday, same time. Friday also sees the Orb Mellon Trio is at The Housatonic River Brewing
Other Friday shows include a 12:30 p.m. Free Music Friday at Greenwich Common Park with the Blues Patrol; Walrus Alley has the Good Luck Blues Band; and Priam Vineyards hosts the UnWINEd Concert with Tom “The Suit” Forst. Join the Suit & The Band Beyond, featuring Tony Delisio, Pedro M. Broughton, and Joey Primo.
Saturday, A Hot Summer Night Festival, presented by Trio 651 Productions, features Cold Train with Tom “The Suit” Forst, Johnny Six Gun, Tommy & The Riveras, and Vicky “F” at the Shaboo Stage.
Dan Stevens’ acoustic blues tour has a Friday stop at the Phantom Brewing Company; Saturday, at Joe’s Filling Station in Cromwell; and Sunday, at High Nine Brewing in Deep River.
Saturday, Dr. G and the Believers are at the Montville American Legion from 3-5 p.m., for a fun outdoor show with food trucks, room to dance and tables to hang. Enjoy a great time and support the vets and the Legion.
Jr Krauss and the Shakes are at FireFly Hollow Brewery Bristol Saturday, and Bluesyland Band on the patio at Notch8.
Saturday continues with Ol’ Moose and Friends, doing two gigs. Rory’s in Darien has them at 1 p.m. and at 6 p.m. find them at Charter Oak Brewing in Danbury. The Milford Performance Center has a 5 p.m. outside show featuring
Red Planet, Live at the Fillmore, and CT Grateful Dead Allstars. And at Long Ridge Tavern it is Kim & The Other Ones.
Tas Cru is playing The Chicken Shack at The Farm at Carter Hill on Thursday. Get ready for a great evening with the full Tas Cru Band.
Cru is very active with the “Blues in the Schools” program. This quote of his sums up his views, “To me, there is nothing more important that I do as a blues performer than blues education! Blues is a uniquely American music that along with gospel and jazz is one of America’s most precious gifts to the world. Blues is the musical foundation for all forms of pop music with its influence spanning seven generations.”
Clubs in adjoining states that have the blues include Theodores with Sonya Rae Taylor on Friday and Saturday, The Willie J. Laws Band. Friday, Putnam County Golf Course in Mahopac New York has Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Tribute on Friday. It is outside. rain or shine, BYO chairs; tickets include a BBQ buffet. Also Friday, Garcia’s has Soulshine: An Allman Brothers Experience.