The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Cold weather brings hot music, shows
The cold weather just means it’s time for some hot blues. While the clubs managed their shows with safe traveling in mind, any cancellations are already being rescheduled. From Connecticut clubs to Beale Street in Memphis, the activities continue to highlight the talent on display weekly.Crystal Bees is hosting its 3rd Annual Winter Blues n Brews concert Jan. 25. There will be four bands in VIP Lounge. On the bill are Righteous Continental with Ryan Neuman, Jake Kulak & the Lowdown, Murray the Wheel with Cheryl Tracy, and Crosseyed Cat.
Joining the bands will be Measured Soul’s Bob Bocchichio on keyboards and Rob Glassman of RGB on percussion. Other special guests include Tom “The Suit” Forst, Boulder Shawn on harp and vocalist Cheryl Tracy. The Festival at this unique venue also offers bistro dining, bowling and big arcade with billiards, video games, air hockey, skee ball and more. This is an all ages show.
On Friday Crystal Bees has “Satisfaction/The International Rolling
Stones Show.
Saturday, G. Love and Special Sauce play the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den. Born Garrett Dutton in Philadelphia, G. Love grew up equally enthralled with folk, blues, and rap, devouring everything from Lead Belly and Run D.M.C. to John Hammond (Hammond first mentioned G Love to Blues
Beat in an interview) and the Beastie Boys. After migrating to Boston, he and his band, Special Sauce, broke out in 1994 with their Gold-selling self-titled debut, which earned widespread critical acclaim for its bold vision and adventurous production.
The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center brings in Tusk for shows Saturday and Sunday. No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac to perfection. Tusk covers all the great hits of Fleetwood Mac, with five seasoned musicians who have been making music together for more than 25 years. Authentic-sounding and always respectful, Tusk leaves no stone unturned in replicating the sounds of one of the world’s bestloved, top-selling bands
Neal Vitullo & the Vipers are at Black-eyed Sally’s on Friday. They are a Rhode Island based band who play “American Roots Music.” A strong local following see them encompassing the blues, rock & roll, rockabilly, and surf, entertaining their fans everywhere. You can get bit by the Vipers and catch the fever at their many shows while performing at music festivals and club dates. You will see why they are one of New England’s premier American Roots Band
Black-Eyed Sally’s Fat Tuesday is coming up, for some Mardi Gras Madness in Hartford. This is Sally’s biggest party of the year. Mardi Gras madness means River City Slim &
The Zydeco Hogs come by for a Louisiana-style Fat Tuesday celebration with Beads, BBQ, Cajun/Creole dishes and hot Zydeco, turning Hartford into the Crescent City for the night.
Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk brings in Albert Lee on Friday, and Saturday it is Martin Sexton.
The blues world convenes in Memphis from January 28th to February 1st, for the Foundation’s 36th annual International Blues Challenge. Blues Hall of Famer Bobby Rush, Blues Music Award winners Shemekia Copeland, Janiva Magness, and Gaye Adegbalola, and acclaimed filmmaker Robert Mugge are among the special guests appearing at the yearly blues summit.
The blues will be celebrated along historic Beale Street as part of the IBC Week. The Blues Foundation kicks off the festivities on January 28 with performances happening in 21 different venues along historic Beale Street straight through to the finals at noon Feb. 1 at Memphis’ Orpheum Theatre. The International Blues Challenge, the world’s largest and most renowned blues music competition, attracts more than 800 musicians to Memphis from all across the globe to battle for glory, bookings, and prizes.
Besides the challenger performances which are the heart of the IBC, Beale Street will be packed with themed showcases, youth workshops, jams, parties, and master classes occurring day and night.
Sunday, it is The Cromwell Record Riot. The event is hosted by Record Riots at the Army & Navy Club in Manchester, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Mark your calendar: March 26th at the Phoenix will be the first inaugural class of the New England Music Hall of Fame and Awards Show. The event will have a wide variety of musicians performing and giving tribute to the inductees in the debut of the New England Music Hall of Fame. An All-Star Band will provide entertainment.
As schedules and times change, it is good practice to call the club and confirm. Get the complete Blues Beat schedule on Thursday at the blog http://bluesbeatnews.wordpress.com/. Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.