Jan
19
Sun
The Les Sampou Trio @ Sally O'Brien's
Jan 19 @ 6:00 am – 9:00 am
The Les Sampou Trio @ Sally O'Brien's | Somerville | Massachusetts | United States

“Powerfully expressive, Les Sampou has been tested in the trenches of life and survived brilliantly. Her new album, “Lonesomeville,” is a personal Top Ten favorite of the year. She invests many songs with the emotional honesty of Lucinda Williams, probing love in all of its complexity while belting the heck out of the music. She has a passionate, rockabilly-blues edge that lifts your spirits high, followed by ballads that dig into your soul like few artists can.”

STEVE MORSE Boston Globe Correspondent & Contributor to Billboard and Rolling Stone

Apr
6
Sun
The Last Waltz Live @ Regent Theater
Apr 6 @ 7:00 am – 10:00 am

The Last Waltz LIVE is a re-creation of the Band’s classic 1978 concert film, The Last Waltz, featuring The Rev Tor Band and an all star cast of Boston-based musicians. The show includes renditions of all the hits by the Band featured in the film, such as “The Weight,” “Up On Cripple Creek,” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” as well as songs by Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Eric Clapton and many more.

For Tickets Click Here.

The line-up of artists includes the Rev Tor Band, Gary Backstrom of Jiggle the Handle, Vance Gilbert, Chris Fitz, Jim Infantino of Jim’s Big Ego, Chris Nemitz and Charlie Carrazzo of Sun Jones, Regie Gibson, Adam Michael Rothberg, Emily Grogan, Todd Mack, Marina Evans, Vinny Serino of Boston Baked Blues, Nikki Howard, Les Sampou, Vykki Vox, and Richard Cambridge.

 A diverse array of local, regional, and national artists perform the songs of the film’s original special guests, making the show a unique all-star experience showcasing the finest talent from the local music scene and beyond. All profits from the Last Waltz LIVE benefit Music in Common, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen, empower, and educate communities through the universal language of music.

The Last Waltz. On Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, the legendary rock group THE BAND performed The Last Waltz, their “farewell concert appearance” at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco CA. The concert saw The Band joined by more than a dozen all star special guests, many of whom were and are considered the living legends of their time. This historic event was captured by director Martin Scorsese and made into a concert film of the same name released in 1978. The performances captured on film that night were magical and the movie has achieved a cult classic status amongst many musicians today. It continues to be a major source of inspiration to all who see it.

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The Last Waltz Live

Some of the profits from this concert benefit Music In Common, whose mission is to strengthen, empower, and educate communities through the universal language of music. The Last Waltz supplies the perfect soundtrack to bring musicians together and strengthen that common bond. The Last Waltz LIVE is a celebration of that spirit.

Tickets Here

Produced by Last Dance Productions.

Mar
12
Thu
Carolyn Waters Cafe Concert @ Somerville Armory
Mar 12 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Carolyn Waters Cafe Concert  @ Somerville Armory | Somerville | Massachusetts | United States

Carolyn Waters…Socially Conscious Soul…

“Carolyn’s music is hypnotic, in a deeply soulful groove. You’ve heard it said that pure music seems to “flow” through a great singer? Go hear Carolyn to experience the real thing” – Pete and Maura Kennedy, The Kennedys.

Carolyn Waters is a performing singing/songwriter who fuses blues/roots/folk and other musical genres into a unique unforgettable blend of songs and sounds.

As a young girl growing up in Philadelphia, Carolyn Waters sang alone in her bedroom or out loud in the house when she was sure it was empty. It wasn’t by choice, but as the result of thoughtless teasing she got from her family. Even in her church choir, a place where many singers first get noticed and make early names for themselves, she mouthed the words to avoid embarrassment. She, however, never lost her love and passion for music and spent endless hours moving up and down the radio dial, and listening to albums from her parent’s collection.

A life changing event about a decade ago pushed Carolyn to take a voice lesson. This time she wasn’t teased. She was taken notice of, supported, and given a start in folk music, which highlights included opening for Judy Collins, Tom Rush, and Kate Campbell among others.

Oh, and have we mentioned the blues?

“Carolyn Waters is a force of nature. Some people are simply created to sing and bless those who listen, Carolyn is one of those people”. Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. Acclaimed Blues/Roots Musician/Blues Historian – September 2013

Carolyn can belt out barrelhouse and juke joint blues, or fuse them with a pinch of Gospel and roots. She has been featured in the Boston Blues Society’s Ladies Sing the Blues Events where she shared the stage with the late great Shirley Lewis “Regal Queen of the Blues”, Lydia Warren, Lisa Marie and the wonderful Diane Blue to name a few.

Recently Carolyn joined forces with Satoru Nakagawa, a Japanese-born blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and member of the Tokyo Tramps to record her first all blues ep. This powerful duo merged the Delta slide with soulful singing and produced a deep blues experience.

“Carolyn’s voice is amazing, captivating, compelling—any superlative will fit. I don’t believe I have heard such a rich, velvety, and yes—bluesy—voice locally in years” – Karen Nugent, Boston Blues Society – May 2010

Performing solo, and with various accompanying musicians ranging from an incredible single guitarist to fronting her new dynamic Carolyn Waters Band, she can and has performed at all sizes and types of venues including clubs, festivals, galas, coffeehouses, vigils, and intimate-private functions in New England, New York, Maryland and Virginia.

“Carolyn’s songs are personal and have an emotional quality that moves the soul. Her easy natural style communicates immediately with your heart. Her performance is calm but powerful, putting you at ease and making you feel that all is right with the world. I look forward to hearing Carolyn perform her wonderful creations in the future. The best is yet to come”. Charles Williams, Principal, Phillip Glass’ Einstein On The Beach (2012-13 World Tour)

 

A benefit for Folk New England.

Sep
30
Fri
The Last Waltz Live: A Special Benefit Concert for “Mended Little Hearts of Boston” @ The Regent Theatre
Sep 30 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
The Last Waltz Live:  A Special Benefit Concert for “Mended Little Hearts of Boston” @ The Regent Theatre | Arlington | Massachusetts | United States

The Last Waltz LIVE is a re-creation of the Band’s classic concert film featuring The Rev Tor Band as The Band (accompanied by a full horn section) and one dozen or more local, regional, and national artists as special guests.

Not a tribute show, but rather a powerful community event, each LWL concert features a local lineup of guest artists making it a unique, all-star experience.

Tickets here:
http://www.regenttheatre.com/details/the_last_waltz_live
or call (781) 646-4849

Most of the profits from the Last Waltz LIVE will be donated to Mended Little Hearts of Boston

Info on Mended Little Hearts of Boston Here:
http://boston.mendedlittlehearts.net/

Did you know that about 1 in 110 babies are born with a congenital heart defect each year?

Mended Little Hearts, a nonprofit organization, works nationally and in communities to empower children with congenital heart defects and their families through support, education and awareness.

Special guest artists for this performance will be announced soon.

“I lack the language to express the simply fantastic music, the awesome spirit, the camaraderie of the musicians, the MAGIC of last night’s Last Waltz LIVE production!! Some things are felt in the heart and in the soul, and this evening was one of those moments for me! Thank you all so very much for a Night of Magic!!” – Helen S., Last Waltz LIVE audience member

http://www.regenttheatre.com/details/the_last_waltz_live
or call (781) 646-4849

Presented by Last Dance Productions

Oct
19
Sat
An Evening with Danielle Miraglia, Jenee Halstead & Lisa Bastoni @ Congregational church
Oct 19 @ 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm
An Evening with Danielle Miraglia, Jenee Halstead & Lisa Bastoni @ Congregational church

Danielle Miraglia, Jenee Halstead and Lisa Bastoni bring their amazing vocal and instrumental talents and will share our stage!

Danielle Miraglia comes armed with a strong steady thumb on an old Gibson, an infectious stomp-box rhythm and harmonica with tunes ranging from heart-felt to socially conscious that will move both your heart and hips. Her latest “All My Heroes Are Ghosts,” released with her band, Danielle M and The Glory Junkies, touches on a lot of what might be on your mind these days – from the loss of so many musical heroes to our collective anxieties on “All On Fire,” and more. The music itself blends influences of some of Miraglia’s own musical heroes – The Rolling Stones, Prince, Janis Joplin along with Danielle’s lyrical ability to explore human nature at its best and worst. Danielle M and The Glory Junkies are nominated for a 2018 Boston Music Award for “Blues Artist of the Year” and Danielle was nominated for a 2015 Boston Music Award for Singer-Songwriter of the Year.

“Straddling the line where folk/roots meets rock/blues, Miraglia has a voice that can go from a raspy come-hither purr to an Etta James-esque powerhouse belt, although she may be best known for her lead thumb — a heavy, thumping strike on her Gibson that’s backdrop percussion in itself.” – Lauren Daley, The Boston Globe

If you detect something expansive and mysterious in the music of Jenee Halstead, a freedom that owes no debt to place and time — or even genre — you understand where she’s coming from. And where she’s headed … deeper into the essence of song. Her evolution from folk singer to ethereal rocker mirrors her journey from the West Coast to the East. As a youngster in Spokane, Washington, Jenee followed the lead of hippie parents and explored music freely. She heard something in it all — from medieval choral works, to Led Zeppelin to Dolly Parton — and it tugged at her, even as she earned her degree at Gonzaga. To build on her personal, almost-secret songwriting, Jenee moved to Boston, where the seeds for many of her influences were planted. While Berklee College of Music was part of the allure, the academic approach turned her off, and away. “They make everybody use a laptop,” Jenee says, lamenting that mechanical method. “I thought, ‘Bob Dylan didn’t write “Blowin’ in the Wind” on a laptop! I don’t need this.’” Her latest release, “Edge of the World,” adds to the indefinable soundscape in which her soft and supple voice floats so exquisitely that the Boston Herald felt it “like sorceress music, rings of smoke through the trees and the bells of Rhymney,” while comparing Jenee’s working relationship with new producer Sean McLaughlin to that of Emmylou Harris and Daniel Lanois for the way it “embedded a tremendous voice in an otherworldly, shadowy soundscape.”

Lisa Bastoni is a Northampton, Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter. Following a 10-year break from music, her album “The Wishing Hour” (2017), recorded in the kids’ playroom in the wee hours of the night, debuted as #1 most-played on Boston’s WUMB and led to a number of songwriting awards and an active performance schedule. Lisa is a 2019 Kerrville New Folk Finalist. Her upcoming album “How We Want to Live” will be released in Sept. 2019. The album was produced by Sean Staples, and features guest performances by Mark Erelli, Rose Cousins, Lula Wiles and more.

“Americana of the highest order…along the lines of Gretchen Peters or Patty Griffin.” (Maverick-UK)

May
22
Sat
Danielle Miraglia Outdoor Live Concert @ MMAS
May 22 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Danielle Miraglia Outdoor Live Concert @ MMAS

Danielle Miraglia comes armed with a strong steady thumb on an old Gibson and an infectious stomp-box rhythm with tunes ranging from heart-felt to socially conscious that will move both your heart and hips. Her latest “Bright Shining Stars” debuted at #15 on the Billboard Blues Charts. Cascade Blues Association calls it “… tough as rawhide, but smooth as blended whiskey.” Released Oct 2020 with Vizztone Label Group, it’s a solo acoustic folk/blues record that highlights the one-woman-band live sound she’s honed over the years, featuring guest appearances by talented friends Laurence Scudder, Peter Parcek and Richard “Rosy” Rosenblatt. It includes originals as well as a collection of songs she covers at live shows, paying homage to influences like Big Bill Broonzy, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and more, plus the title track “Bright Shining Stars,” written by her husband, Tom Bianchi.

“Americana and blues practitioner Danielle Miraglia wisely avoids fuss and clutter on her latest album, Bright Shining Stars. Fingerpicking and strumming on acoustic guitar are central to her sound, with percussion frequently provided by the infectious stomp of her foot. Three of the 11 tracks here are solo recordings, reinforcing a truism that the artist frequently has proven on Boston-area stages: A charming voice and fluid guitar prowess are all an artist needs to keep a listener rapt.”

– Bobby Reed, Downbeat Magazine

“Straddling the line where folk/roots meets rock/blues, Miraglia has a voice that can go from a raspy come-hither purr to an Etta James-esque powerhouse belt, although she may be best known for her lead thumb — a heavy, thumping strike on her Gibson that’s backdrop percussion in itself.

– Lauren Daley, The Boston Globe

This event will be held outside at 888 South Main Street, Mansfield

Beer and wine and limited “cookout food” available

Tickets and Info Here.

Sep
17
Sat
Paul Rishel and Annie Raines In Concert at The Rose Garden @ Rose Garden Coffeehouse
Sep 17 @ 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Paul Rishel and Annie Raines In Concert at The Rose Garden @ Rose Garden Coffeehouse

For 29 years Paul Rishell & Annie Raines have been hailed as one of the world’s best blues duos. They have recorded 6 albums together including the W.C. Handy Award-winning Moving to the Country (2000), and received numerous award nominations from the Blues Foundation. They have performed and recorded with John Sebastian, Susan Tedeschi, Pinetop Perkins and Rory Block. They have opened for Ray Charles, Dr. John, and Little Feat, and performed on international radio and TV shows including Late Night with Conan O’Brien and A Prairie Home Companion. They continue to perform American roots music and their own compositions at festivals, concert halls, and clubs all over the world. As a working team, Paul and Annie have racked up hundreds of thousands of miles on the road in the U.S. and Europe, collaborated on original songs, and released the Blues Foundation Award nominated TALKING GUITAR I WANT YOU TO KNOW (Tone-Cool/Artemis 1996), MOVING TO THE COUNTRY (2000), the W.C. Handy Award winner for Acoustic Blues Album of the Year, and GOIN’ HOME (2004), which was nominated for two Handy Awards.

Paul Rishell and Annie Raines’s sixth project together, TALKING GUITAR was released in 2012 and received 2 Nominations for the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards. It features Paul returning to the bare essence of country blues, with stunning solo performances of gems by Lead Belly, Blind Boy Fuller, Skip James and others, with Annie joining in on a few tunes. It is stark, stripped down and intimate. Their previous album, the live recording “A NIGHT IN WOODSTOCK” was released in 2008 as a CD and in 2009 as a DVD on their own Mojo Rodeo label, and distributed internationally by Burnside Distribution, each release earning multiple Blues Music Award nominations. The live concert features special guests John Sebastian, Bruce Katz, and Paul and Annie’s own backing band joining the duo for an eclectic, high-energy set of acoustic and electric originals and classic blues songs. The DVD includes extra features such as artist biographies, video guitar lessons and audio commentary by Rishell, Raines and Sebastian.

 

Paul and Annie are equally passionate about their craft and devoted to the study and performance of a wide range of blues styles, from the syncopated acoustic guitar wizardry of Blind Lemon Jefferson and Son House to Chicagoan “Little” Walter Jacob’s swinging amplified harmonica. Paul has reached what Boston Phoenix writer Ted Drozdowski called “a place deep and resonant as Robert Johnson’s crossroads, where authenticity, soul, and a sense of purpose and commitment ring out in every note he sings and plays.” Annie has added vocals, mandolin, piano, and other instruments to her musical arsenal, while being recognized by top professionals and fans worldwide as the “queen of the blues harmonica.” Says blues legend Pinetop Perkins, “She plays so good it hurts!”

Touring internationally at festivals, clubs, and concert halls, and teaching workshops and seminars, Paul Rishell & Annie Raines have earned loyal fans around the globe. Paul and Annie are featured in the new jug band music documentary, Chasin’ Gus’ Ghost, which debuted at the San Francisco Film Festival in August 2007. They have performed on diverse radio and TV shows including A Prairie Home Companion, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and PBS’s Arthur. They have performed and recorded with Susan Tedeschi, John Sebastian, Pinetop Perkins, and Rory Block. Susan Tedeschi recorded an “unplugged” version of Paul’s Blues on a Holiday with Paul and Annie for her 2003 release, Wait For Me.

Annie Raines was born in 1969 in Boston and grew up in the suburb of Newton, Massachusetts. She picked up the blues harp at 17 and made her stage debut at the 1369 Jazz Club in Cambridge a few months before her high school graduation. Enthralled by the recordings of Muddy Waters, Little Walter Jacobs, Big Walter Horton and Sonny Boy Williamson, she became a fixture at Boston area blues jams. She briefly attended Antioch College and 1988 interned with Washington, DC homeless rights activist Mitch Snyder, who persuaded her to drop out of school to pursue her musical career. One of the few female blues harmonica players in the country, Annie played the New England club circuit with local bands, and traveled to Chicago where she met and played with many of her musical idols including Pinetop Perkins, Louis Myers, and James Cotton. She also enjoyed yearlong stints with the Tarbox Ramblers and the Susan Tedeschi Band, going on to perform on Susan’s first three albums. She lives in Boston with her number one musical hero, Paul Rishell.

Paul Rishell was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1950, descended from a long line of Methodist preachers and Norwegian painters. At the age of ten, he discovered that he could keep time on the drums, though his feet didn’t reach the pedals. He started a band a few years later, playing surf music and rock ‘n roll, until a friend turned him on to the country blues records of Son House, Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, and Blind Lemon Jefferson. He immediately took up the guitar and in the early 70’s Paul moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts and had the chance to play with many of the first and second generation of blues masters — including Son House, Johnny Shines, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, and Howlin’ Wolf. Paul Rishell’s debut recording, BLUES ON A HOLIDAY (Tone-Cool) was released in 1990 to resounding critical acclaim. The album was half acoustic, half electric, and established Paul as a masterful, versatile blues player and as well as a deeply soulful singer and songwriter. He followed that with SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH in 1993, which featured heart-stopping solo performances as well as guest artists Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters and “Little”Annie Raines. Paul’s original music has been used in plays, films, and countless television shows including Friends, Oprah, and A&E’s Biography. He has built up a stellar reputation over 40 years as a performer, teacher, and torchbearer of the country blues tradition. His former students include Susan Tedeschi and Michael Tarbox. Dirt Road Blues, Paul’s instructional video/CD-Rom for Truefire.com, was released in 2008 with detailed demonstrations and transcriptions of his original songs and songs by Scrapper Blackwell, Blind Boy Fuller, and many others. He is currently serving as a visiting artist at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

For more Last Dance Productions events click here.

Aug
20
Sun
The James Montgomery Band @ Mass Arts Center
Aug 20 @ 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm
The James Montgomery Band @ Mass Arts Center

James Montgomery is coming to the Mass Arts Center for the first time to perform under the tent outdoors on Sunday, August 20, at 3 pm. Montgomery has rocked the blues scene for over four decades with his harmonica and vocals, earning a Grammy nomination along the way. He has collaborated with stars like Johnny Winter, Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, and Bruce Springsteen, and he is recognized as one of the finest blues performers in the country. He will be joined by his band, which features some of the best musicians in New England. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy a fantastic blues show under the tent at the Mass Arts Center next to the beautiful Norton Reservoir. Reserved tickets under the tent are $50, and VIP seating is available in the first two rows for $75, including a 2 p.m. meet-and-greet with James. General lawn seating is also available (bring your chairs and blankets) for $35.

 

For more Last Dance Productions events, click here.

Sep
23
Sat
A Healing Garden Benefit: Jamie Walker & Friends with The Gravel Project featuring Jen Kearney @ Regent Theatre
Sep 23 @ 7:30 pm – 10:15 pm
A Healing Garden Benefit: Jamie Walker & Friends with The Gravel Project featuring Jen Kearney @ Regent Theatre
A Healing Garden Benefit
Presented by Patio Records
Proceeds will go towards caring for the Pratt Family Healing Garden at Mount Auburn Hospital.
JAMIE WALKER and Friends
Jamie Walker is the guitarist and vocalist for the legendary Swinging Steaks and has been the lead guitar player and vocalist with Susan Cattaneo. As another young kid inspired by the Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, Jamie Walker started writing songs on the school bus in 2nd grade. What do you do when you are obsessed with songs and the guitar in particular? You learn how to play and find some friends to play with!
Jamie fronted and fueled several Boston bands with his songs in the 1980s; the Lines, the Drive (V66 and MTV Basement Tapes), and finally, Swinging Steaks (Capricorn Records 1990 to present). A few of his songs became Boston radio staples on WBCN, WCOZ, WZLX, and WAAF in Worcester and have appeared in Hollywood movies and on tv. Jamie has made some friends over the years and has some old friends along too. So this is about more than just the music.
On this particular evening will be a veritable all-star cast, including:
Laurie Young (vocals, trumpet) brings the role of the goddess to the forefront and co-fronts the band
Joe Donnelly (drums) of the Del Fuegos, Swinging Steaks, and Wall of Grass
Pat Dreier (Keyboards, vocals) of the Lines and the Drive
Dave Weden (guitar/banjo) and Clayton Young (bass, vocals) of John Cate and the Van Gough Brothers
Dennis Semprebon (drums and percussion) of Craig Carter and the Hurricanes
Brad Kohl (saxophone) of Hot Acoustics and Group Therapy
They play roots rock music, that is, songs wrapped in elements of rock, pop, country, soul, R&B, and blues.
The Gravel Project featuring Jen Kearney
Initially created by Andrew Gravel (vocals, guitar), The Gravel Project is an all-star band of Boston music veterans, including brother, Jordan Gravel (organ, keys), Dave Fox (drums), and Eguie Castrillo (percussion). The Gravel Project’s live show blends rock, world music, and jazz with power and soul. Carrying the tradition of 70’s blues and psychedelic rock music, The Gravel Project embodies the spirit of Santana combined with the classic raw energy and moving songwriting of The Allman Brothers and Tedeschi Trucks Band. With three studio albums, a live album, and countless past performances, the future is bright for Boston’s The Gravel Project, and as the title of their 2022 studio album suggests, there are “Many Miles Ahead.”
For more Last Dance Productions, click here.
Mar
24
Sun
Danielle Miraglia @ The Mass Arts Center
Mar 24 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Danielle Miraglia @ The Mass Arts Center

Danielle Miraglia comes armed with a strong steady thumb on an old Gibson and an infectious stomp-box rhythm with tunes ranging from heart-felt to socially conscious that will move both your heart and hips. Her latest “Bright Shining Stars” debuted at #15 on the Billboard Blues Charts. Cascade Blues Association calls it “… tough as rawhide, but smooth as blended whiskey.”  Released Oct 2020 with Vizztone Label Group, it’s a solo acoustic folk/blues record that highlights the one-woman-band live sound she’s honed over the years, featuring guest appearances by talented friends Laurence Scudder, Peter Parcek and Richard “Rosy” Rosenblatt. It includes originals as well as a collection of songs she covers at live shows, paying homage to influences like Big Bill Broonzy, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and more, plus the title track “Bright Shining Stars,” written by her husband, Tom Bianchi.

For More Last Dance Productions events, click here.