Walpole guitarist Steve Marchena recently received an endorsement from Ortega Guitars. Marchena, plays four to five theater runs a year, freelances a lot, and works on various projects with Berklee Professor and ace guitarist Jon Finn. http://ortegaguitars.com/artists/#filter=country%255B%255D%3D840&sorting=&dir=
Monster Mike Welch was nominated for Instrumentalist – Guitar by the 2017 Blues Music Awards. Welch has been on the greater-Boston/New England blues scene for some time now. He’s the lead guitarist for Sugar Ray And The Bluetones, which is one of our region’s most famous and well liked blues outfits. https://www.facebook.com/monstermikewelchmusic/?fref=ts
Pat & The Hats play a benefit at the Shaskeen in Manchester, New Hampshire on Saturday, January 21, 2017 to benefit Old Sol Music Hall. Sarah And The Wild Versatile will be opening for them. Both bands have been reviewed quite favorably here on BillCopelandMusicNews.com. Old Sol Music Hall is an organization aimed at establishing, maintaining, and operating a performance venue and community center aimed at leveraging the arts to create positive social and environmental impact. Old Sol Music Hall will provide a mid-size performance space and implement civic programming, including pre-show service projects, in-kind donation drives, and a More Than Music Fund, which takes a portion of every ticket sold to support the work of local non-profit organizations. Projected to open in 2018, Old Sol Music Hall will be both a cultural and civic venue in the heart of Downtown Manchester. Led by its team of Concert Corps national service members, Old Sol Music Hall will provide opportunities for patrons to give back to the local community which, in turn, will build social capital and help New Hampshire attract and retain its Millennial workforce. https://www.facebook.com/oldsolmusichall/
Coming Saturday, January 21, 2017 to Chevalier Theatre’s OnStage Series, The Boxcar Lilies. Combining spine-tingling three-part harmony and savvy songwriting, The Boxcar Lilies have made a name for themselves with their signature mix of folk, country, blues, and bluegrass-tinged Americana music Though each member of the Massachusetts-based trio has a distinct and exceptional singing talent, Jenny Goodspeed (electric bass), Stephanie Marshall (washboard, cajón), and Susan Cattaneo (guitar) deftly weave their voices into a delicious whole – a sound that is sometimes delicate, sometimes gritty, but always innovative and soul-stirring. https://www.facebook.com/events/335606293486220/
On January 28th, 2017, is the day of Women Who Rock Cape Cod, a benefit for the Cape Cod Shelter & Domestic Violence Center. Organized by Just Like That drummer Janie MacAuslan, it all started from a post on Facebook, musicians complaining about some of the venues treating bands unprofessionally. “It just happen to be all woman vocalists chiming in. Before we knew it, the idea of doing a show that would empower women was talked about,. MacAuslan said. “My lead singer nominated me to produce a show, and I turned it into a fundraiser event.” Many female fronted bands will take the stage, and the event will culminate in huge finale with seven vocalists singing in harmony. Radio Personalities Lori Welch and Matty B of PIXY 103 will be Masters of ceremonies for this event. Sponsors include Hyline Cruises, Naukabout Beer, and Healthy Living Magazine. To take place at 3065 Live Cranberry HWY East Wareham, Massachusetts. Doors open at 12:30. Event runs from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Snow date: January 29, 2017.
https://www.facebook.com/events/142825696197193/
Keep this music news coming, folks. I’ll include it all in my Buzz Column.