The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Weekend events help burn off that turkey
The blues scene is offering plenty of opportunities to burn off some of those extra Thanksgiving pounds. The traditional Beehive Queen party on Friday at Black-Eyed Sally's is a great way to start. Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez will provide the hip shakin’ music to turn up the heat.
This annual event always draws a big crowd. Ohlman also combines it with a birthday celebration. Ohlman has long been the queen of blue-eyed rock n’ soul. She provides a show with equal parts of sweetness and hot guitar riffs. Backed by the talented Rebel Montez trio, the evening is fun for all and a time for friends to gather, — with it being 10th Annual Ape’s Night Out with Friends.
Saturday, Sally’s has Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood, who has returned from Europe where he had an extremely successful trip. Pitchell and Texas Flood are top-notch musicians and singers who unite to bring a high energy mix of rhythm and blues, rock, soul and funky Texas blues.
On Saturday, Ohlman will guest star with D.A. Foster & the Shaboo AllStars at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. Foster, owner and promoter of the legendary Shaboo Inn, produced more than 3,000 concerts. He made Willimantic a stop for musicians traveling between New York City and Boston.
Even with his success as a promoter, Foster is a musician at heart, having begun his career as a singer at age 14. In 1980, he assembled a group of musicians to form the Shaboo All-Stars. Each member carries experience with some of the biggest names in the business. Foster has worked with many artists but the All-Stars provide one of the most exciting shows. On occasion, Foster and his friends crank out their trademark rhythm and blues music, as “David Foster and the Mohegan Sun All-Stars.”
Friday, a is a Shoreline Soup Kitchen Benefit (Old Saybrook) at the Kate 860510-0473. With an emphasis on melody, lyricism and harmony The Ebin-Rose Trio, Carter Gowrie, Leonard Wyeth, Ian Meadows, Lauren Agnelli and special guests will gather for a concert at The Kate to raise funds for The Shoreline Soup Kitchen & Pantries. All ticket and CD proceeds will be matched dollar-fordollar by the Gowrie Group Challenge which directly benefits The Shoreline Soup Kitchen & Pantries.
On Friday, D.A. Foster & the Shaboo All-Stars will be at the Parrot Delaney Tavern. The Saturday show is the Kathy Thompson Band.
Saturday is an Acoustic Blues Show after at the Newington Knights of Columbus. Three acoustical blues acts will be playing. Admission is free with “Pass the Hat” after each act for the musicians. The show starts at 7 p.m. Some favorites are back — Marylou Ferrante and The Coffee Grinders Duo. New for this year’s show is Orb Mellon.
Ferrante is from Worcester, and performs pre-war blues from the 1920s and 30s. The Coffee Grinders Duo, Frank Breen and Jim Choquette are from the Hartford area and play Mississippi and Delta Blues. Orb Mellon’s blues mines the raw energy of 20th Century American roots music, particularly whiskey fueled house party delta blues. The Newington Knights of Columbus is located at 171 Pascone Place (entrance in rear).
Bill's Seafood has a busy week. Friday is the annual Sing-a Long & Tree Lighting with Jeff Barnhart & Friends. On Saturday, The Sidewinders will bring in the blues — and that job goes to The Modeans on Thursday.
The Outer Space is known for a variety of music and other community activities that get people together. Sunday they are hosting a Homebrew Tag Sale. This is a one-of-kind tag sale for homebrew equipment, merchandise, and other items. The tag sale is at The Outer Space on from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you’re new to home brewing, look to get some good deals. For the non-brewers, there will be related items like signs, glassware and more.
Patty Tuite writes she is be expanding the trio that regularly plays in at Lake View (monthly fourth Friday) to a quartet. She has been busy between many gigs at Lake View in Coventry and the region. She starts at the Lakeview Café Friday at 7 p.m., so it will be early enough for everybody to come out and get home at a reasonable hour. Also on Friday, the D Smith Blues Band will make an appearance at the Maple Tree Café.
Other shows around the state include a Saturday show at the Cambridge Brew House with the Rich Badowski Blues Band. Sunday, The Brass Horse Café has an afternoon show with Carl Ricci and 706 Union Ave.
Over in Southington, The Royal Din Acoustic Duo is at the Tipping Chair Tavern on Wednesday and Ramblin’ Dan Stevens at Smokin’ With Chris on Thursday. On Sunday, Cheryl Tracy hosts an Acoustic Brunch On The River with a special guest at the Mattabesett Canoe Club.