The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Summer time and music is everywhere
More blues show are taking place all around the state. Stratford is set for the return of its annual “Blues on the Beach” summer music festival at Short Beach on Saturday. The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. This is part of the Celebrate Stratford festival.
The 5th Annual Blues on the Beach lineup includes the Kathy Thompson Band, the Alpaca Gnomes, the Henley Douglas Rhythm and Blues Band, and Wild Adriatic.
The festival will also have food vendors, and the concession stand will be open. The event is free. Bring your beach chair and a cooler, and enjoy some great music.
Friday, Jimbo Mathus is at The Right Space Ballroom. Mathus has blazed a path as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer. Founder of New Orleans band SquirrelNut Zippers, he has recorded and released more than 300 songs, a testament to his craftsmanship and to the spirits of his inspirations in the Deep South.
In the mid-1990s, Mathus’ Mississippi visits led to his meeting Jim and Luther Dickinson, which resulted in Mathus writing and recording “PlaySongs for Rosetta”, a benefit project to aid Mathus’ childhood nanny, Rosetta Patton, daughter of Mississippi musician
Charley Patton.
This rekindled Mathus’ interest in Mississippi music and set him on a new path. During this time, Mathus was gaining recognition for his blues guitar knowledge, through his work with blues legend Buddy Guy. He toured and recorded with Guy on his album “Sweet Tea”, and the Grammy winning album “Blues Singer.”
Mathus has performed hundreds of shows in the deep South, mostly in Mississippi. He became a regular performer at Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale.
Several of his songs have been used in film and television.
The North Mississippi Allstars are at the FTC Warehouse, Wednesday. For more than 20 years, Luther and Cody Dickinson have made it their mission to keep the sound of the Mississippi hill country blues alive. However, they have never been strict traditionalists; they have soaked their songs in raw, unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll while stirring in fatback funk, slippery soul and righteous gospel to reshape and push the blues into contemporary relevance. Their red-hot stew of roots music and ferocious live shows have attracted ardent fans around the globe.
On Saturday, the Shaboo Stage hosts a Loco Festival with six bands, with the music starting at 4 p.m. Free admission; bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy the blues from the big stage. Here is the line-up: 3 p.m., Bruce John; 4 p.m., F & Blues Band; 5 p.m.; Patty Tuite; 6 p.m., Fuse; 7 p.m., Wild Bill Project; and at 8 p.m.: Jake Kulak.
On Friday, Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center presents blues/piano artist Steve Hatch & The Redliners. Bijou Theatre has Terrapin: A Grateful Dead Experience.
Other Friday shows include Jake Kulak and the LowDown are at Note Kitchen & Bar; Sal Iacobucci & Dreaming The Blues with AudioHaze play 10 Selden in Woodbridge; and Milford Sports Pub & Grill has The Bernadettes.
Friday continues with the Stamford Museum & Nature Center hosting Stella Blue’s Band for a drive-in concert. StationHouse Wine Bar and Grill has the Relentless Rock Blues Duo. On Friday, the Art Park at Wall Street Theater has Max Creek and Creamery Station. Max Creek also plays Saturday.
Another event at the Art Park is Melvin Seals and JGB playing the Wall Street Theater Outdoor Concert Series on Thursday.
The Incredible Amplifires are at Theodores‘ on Friday.
Friday, Yonkers (NY) Waterfront Downtown has a BB King Tribute with Solomon Hicks.
Also on Friday, Blues on the Rocks takes part in the Bishops Orchards Summer Concert Series in Guilford, and the Giosa Brothers featuring Tommy Whalen play the Brass Horse. On Sunday, it is Organic Blues with Vitamin B-3.
Dr. G and the Believers are at Filomena’s on Friday. Then Wednesday, it is the summer beach concert series at McCooks Beach in Niantic. Or, hit the Vineyard Happy Hour Blues with Slim & St. George, at Rosedale Farms & Vineyards Friday.
Friday and Saturday, Walrus Alley has the Good Luck Blues Band, and the Knickerbocker Music Center has Chris Leigh Band on Saturday.
More Saturday shows include Phoenix Tree at Notch 8, and Station House Wine Bar and Grill hosts Elle Sera. Ol’ Moose and Friends are at Rory’s at 1 p.m. The Ace Dead Trbute Band plays the Old Greenwich Social in an outdoor concert. The Red Hots are out at the Abbey Resturant and Bar. They are at Notch 8 for Tiki Tuesday. Saturday, Murray the Wheel is at Deemans Bar Grill, and Lori and The Legends are at the Greenhouse Tavern & Café.
Also Saturday, Daryl’s House has live music on the porch with Chris Bergson and Ellis Hooks. In the evening the Alexis P. Suter Band takes the main stage.
Good Rockin Marty and his Blues Combo are holding an event at Kent Countryside Inn, Carmel, NY, on Saturday.
Sunday, a Summer Twight Songwriting event is at Sticks & Stones Farm. It is free and hosted by BluesyLand Band. It starts 4:30 p.m. with a Songwriting Circle, followed at 5:30 p.m. with a Songwriters Concert, and concluding at 8:30 p.m. with a Smoores Firtpit Jam.
The Incredible Amplifires on Sunday will be at American Legion Post 351 at 2 p.m. Sunday in Holyoke. Get ready for blues dancing at its finest.
The Vernon Wood-n-Tap has concerts two days a week, as do some of the other Wood-n-Tap venues. Sunday, Adelaide Punkin takes the stage at 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Sherman Green Gazebo (Fairfield) has The 5 O’Clocks.
Dan Stevens continues his acoustic blues tour Thursday, with a visit to Best Video Film and Cultural Center.
See the Connecticut Blues Society for more gig listings: https://www.ctblues.org /weekly-calendar