The weather is warming up, and the musical faire is a bit limited this week (although, don’t get me wrong, there is still some worthwhile stuff going on), so why not take advantage of that and go to a MIDNIGHT RAMBLE at LEVON HELM’s this week? Or next week or the week after that? For the next 8 weeks, Levon will be home at The Barn every weekend, including a special Friday night Ramble on April 22 and Levon’s Birthday Bash on May 21, and tickets are still available for all but 2 of those nights. This is the time to gather up your pennies and buy some memories before the summer festival season starts and Levon is on the road most weekends. Visit www.levonhelm.com for more information and to buy tickets. A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
Other than that, here’s what else is going on this week.
Friday, April 8 – LUCKY PETERSON at The Bearsville Theater. Lucky was discovered at the age of 5 by the immortal Willie Dixon and had a very nice career going until personal problems caused his fall from grace. However, in the last 2 years, he’s made a comeback, and his most recent album, produced by Woodstock’s own Doug Yoel, and featuring local all-stars Gary Burke and Scott Petito, and international multi-instrumentalist par extraordinare Larry Campbell (also part of our local community), was greeted with critical and popular success, and nominated for a 2011 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album of the Year. I’ve seen some clips of Lucky’s recent shows at The Iridium in NYC, and it was anything but acoustic. In fact it was rockin’, and many of the guests from the album sat in that night. There is a Ramble the next night, and Larry’s got to be here to play with Levon, so who knows, maybe he’ll reprise his appearance from The Iridium, and folks, you do not want to miss that, which is why this is one of my 2 PICKS OF THE WEEK. Lucky’s producer, Doug Yoel will be opening the show with Doug Yoel and Friends.
Also of Friday, April 8, is my good friend JAY COLLINS AND THE KINGS COUNTY BAND at The Falcon in Marlboro. If you’re short on cash but have gas in the car, it’s only a short drive to The Falcon, where there is never an admission charge. Jay is Levon’s son-in-law, and often appears with The Levon Helm Band, but he didn’t get that job by being the boss’s son (in-law). Jay is a regular with The Gregg Allman Band and The Organiks (profiled here a few weeks ago), has toured with James Hunter, and man, can he blow the saxophone!. He’ll be leading the Kings County Band through a rockin’ set of blues, r n b, and jazz tunes, and is definitely worth the ride.
On Saturday, April 9, there’s a smorgasbord of fine musical faire, starting with my second PICK OF THE WEEK. They’re calling this outfit the CHARLES JAMES BLUES BAND, but any band that features JIMMY EPPARD, RANDY CIARLANTE, and CHARLIE KNICELY can’t be anything but great. Jimmy and Randy are my two local favorites on their respective instruments, as regular readers of my column know, and Charlie’s no slouch either. The music starts at The High Falls Café at 9PM, so be there!
Also on Saturday, April 9, is a show of historical import, if nothing else, but will also probably be pretty great in the world of the present. BERNARD PURDIE was a top level New York session drummer and played on literally thousands of hit records over a half century in the music business. His work crossed all genres and he’s even rumored to have played on some Beatles records. BERNARD “PRETTY” PURDIE and FRIENDS at The Falcon will take you to school. Old school!
Finally, on Saturday, April 9, there’s a show at The Bearsville Theater with 2 bands that I’m not really familiar with, but they look eclectic and unusual, and might be worth a listen. The bands are The Caravan of Thieves with opening act Ragbird. Caravan plays a kind of gypsy-jazz with acoustic instruments and from what I’ve been able to determine, Ragbird is kind of similar. Can’t give this one an unreserved recommendation since I don’t really know the bands, but it caught my eye and looked interesting, so I thought I’d pass it along.
Have a great week, and don’t forget about Miss Angie’s Karaoke every Thursday night at The Bearsville Theater. It’s not your father’s karaoke!
Other than that, here’s what else is going on this week.
Friday, April 8 – LUCKY PETERSON at The Bearsville Theater. Lucky was discovered at the age of 5 by the immortal Willie Dixon and had a very nice career going until personal problems caused his fall from grace. However, in the last 2 years, he’s made a comeback, and his most recent album, produced by Woodstock’s own Doug Yoel, and featuring local all-stars Gary Burke and Scott Petito, and international multi-instrumentalist par extraordinare Larry Campbell (also part of our local community), was greeted with critical and popular success, and nominated for a 2011 Blues Music Award for Acoustic Album of the Year. I’ve seen some clips of Lucky’s recent shows at The Iridium in NYC, and it was anything but acoustic. In fact it was rockin’, and many of the guests from the album sat in that night. There is a Ramble the next night, and Larry’s got to be here to play with Levon, so who knows, maybe he’ll reprise his appearance from The Iridium, and folks, you do not want to miss that, which is why this is one of my 2 PICKS OF THE WEEK. Lucky’s producer, Doug Yoel will be opening the show with Doug Yoel and Friends.
Also of Friday, April 8, is my good friend JAY COLLINS AND THE KINGS COUNTY BAND at The Falcon in Marlboro. If you’re short on cash but have gas in the car, it’s only a short drive to The Falcon, where there is never an admission charge. Jay is Levon’s son-in-law, and often appears with The Levon Helm Band, but he didn’t get that job by being the boss’s son (in-law). Jay is a regular with The Gregg Allman Band and The Organiks (profiled here a few weeks ago), has toured with James Hunter, and man, can he blow the saxophone!. He’ll be leading the Kings County Band through a rockin’ set of blues, r n b, and jazz tunes, and is definitely worth the ride.
On Saturday, April 9, there’s a smorgasbord of fine musical faire, starting with my second PICK OF THE WEEK. They’re calling this outfit the CHARLES JAMES BLUES BAND, but any band that features JIMMY EPPARD, RANDY CIARLANTE, and CHARLIE KNICELY can’t be anything but great. Jimmy and Randy are my two local favorites on their respective instruments, as regular readers of my column know, and Charlie’s no slouch either. The music starts at The High Falls Café at 9PM, so be there!
Also on Saturday, April 9, is a show of historical import, if nothing else, but will also probably be pretty great in the world of the present. BERNARD PURDIE was a top level New York session drummer and played on literally thousands of hit records over a half century in the music business. His work crossed all genres and he’s even rumored to have played on some Beatles records. BERNARD “PRETTY” PURDIE and FRIENDS at The Falcon will take you to school. Old school!
Finally, on Saturday, April 9, there’s a show at The Bearsville Theater with 2 bands that I’m not really familiar with, but they look eclectic and unusual, and might be worth a listen. The bands are The Caravan of Thieves with opening act Ragbird. Caravan plays a kind of gypsy-jazz with acoustic instruments and from what I’ve been able to determine, Ragbird is kind of similar. Can’t give this one an unreserved recommendation since I don’t really know the bands, but it caught my eye and looked interesting, so I thought I’d pass it along.
Have a great week, and don’t forget about Miss Angie’s Karaoke every Thursday night at The Bearsville Theater. It’s not your father’s karaoke!
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