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.
Big Lux Album Release
8pm
Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 8:00pm
The Knickerbocker Music Center. 35 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891
Live Music
Big Lux Album Release
Major
Hosted by Brent MorganFeaturing Greg Sherrod and the Black SheepSarah Thompson
Big Lux is the alter ego of Kevin Lowther II – a hip hop musician who will change the way you look at the instrument forever. Classically trained in in his hometown of Westerly, RI, he has jazz, country and hip-hop influences that allow him to blend styles and provide fresh new takes on music of every genre. He recently moved back to RI from Miami and is ready to rep the place he grew up and first studied music.
An army veteran, he has deployed and performed all over the world, coming to his own as a busker on the streets of Korea where he served for 4 years. There he founded and led the acclaimed band Bold Coast, which won the Seoul Expat’s 2015 battle of the bands and was selected to headline the St. Patty’s Day Festival. As a soloist, he toured in Korea and was featured on Armed Forces Network television and radio as well as the Korea Times. He has dragged his violin with him on tours to Germany, Iraq and most recently, Afghanistan.
As comfortable playing on stage as he is on the floor or on top of the bar, his performances are as unforgettable as his music. Constantly in motion, his shows are raw with a physicality that sets him apart from any other string player on earth. His versatility as a vocalist, beatboxer and multi-instrumentalist keep his shows fresh and audiences on their feet. He released his first cover album "Discovery" in 2017 and is looking forward to the released of his first original EP in October.
Show: 8p | Doors: 7p
Tickets: $12 advance / $15 door
