The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Robert Cray at Infinity Hall Hartford
The blues scene continues to offer a full slate of entertainment. Venues are working to offer a safe environment. Many have set protocols in an effort to protect everyone.
Blues Beat has included the locations for some of the newer clubs.
The Connecticut Blues Society board has decided to err on the side of caution and postpone the kick-off of the Blues Jam at The Pine Loft series, originally scheduled for Oct. 3, to November. The good news is that their featured guest, Paul Gabriel, the “Man Of Many Blues,” is able to make the switch.
Both Infinity Hall locations, Hartford and Norfolk, plenty have plenty of blues scheduled in the coming weeks. Friday night, Robert Cray is in Hartford.
Cray has created a sound that rises from American roots and arrives today both fresh and familiar. In just over 40 years Cray and his band have recorded 20 studio releases, 15 of which have been on the Billboard charts, and played bars, concert halls, festivals and arenas around the world. He is often considered the guitarist who brought blues back to the charts in the ‘80s, with songs that defined blues themes but added modern and personal twists. Cray plays with a blues heart powering his
band.
Cray has created a sound that rises from American roots and arrives today both fresh and familiar. In just over 40 years Cray and his band have recorded 20 studio releases, 15 of which have been on the Billboard charts, and played bars, concert halls, festivals and arenas around the world.
Friday in Norfolk’s Infinity Hall , you can see Popa Chubby — be prepared for s night of celebration, more than 30 years of blues, rock and soul from the one and only big man from New York. He grew up on the streets of The
Bronx, Queens and Manhattan. After years of trouble, he found his way music. He says, “The guitar saved me. I was a player, a singer, a writer and I found out people loved me for that”.
Popa Chubby, born Ted Horowitz, has been hard rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 30 years. Over the course of a career that dates back to 1994, he has been a force of to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful. An imposing figure with a shaven head, tattoos, a goatee and a performance style he describes as “the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motörhead meets Muddy Waters, and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson,” Popa Chubby is an endearing character who is one of the genre’s most popular figures.
Friday, the Stafford Palace Theater has Roomful of Blues, the world-renowned, horn-powered, houserocking blues band. It is the day the band’s latest Alligator Records release date for “In A Roomful Of Blues.”
The Rhode Island-based group has been delighting audiences for more than 50 years. Blues Music Magazine calls them “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. Roomful of Blues has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world today
While the group has a half century of history, they are constantly looking forward. They strive to keep things fresh and keep the excitement level high.
A benefit concert to support the “Daddy” Jack Chaplin Foundation will be held Sunday at Hycienic Park. The Toneshifters and
The Night Shakers are two of the bands taking part.
The blues scene around the state stays busy. Friday at Note Kitchen & Bar it’s Jake Kulak and The Lowdown. Saturday, Jake and the band are at Notch8.
Friday continues at Aquila’s Nest Winery in Newtown with Ol’ Moose and the The Green in Norwalk has Jim Royle’s Silver Steel Pan Band, outside. Also on Friday, Walrus Alley brings back Good Luck Blues Band and Notch8 has Jamie’s Junk Show; and Dr. G and the Believers at Filomena’s Friday, with high energy blues.
Theodores’ Blues, Booze, and BBQ has a weekend with The Rumblecats on Friday. and Saturday, Professor Harp comes to town. At the Falcon Main Stage on Friday, Alexis P. Suter Band provides the entertainment. Suter’s big voice and deep blues heart holds sway over all her audiences.
Saturday on the patio at Noon, Note Kitchen & Bar has Brunch with Ol’ Moose and Friends. The Slice of Saugatuck Fest is outside Saturday at 2 p.m. Otis and the Hurricanes is one of the bands providing entertainment. Benefits the Gillespie Food Pantry. Nod Hill Brewery has Hitch & The Giddyup at 6:30 p.m., and the Orb Mellon Trio is at Firefly Brewery, 4 p.m.
Also on Saturday, Jay Collins & The Northern Resistance take the stage.
The torch has been passed to Collins from grinding out gigs for years in the bands such as Gregg Allman and Levon Helm.
Over at the Wilton Family YMCA, Saturday brings a Rock the Y fundraiser outdoors with Terrapin, and London has an outside show with Big Chief and The Midnight Groove. Big Mike Griffin and Chris Tofield travel to the Brass Horse Café, while Dan Stevens is at the Packing House in Willington, and Delusions of Grandeur play at JCC in Sherman. Six Pack of Blues are at the Shortstop Bar & Grill in Westfield, at 5:30 p.m. and Righteous Continental and Hawkins are at Crystal Bees. Friday, Righteous Continental plays Bleachers. Ponoma Petes has Lori and the legends Saturday at 4 p.m.
Sunday at 2 p.m. Ol’ Moose and friends are at the Ridgefield Library Folk Series. Thursday, Carl Ricci & 706 Union Ave with Dave Robbins play Sassos Pizza, 6 pm.
Monday, it’s Cindy Cashdollar & The Syncopators. They provide some gutbucket blues, honky-tonk, swampy R&B, and more.
See the Connecticut Blues Society for more gig listings: https://www.ctblues.org/ weekly-calendar Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.