Ticket Update
THE DEVON ALLMAN BAND – Selling fast!
LIZ LONGLEY – Only 25 tickets left!
ALBERT CUMMINGS – Only 25 tickets left!
ANA POPOVIC – Only 27 tickets left!
DELTA RAE – SOLD OUT!
LOS LONELY BOYS – SOLD OUT!
WHITFORD ST. HOLMES – Selling fast!
RICHARD THOMPSON – SOLD OUT!
SHAWN MULLINS – Selling fast!
PAULA COLE – Selling fast!
QUINN SULLIVAN – Only 18 tickets left!
THE JELLY JAM – Selling fast!
RICH ROBINSON – Selling fast!
ROOMFUL OF BLUES – Selling fast!
THE FIXX – 3 tickets left!
MARTIN BARRE – Both shows are SOLD OUT!
THE SUBDUDES – Selling fast!
WISHBONE ASH – Selling fast!
DORO PESCHE – Selling fast!
RIK EMMETT – Both shows selling fast!
THE KINGSTON TRIO – Selling fast!
RONNIE EARL – Selling fast!
This Week
June 9 THE DEVON ALLMAN BAND
The dirty blond hair is the same, the body posture is also the same, and there are touches in the voice that have a similar genetic connection, but Devon Allman has toiled long and hard to establish his own musical identity, separate from his legendary dad, Gregg Allman. In fact, Allman, who was raised by his mom (Shelley, not Cher) in Texas, took up the guitar on his own, and did not meet his father until he was 16 years old. “I was 16, and I sent him a really short letter saying, ‘Hey, it’s me. Here’s where I’m at. I’m playing guitar.’ I got a phone call three days later,” says Devon. Soon after that phone call, the two met in the parking lot at The Fox Theater in St. Louis during a tour stop for the elder Allman. Growing up with his mom, Devon was listening to anything on the radio he could find. Often it was the Rolling Stones or Jimi Hendrix. “I can remember listening to music at the age of four or five. Something would come on the radio and I would always ask my mom who it was. She would say ‘That’s John Lennon’ or ‘that’s Styx.’ One time “Midnight Rider” came on, and I asked her ‘Mom who’s that?’ and she said ‘That’s your dad.’”
June 10 LIZ LONGLEY
Liz Longley first felt the magic while growing up outside of Philadelphia. A song she wrote in ninth grade-her first ever-earned a standing ovation when she performed it for the student body: “I was unprepared for that sort of reaction and it was life-changing moment,” she says. “That’s when I knew it was what I wanted to do with my life.”
The track record she’s assembled since shows just how much Longley grew into her dream. She’s taken home top prizes at some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country, including the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Rocky Mountain Folk Fest Songwriting Competition.
June 10 PINK FLOYD LASER SPECTACULAR
At the Stockbridge Theatre in Derry
After 30 years of playing theaters throughout the world, The Laser Spectacular is not only the world’s longest touring laser show, but also the longest touring theatre show in history!
Each year the show is updated with technical and creative changes that keep the audience coming back for more. As a rock cultural phenomenon, Paramount’s Laser Spectacular has become a cult classic in multimedia entertainment!
June 11 ALBERT CUMMINGS
Breaking every cliché associated with the blues while producing some of the most powerful music of the 21st century comes as natural to Albert Cummings as swinging a hammer while constructing one of his award-winning custom built homes. The Massachusetts native learned the requisite three chords on the guitar from his father, but then switched to playing banjo at age 12 and became a fan of bluegrass music. Like everything he tackles, he threw himself headlong into the pursuit, going to festivals and winning several picking contests in high school. Before graduating he heard the early recordings of Stevie Ray Vaughan, however, and was floored by the virtuosity. While in college in 1987 he saw Vaughan perform and he returned to the guitar with a new outlook and resolve. He had another tradition to live up to first, however, and he studied the building trade in order to follow his family into the home building business. Not until he was 27, an age when other musicians were either already established or had long ago put their dream aside for the realities of life, did Albert finally decide to go for it.
June 12 ANA POPOVIC
The award-winning, hard-touring, guitar slinger blends smoking electric funk and slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals and a tight blues groove with soulful, feminine vocals. Add to the mix her incredible stage presence, all of which makes her an irresistible force in the world of contemporary blues music.
As the only female guitar-player Ana Popovic was added to the 2014 -‘16 all-star Experience Hendrix lineup; a nationwide tour celebrating the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix w/ Buddy Guy, Bootsy Collins, Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Zakk Wylde and many more world renown artists. She’s nominated for five Blues Music Awards, appeared on the cover of Vintage Guitar and Guitar Player. Her albums ‘Can You Stand The Heat’ and ‘Unconditional’ where Pick Of The Week by USA Today and featured on NPR Music. Nearly all of Ana’s albums made it the Top 5 of the Billboard Blues Charts and are being played regularly on US radio.
New Bookings
June 30 MARSHALL CRENSHAW
Over 25 years since breaking through to critical and commercial acclaim with his 1982 self-titled debut and its infectious, era-defining pop hit “Someday, Someway,” Marshall Crenshaw creates an incredible new chapter in his career with his 429 Records debut Jaggedland. Crenshaw’s first studio recording in more than six years is his most musically dynamic and lyrically intimate collection yet.
A quote from Trouser Press sums up Marshall Crenshaw’s early career: “Although he was seen as a latter-day Buddy Holly at the outset, he soon proved too talented and original to be anyone but himself.” All Music Guide captured Crenshaw’s vibe perfectly: “He writes songs that are melodic, hooky and emotionally true, and he sings and plays them with an honesty and force that still finds room for humor without venom.”
As Crenshaw was developing Jaggedland’s mix of poignant and incisive love songs and musings on mortality, he ventured once again into the film world, co-penning the title track to the hilarious, critically acclaimed John C. Reilly film “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”; the track was nominated for a 2008 Golden Globe and a 2008 Grammy Award.
August 20 DAVY KNOWLES
The journey began for Davy Knowles growing up in the Isle of Man, learning to play guitar from listening to the likes of Gallagher, Clapton, Knopfler, Green and Mayall in his father’s record collection, and honing his skills playing the local music circuit. Knowles’s professional career started with a bang – arriving in America age 19 with his band Back Door Slam, an acclaimed debut album, and rave reviews at SXSW 2007. (“I heard the spirit of Jimi Hendrix“ – Patrick MacDonald, Seattle Times). From that dynamic introduction, Knowles proceeded to make a significant impact across US media – from memorable TV performances on Jimmy Kimmel and Good Morning America, to a three year run at radio with the singles ‘Come Home’ from the debut album Roll Away and ‘Tear Down the Walls’ and ’Coming Up For Air’ from the Peter Frampton produced sophomore album – both albums Top 3 Billboard Blues Chart.
A relentless 4 year tour regime followed for Knowles in support of his albums, taking in legendary festivals Lollapalooza, Memphis In May, Bonnaroo, and Austin City Limits and headlining shows at The Troubadour, Red Rocks, World Cafe and The Iridium. He also toured with Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, The Who, Warren Haynes, George Thorogood, Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rhythm Devils, and the Satriani/Hagar inspired supergroup Chickenfoot.
“My Favorite Modern Bluesman” – Joe Satriani
“Davy already has a recognizable style. He’s definitely the gunslinger guitarist of the 21st century,” – Peter Frampton
September 23 NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE
New Riders of the Purple Sage, signed to Columbia Records by Clive Davis, released its eponymous first album in September 1971 to widespread acclaim. In the next 11 years the band toured and released over 12 albums, selling over 4 million records. NRPS began as a part-time spin-off from the Grateful Dead when Jerry Garcia (pedal steel guitar), Phil Lesh (bass) and Mickey Hart (drums) teamed up with John Dawson (guitar, vocals) and David Nelson (guitar). Although early live appearances were viewed as an informal warm-up to the main attraction, the group quickly established an independent identity through the strength of Dawson’s original songs. By 1970 Dave Torbert had replaced Lesh, and Spencer Dryden, formerly of Jefferson Airplane, had joined as the group’s permanent drummer. Garcia remained in both The Dead and The New Riders until he found himself overcommitted, at which time Buddy Cage replaced him and the classic NRPS lineup was born.
Original NRPS bass player Dave Torbert and drummer Spencer Dryden have passed away, co-founder John Dawson passed away in 2009 due to ongoing health problems. His considerable talents will be missed but his songs and musical legacy will live on. Before he passed he had given his blessing and was excited to know his music is being heard live again by a whole new generation of fans. The new lineup vows to keep the NRPS spirit and tunes alive by taking them to fans everywhere. The band recently teamed up with Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter and released its first CD in twenty years to rave reviews, Where I Come From (Woodstock Records).
October 20 TOMMY CASTRO and THE PAINKILLERS
“I’m always moving forward, going outside of my wheelhouse, listening to new music and incorporating new ideas,” says award-winning guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Tommy Castro. “The contemporary blues scene is full of fresh, new sounds It’s an exciting time.” Castro is famed for his signature brand of tough, rocking rhythm and blues, thrilling fans around the world with his incendiary live performances. With his turbo-charged new Alligator Records album, The Devil You Know, Castro strips his music down to its raw essence as he rockets into the next phase of his storied career.
The Devil You Know, recorded in the Bay Area with his fiery new band The Painkillers and produced by Castro and Bonnie Hayes, is a contemporary blues tour-de-force. The album is an untamed, high-energy set of 13 songs, including nine written or co-written by Castro. “For the new album I challenged myself to add different sounds and new rhythms to my style while remaining true to my roots. I wrote using ideas for songs and ideas for sounds together in a way I’d never done before,” explains Castro, “using drum rhythms to drive the lyrics.” The tracks-melodic and biting, energetic and fun-are brought to life with sonic authority by bassist Randy McDonald (from the original Tommy Castro Band), keyboardist James Pace and original Painkillers drummer Byron Cage.
In addition, many of Castro’s friends and admirers, including Alligator label-mates Marcia Ball and The Holmes Brothers, add their talents to the proceedings. Other guests include guitarists Joe Bonamassa and Mark Karan, guitarist/vocalist Tab Benoit, vocalists Samantha Fish and Tasha Taylor and harmonica player Magic Dick. Each song comes loaded with emotional depth and muscular hooks courtesy of Castro’s soulful singing, insightful lyrics and dynamic, potent guitar playing. With The Devil You Know, Castro – The Painkillers blazing behind him-unleashes an instant classic. According to Blurt, “Castro is one of the greatest blues guitarists, songwriters and entertainers in the world today.”
November 18 & 19 THE SMITHEREENS
The Smithereens’ three-decade history is a story of substance, integrity and persistence triumphing over shallow artifice and transient trendiness of hard-working underdogs achieving success on their own terms by sticking to their guns and ignoring the dictates of pop fashion and music-industry convention.
“These days, the band is playing as well as we’ve ever played, with more focus and more intensity,” Frontman Pat DiNizio asserts, adding, “We still feel like we have something to prove. We have to hit a grand slam every night, and we have to be twice as good as bands half our age. And we’ve got this body of work that spans over 30 years, so we’ll play at least two, two-and-a-half hours every night and bang through the songs like a freight train.”