Jan
18
Sat
Ash and Eric @ Rose Garden Coffeehouse
Jan 18 @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Ash & Eric, a married duo from Worcester, are known for their genuine storytelling through music. Their songs navigate the intricacies of love, capturing both its triumphs and tribulations. Their album, “Sure,” touches on love’s dynamics, offering both solace and reflection. Having been a team since 2012, their knack for transforming life’s challenges into lyrical narratives stands out. Their beautiful harmonies, acoustic guitar work, and warm stage presence have led them to perform alongside folk stalwarts like Livingston Taylor and Mark Erelli. Their latest album, “Sure,” was entirely produced by Eric, and a visual album based on “Sure,” called “A Song for Every Sadness,” was released June 2024.

More Last Dance Productions events here.

 

Feb
15
Sat
On A Winter’s Night 2025 SOLD OUT @ Regent Theatre
Feb 15 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Presenting the Reunion Tour of “On A Winter’s Night” from veteran singer-songwriters who remain among the brightest stars of the singer/songwriter movement for the past three decades. In 1994, Christine Lavin gathered them together, along with folk and Americana artists, to showcase the music of the Winter Season on the now-classic On A Winter’s Night CD, followed by several years of touring collaborations. These artists have released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades, with fond memories of their touring days together. The winter season is again celebrated by these unique and popular performers, back together by popular demand.

CLIFF EBERHARDT

One of the most original songsmiths currently on tour, Eberhardt is a highly intelligent, articulate artist whose penetrating and profound lyrics are sometimes overshadowed by his extraordinary guitar playing. Upon close listening, the Philadelphia-born singer’s gift for the English language is abundantly clear. The words that tumble from his mouth are framed by a raspy yet deeply elegant voice. Like John Hammond and Richie Havens, Eberhardt continues to carry the torch for traditional and contemporary folk music through his strong live shows. Whether he’s out on tour solo or with a small band, Eberhardt’s guitar playing, singing, and original folk songs and blues make for a compelling, thought-filled, emotional roller coaster of a concert.

JOHN GORKA

Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the leading singer/songwriter of the New Folk movement,” John Gorka is perhaps the quintessential singer-songwriter of the 90’s folk scene. Originally from New Jersey, John served an apprenticeship at Godfrey Daniels coffeehouse in Bethlehem, PA, then the Greenwich Village Fast Folk scene. Winning the prestigious New Folk award at the Kerrville Folk Festival, in 1984, he was then signed to Red House Records on which he released his landmark first of 17 recordings, I Know. Boston Globe penned Gorka “for the sophisticated intelligence and the provocative originality of his songs.” Recent accolades include 2016’s Indie Acoustic Project’s Best Singer/Songwriter CD of the Year for Before Beginning (Red House Records). 2018 brought his latest release, and 14th of his career, True In Time (Compass Records). True In Time (Compass Records).

LUCY KAPLANSKY

“A truly gifted performer…full of enchanting songs” (New York Times). Blending country, folk and pop styles, Lucy has the unique ability to make every song sound fresh, whether singing her own sweet originals, covering country classics by June Carter Cash and Gram Parsons, or singing pop favorites by Lennon/McCartney and Nick Lowe. Lucy’s iconic voice has been featured in film and on television, including commercials like Chevrolet’s iconic “Heartbeat of America” jingle. A Billboard-charting singer and one of the top-selling artists on Red House Records, she has topped the folk and Americana radio charts and has been featured on shows throughout the world from NPR’s Weekend and Morning Editions to BBC Radio to CBS Sunday Morning. One of the most in-demand harmony singers, Lucy has sung on countless records, performing with Suzanne Vega, Bryan Ferry, Nanci Griffith, and Shawn Colvin.

PATTY LARKIN

She redefines the boundaries of folk-urban pop music with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising lyrics and vocals. Acoustic Guitar Magazine hails her, “soundscape experiments” while Rolling Stone praises her, “evocative and sonic shading.” She has been described as, “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly), and a “drop-dead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter). Recently an Artist-in-Residence at Berklee College of Music – and now on the faculty at Fine Arts Work Center – Larkin reflects, “I have been energized by the poets, writers, and artists I have met while teaching, and find myself on a journey to break down some of the predictable pathways that songs can travel.” Bird in a Cage, her 14th CD now available, puts poems from ten notable poets to song, including US Poet Laureates William Carlos Williams, Stanley Kunitz, Kay Ryan, Robert Pinsky, and Billy Collins, for a new and haunting collection that pulses with the magic of lyricism. Poems are made to be shared aloud, and with Bird, Patty takes up that tradition and sets it aglow.

You’ll undoubtedly be warm On This Winter’s Night.

More Last Dance Productions events here.

May
18
Sun
Peter Asher: A Musical Memoir of the 60s & Beyond @ The Regent Theatre
May 18 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Peter Asher: A Musical Memoir of the 60s & Beyond @ The Regent Theatre

Peter Asher, we first came to know him through the global smash “World Without Love” as one half of the British Invasion duo Peter & Gordon. He returns–now a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire– in “Peter Asher: A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond” which brings a multimedia experience to the stage, hosted by the two-time Grammy winner for Producer of the Year. Peter Asher moved effortlessly from his role with Peter & Gordon to Music Executive with the Beatles’ Apple Records, then famously- (as in cover of Rolling Stone magazine level famous)- to Producer and Manager, handling the careers of James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt and a host of others. Books abound, documentaries with half-truths (and worse) are all too common, but, now, finally, Mr. Asher tells first hand his tales from the eye of the cultural hurricane in this intimate evening.

“Memoir” includes film footage and photos from Peter’s considerable personal archive, brought to life with a storyteller’s gift, transporting audiences back to the heart of 60s popular culture. Icons such as Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Marianne Faithful, Yoko Ono, Carole King, James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt are among the cast of characters in this narrative – along (of course) with the greatly missed Gordon Waller. The evening is filled with the music of Peter & Gordon, including “I Go to Pieces,” “True Love Ways,” and “Lady Godiva.” The songs given to Peter & Gordon by Paul McCartney are also front and center: “Woman,” “I Don’t Want to See You Again,” Nobody I Know,” and “World Without Love,” all of which were US Top 40 hits. Peter presents these timeless classics along with other old favourites from that golden era.

The show brings the audience through the earliest days of Peter’s journey all the way to the present day, and projects including his SiriusXM radio show on the Beatles Channel, “From Me to You” . Peter’s book based on the show, “The Beatles A to Zed” was released by MacMillan on October 29, 2019; the book is already in it’s third printing.

For more Last Dance Productions events, Click Here.

Jul
6
Sun
John Mellencamp Anthology @ Mass Arts Center
Jul 6 @ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Paper In Fire ~ John Mellencamp Anthology

Click here for Tickets.

Outside under the tent by the beautiful Norton Reservoir. Bring a chair and a picnic!

Since their formation, Paper In Fire has been igniting stages across New England with the authentic sounds and high-energy performances of John Mellencamp’s illustrious career. Named after one of his iconic hits, “Paper In Fire” pays tribute to the rock legend whose music has resonated through the decades, from the gritty, soulful anthems of the late 1970s to his powerful contemporary songs.

Fronted by six seasoned musicians who share a deep passion for Mellencamp’s music, Paper In Fire delivers performances that capture the heart and soul of his distinctive sound. Every show is a journey through Mellencamp’s extensive anthology, filled with the hits you remember and many more, expertly performed to bring the spirit of the originals to life. From “Jack & Diane” and “Pink Houses” to “Small Town” and “Hurts So Good,” their setlist is a testament to Mellencamp’s enduring legacy.

Join us and feel the heat!

Paper In Fire ~ John Mellencamp Anthology, Click here for Tickets.

For more Last Dance Productions events, click here.

Sep
20
Sat
Eric Andersen In Concert @ Rose Garden Coffeehouse
Sep 20 @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Eric Andersen, his voice, songs, guitar, and piano playing created a career that has spanned over 45 years. He has recorded 25 albums of original songs and made numerous tours of North America, Europe, and Japan. Eric Andersen’s songs have been recorded and performed by world renown artists such as Ricky Nelson, Judy Collins, Sandy Denny, Fairport Convention, The Kingston Trio, Peter Paul and Mary, Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash, The Grateful Dead, Linda Thompson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Francoise Hardy, plus many others in Europe, Australia, England, and Japan.

Eric Andersen is one of our finest singers and songwriters, in the most literal sense of that tradition…

the most elegant of singers.” David Fricke (Rolling Stone Magazine)

“A singer and songwriter of the first rank.” (The New York Times)

“An American master.” Robert Palmer (Ghosts Upon the Road liner notes)

“Eric Andersen is a great ballad singer.” (Bob Dylan – live on stage at the Oslo Spektrum)

Eric Andersen, Click here for Tickets.

For more Last Dance Productions events, click here.

Sep
23
Tue
Peter Asher: Songs and Stories @ An Unlikely Story
Sep 23 @ 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Peter Asher: Songs and Stories @ An Unlikely Story

Peter Asher, we first came to know him through the global smash “World Without Love” as one half of the British Invasion duo Peter & Gordon. He returns–now a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire– in “Peter Asher: A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond” which brings a multimedia experience to the stage, hosted by the two-time Grammy winner for Producer of the Year. Peter Asher moved effortlessly from his role with Peter & Gordon to Music Executive with the Beatles’ Apple Records, then famously- (as in cover of Rolling Stone magazine level famous)- to Producer and Manager, handling the careers of James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, and a host of others. Books abound, documentaries with half-truths (and worse) are all too common, but, now, finally, Mr. Asher tells firsthand his tales from the eye of the cultural hurricane in this intimate evening.

“Memoir” includes film footage and photos from Peter’s considerable personal archive, brought to life with a storyteller’s gift, transporting audiences back to the heart of 60s popular culture. Icons such as Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Marianne Faithful, Yoko Ono, Carole King, James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt are among the cast of characters in this narrative – along (of course) with the greatly missed Gordon Waller. The evening is filled with the music of Peter & Gordon, including “I Go to Pieces,” “True Love Ways,” and “Lady Godiva.” The songs given to Peter & Gordon by Paul McCartney are also front and center: “Woman,” “I Don’t Want to See You Again,” Nobody I Know,” and “World Without Love,” all of which were US Top 40 hits. Peter presents these timeless classics along with other old favourites from that golden era.

The show brings the audience through the earliest days of Peter’s journey all the way to the present day, and projects including his SiriusXM radio show on the Beatles Channel, “From Me to You”. Peter’s book, based on the show, “The Beatles A to Zed,” was released by MacMillan on October 29, 2019; the book is already in its third printing.

For more Last Dance Productions events, Click Here.

Oct
18
Sat
Mike Laureanno and Michelle Saylors In Concert @ Rose Garden Coffeehouse
Oct 18 @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Mike Laureanno hails from Fall River, MA an old mill-town infamous for its axe wielding resident Lizzie Borden and famous for its chow mein sandwiches and pork pies.​ A passionate performer, Mike’s songs are visceral and evocative. He is proud of his roots and many of his songs deal with his gritty blue collar hometown and the lives of his family and friends. He is a winner of the 2017 Wildflower, TX songwriting contest, the 2016 Woody Guthrie songwriting contest and a 2016 Kerrville New Folk, TX finalist.

Mike is also a skilled recording engineer, producer and veteran sideman. He produced and recorded all of his albums in his home studio and he served twelve years as the bass player for the legendary New York City FAST FOLK Musical Magazine founder, Jack Hardy.

​Mike has released four albums to date, Pushing Back Wintertime (2013), Road Signs (2015), Tightrope (2017) and I come from Fall River (2021)

Bristol-RI-based singer-songwriter Michelle Saylors was raised on a 30-acre farm in bible-belt Tennessee. Early musical inspirations include country, bluegrass-gospel, folk and Memphis blues. Michelle performed bluegrass music in the early 90s at festivals such as Lester Flat Bluegrass Festival and the Country Showdown. Michelle moved to New England in 1998 and landed in Rhode Island in 2009 where she became involved in the Rhode Island Songwriters Association. Michelle played at the Bluebird Café in Nashville at Songwriters open mics on several occasions. Michelle performed at the Providence Folk Festival in 2014 and the Rhode Island Folk Festival in 2022.

In July of 2024, Michelle released her solo debut album titled “Hit the Creek” which features 10 original songs written solely by Michelle. The album has been well-received by fans and continues to gain momentum on streaming platforms nationally and recently hit the UK. Her songwriting is rooted both physically and metaphorically by the space and distance between small town Tennessee and coastal New England. Michelle is currently working on her second album. She identifies her musical style as Nashville blues-country/bluegrass/folk.

Jan
10
Sat
On A Winter’s Night @ Regent Theatre
Jan 10 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
On A Winter's Night @ Regent Theatre

On A Winter’s Night. Patty Larkin, John Gorka, Cliff Eberhardt, Lucy Kaplansky. Presenting the Reunion Tour of “On A Winter’s Night” from veteran singer-songwriters who remain among the brightest stars of the singer-songwriter movement for the past three decades. In 1994, Christine Lavin gathered them together, along with folk and Americana artists, to showcase music of the Winter Season on the now-classic On A Winter’s Night CD, followed by several years of touring collaborations. These artists have released dozens of recordings and toured steadily through the decades, with fond memories of their touring days together. The winter season is once again celebrated by these unique and popular performers, reunited by popular demand. Photo: Laurie Glassman

Mar
1
Sun
Help Tony Beat Cancer, A Benefit Concert @ Capone's
Mar 1 @ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Tony Depietro, a very special Friend of yours, mine, and Hell, Everyone who knows him! Needs a hand beating cancer for the second time! Our lineup will continue to grow, and let’s face it, there isn’t a venue big enough to hold everyone who would want to help Old Tony! Please spread the word and join us for a very special event!
You may also help by visiting:
Please reach out with any questions to briola13@aol.com
As always, thank you for your support!
Apr
12
Sun
The Jon Pousette-Dart Duo @ Mass Arts Center
Apr 12 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Jon Pousette-Dart is best known as an American Classic and Folk Rock songwriter, musician, and performing artist. Growing up in Suffern, NY with a household of artists, including his father, grandfather, and sister, he separated himself by picking up a guitar at the age of 10 and mapping out a life in music before he ever attended a little league game. Since then it’s been a long and well-traveled road in the world of music.

A little bit of time has passed between when Jon Pousette-Dart as a teenager started forging a path in the musical landscape that started in the 60’s and laid a foundation with the original Pousette-Dart Band. Throughout the 70’s and into the 80’s the band earned a loyal national following and produced 5 releases for Capitol that made a deep imprint in the world of album radio, when we all used to only listen to vinyl. When the band parted ways, Jon continued working and slowly began navigating back to where he started writing and recording in earnest with many of Nashville’s finest, and some twenty odd years ago Jon crossed paths with Jim Chapdelaine one of the more formidable musicians he crossed paths with. Jon continued touring as their musical collaboration continued to brew into a satisfying vital musical landscape of it’s own.

Come see Jon Pousette-Dart and Jim Chapdelaine in this intimate acoustic duo setting.