Ali Manion; performing with Chick Singer Night, Parish Center for the Arts; Westford, Massachusetts.
Chick Singer Night co-directors Jennifer Truesdale and Marcia Ridings-Macres are busily preparing for another of their spring CSN events. On March 18, Chick Singer Night will present, at the Parish Center for the Arts in Westford, Massachusetts, a mix of women performers performing a mix of blues, R&B, jazz, and rock. There’s a special theme to the evening: local.
“We wanted to select people who were from the Westford-Chelmsford- Lowell area,” Truesdale said. “So many of our shows we do in the Boston area. That’s when we feature artists from that area. So, in selecting for this show, and Marcia booked this one because that’s her area.”
The criteria for the artists to perform was variety and quality. They are Alison Manion, Carol Wing, Connie Diamond, Dale Knowles, Kathryn Fitzgerald, and Are You Man Enough feature Russell Watts.
“We always want to select artists, some of who are new to the scene, some of whom are more experienced,” Truesdale said. Alison Manion, of Westminster, Massachusetts is on the evening’s roster.
“Ali is a songwriter in addition to being a singer and a performer,” Truesdale said. “We try to include singer-songwriters as well.” Mansion comes under the heading of singer-songwriter-folk.
“Ali will do a mix of originals and R&B covers. She gigs a lot around town. She’s got records out. “She is a great performer. She has that R&B vibe,” Truesdale said.
Westford’s Carol Wing will be singing her own original music. “Generally speaking, she plays solo with just her acoustic guitar,” Truesdale said. “So, this will be different for her to do it with a full band. Her songs are really funny. They’re hilarious. She’s got good comedy in her lyrics.”
Lowell’s Connie Diamond is a jazz singer. “She’s going to be doing all jazz standards,” Truesdale said. “She has a very sweet voice, a lovey singer, very sultry.”
Westford’s Dale Knowles is schooled in musical theater. “Her performance will be just herself and a piano player, Alizon Lissance.” (The Love Dogs; Girls Nite Out)
Kathryn Fitzgerald, also from Westford, is a rock cover band singer. “She’ll be doing a mix of rock, and R&B, and pop covers,” Truesdale said. “She’s a really dynamic performer, a strong stage presence.”
Once in a while Chick Singer Night will feature a male singer. CSN calls it their Are You Man Enough feature.” Blues, R&B, and jazz vocalist Russell Watts is this year’s Are You Man Enough Feature.
“He’s a fantastic singer. Really charismatic, strong, powerful singer. He plays all over the place. I’ve seen him at a lot of different open mics and jams.”
The two industrious Chick Singer Night co-directors, as is their custom, will also be performing at their CSN Westford event.
“Marcia is going to do her Texas gal thing,” Truesdale said, “a nice mix of rock and blues covers. I’m going to do one of my new songs called ‘Not Your Mother’ that I’m going to be releasing as a single pretty soon. I’m going to be doing primarily my originals.”
The Chick Singer Night house band will include guitarist Joe Musella, bass guitarist Justin Kolack, drummer Jerry Velona, and legendary keyboardist Alizon Lissance.
“It’s going to be a fun night, a nice mix of blues, rock, R&B, jazz, and musical theater, a nice variety of performers,” Truesdale said. “All of the proceeds we will be donating to the Parish Center for The Arts because they are a nonprofit.
“I would say tickets are going fast so grab yours now,” Truesdale added.
Doors: 6:30 p.m. Music 7:00 p.m. BYOB (Snacks)
