Blues Deluxe entertained 17 State Street Café in Newburyport, MA last night
Bees Deluxe hit one of their regular haunts in Newburyport, Massachusetts last night. Playing at 17 State Street Café Newburyport, Bees Deluxe displayed much of the blues, jazzy talent they have become so well-respected for.
URO resurrect Jesus Christ Superstar with fresh vigor
The Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra unveiled their new rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, Massachusetts this weekend. Last night’s show found the URO breathing new life into those songs with nods to everything from funk and soul to hip hop to hard rock. Lights and smoke too helped keep this production solidly rooted in a rock concert vibe.
Grace Potter rocked Boston’s Orpheum Theatre on Halloween night
Grace Potter rocked Boston’s Orpheum Theater last night. Her Halloween show focused on her newer material, classic rock covers, and some of her older material with her usual band The Nocturnals. Despite Potter’s break with tradition, she put on one hell of a rock show last night. Moving around with the agility of a snake in her barely there Halloween costume, she lead her band and her fans through a sight and sound extravaganza
Matt Stubbs has a good thing going at Common Ground in Arlington, MA
Matt Stubbs turned in a usually fine performance at The Common Ground in Arlington, Massachusetts last night. He hosts the weekly Roots & Blues Sunday Sessions with his usual backing band of drummer Chris Rivelli(Roomful Of Blues) and bassist Mark Hickox. Last night, bassist Brad Hallen filled for Hickox while the featured guest was Tim Gearan. It was a potent combination of players, for sure.
“Slutty” Pete birthday blues bash another success for Village Trestle, Wantu
The 11th Annual “Slutty” Pete’s Birthday Jam with special guest Travis Colby gathered many of the usual suspects in the local area of Goffstown, New Hampshire’s Village Trestle. “Slutty” Pete Zona has been hosting the Wantu Blues Jam every Sunday at the Trestle for several years now. Nicknamed “Slutty” by other musicians because he’ll “play with anybody,” Zona has become a popular fixture in his area’s music scene, and this annual event recognizes him in grand style. With a little help from his friends.
HeatherFest 21 reigned over the rain; blues, charitable giving, positive vibes carried the day
HeatherFest 21 may have gotten rained on for about an hour last Sunday night. Yet, the weather didn’t stop the talent from raining out of the amplifiers for most of the event. A festival sized event hosted by blues fans Heather McKibben in her Norton, Massachusetts home for two decades, nothing has even been able to defeat this event. In fact, the storm only forced the side stage performer, Racky Thomas and his friends, to entertain from their mostly non electric, roofed stage.
Bands and singers rocked first South Shore Irish Festival, Johnny McEvoy, Na Fianna made strong impressions
Day one of the first South Shore Irish Festival indicated that the event will likely grown each year. There was a better than decent turnout for most of the day and several attendees were clearly enjoying the musical offerings of the day held at the Marshfield Fairgrounds in Marshfield, Massachusetts. And the line up of bands and singers accounted for much of the draw. Johnny Costello from WROL 95.5 AM radio was among the announcers introducing the bands, like Noel Henry’s Irish Show Band. Aside from Irish ballads, this group also played a hopping take on “Rock Me Mama Like A Wagon Wheel” before involving the youngsters in the audience with “The Unicorn” and “The Chicken Dance.”
20th North River Blues Festival at Marshfield Fair offered great time, great music
Day two of the 2oth anniversary of the North River Blues Festival at Marshfield Fair was a huge success. Attendance was fairly brisk in the beginning and it continued to pick up as the day went on. Several blues fans were present by the time the national acts performed. Hosted by Peter Black, blues DJ at WATD’s Wide World Of Blues, every act was smoothly introduced. Black’s booming voice could be appreciated for its clarity during many of his announcements, especially as he kept asking the bands to play one more song, which went over well the North River Blues audience.
Adam Ezra Group and their friends brought good vibe to Ramble 6
Paying it forward seems to be the theme of the millennial generation. The Sixth Annual Ramble came to Salisbury Beach last Saturday afternoon and evening and, hosted by the Adam Ezra, raised money to go towards building a handicap accessible home for a veteran. Aside from the good cause, great feeling vibe, it was also a day of an amazing variety of music coming from the bands that played the 12 hour long event.
Green Harbor Roots Festival at Marshfield Fair offered musical experience, fun
The 19th annual Green Harbor Roots Festival showcased some of the best and most rockin’ roots music around. Cloudy and overcast but never rainy, the event took place in cool, comfortable weather, and the turnout over the course of the eight hour event topped three hundred. And that’s not bad for a roots festival that some may have thought was going to get rained out.
