The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Coco Montoya: Hard-edged sound in CT
Blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Coco Montoya will perform live at FTC StageOne on Tuesday, His latest Alligator Records release is Coming In Hot. Taught by the “Master of the Telecaster,” Albert Collins, and schooled by a decade on the road with John Mayall, Montoya has a hard-edged sound and style all his own. He delivers instantly memorable songs, powered by his forceful, melodic guitar playing and passionate vocals.
Montoya's explosive guitar playing and soul-driven voice have propelled him to the upper reaches of the blues-rock world. Montoya is revered for his ability to move from subtly melodic guitar playing to slash-andburn pyrotechnics.
Amy Helm is performing at FTC StageOne on Wednesday, and heads on Thursday to Infinity Hall Norfolk. Singer-songwriter Helm is the daughter of legendary drummer Levon Helm. She grew up in Woodstock, NY; long a collaborator, she's broken out on her own in recent years.
Helm wields a powerful voice that can both stir and soothe, whether she is singing traditional gospel, blues standards, or her own heartfelt compositions. She is a gifted musician on both mandolin and drums and has clearly absorbed the lessons of the many other
accomplished artists with whom she has shared the stage, including Mavis Staples, Emmylou Harris, and Joan Osborne.
Midnight North has a Saturday show at The FTC Warehouse. The son of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, Grahame Lesh was exposed to plenty of great American music, but his band, Midnight North, takes the best parts of roots music and weaves them into a tapestry of rock and Americana. Onstage with vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, Lesh leads a group that just as easily sounds like
Buckingham-Nicks era Fleetwood Mac in its soulful rock simplicity as it does a Dead outfit. From writhing blues progressions to frolicking rock tunes, Midnight North incorporates countryjams with Telecaster tones
The Beehive Queen will be rockin’ “Women's Voices 4 Concert & Performance Showcase” Sunday at 2 p.m. Join Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez at the The Knickerbocker Music Center as they headline the 4th year of this concert series benefitting the Rock and Roll Camp For Girls at the Institute For The Musical
Arts (IMA) in Goshen MA
Jeff Pitchell, Texas Flood and the Fabulous Jeffettes are appearing Saturday at Infinity Hall Hartford. Pitchell, a longtime area favorite, has become an internationally, acclaimed dynamic singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He achieved national recognition when one of his CDs, “Heavy Hitter” (Pyramid Records/EMI) reached number seven on the Billboard Charts.
Pitchell and Texas Flood have been voted the Best Blues Act in New England in six state vote.
The Jeffettes 2-piece vocal harmony group consists have performed for 25 years with various gospel and jazz groups. Their soulful harmonies are truly amazing and their lead vocals are breathtaking. Together, this accomplished group of musicians will entertain you with their hard driving brand of thunder and lightning blues, rock, funk, and soul music.
Wednesday, Infinity Hall Hartford welcomes Ana Popovic. The five-time Blues Award nominated Popovic has been electrifying audiences all over the world with her balance of blistering blues riffs and delicate jazz sensibilities. Amazingly charismatic and deliverer of the blues.
The Willie J. Laws Band is at the Norwich Arts Center on Wednesday.
Saturday, at 1 p.m., there’s an Anniversary Party and
CLiCK Fundraiser in Willimantic with River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs. CLiCK's mission is Grow, Cook, Share to maintain and grow a local food network, utilizing a commercially licensed cooperative kitchen and Education Center in Willimantic.
Also Saturday at 2 p.m., Broad Brook Opera House presents Oktoberfest at the House, a day of fall festivities including a show with the Balkun Brothers.
Thursday, Dan Stevens is at Pa's Place at 5 p.m., and on Friday, Ciao Ristorante and Bar has Slim & St. George at Blues, Roots & Pasta in Thomaston.
Also Friday, Rosy Tomorrows in Danbury is hosting Artie Tobia, and the Relentless Rock Blues Duo with Cassandra appear at Long Ridge Tavern. Walrus Alley returns with the Good Luck Blues Band, and Carl Ricci & 706 Union Ave. play the Brass Horse Café.
Saturday, power-trio Righteous Continental return to Sonny's Place for an early afternoon party on the patio from 1-4 p.m. Led by Ryan Newman they deliver fresh and fierce covers of blues-rock, classic rock and even some Johnny Cash and Surf Guitar of Dick Dale. Also Saturday, the Kinsman Brewing Company presents Shawn Taylor, and Theodores' Blues, Booze and BBQ has The Willie J. Laws Band.
Sunday, The Regulators are at the Washington Harvest
Festival on the River Walk Pavillion.
The Music Maker Foundation Latest Annual Report Is Out. If you want to learn exactly how they supported our Partner Artists through a year of pandemic, then the latest annual report is the place to turn. You'll also read about what makes the Music Maker Foundation unique in the world of folklore. And if you donated to our Foundation, you'll also find a personal thank you. Go to https://musicmaker.org/ wp-content/uploads/ 2021/09/21AnnualReport-FINAL-2.pdf
This month, youn can journey the back country roads and Mississippi juke joints with music writer Robert Palmer and musician Dave Stewart in filmmaker Robert Mugge’s landmark blues documentary, digitally restored in 4k. Featuring performances by Booker T. Laury, R.L. Burnside, Jessie Mae Hemphill, Junior Kimbrough, Roosevelt “Booba” Barnes and the Playboys, Big Jack Johnson, Jack Owens with Bud Spires, and Lonnie Pitchford, it’s remiering at NYC’s Metrograph, as well as via Virtual Cinema on October 13.