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.
The Breakers tribute to Tom Petty
8pm
Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 8:00pm
The Knickerbocker Music Center. 35 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891
Live Music
Postponed
If you hear someone mention “Tom Petty Tribute Band”, and you think blonde wigs or dyed blonde hair and a mediocre-at-best vocal performance, then you haven’t been to a Breakers show. The Breakers are a no frills rock band who meticulously encompass the Tom Petty sound and musically establish an emotional connection with the crowd that’s palpable. When asked why they didn’t take the impersonation and prop-driven approach, founder Tom Smith says “we wanted to approach the tribute genre as a true live band, and in (lead vocalist) Chris Chartier we have what no one else has - the most genuine sounding Petty experience in the country.” The members of the Breakers all come from a background of recording and touring with original bands and perform the music of The Heartbreakers with the same passion and dedication. They have paid tireless attention to detail to each and every song which appeals to both casual and diehard Tom Petty fans alike. Since the fall of 2018 when Tom Smith, Chris Chartier, Evan Smith, Rick Hiller, Tom Booth and Steve George joined forces, they have been practicing and honing their sound. In May 2019, they posted a homemade video compilation to YouTube which in just a few months has over 7k views. Playing to an emotional and packed house, their debut performance at The Newport Blues Cafe in August was a resounding success. And with only one show under their belt their next performance would be a sell out show at the Narrows center for the arts in Fall River MA. The Breakers are currently booking venues through-out New England and the east coast. If you want to experience Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers music there's only one band that can deliver that sound authentically...The Breakers.
Show: 8p | Doors: 7p
Tickets: $15 ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges. Seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and seats are not guaranteed with ticket purchase.)
