THE KNICKERBOCKER MUSIC CENTER
35 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891 (Misquamicut) | (401) 315-5070
Open Today: Open
The club thrived as one of the leading entertainment centers in southern New England, hosting regional and national bands with an emphasis on the blues. Some of the greats that played on the Knickerbocker stage included, Big Joe Turner, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, Johnny Nicholas, Leon Russell, Eric Burdon and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In 1967, Roomful of Blues was born in Westerly, when guitarist Duke Robillard and pianist Al Copley started a band that played tough, no-holds barred Chicago blues. Making the Knickerbocker Café their home club, it did not take long before they started exploring swinging, jumping blues and added a horn section. Roomful would pack the house every Sunday and still plays their great brand of blues today.
Fast forward and the Café has become the Knickerbocker Music Center, a non-profit organization formed in partnership with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School. The mission of the Knickerbocker Music Center is to preserve, cultivate and grow the “Knick’s” unique brand of blues, as well as expanding access to music of all genres, by transforming the Knick into both an exciting performance venue and an exceptional center for music education.
Jonah Smith
- shared 1 time 8:30pm
Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 8:30pm
The Knickerbocker Music Center. 35 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891
Live Music
America's Got Talent Semi-Finalist, songwriter with the voice of a soul singer
Jonah Smith is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter that is based in Los Angeles, CA. He pulls from the deep well of American blues and many of its offshoots, including soul, country, and folk. Smith is essentially a songwriter with the voice of a soul singer.
In 2014, Jonah Smith auditioned with his band on the NBC show, "America's Got Talent", where he was a semi finalist..He sang his original song Skyscraper Blues and received a standing ovation from judges Howard Stern and Howie Mandel.
He has shared the stage with other artists like Los Lobos & Little Feat. He has released several records including the eponymous debut on Relix Records, Lights On, Little Known Cure and In The Kitchen.
“You’re the real deal. You can play, you can sing… you are terrific.”
— Howard Stern
“At its best, the singer Jonah Smith’s amalgam of American Roots and soul evokes The Band (Garth Hudson’s accordion on an early record didn’t hurt).”
— New York Times
“Easygoing, soulful music, which calls to mind J.J. Cale, early Van Morrison and Ben Harper.”
— Wall St. Journal
Show: 8:30p | Doors: 7:30p
Tickets: $15 advance / $20 door ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
