THE KNICKERBOCKER MUSIC CENTER

35 Railroad Avenue, Westerly, RI 02891 (Misquamicut) | (401) 315-5070

Open Today: Open

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Venue Description

The Knickerbocker Café, a storied music club in Westerly, Rhode Island, was built in 1933, shortly after the end of Prohibition. The Café itself is named after a train that passed through Westerly station at the time of the Café’s founding.

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.

Today

Wednesday
Special Event on this day 1
21

Thursday
22

Friday
Special Event on this day 1
23

Saturday
Special Event on this day 1
24

Sunday
25

Monday
26

Tuesday

Live Music (7:30pm – 10pm)

SPECIAL EVENTS: The Cartells

NIGHTLIFE: Let's Dance Wednesdays. Live Bands from 7:30-10pm. Offering Free Dance Lessons starting at 7p. Doors open at 6:30pm.

Age
21+

Cover
10

Music
Live Bands

Atmosphere
Busy

Live Music (8pm)

DINING: Brand new food menu for Tap Room and adjacent Knickerbocker Music Center.

NIGHTLIFE: The Tap Room at The Knickerbocker is an intimate listening room with a retro speakeasy atmosphere that hosts acoustic sets. The Tap Room features a house sound system playing exclusively vinyl records on non-performance nights.

DRINK DEALS: The Tap Room offers specialty cocktails, eclectic cordials, local craft beer, and more!

Age
21+

Cover
No Cover

Music
Acoustic

Atmosphere
Busy

Live Music

SPECIAL EVENTS: Johnny & the East Coast Rockers

DINING: The Best Fish and Chips.

NIGHTLIFE: Live Music. National to local acts. Visit www.knickmusic.com for more info.

Hours
1am

Age
21+

Music
Live Bands

Atmosphere
Busy

Live Music

SPECIAL EVENTS: Spirit Family Reunion with Ian O'Neil

NIGHTLIFE: Live Music. National to local acts. Visit www.knickmusic.com for more info.

DRINK DEALS: Drink Specials Available.

Hours
1am

Age
21+

Music
Live Bands

Atmosphere
Busy

Live Music (8pm)

DRINK DEALS: The Tap Room offers specialty cocktails, eclectic cordials, local craft beer, and more!

Age
21+

Cover
No Cover

Music
Acoustic

Atmosphere
Busy

Live Music (8pm)

DINING: Brand new food menu for Tap Room and adjacent Knickerbocker Music Center.

DRINK DEALS: The Tap Room offers specialty cocktails, eclectic cordials, local craft beer, and more!

Age
21+

Cover
No Cover

Music
Acoustic

Closed Today

Special Events

22 February
Johnny & the East Coast Rockers -
Swingin' Rhythm and Blues Where people are swinging in Rhode Island and Connecticut, Johnny and the East Coast Rockers are playing. A premiere Rhythm and Blues dance band in the Northeast for over 28 years, Johnny MacLeod and his band perform original tunes and favorite covers from the 40's, 50's, and 60's in an eclectic mix, that combines elements of traditional blues, swing, jazz, R&B, and roots rock. Show: 8p | Doors: 7p Tickets: $10 ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
23 February
Spirit Family Reunion with Ian O'Neil -
Westerly Sound presents Spirit Family Reunion with Ian O'Neil (from Deer Tick) Spirit Family Reunion began singing together on the street corners of New York City in 2009. Since that time they have travelled the highways of America delivering raw, high energy, honest music. They have shared the stage with musical heroes such as Pete Seeger and Levon Helm, and have given notable performances at festivals including Stage Coach, Austin City Limits, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, and the legendary Newport Folk Festival three times. The band has self-produced and self-released two full-length studio albums - “No Separation” (2012) and “Hands Together” (2015) - along with multiple songbooks and other collections of recordings. They are currently working on a new record. Ian O'Neil Ian O’Neil is a Providence, RI based musician best known for his role in Deer Tick. Ians debut solo album will be released in 2019. https://youtu.be/Ut14QJZk1xs "When you play in a band with a frontman as colorful as the always outspoken, John McCauley, it is easy to get overshadowed. But Deer Tick guitarist, co-singer and songwriter Ian O’Neil has slowly emerged from McCauley’s shadow. During the past few years, the band has naturally grown from a McCauley solo project into a true band with multiple voices and personalities. Deer Tick’s new studio album Divine Providence features two O’Neil-sung tracks, “Walking Out That Door” and “Now It’s Your Turn,” and contributions from several of the band’s other members. Since relocating to New York, O’Neil has also played sporadic shows under his own name and will perform at Brooklyn, NY’s Glasslands this Wednesday, December 7. In addition to Deer Tick material, O’Neil will deliver material from his forthcoming solo project and other scattered songs that may work their way into his future repertoires. Shortly before the show, O’Neil discussed Deer Tick’s dynamics, his previous band Titus Andronicus and how we got to be so rock and roll." -Mike Greenhaus, Jambands.com Show: 9p | Doors: 8p Tickets: $17 advance / $20 door ($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.)
27 February
Roger Ceresi’s Trio -
Let's Dance Wednesdays! Paying tribute to the great music legends of the 50s & 60s Doors open at 6:30pm. Free dance lessons starting at 7p. Music from 7:30-10p Tickets: $10 ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
01 March
Kabaka Pyramid -
Westerly Sound Presents Kabaka Pyramid Jamaica’s newest root-reggae sensation Kabaka Pyramid is a conscious revolutionary lyricist with a unique musical style; blending the power, energy and melody of Reggae with the lyricism of Hip hop. Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica this Bebble Rock Music artist uses his liquid and hypnotizing delivery to spread positive messages of spiritual evolution that forces you to listen. The name "Kabaka" is Ugandan for "King" and the long lasting survival of the Pyramids of ancient Africa represent his desire for longevity in the music and deep connection to Kemetic roots; leaving messages for generations to come. This Award winning artist has developed a solid global fan-base that connects deeply with the messages in his music, touring extensively over the past 5 years to the largest of Reggae stages around the world. Aided by his excellent “Bebble Rockers” band; he has brought his message and power to tens of thousands of people in North America, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean. Hitting stages such as “Reggae on the River” (US), Rebel Salute (JA), Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (US), “Rototom Sunsplash” (Spain), Musa (Portugal), SummerJam (Germany), Reggae Sumfest (JA), Reggae Sundance (NE), Reggae Sun Ska Festival (FRA), South by South West (US), BoomTown (UK) as well as headlining multiple 20+ multi-city club tours; Kabaka is well known for delivering an electrifying and entertaining live performance. He has just recently concluded the 30 show, United States “Stony Hill” tour with Damian Jr. Gong Marley to rave reviews. Following the global success of his impactful hit single "Well Done" in 2015; Kabaka released his "Accurate" mixtape presented by music superpower Major Lazer and Walshy Fire to tremendous reception with the mixtape proving to be an instant classic amongst reggae/hiphop fans. In 2017 he topped the Global Reggae Charts with the anthem “Can’t Breathe” the first single off his soon to be released debut full length album “Contraband”. The project is being executive produced by Damian “Jr Gong” Marley and is a joint release with Bebble Rock Music and Ghetto Youths International. In fact the Pyramid has released a powerful catalogue over the years including the critically acclaimed "Rebel Music EP" and the Billboard top 10 charting "Lead the Way EP"; singles such as “Never Gonna Be A Slave”, “No Capitalist”, “Mi Alright” with Chronixx, and “Free From Chains” as well as music videos for the popular “Warrior” featuring Protoje, “World Wide Love, “Liberal Opposer” and “High and Windy” with Sara Lugo; he has achieved regular rotation on local and international airwaves. Kabaka Pyramid is touted by many as a leader in the new wave of powerful reggae artists coming out of Jamaica. Kabaka has achieved recognition both locally and overseas, placing #1 on the BILLBOARD Next Big Sound Charts and also featured by the popular music conglomerates, TheFader, MTV Iggy, Okayplayer, Reggaeville amongst many others in the media landscape. In 2013 he was awarded breakthrough artist of the year by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association. He is also a three (3) time nominee for Song of the year 2013, 2014 and 2015 for the tracks “No Capitalist”, "Mi Alright" and "Well Done" respectively. The lyricist has in addition won the award for best reggae recording by Canada’s highly respected Juno Awards with Exco Levi. With a mission to steer future generations towards harmony and unity Kabaka Pyramid is primed and focused on bringing a righteous and conscious way of thinking to the masses through Reggae Music. Show: 9p | Doors: 8p Tickets: $22 advance | $25 door ($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.)
02 March
Hiss Golden Messenger (solo) -
Westerly Sound presents Hiss Golden Messenger (solo) with special guest Elvis Perkins and opener Erin Rae From Newport Folk Festival to Pitchfork Music Festival, and dozens of other great music festivals in-between, Hiss Golden Messenger has brought his songs of hope and reality to the people in the form of true American songcraft. On March 2nd, Westerly Sound presents a very special solo acoustic performance with M C Taylor, a showcase of his songwriting in the most stripped-down form. An intimate engagement from one of the best modern songwriters around. Please buy your tickets in advance. Up and coming Nashville crooner Erin Rae opens the show. About Hiss Golden Messenger: Hallelujah Anyhow is the latest studio album from Hiss Golden Messenger, out September 22 worldwide on Merge Records. Its ten new songs, penned by HGM principal M.C. Taylor, were recorded with Brad Cook, Phil Cook, Chris Boerner, Josh Kaufman, Darren Jessee, Michael Lewis, and Scott Hirsch. Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, Tift Merritt, Skylar Gudasz, Tamisha Waden, Mac McCaughan, and John Paul White provided vocal harmonies. Show: 8p | Doors: 7p | All Ages Tickets: $20 advance | $25 door ($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.)
06 March
Dan Lord & the Big Shots -
LET'S DANCE WEDNESDAYS! Blues/Rock Offering Free Dance Lessons starting at 7p. Music: 7:30-10p | Doors: 6:30p Tickets: $10 ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
08 March
Troublemakers + Mystic Dead -
Troublemakers + Mystic Dead About The Troublemakers: The lineup includes the areas most in-demand and seasoned veteran players, coming from groups such as 100 Watt Suns, John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band, The Hoolios, Whitesmoke, Soul Searchers, Brother Big Eye, Green Tea, Water St. Quartet, Crows Toes, and The Collective. Ronnie Lewis plays the drums and handles lead vocals. Sitting next to him is Don “DC” Culp who plays the drums as well. Together they create a devastating pocket. The always busy - and in high demand - Dan Sherer holds down the keyboard/piano duties. Bill Light handles most of the lead guitar work and backing vocals. The band is rounded out by the younger but already seasoned Josh White (rhythm/lead guitar) and Marty Moroney on bass. About Mystic Dead Mystic Dead is: Toby Kniffin - guitar and vocals Ian Kelly - guitar and vocals Scott Parry - keys Marty Moroney - bass Ronnie Lewis - drums and vocals Show: 9p | Doors: 8p Tickets: $10 ($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.)
09 March
Stephane Wrembel -
Westerly Sound and The Knick Present A night with Stephane Wrembel Featuring Thor Jensen "Perhaps the most creative improviser in Gypsy jazz today, Mr. Wrembel plays the guitar with a rich and colorful lyricism." - The New York Times Show: 8p | Doors: 7p Tickets: $20 advance / $25 door ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.) Visit Website: https://www.stephanewrembel.com Social Medias: - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephaneWrembel - Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephaneWrembel - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swrembel New York, NY – Award-winning guitarist STEPHANE WREMBEL, specialized in the Django Reinhardt style, released The Django Experiment III on his own Water Is Life Records on January 23, 2018, which marks the 108th anniversary of the birth of Reinhardt, who is widely considered one of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century. On The Django Experiment III, Wrembel is once again accompanied by long-time collaborators Thor Jensen (guitar), Ari Folman Cohen (bass), Nick Anderson (drums) and special guest Nick Driscoll on saxophone and clarinet. In addition to 3 songs composed by Django Reinhardt, the 9 songs include compositions by Joseph Reinardt, Titi Winterstein, Georges Ulmer, Tony Murena and 2 traditional songs. The Django Experiment III was recorded, and mastered by Eric Ritter at The Windmill Recording Studio in New York City. Stephane Wrembel is best known for “Bistro Fada”, the theme song from the 2011 Woody Allen Oscar winning film, Midnight In Paris and "Big Brother", the theme song from another successful Woody Allen's film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Wrembel is most known for his Grammy Award winning composition “Bistro Fada,” the theme song from the 2011 Woody Allen Oscar Award-winning movie, Midnight In Paris (2012 Grammy Award winner for best soundtrack). Subsequently, Wrembel was hand-selected by award winning composer/producer Hans Zimmer to perform at the 2012 Academy Awards® as part of his “All Star Band.” Wrembel has contributed music to two other Allen films, commercials, and TV and has both a Clio Award and Grammy Award under his belt. In March of 2017, Wrembel released two new recordings, The Django Experiment I and The Django Experiment II, in conjunction with the Wrembel-produced Django A Gogo, which was held at Carnegie Hall on March 3, 2017! Other performers included Al Di Meola, Larry Keel and Stochelo Rosenberg. Both recordings primarily feature Wrembel’s interpretation of the songs of Reinhardt as well as original compositions by Wrembel and a few other writers in the same vein of music. The two CDs earned rave reviews in Jazz Times, Acoustic Guitar, New York City Jazz Record, Jazz Weekly and more!
15 March
Eight to the Bar -
Swing, Boogie Woogie, Rhythm & Blues, Soul and Motown. About Eight to the Bar: Drawing its musical influences from American roots music - swing, boogie woogie, rhythm & blues, soul, Motown, - Eight to the Bar is known for its outstanding instrumentalists and sophisticated musical and vocal arrangements, highlighted by female vocals. With the support of independently-produced albums and videos, Eight to the Bar has cultivated a large, enthusiastic following that has put them in clubs from Disneyland to Disney World as well as Europe and the Caribbean. Their rigorous performing schedule (approximately 200 dates per year), has included opening spots for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Manhattan Transfer, Robert Cray, Neil Young, Roy Orbison, and Ray Charles. Show: 8p | Doors: 7p Tickets: $12 ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
16 March
Dwight & Nicole w/ The CarLeans -
About Dwight & Nicole: Dwight & Nicole is a three piece original Soul-rock band fronted by Dwight Ritcher & Nicole Nelson. Ritcher and Nelson met in Boston when they were just out of school and cutting their teeth on the local club scene. They discovered a shared love of classic blues greats like Albert King and Lighting Hopkins, covering classics by their vocal heroes Mavis Staples, Jimmy Witherspoon and Etta Jamesall the while obsessing over writing and playing their own original music. Dwight & Nicole began performing live first as a duo. They then self-released two award winning albums through crowd funding, and developed a strong regional following. They both possess the kind of natural voices that stop you dead in your tracks. Ritcher also happens to play a Gibson Flying V guitar. He picked one up as a teenager in West Long Branch NJ, and he’s never played anything else. Nelson, a gifted singer & classical violinist from NYC has described the bass as her first real love. She picked it up again in 2016 and has not looked back. The recent addition of powerhouse drummer Ezra Oklan to the band has solidified their sound, and they took this combination into the studio in 2017. Dwight & Nicole’s EP “Electric Lights” was recorded live to analog tape with multiGrammy Award Nominated producer Joel Hamilton (Aaron Neville, The Meters, The Black Keys, Yoko Ono) at Studio G in Brooklyn, NY. Hamilton captures their sound and energy on tape. They have released two singles “Wait” & “HiLo” ahead of the EP, which have begun to introduce their music to a new wave of fans. The album which is distributed through The Orchard / Sony Music has already grabbed the attention of some legendary artists including Mavis Staples & Melissa Etheridge, both whom they have recently shared the stage with. They just completed their first US headlining tour up and down the east coast, with stops in VT, NC, TN, GA, LA, AL, TX and FL. Tour highlights include multiple sold out shows, and being surprised backstage by Melissa Etheridge herself who then joined the band onstage for a soul stirring rendition of their song “Wait”. “Give “Wait” a spin and, for at least three minutes and fifty seconds, all will be right with the world.” — Dan Bolles, Seven Days “Take R&B, soul, blues and jazz, mix in razor-sharp rock guitar... heat to boiling, and watch your face melt. That’s Dwight & Nicole.” — Relix Magazine “Dwight & Nicole are a tour-de-force that demand much wider success. Poignant, hard driving... and heavenly.” — Steve Morse, Boston Globe About The CarLeans: The CarLeans are a musical collaboration between Connecticut based musicians Jim Carpenter (guitar, vocals), Sarah MacLean (guitar, vocals) and Corina Malbaurn (bass, vocals). The blending of their diverse musical backgrounds creates a captivating musical experience. Steeped in passion for story telling and navigating the human experience, their original songs are raw and powerful - paired with a delivery and live performance that's honest and marked by well-placed musicianship and vocal presence. There's a versatile sound that comes from the three piece rooted in Americana/folk music, but extends through Country/Pop/Blues/Cajun. Show: 8p | Doors: 7p Tickets: $12 advance | $15 door ($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.)
20 March
The Cartells -
Let's Dance Wednesdays! Jazz/Swing/Motown/R&B/Rock n Roll. Doors open at 6:30pm. Free dance lessons starting at 7p. Music from 7:30-10p Tickets: $10 ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
22 March
Sugar -
Disco/Funk/Hip-Hop/R&B About Sugar: Performing together as a band for over 15 years, we've really seen and done it all. We've shared the stage with the likes of Bo Diddley, Rick Derringer, Tower of Power, The Go Go's, Kansas, Toto, Dick Dale, Eddie Money, Trick Pony, Men At Work, J. Geils, John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, and Peter Frampton, to name a few. To sum it up in one word... EXPERIENCE. This experience comes complete with full back-line, lighting, and a pro sound company for all events as well as the availability to travel to any destination in the world. Whether you need top 40 high-energy hits from the first song of the night or a more relaxing atmosphere as we slowly ease your guests into a night filled with excitement and dancing, we've got it covered. The Sugar music catalog boasts an enormous repertoire of material that spans a multitude of genres, styles and generations, past and present, old and new. We are ready to satisfy the broad musical tastes of you and your guests. Sugar will deliver with our unique blend of musical variety, vitality and class. We guarantee your event to be remembered by all who attend! Sugar consists of: Marcy Kelly - Vocals, Natalia Mortrude - Vocals, Joe Michael - Guitar, Israel Malek - Keyboards/Vocals, Andrew Chaney - Bass/Vocals, Ric Haddad - Drums, Matthew Dean - Percussion, & Klyph Johnson - Saxophone/Keyboards. Show: 9p | Doors: 8p Tickets: $10 ($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.)
23 March
Thor Jensen -
Westerly Sound Presents Thor Jensen Thor Jensen is a New York based guitarist with a unique sound that seamlessly integrates his masterful technique with the styles that influence him, allowing him to blend styles from Gypsy Jazz to Rock and Roll, Blues, and Country. A multi-faceted and versatile player, Jensen is artfully adept as an improvisor and studio performer, and as an ensemble player, bandleader and soloist. In August 2015, Jensen was invited to join modern guitar master, Stephane Wrembel’s band as the second guitarist. As a member of the SWB, he has performed around the world, from the US Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, to the Django A Gogo festival at Carnegie Hall. Prior to joining SWB, Thor was lead guitarist for Quiet Life, a traveling rock band described by The Daily Beast’s James Joiner as “the audio equivalent of a warm, hazy, sunlight-and-nostalgia-drenched photo of the best road trip you’ve ever had.” Thor is currently working on a new record, original songs inspired by American roots music and the electric guitar. Due out this fall, featuring Ari Folman-Cohen and Nick Anderson. Show: 9p | Doors: 8p Tickets: $14 advance | $17 door ($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.)
29 March
Swing into Spring with Roomful of Blues -
The WARM Center is pleased to announce that Rhode Islands own ROOMFUL OF BLUES will be the headliner for our SWING INTO SPRING event Time: 6:30-10p Tickets: $50
30 March
Freestyle VS 90's feat. George Lamond -
Freestyle VS. 90's Featuring George Lamond by DJ Jay R One Saturday March 30, 2019 it's the 3rd edition of the Freestyle VS. 90's party and this years event will feature a live performance by none other than George Lamond!! George will take the stage and perform all of his hits including Bad of The Heart, Look Into My Eyes, Without You, and more!! DJ Jay R One will get the night started off right as he plays the best of Freestyle music AND the best of 90's dance/pop/R&B music! The event takes place at The Knickerbocker Music Center located at 35 Railroad Ave in Westerly RI. Doors open at 9:00pm and the party goes until 12:30am. The tickets are $25.00 in advance/$30.00 at the door and can be purchased online at georgelamondattheknick.eventbrite.com. Show: 9:30p | Doors: 9p Tickets: $25 advance / $30 door
12 April
Jeff Pitchell & James Montgomery -
Jeff Pitchell with special guest James Montgomery and Texas Flood High energy Rhythm & Blues, Rock, Soul, and Funk. Jeff Pitchell has been blistering the paint off the walls of most clubs in the New England area for some years now and he is one of the hottest guitar slingers on the circuit, drawing comparisons to Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughn. Pitchell is an internationally acclaimed dynamic singer, songwriter, guitarist and actor, winning "best guitarist" in the State of CT when he was 15 years old. He has been performing recently with Charles Neville, Grammy Award winner, sold out 35 shows in a row with guitarist and Rock Hall of Fame nominee J. Geils, performed with Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead, played for the World Champion Boston Red Sox on national television and radio, had a #7 CD stay on the national Billboard charts for 12 weeks performed on the Don Imus show on national television and radio as well! Jeff also has guitar dueled with Kenny Wayne Shepard and Dickie Betts of the Allman Brothers! Hartford Magazine readers honored Jeff as Best Musician/Band in Connecticut! Special guest James Montgomery has finished his new CD and there's talk that the long awaited CD "From Detroit To The Delta may be nominated for a Grammy. The CD has many guest musicians including members of Aerosmith, Johnny Winter, James Cotton, DMC from the band Run DMC and others. The CD will be officially released this year. James Montgomery is currently going through one of his best periods ever. In the past two years Steven Tyler, Huey Lewis, Jim Belushi, Honey Boy Edwards, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford from Aerosmith, Jay Geils, Billy Squier, James Cotton, the Uptown Horns, Kim Wilson, Barry Goodreau formerly of Boston, Johnny A, Grace Kelly, Duke Robillard, and Matt Kelly from the Dropkick Murphys are just a few of the artists who have performed on stage with the James Montgomery. Also in the past two years the band has been invited by Morgan Freeman to be his guests in Clarksdale at Ground Zero. James was featured in a movie with Morgan Freeman and Willie Nelson called "Delta Rising". It was these trips to Mississippi that inspired the new CD. Together, James and Jeff get their dueling-axes on and backed by Jeff's band, Texas Flood, tear up a high energy mix of Rhythm and Blues, Rock, Soul, Pop, funky Texas Blues and even a little Country. This one is a barn-burner! Show: 8p | Doors: 7p Tickets: $15 advance / $20 door ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
13 April
Ballroom Thieves -
Westerly Sound Presents Ballroom Thieves with special guests “The Thieves find new ways to blend the old-school pop and country sensibilities of Etta James and Willie Nelson with gang harmonies and rumbling folk for a sound that’s bigger and sturdier than ever before.” - Consequence of Sound Show: 8p | Doors: 7p Tickets: $17 advance | $22 door ($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.)
14 April
Jumping for Jonnycake -
An evening of fun for all ages at The Knickerbocker Music Center, benefiting the Jonnycake Center of Westerly, with performances by: - Ed Peabody And The Big Blue Thang Music Page - The Sidewinders - Sugar Ray and the Bluetones featuring special guest Duke Robillard - The Al Copley Band Cash bar and food available. The mission of the Jonnycake Center of Westerly is to provide a continuum of services in cooperation with other agencies in our service area to assist people through crisis situations & work with each individual to find a path out of dependency toward self-sufficiency. Show: 2p | Doors: 1p | All Ages Donation: $20 ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.) Visit Website: http://jonnycake.org
19 April
Jonah Smith and Update -
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 Jonah Smith's Full Bio: The new acoustic recording by Jonah Smith, “Stay Close” began in November 2016 shortly after a reunion with Andy Stack that took place in Des Moines, Iowa at The Flying Mango. The concerts, which took place over two nights in late October, were centered around the performance of a new song called “Ocala” -- a song written for Mike Wedeking, a friend and the owner of The Flying Mango. The shows were emotional and reminded Smith and Stack of their special musical bond – a relationship that stretches back over a decade and involves hundreds of concerts and several records. The two, now living on opposite coasts, had been pursuing their own artistic endeavors: Smith became a contestant (and eventually a semi-finalist) on America’s Got Talent and then made a record that was released this past May while Stack opened Buffalo Stack recording studio in Beacon, NY in an old schoolroom to focus on producing music. This old schoolroom became the setting for “Stay Close” – a reference to their finely crafted harmonies – evident throughout these new recording. In order to capture the most honest performances, they decided to record the album on a four-track analog tape machine – an Ampex 440 built in the mid 70’s. They sat facing each other and recorded a set of songs that encompass love, social commentary, philosophy and stories so vivid that you feel like you were there. Overdubs are sparse and are provided by Smith or Stack with the exception of vocal contributions by Andy’s sister, Melissa Ahern, who brings a lovely feminine quality to songs like, “Toast & Clementines” and “Wimberley”. The end result is a record of a time and place – two musicians in a room working to serve the music, telling stories through songs and documenting a musical relationship with deep roots. About Upstate: For Upstate, the last few years have been a time of profound exploration and self-discovery. As the band knocked off milestone after milestone on the road, their sound, their lineup, and even their name all underwent dramatic metamorphoses. Challenging and thrilling all at once, those changes have finally culminated in the sextet’s dazzling new album, a collection that showcases both their remarkable growth and their adventurous blend of folk, R&B, jazz, gospel, and rock and roll. Recorded primarily over six days at the Clubhouse studio in Rhinebeck, NY, ‘Healing’ is the band’s first release with new member Allison Olender, their first with four contributing songwriters, and their first since shortening their name from Upstate Rubdown. It’s also their first project to be produced by Wood Brothers percussionist Jano Rix, who helped the group embrace their transformation and lean in to their unique lineup without sacrificing any of the gorgeous harmonies, eclectic arrangements, and unforgettable performances that have defined the band since their earliest days. Upstate first emerged from New York’s Hudson Valley in 2015 with their critically acclaimed debut, ‘A Remedy.’ The Poughkeepsie Journal raved that the group “need[s] nothing more than their voices to channel rhythm and stoke your emotions,” while Chronogram hailed their “infectiously sunny organic stew,” and The Alt called them “toe-tapping, contagious, and fun.” The album earned the band festival performances from Mountain Jam to FreshGrass, as well as a slew of national headline dates and support slots with everyone from The Felice Brothers and Phox to Marco Benevento and Cory Henry. Show: 8p | Doors: 7p Tickets: $15 advance / $20 door ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)
27 April
Ryan Montbleau Band -
Ryan Montbleau Band with: The Mike Dillon Band About Ryan Montbleau: Ryan Montbleau Band embarks on a string of northeast shows in April 2019, visiting New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. In 2005, Ryan Montbleau and his band headed into Applehead Recording in Saugerties, New York, to cut their debut album. With nothing more than ambition and a relentless work ethic to their names, they bootstrapped the whole thing, maxing out credit cards to fund it themselves and launch their careers from the ground up. Twelve years, eleven records, thousands of shows, and 60 million Spotify streams later, Montbleau returned to the studio for a special one-night-only concert that would become the latest entry in his venerable catalog: ‘Woodstock Sessions.’ “There was something special about performing there again after going into that same studio as a young buck trying to figure out how to make my first records,” reflects Montbleau. “Coming back, I was a decade more confident, a decade stronger in my craft. It felt like coming full circle.” For his performance that night, Montbleau was backed not by his usual touring band, but by the acclaimed Boston duo Tall Heights (cellist Paul Wright and guitarist Tim Harrington). The collaboration yielded fresh perspective on Montbleau’s catalog, fleshing out his stripped-down acoustic performances with gorgeous vocal blends and elegant instrumental arrangements. Soulful and spontaneous, the set showcased the magic that can happen when three consummate musicians surrender themselves to the songs, when a trio of gifted artists follow their instincts to craft a whole far greater than the sum of its parts. “Tall Heights’ sound just naturally wraps around mine in a way that’s really unique,” says Montbleau. “Their harmonies and tones are so dialed in with each other, and their voices gel around mine perfectly. When we get together, something special tends to happen.” Recorded in front of an intimate audience, the resulting collection combines the pristine audio quality of a studio record with the contagious energy of a live album, an ideal fit for Montbleau’s intimate, honest lyrics and spirited, dynamic delivery. The unusual setting pushed him to step outside his comfort zone and take bold artistic risks, assembling a setlist that was equal parts reimagined retrospective and trial-by-fire as he mixed stripped-down versions of songs from throughout his career with brand new tracks recorded for the first time that night. “Less is more” was the mantra, and while Montbleau may be best known for his barn-burning full-band shows, he’s no stranger to the raw acoustic setting. “I’ve been touring solo about half the year lately, and my last release was a solo record where I really stripped the songs down to their bare bones,” says Montbleau. “I felt like those were some of the best songs I’ve written in my entire life, and this record is a perfect continuation of that. The music’s fleshed out a little bit more, but at its essence, it’s still me just pouring my heart out.” Montbleau’s been pouring his heart out in song since the early 2000’s, when he first began performing around his native Massachusetts. He’d go on to collaborate with Martin Sexton, Trombone Shorty, and Galactic among others, and share bills and stages with artists as diverse as Tedeschi Trucks Band, Ani DiFranco, The Wood Brothers, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Mavis Staples, but it was Montbleau’s ecstatic headline shows—often more than 200 of them a year—that solidified his reputation as a live powerhouse and an inexorable road warrior. NPR’s Mountain Stage compared his “eloquent, soulful songwriting” to Bill Withers and James Taylor, while Relix hailed his “poetic Americana,” and The Boston Herald raved that “he’s made a career of confident, danceable positivity.” Montbleau’s never been one to rest on his laurels, though, and ‘Woodstock Sessions’ opens with a brand new song called “Looking Glass,” a gentle, pensive track that proves his lyrical prowess and melodic gifts are sharper now than ever before. “Busy people in the burning sand / Take a look up from your looking glass when you can,” he sings, his raspy voice ensconced in velvet harmony over top of intricate fingerpicking. “That song was written just in time for the session and it was buzzing to get out,” explains Montbleau. “It's about the modern day-to-day, the ways we connect and the isolation we experience from staring at our screens all day and all night.” The desire for connection, for a true human bond, is a recurring theme in Montbleau’s writing. The bittersweet “Our Own Place” searches for a home that’s perpetually just out of reach, while the brooding “Ships In The Night” ruminates on our polarized political climate, and the heartfelt “The Country and The Town” (a song commissioned by PBS in Montbleau’s newly-adopted home of Vermont) celebrates the power of community. Montbleau’s live shows are nothing if not communal affairs, and the confessional “Help Me” reaches out a helping hand out for anyone struggling through hard times. “There’s still this shame tied up in mental illness or mental struggles,” says Montbleau. “So many people experience dark, even suicidal thoughts, and we need to talk about that more, collectively as a society and individually as friends and families. I wrote this song when I was going through those feelings myself, and I share it in the hopes that it can help other folks dealing with the same thing.” Montbleau’s songs have a way of weaving themselves into the fabric of his listeners’ lives that way, offering up hope and light in moments of darkness and doubt. The tender “Carry” pledges to always be there to pick up a lover’s slack, while the striving “Chariot (I Know)” insists upon love and faith in the face of uncertainty, and the lilting “All Or Nothing” (which was originally recorded and released as a single with Tall Heights) promises better days to come. Selecting which ten tracks to include on the album from the nearly three-and-a-half-hour concert wasn’t easy—there’s no way to include every fan favorite—but Montbleau ultimately let the spirit of the songs guide him. “I’m not trying to put out my greatest hits,” he concludes. “I’m just trying to create the best and most timely art I can.” A lot may have changed since Ryan Montbleau first set foot in Applehead Recording, but some things will always stay the same. Show: 9p | Doors: 8p | All Ages Tickets: $25 advance | $30 door ($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.)
11 May
An evening with Booker T Jones -
Westerly Sound Presents An evening with Booker T Jones “This is an amazing album.” – LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON “…Tight urgency that is the foundation of the entire album, driving the funky guitar and bass lines through a brilliant reinvention of the M.G.’s soul chemistry, ramped up for the 21st century.” – MOJO “After all these years, he remains so soulful, and so good.” – NPR “A showcase for Jones’ ever-sinuous way around his Hammond B-3, which sings, purrs, moans and shouts with often near-human expressivity, under his skilled touch.” – LOS ANGELES TIMES “Transports listeners to the ’60s heyday of Stax, where [Jones] and the MGs defined soul music.” – USA TODAY “Joyous a satisfying return to Booker T.’s classic instrumental soul and funk.” – BOSTON GLOBE “The Road From Memphis shifts to funk and R&B, with Philly’s own the Roots as his backing band. It’s a perfect pairing stellar.” – PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER “The funk here is deep and solid. The punishingly unpredictable twists and turns all manage to punch your gut with a groove.” – PASTE MAGAZINE Show: 9p | Doors: 8p Tickets: $45 advance | $50 door ($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.)
29 June
Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez -
with special guest Matt York Christine Ohlman is the current and Longtime vocalist of the Saturday Night Live Band On Matt York's "Boston, Texas," The singer-songwriter uses basic building blocks – Holly's chords, Hank Williams' swagger, Steve Earle's boozy wisdom, Paul Westerberg's straight-up-drunk wisdom – to construct an album of beauty, optimism and heartbreak." – Boston Herald __ This queen of blue-eyed rock n’ soul, who grew up loving equally the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff, whether played by Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, or Pop Staples, teased her blonde hair into a beehive in honor of Ronnie Spector and never looked back, picking up a guitar and forging a career as a songwriter in the process. She’s the current, long-time vocalist with the Saturday Night Live Band (SNL40’s anniversary post-show concert also featured her star turn onstage with Jimmy Fallon, Elvis Costello and the B-52s), whose latest CD, The Deep End, was honored on five national Top Ten lists and features special guests/duet partners Ian Hunter, Dion DiMucci, and Marshall Crenshaw, plus Levon Helm, GE Smith, Andy York, Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, Catherine Russell, Big Al Anderson, and others. Ohlman topped the Alternate Root.com’s Readers’ Poll as top Americana vocalist, joining other winners Paul Thorn, The Mavericks and Rodney Crowell. Ohlman’s legendary voice and stage presence (she’s known as “The Beehive Queen” for her towering blonde hairdo) have most recently been featured on at the 2016 AMA Conference in Nashville; the PBS series “Music City Roots” with Bonnie Bramlett, Sarah Potenza and the McCrary Sisters (June, 2016); 2016 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s Tribute To David Bowie; on numerous guest vocal shots on the HBO series “Vinyl" that feature a duet with Elvis Costello; on SNL’s 40th Anniversary telecast (pulled onstage by Jimmy Fallon at the after-party concert at the Plaza Hotel, she tore the roof off with the B52s as her backup vocalists), “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” (guest shot with Black 47); the 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Concert in Cleveland (filmed by HBO); the Carnegie Hall tribute to the Rolling Stones; the 2012, 2013 and 2015 Little Kids Rock galas in NYC (taking the stage with Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, Steve Miller, Graham Nash, Bill Medley, Tom Morello and others); and the 2012-2015 WC Handy Festivals (she was the special guest of the Blind Boys Of Alabama and soul queen Candi Staton, and helmed a sold-out tribute to legendary producer Jerry Wexler; in 2015 she was the festival’s Grand Marshall and co-billed with iconic guitarist Travis Wammack), as well as on both SNL’s 25th and the aforementioned 40th Anniversary telecasts; Bob Dylan’s 30th Anniversary bash at The Garden (with George Harrison, Chrissie Hynde, and others); the 2013 Obama Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C.; The Lincoln Center “American Songbook” series with Sting, Lou Reed and Van Dyke Parks; and the Central Park Summerstage Tribute To Janis Joplin (where she fronted both Big Brother & The Holding Company and the Kozmic Blues Band). She appears on Grammy nominees A Tribute To Howlin’ Wolf (with Taj Mahal and Lucinda Williams) and Charlie Musselwhite’s One Night In America (with Marty Stuart); sings the theme song for NBC’s 30 Rock; worked on a musical with the late Cy Coleman (who compared her sense of timing to Peggy Lee’s); duets live with friends like the aforementioned Miss Spector, Mac Rebennack (two private evening of duets she calls “absolute highlights”), Americana stalwart Paul Thorn, Bonnie Bramlett (who has become a longtime friend), Muscle Shoals legends Donnie Fritts and John Paul White of the Civil Wars, and New Orleans mainstays The Subdudes (she joins The ‘Dudes, BB King, Irma Thomas, Richard Thompson and others on Get You A Healin’ to benefit the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic and has guest-hosted five editions of “Down On The Bayou” during successive Jazz & Heritage Fests with Widespread Panic’s JoJo Hermann, again to benefit The Clinic); worked often with the late blues giants Hubert Sumlin and Eddie Kirkland; collaborated on critically-acclaimed tracks with Marshall Crenshaw (Labour Of Love: The Music of Nick Lowe), Big Al Anderson (Pawn Shop Guitars), and Ian Hunter (When I’m President and Shrunken Heads); edited legendary Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham’s autobiography 2Stoned and appears also on Oldham’s historic 2013 release “Andrew Loog Oldham and Friends Sing The Rolling Stones Songbook Vol. 2”). A musicologist of note, Ohlman is a cover-story-writing contributor to Elmore Magazine, and worked with Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder & others on the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Awards. Ohlman tours relentlessly, torching clubs up and down the Eastern Seaboard in support of her recordings (Strip, The Hard Way, Radio Queen, Wicked Time, 2008 career retrospective Re-Hive, the aforementioned The Deep End, 2011 concert DVD Live Hive and 2016’s upcoming “The Grown-Up Thing” with her band Rebel Montez (Michael Colbath-bass; Cliff Goodwin-guitar; Larry Donahue-drums). “I’ve come here tonight to set your souls on fire,” she’ll tell an audience. And she will. __ The Boston Herald says of Matt York’s new album Boston, Texas that ”the singer-songwriter uses basic building blocks — Holly’s chords, Hank Williams’ swagger, Steve Earle’s boozy wisdom, Paul Westerberg’s straight-up-drunk wisdom — to construct an album of beauty, optimism and heartbreak”. Matt's new album explores a cross-section of everything from straight-up rock n roll to hints of outlaw country. His album has received radio airplay throughout the world. His album "Boston, Texas" was named Limelight Magazine's Debut Album of the Year". His most recent release, Between the Bars was listed as one of the top albums of 2017 by the Patriot Ledger, Gatehouse Media, Ryan's Smashing Life and radio stations WATD 95.9 FM's Almost Famous Radio and PIXY-103FM. Matt grew up in Foxboro, Massachusetts and began playing the clubs of Boston as a teenager. Since then, he's played on stages through New England, New York, Nashville and Toronto. His latest album "Between the Bars" was released in November, 2017. Gatehouse Media's Peter Chianca wrote of the new album "Put Boston’s Matt York in the 'should be rich and famous department' -- his country rock with a jangly edge has instantaneous appeal, combining wry lyrics about barflies, ex-lovers and fading summers with infectious melodies and a rocker’s penchant for strumming his way through heartbreak". Show: 8p | Doors: 7p Tickets: $12 ($2 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges.)