Headlining acts for Autumnfest announced
The Official Blues Brothers Revue, Woonsocket’s Luther are top performers
WOONSOCKET — The Autumnfest Steering Committee has announced that city native Emily Luther and The Official Blues Brothers Revue will be the headline acts for the Autumnfest celebration in October.
The BB Revue is an official production of Dan Aykroyd – Saturday
Night Live alumnus and one of the founding members of the original Blues
Brothers, which also featured the late John Belushi, Aykroyd’s SNL sidekick.
Other producers of the band include Judith Belushi – Belushi’s widow
– and Musical Director Paul Shaffer, who used to head up the house band on Late Night with David Letterman.
The frontmen for The Official Blues Brothers Revue are Kieron (Elwood Blues) Lafferty and Wayne (Jake Blues) Catania, who were hand-picked by Aykroyd, Belushi and Shaffer, according to Joe Callahan, spokesman for the Autumnfest Steering Committee. The duo is backed by the all-star Intercontinental Rhythm & Blues Band.
“The Official Blues Brothers Revue is an interactive experience showcasing their undeniable talent in songs that comprise a virtual encyclopedia of rock, blues and soul,” Autumnfest said in the announcement. “Audiences of all ages have been on their feet as the duo delivers classics such as “Soul Man,” “Gimme Some Lovin,” “Sweet Home Chicago,” and others from the songbook of American blues.
“This show was off the hook! Everyone had a great time from 8-to-88 years old,” Sheila Martin, CEO of the Dunn Center for the
Performing Arts in North Carolina, crowed after one of the band’s shows.
One Chicago Theatre-linked publication called the band, “A hand-clapping, foot-stomping good time.”
The BB Revue will share the headliners’ stage with homegrown talent Luther.
Woonsocket-born and raised, Luther started a career in music at the age of nine. After high school, she attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music with a major in vocal performance and music therapy.Her career then blossomed as a professional singer, model and actress. Talk show mogul Ellen Degeneres invited Luther to perform on her syndicated TV show. After a surprise signing to her record label, eleveneleven, Luther also reached a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group. Next, Luther auditioned for the NBC hit, “The Voice.” After a soulful performance of the classic, “Summertime,” Luther managed to get a three-chair turn and began her journey with Team Adam Levine.
“Her success on the show has given Luther to opportunity to continue sharing her unique sound and has created an enthusiastic buzz world-wide as an artist moving her way through a classic, sophisticated, yet fresh sound,” Autumnfest says. “Autumnfest is excited to host two fantastic headline acts this year on the Autumnfest Rotary Main Stage, free of charge.”
The Official Blues Brothers Revue will perform Saturday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. Luther takes the stage Sunday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m.