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.
Vintage Rhythm and Blues Ensemble
8pm
Friday, June 22, 2018 at 8:00pm
The Knickerbocker Music Center. 35 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891
knickmusic.com/events/2018/6/22/vintage-rhythm-and-blues-ensemble
Live Music
Vintage Rhythm and Blues Ensemble (VRBE) featuring special guest Ryan Hartt. The band that has brought weekday dancing upstate, is bringing a big weekend opening Friday night dance down south to the Knickerbocker. First is the band, a unique musical group — a cool conglomeration of pros you know from the great bands that are hot to swing to! The ensemble is comprised of some of Rhode Island's most in-demand musicians, Tommy Ferraro, Steve Bigelow, Paul Bouley and Stan Kozlowski, performing traditional Blues, "Old-School" Rhythm and Blues, Swing, Soul, Rockabilly, Country Blues, and early, roots Rock’n’Roll.
This is both their own outlet and a vehicle for welcoming a very special guest each performance who puts a stamp on the evening’s repertoire and brings vocals with a passion to match these players. This first venture south of Rhode Island’s Mason-Dixon line brings VRBE to the Knick for a fabulous Friday show that will pair Rhode Island’s great players with Connecticut's blues master, Ryan Hartt, whose motto "You Gotta Live It to Give It" emblazons his latest release: Call My Name.
Make sure your this name is on your Calendar for June 22nd: VRBE featuring Ryan Hartt
Show: 8p | Doors: 7p
Tickets: $10 ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
