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AUGUST
Partial programming support provided by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
Blackstone River Theatre will be taking August off from full-time concert and dance programming to continue renovations on the building.
SEPTEMBER
Partial programming support provided by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
- THANK YOU! Blackstone River Theatre had our best attended 5-month period ever with over 4,100 audience members attending events January-May 2008. September marks the 8-year anniversary of the reopening of Blackstone River Theatre after over four years and two months of volunteer renovation efforts from July, 1996 to September, 2000. Since reopening, BRT has presented 775 events in front of more than 51,000 audience members!
- BRT is looking for 4-6 new volunteers for the Fall 2008 season (and beyond we hope!) If you are interested, please email volunteer@riverfolk.org. We will be holding a new BRT Volunteer orientation session in September so please let us know if you are interested so we can be in touch!
- There will be an exhibit of acrylic paintings by Margo Lemieux in BRT's Art Gallery beginning September 14 and running through October 12.
- Check the Classes link for details about another round of 8-week beginner, advanced beginner and intermediate level Irish step dance classes for adults and children starting in late September with Terry Songini! There will be a workshop on Sept. 27.
- Check the Classes link for details about another round of 6-week beginner, continuing beginner, and advanced beginner fiddle classes starting in mid-September on Tuesdays and Wednesdays! All classes are taught by Cathy Clasper Torch.
Sunday, September 14, 7:00 PM, $12.00 advance/$14.00 day of show
JEZ LOWE AND THE BAD PENNIES
We are thrilled to welcome back one of BRT's favorite acts to kick off our Fall season! Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies have been playing their songs and music of Northern England for 15 years around the folk festivals, clubs and concert stages of the world. "Acoustic simplicity coupled with electric vitality" was how they were described in their early days, and their following has continued to increase every year. Jez Lowe is a remarkable songwriter using wit, sensitivity and keen perception to paint colorful portraits of ordinary people with ordinary lives who may be specific to Northeast England, but through Jez's eyes and verse become universal characters. He's joined by the Bad Pennies - Kate Bramley on fiddle and whistle, new member David de la Haye on bass, and Andy May on Northumbrian smallpipes, Irish Uilleann Pipes and whistles. Jez hails from Northeast England, an area rich in working-class values, with a wealth of songs and music unique to that windswept corner of the British Isles. Born to a coal mining family with Irish roots, Lowe was raised and still lives in an area close to the English/ Scottish border where coal mining was the dominant occupation. This was to be the substance from which he would create a body of work that would make him one of the most popular and enduring of the many singer songwriters to emerge from Britain in the last 25 years. His songs have been covered by Fairport Convention, The Tanahill Weavers, The Dubliners, Cherish the Ladies, and a host of other acts. Most recently, Jez Lowe was nominated for the 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards as 'Folksinger of the Year' and he was an Indie Acoustic Project USA "Album of the Year" finalist in 2008 for his solo CD, "Jack Common's Anthem." Do not miss one of folk music's best songwriters!
Thursday, September 18, 7:00-9:00 PM, $5.00
BRT DRUM AND DANCE CIRCLE
Blackstone River Theatre's open drum circle focuses on tribal and multi-ethnic rhythms. Beginners and novices are always welcome... the emphasis is on fun and learning! Since its inception, we have regularly had between 15-30 drummers and on many occasions, members of the bellydance community join in. Bring your own hand drum or rhythm instrument or just your dancing feet!
Celebrating Blackstone River Theatre's 8-year anniversary
Saturday, September 20, 8:00 PM, $15.00
PENDRAGON - 25th Anniversary Concert and CD release!
Advance ticket purchase strongly recommended
This evening sees two anniversaries celebrated at the same time! While BRT celebrates its 8th anniversary since reopening in 2000, Pendragon will also celebrate 25 years of making music together. New England has long had a rich tradition of Celtic-inspired music. Celebrating their 25th anniversary tonight, Pendragon has embraced that tradition and created a timeless sound of its own, performing roots music with an unmistakable contemporary edge. The band will also release their first CD in three years, "Still Standing," on Blackstone River Theatre's RiverFolk Productions label. Pendragon's music celebrates the lives and lore of generations of New Englanders who brought traditions from Ireland, Scotland, French Canada and other distant shores to the banks of the Blackstone River. Past tributes include three straight Boston Music Award nominations for Outstanding Celtic Act and a Governor's Tourism Award. Pendragon was voted Rhode Island's Best Celtic Act in the 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 MOTIF Magazine Music Poll. They have also been voted Best Local Folk Act of the Year in the Providence Phoenix' Best Music Poll eight times. While drawing on the ethnic music of the Blackstone River Valley, Pendragon fashions the music of tradition into the music of tomorrow performing their original songs and dance tunes on bouzouki, concertina, banjo, guitar, whistle, fiddle, flute and percussion. Pendragon is dynamic step dancer and percussionist Kevin Doyle, Bob Drouin on fiddle, bouzouki and tenor banjo; Russell Gusetti on guitar and concertina; Josh Kane on flute and whistles; and Mary Lee Partington on vocals.
Sunday, September 21, 7:00 PM, $12.00 advance/$14.00 day of show
FINDLAY NAPIER & THE BAR ROOM MOUNTAINEERS
The Bar Room Mountaineers are a song-focused band taking Scottish traditional material and presenting it in a suave, sophisticated light. If this band were a cocktail they would be a Manhattan using the finest Scottish single malt... think Burns with beats! Vocalist and guitarist Findlay Napier is best known for his work with the award-winning Celtic group Back of the Moon and more recently for Queen Anne's Revenge, his highly-acclaimed song-writing project with Nick Turner. The Bar Room Mountaineers, which also features fellow Back of the Moon member Gillian Frame on fiddle and vocals, Douglas Miller on keyboard and vocals, and Paul Jennings (former Old Blind Dogs) on percussion and vocals, are taking their brand of acoustic music to the world touring behind their new CD, "Out All Night." Playing songs written by Napier as well as traditional Scottish material, The Bar Room Mountaineers have developed a rich, rootsy, progressive sound, drawing influence from genres such as blues, Americana and country but with a sound remaining uniquely Scottish... Don't miss their New England debut!
Saturday, September 27, 9 AM - NOON
Irish Step Dance Workshops for Adults and children
9-9:45 AM: children ages 6 to 11
10-10:45 AM: continuing beginners AND advanced beginners, ages 12+
11-11:50 AM: Intermediate dancers
Saturday, September 27, 1:00 PM, $5.00 children/$7.00 adults
KEITH MUNSLOW
Ideal for families with children ages 5-13, children's performer Keith Munslow returns with a 45-minute show of original songs, way-cool stories, tongue-tangling poems and quick-as-a-wink cartoons. Keith's exciting piano playing, skillful cartoon drawing, and quick wit combine for an upbeat, positive experience with plenty of chances for audience participation. Multi-talented performer Keith Munslow has entertained thousands of children at shows throughout New England and beyond for 16 years. Keith can often be seen in a hilarious duo show with storyteller Bill Harley, and also with his band, Superchief Trio.
Saturday, September 27, 8-11:00 PM, $8.00/$5.00 seniors & children
CONTRA DANCE with GET REEL!
Traditional Southern Music for Contra Dancing, with some spice! Get Reel! features Howie Bursen on Banjo, Martin Grosswendt on Fiddle, Marie Malchodi on Guitar, and Deck Nieforth on Harmonica, Spoons, and Feet. Contra Dancing is the oldest form of American traditional social dancing, beginning in colonial times and still going strong after 250 years. Contra dancing is informal, friendly and good aerobic exercise. It's lots of fun and easy to learn. There will be a beginner workshop at 7:30 p.m. and all dances will be taught by Master Caller Linda Leslie. All are welcome - beginners and experienced dancers; singles, couples and families; old friends and new... Wear cool, comfortable clothing and flat, soft-soled shoes. Refreshments will be available. Get ready to tap your toes, stomp your feet, twirl your skirt, and smile. GET REEL! has been playing old time tunes for contra dancing for over a decade.... don't miss the fun!
OCTOBER
Partial programming support provided by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
- The exhibit of acrylic paintings by Margo Lemieux is in BRT's Art Gallery through October 12. There will be a collage exhibit by George Sargent in BRT's Art Gallery beginning October 18 and running through November 16.
- Check the Classes link for details about a two-day beginner and advanced beginner level workshop in Celtic relief stone carving in limestone with instructor Laura Travis on October 4-5.
- Check the Classes link for details about another round of 8-week beginner, advanced beginner and intermediate level Irish step dance classes for adults and children starting October 4 and October 7 with Terry Songini!
Saturday, October 4, 8:00 PM, $12.00 advance/$14.00 day of show
DAVID MALLETT
We are pleased to welcome back one of America's finest songwriters. David Mallett hails from a small town in northern Maine, and in a career that spans four decades, his music has traveled to all corners of the world. His songs have been recorded by more than 150 artists, including Pete Seeger, Alison Krauss, John Denver, and Emmylou Harris and his "Garden Song" has become an American folk classic. Mallett has performed in folk clubs across America and Europe in addition to major venues such as Barns of Wolf Trap, the Newport Folk Festival, and "Prairie Home Companion." The readers of FOLKWAX voted him 2003 Artist of the Year and "Artist in Me" 2003 Album of the Year. He has recorded 14 albums, including "The Fable True" (2007), based on Thoreau's last expedition in 1857, a spoken word CD with accompanying music. The songs Mallett writes and sings are filled with passion, evocative imagery, and a sense of the inevitable passage of time. The loss of American towns and rural landscapes is the subject of many of his songs, as are the issues of wilderness preservation and the struggle of the common man. "Midnight on the Water" is Mallett's most recent music CD. Recorded live at a series of shows along the Maine coast in the summer of 2005, it features 17 of the most memorable songs.
Friday, October 10, 8:00 PM, $15.00 advance/$18.00 day of show
FRIGG - Nordic Folk Music: The next generation
Acoustic Nordic folk music is advanced by the next generation through Frigg (the Norse goddess of love and fertility), a new group rich with folk heritage from Finland and Norway. Combining elements of their respective folk traditions with touches of American Appalachian and country & western music, they create an entirely new sound of Finnish/Norwegian fiddle music which feels simultaneously innovative yet familiar. The seven-piece band contains three young Järveläs, two sons and a daughter of the most famous fiddle family in Finland, whose fathers and uncles founded JPP, and two Larsen brothers, members of a comparable Norwegian Hardanger fiddle clan. The traditional sounds are then supercharged with innovative arrangements, and combined with mandola, cittern, double bass, guitar and dobro. This young band has been dazzling festival audiences in Scandinavia and the US, creating a phenomenal buzz among listeners and fellow musicians. Playing both ordinary and Hardanger fiddle in Frigg are brothers Gjermund and Einar Olav Larsen. There are also three members of the Järveläs family's fourth generation of famous fiddlers: Alina Järveläs, Esko Järveläs and Antti Järveläs. Their grandfather Johannes Järvelä and great-grandfather Antti Järvelä were both legendary master players. Don't miss the Rhode Island debut of this exciting young band!
Saturday, October 11, 8:00 PM, $12.00 advance/$14.00 day of show
JAYME STONE AND MANSA SISSOKO
Africa to Appalachia: The Routes of the Banjo
Jayme Stone may be unfamiliar to many, but he has spent considerable time mastering the art of the 5-string banjo. A student of many - Tony Trischka and Béla Fleck are but two who have spent time guiding Jayme in the ways of modern banjo - Stone has released two previous albums that display his propensity for complex arrangements and jazzy fare. In early 2008, Stone was awarded a Juno - the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy Award - for Instrumental Album of the Year. The Ontario native's third CD is even more organic in nature as it is closely tied to the history of the banjo and the African instruments from which it developed. Stone spent time last year in Mali exploring the roots of the 5-string banjo. The result of the relationships forged overseas is Africa to Appalachia, a dynamic new project that successfully blends traditional African sounds - kora, percussion, ngoni, and vocals - with the fiddles and banjos of the Appalachian region of the southern U.S. While on his musical mecca to Africa, Stone rarely let locals know of his accolades and recording career in North America as he went to immerse himself in the high-spirited soundscapes, the daily life and the lore of Africa. On Africa to Appalachia, his collaborative project with Mansa Sissoko, a griot singer and master player of the kora (a 21-string African harp), Stone and Sissoko blur the lines of time and location. Africa and America come closer together with the banjo being the bridge. Africa to Appalachia serves as a beautiful introduction to world music while providing those already attracted to African music a new twist, that being the unobtrusive and natural incorporation of the fiddle and banjo into the blend. For those who love the banjo, the album provides an insight to where the banjo has been, and where it might again go within parameters that have not frequently been explored.
Thursday, October 16, 7:00-9:00 PM, $5.00
BRT DRUM AND DANCE CIRCLE
Blackstone River Theatre's open drum circle focuses on tribal and multi-ethnic rhythms. Beginners and novices are always welcome... the emphasis is on fun and learning! Since its inception, we have regularly had between 15-30 drummers and on many occasions, members of the bellydance community join in. Bring your own hand drum or rhythm instrument or just your dancing feet!
Saturday, October 18, 1:00 PM, $5.00 children/$7.00 adults
MARVELOUS MARVIN - Bugging Out
Ideal for families with children ages 5-13, BRT favorite Marvelous Marvin returns with his new 45-minute show "Bugging Out" ...all about bugs, insects and outdoor exploration. Using Marvin's unique rhyming text, you'll learn about some bug habits that you may not believe (or even want to know!) Marvin has written rhyming poems about dragonflies, ladybugs, worms and a host of other crawly, creepy creatures. Mixing in circus arts, magic tricks and music, Marvelous Marvin has constructed this show to look like a large book, revealing engaging illustrations inside drawn by artist, Paul Olson with photographs by Brian Jones. Fun and educational for the entire family! Face or hand paintings by Ellen will be available 30 minutes before the show and 30 minutes after the show!
Saturday, October 18, 8-11:00 PM, $8.00
IRISH SET DANCE with THE BROAD STREET CEILI BAND
The Broad Street Ceili Band plays a variety of traditional Irish dance music while mixing in occassional waltzes. Barry and Pat Callahan will be on hand to help those new to the set dance tradition. From 8:00-11:00 p.m., Irish set dances will run continuously for the evening. The Broad Street Ceili Band is led by Bob Drouin on fiddle and features Chuck Papini on tenor banjo, Josh Kane on flute, Marianne Kane on bodhran and Kevin O'Brien on piano. The emphasis is on fun... No partners are necessary. Try a dance or simply come down to listen to some great music!
Sunday, October 19, 2:00 PM, $12.00
THE DIXIE DIEHARDS JAZZ BAND
Join the Dixie Diehards Jazz Band for a raucus, Mardi Gras-style show as they dish out a thick gumbo of traditional New Orleans Jazz. The Dixie Diehards, whose lineup includes a medical doctor, a retired college professor and an investigative reporter among others, shares at least one thing in common: a passion for the "hot jazz" and blues of the early 20th century. The era, typified by such greats as Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller and Jelly Roll Morton, firmly established jazz as "America's music" and set the direction for much of subsequent pop culture. The term "Dixieland" refers to a form of small group jazz which typically includes a trumpet, a clarinet and a trombone and often a tuba combined with a rhythm section that may include a banjo, percussion or bass player as well as a piano. In most arrangements, the trumpet plays the melody while other elements freely improvise around it or paraphrase the melody in creative solos. The Dixie Diehards have won an enthusiastic reception across southern New England for bringing an irrepressible sense of fun and frolic to their shows. That attitude almost always includes audience sing-alongs, spontaneous dance outbursts (remember the Charleston?) and a spirit of "wonderful nonsense." The lineup includes Jim Kelleher on trombone, Santo Pullara on clarinet; Paul Peterson on sax, Alan Shapiro on trumpet; Steve Shaw on tuba; Dolly Fruzzetti on piano; Dale Ellenberg on drums; Chris Wadsworth on banjo, and Rick Foster on vocals/cornet. Don't miss a rare BRT matinee show sure to be fun for all ages!
Friday, October 24, 8:00 PM, $15.00 advance/$20.00 day of show
THE HIGHWAYMEN
Advance ticket purchase strongly recommended!
We are proud to welcome back the original Highwaymen, one of the seminal folk groups of the '60s, who first rejoined in 2004 to play the classic tunes of the '60s revival and their interpretations of popular music since then. Unlike some folk revival groups, The Highwaymen who play today are all the original members of the group that recorded and performed in the 1960s (Steve Butts, Dave Fisher, Steve Trott and Bob Burnett. Chan Daniels passed in 1974; their friend Johann Helton now plays bass). The group appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Johnny Carson Show, and released 8 albums. In 1961, their first single, "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," shot to the top of the charts and sold over 3 million copies, followed by "Cotton Fields," which sold over one million. They also contributed a couple of future standards to the folk repertory ("Big Rock Candy Mountain," "All My Trials") and played a key role in the unearthing of a major, overlooked Leadbelly song, which later became a major addition to the repertoires of both Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Beach Boys, and also made the first American recordings of important songs by Buffy St. Marie and Ewan McColl. Recent appearances include the PBS special "This Land Is Your Land," and at Milwaukee's Irish Fest as the only not-strictly-Irish group to appear. "The Best of The Highwaymen" CD is part of the Legendary Masters Series released by EMI Records. Last year they celebrated the release of "When the Village Was Green," a CD recorded live at BRT in 2006 over the course of their two concerts. Their shows have sold out the past four years... don't miss a rare chance to see one of the '60s most popular folk ensembles in an intimate theater setting!
Saturday, October 25, 8:00 PM, $15.00 advance/$20.00 day of show
THE HIGHWAYMEN
Advance ticket purchase strongly recommended!
We are proud to welcome back the original Highwaymen, one of the seminal folk groups of the '60s, who first rejoined in 2004 to play the classic tunes of the '60s revival and their interpretations of popular music since then. Unlike some folk revival groups, The Highwaymen who play today are all the original members of the group that recorded and performed in the 1960s (Steve Butts, Dave Fisher, Steve Trott and Bob Burnett. Chan Daniels passed in 1974; their friend Johann Helton now plays bass). The group appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Johnny Carson Show, and released 8 albums. In 1961, their first single, "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," shot to the top of the charts and sold over 3 million copies, followed by "Cotton Fields," which sold over one million. They also contributed a couple of future standards to the folk repertory ("Big Rock Candy Mountain," "All My Trials") and played a key role in the unearthing of a major, overlooked Leadbelly song, which later became a major addition to the repertoires of both Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Beach Boys, and also made the first American recordings of important songs by Buffy St. Marie and Ewan McColl. Recent appearances include the PBS special "This Land Is Your Land," and at Milwaukee's Irish Fest as the only not-strictly-Irish group to appear. "The Best of The Highwaymen" CD is part of the Legendary Masters Series released by EMI Records. Last year they celebrated the release of "When the Village Was Green," a CD recorded live at BRT in 2006 over the course of their two concerts. Their shows have sold out the past four years... don't miss a rare chance to see one of the '60s most popular folk ensembles in an intimate theater setting!
Sunday, October 26, 7:00 PM, $15.00
DUKE ROBILLARD presents SUNNY AND HER JOY BOYS
Advance ticket purchase strongly recommended!
Award winning guitarist Duke Robillard has traveled the world over for the last 40 years entertaining audiences with his special blend of blues and classic jazz. He's recorded with, played with, or produced many of the most important artists of the last several decades including Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Ruth Brown, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. With 20 albums under his own name and many more as guitarist with countless artists, Duke has achieved what many only dream of, having worked with many of his legendary musical heros. But there is one project that has been in the back of his mind since he heard Ivie Anderson, Helen Humes and Billie Holiday nearly 40 years ago - to celebrate the rich era of women song stylists from the thirties to the fifties - women who brought poise and class to the great American songs of the time, and who interpreted the best lyrics of the American master songwriters with depth, sincerity, and a personal flair that's all but forgotten today. That project has never been realized until recently when he heard Sunny Crownover sing at a show at Harvard University. Duke says "Her relaxed style and natural stage presence started the wheels turning. I felt I had finally found the vocalist I had been hoping to discover for so many years." Duke wasted no time finding material and enlisting a crew of great musicians to join forces, and Sunny and Her Joy Boys were born. Billy Novick joined in on clarinet and alto sax, an acknowledged master of his instruments. Billy has toured for 35 years, has been a member of the acclaimed New Black Eagle Jazz Band for two decades, and has five solo CDs and nine duo CDs with Guy Van Duser. Jon Ross was chosen on acoustic bass for his rhythmically propulsive sound. Jon has played with many great artists in many genres, Kim Wilson and James Cotton among them; he is also the current bass player for the Duke Robillard Band. Guitarist Paul Kolesnikow and Duke have been playing together in duo, trio and quartet situations for many years now and he helps with the group's arrangements. He also performs with the Bohemian Quartet. Duke is proud of and excited about this new musical venture, which for him is the realization of a lifelong dream. Don't miss the debut performance of Sunny and Her Joy Boys!
NOVEMBER
Partial programming support provided by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
- The collage exhibit by George Sargent will continue in BRT's Art Gallery through November 15. From November 16 to December 9, the BRT Art Gallery will showcase photographs of Ireland by Russell Gusetti.
- Check the Classes link for details about another round of 5-week fiddle classes starting in late October through November 25 and 26! All classes are taught by Cathy Clasper Torch. Our Irish step dance classes taught by Terry Songini will continue on Saturdays and Tuesdays in November through November 25.
- Blackstone River Theatre will hold its annual Homecoming Concert and Silent Auction fund-raiser on November 29th this year! As always, we welcome any donations of artwork, goods or services, or gift certificates from local businesses and individuals who support our mission. Contact russell@riverfolk.org if you'd like to help!
Saturday, November 1, 8:00 PM, $12.00
THE EMERALD RAE TRIO
Emerald Rae was a hit at the 2nd annual Blackstone River Theatre Celtic Festival...don't miss her BRT debut! The Boston Globe says, "If her charismatic debut disc "Contemplaytion" is any proof, Rae may be Boston's next fiddle wunderkind. Her sound is rooted deep in the robust Cape Breton style, but delivered in an enticingly modern and personal way. Her fiddling is technically spot-on, yet elegantly earthy, her bow merrily bouncing along the strings, as though unable to resist joining the dance." Besides having an effervescent stage personae and a flair for writing tunes, Emerald Rae is U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion (2004), and graduate of Berklee College of Music (2006) where she majored in Film Scoring. She is currently completing a Masters Thesis in Early Scottish Fiddle Sources through the University of Glasgow after spending a year researching in Scotland. Emerald is also a talented Cape Breton Step dancer and has danced for such fiddling giants as Alasdair Fraser and Natalie MacMaster. She brings youthful vigor and energy to ancient melodies while forging new pathways for her own clever compositions. Live performances feature an eclectic mix of fiddle styles, pulling influences from Scotland, Ireland and Appalachia and Scandinavia, all delivered with her unique style and grace. Emerald will be joined by two fine musicians, Chris Stevens on accordion and Flynn Cohen on guitar.
Friday, November 7, 8:00 PM, $20.00 advance/$22.00 day of show
ROOMFUL OF BLUES
Advance ticket purchase strongly recommended! This show has sold out in advance the past four times... don't wait to reserve your tickets!
Here's a VERY rare chance to hear this amazing band in an intimate listening room setting! USA Today says Roomful of Blues plays "marvelous wall-to-wall grooves... between the wicked guitar work and the brassy horn section, things never stop swinging." With their masterful combination of jumping, hard-edged blues and R&B, it's no wonder why the great Count Basie called them "the hottest blues band I've ever heard." DownBeat said the band is "in a class by itself." Without a doubt, Roomful of Blues is all this and more. Since 1967, the band's deeply rooted, horn-driven blend of swing, rock 'n' roll, jump, blues and soul has earned it five Grammy Award nominations and a slew of other accolades, including four W.C. Handy Blues Awards. The band has always boasted great musicianship featuring a stellar horn section - they won two W.C. Handy Blues Awards in 2004: Instrumentalist of the Year - Horns, as well as the coveted Blues Band of the Year. Remaining together for so long is not simply a matter of survival, but rather a testament to Roomful of Blues' commitment to its originality and its ability to evolve. Over the years, Roomful's lineup has changed but the band has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world. Currently a 7-piece unit led by guitarist Chris Vachon, the band has never sounded fresher or stronger. With new vocalist/harpist Dave Howard, bassist Dima Gorodetsky, drummer Ephraim Lowell, keyboardist Travis Colby, and baritone and tenor saxophonist Mark Earley along with long-time tenor and alto saxophonist Rich Lataille (the longest-standing member of the group.) Their newest CD "Standing Room Only" swings with urgency and purpose.
Saturday, November 15, 1:00 PM, $5.00 children/$7.00 adults
The Toe Jam Puppet Band Pirate Show - Back by popular demand!
This show played to a standing room only crowd this spring and we sadly had to turn many families away... don't wait this time...order your tickets today!
Ideal for families with children ages 4-and-up. Formed in 2000, the Toe Jam Puppet Band is great with kids, but best when parents are also there having fun with the little ones. The shows are always very active, encouraging kids and parents to sing and dance along with the band as they entertain with a unique combination of original songs, puppetry, storytelling and just plain old fun! Big kids Vinny Lovegrove and Tom Poitras will lead the crowd during Toe Jam's newest theme show - The Toe Jam Pirate Show! Arrrrrrrgh! Dance piratey jigs with the Toe Jam crew like, 'The Skull & Crossbones Square Dance,' and a line dance called 'Pirates Arrrr Funky,' where the kids become dancing lobsters, seagulls and even dancing sharks! Join us in all your pirate gear and climb aboard - a great time for kids of all ages! Face or hand paintings by Ellen will be available 30 minutes before the show and 30 minutes after the show!
Saturday, November 15, 8:00 PM, $10.00
A SWING DANCE WITH SUPERCHIEF TRIO
There will be some seats set up along the sides of BRT if you are not a dancer but tonight we bring back Superchief Trio for their first official swing dance at BRT! The Rhode Island roots/blues band Superchief Trio features Keith Munslow on piano and vocals, Pam Murray on trombone and vocals and Johnny Coté on percussion. Able to leap seamlessly from New Orleans grooves to hot swing to smooth, sultry ballads, Superchief Trio proves that big sounds do indeed come in small packages. On their debut CD, "The Devil Knows Me Better," the high-energy trio serves up 14 original tunes that spin tales of dancing and devilment, bad luck and trouble, vanity and vice, love and... sandwiches. Superchief Trio were named the winners of the Motif Magazine Best Music Poll for Best Local Roots Act (2005) and Best Local Release (2006). Pianist Keith Munslow met trombonist Pam Murray at the Providence arts incubator AS220, where they performed together in the Smoking Jackets and the Neo 90s Dance Band. Keith and drummer Johnny Cote played together in the Big Nazo band, and soon Johnny became the drummer for the Neo 90s. Keith and Pam began playing gigs at a dim and smoky basement bar (now defunct) called The East Bay Regatta Club. Owing to safety in numbers, Johnny Cote was recruited, and Superchief Trio was born. The casual nature of the place and its heckling denizens encouraged recklessness and experimentation with new songs, new arrangements and inspired a higher level of daredevil musical abandon. Emerging from this subterranean honky-tonk, Superchief Trio continues the tradition of good-time music and barrelhouse hijinks at all their concerts. A fun-filled night of music with plenty of room to dance!
Sunday, November 16, 7:00 PM, $15.00
BUA
Bua was a big hit at the 2nd annual Blackstone River Theatre Celtic Festival...don't miss their BRT debut tonight! A quintet comprised of some of America's most talented, young musicians (four are All-Ireland winners), Bua have been described by Irish Music Magazine as "the essence of a superb band," their sound "a throwback to the playing of the 1960s and 1970s, keeping the music down the path of tradition" and of their 2006 release, "Live at Martyrs'," "a work without gimmicks, where the musicianship is of the highest quality." It is no surprise then that Bua, lending to its Irish Gaelic meaning of 'innate gift,' have quickly risen to the status of one of America's premier traditional Irish music ensembles. From his upbringing in the Chicago Irish music community, co-founding member Chris Bain not only rooted himself within the fiddle traditions of Ireland but the traditions of Scotland and Wales as well. He toured Europe and North America with legendary Welsh triple harpist Robin Huw Bowen, and currently tours with Robin's band Crasdant. Seán Gavin's ornate, driving syncopations on flute, whistle and uilleann pipes clearly reflects his immersion in Irish music. Born in Detroit to Co. Clare fiddler Mick Gavin (an inductee to the Irish Traditional Music Hall of Fame), Seán is the youngest member of Bua. Co-founding Bua member Jackie Moran, born in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, immigrated to Chicago with his family when he was ten. A highly sought-after bodhrán player, Jackie has toured with Riverdance, the Trinitiy Irish Dance Company and others. Brian Miller's DADGAD backing and song accompaniments have earned him a strong reputation as one of the best guitarists on the scene today. Brían Ó hAirt's evocative voice stands as another hallmark of Bua's unique sound. He is the youngest and only American to become a champion All-Ireland singer. Don't miss a high-energy night of Irish traditional music!
Thursday, November 20, 7-9:00 PM, $5.00
BRT DRUM AND DANCE CIRCLE
Blackstone River Theatre's open drum circle focuses on tribal and multi-ethnic rhythms. Beginners and novices are always welcome... the emphasis is on fun and learning! Since its inception, we have regularly had between 15-30 drummers and on many occasions, members of the bellydance community join in. Bring your own hand drum or rhythm instrument or just your dancing feet!
Friday, November 21, 8:00 PM, $10.00
AN EVENING OF OCEAN STATE SONGWRITERS featuring
Mark Cutler, Becky Chace, Dan Lilley and John Fuzek
This is the 6th annual show at BRT where audiences get to hear Rhode Island songwriters performing in an "in the round" format. Tonight's show is a little different in that it features four performers who have been playing together the past three years as Forever Young, performing and interpreting the music of Neil Young. The twist tonight is that these same musicians will be performing their original music instead of cover songs. Each set consists of the four songwriters taking turns performing their original songs with the other musicians occasionally joining in with harmonies or guitar. Casual banter between the performers usually gives a comedic edge to the sets, making the shows even more fun and enjoyable. Scheduled for the show are: Mark Cutler, Becky Chace, Dan Lilley and John Fuzek. For more info about RISA and the artists, please visit www.risongwriters.com.
Saturday, November 22, 8:00 PM, $12.00 advance/$14.00 day of show
THE BOHEMIAN QUARTET
Experience an amazing evening of gypsy music! The Bohemian Quartet is a four-piece string band composed of violin, cello, gypsy guitar and an upright bass. The quartet performs traditional gypsy music as well as traditional Eastern-European folk music. It is sometimes difficult to tell if a tune is 'gypsy' or not for the simple reason that as the Romany musicians moved to the country they would make their homeland, they would pick up the local tunes there and perform these with their personal and unique touch. The Bohemian Quartet is formed around violinist, conductor/arranger Stan Renard. Stan is from France and has travelled extensively throughout Europe collecting tunes via diverse sources (records, transcriptions, interviews etc.) He was the pupil of Veda Reynolds (Curtis) and Alexandre Brussilovsky (Moscow) and made gypsy music his area of expertise. Paul Kolesnikow, gypsy guitar, teaches at Brown University and performs all over New England with musicians such as Duke Robillard. John DeBossu, upright bass, performs in numerous jazz ensembles throughout New England as well as in the Rhode Island Big Band. Christine Harrington, cello, performs regularly with pianist Joe Parillo and is also a member of the Hartford Festival Orchestra. In addition to recording the Grammy-nominated CD "Sandbox" by the Parillo/Harrington Duo, Christine recorded with Johnny Cunningham and Kevin Burke on the CD "Celtic Fiddle Fest" released in 2001.
Saturday, November 29, 8:00 PM, $18.00
BRT HOMECOMING CONCERT AND SILENT AUCTION
featuring Robbie O'Connell & Aoife Clancy, the Atwater-Donnelly Trio, Pendragon and many more to be announced
Advance ticket purchase strongly recommended!
With family and friends in town for Thanksgiving, Blackstone River Theatre's 8th annual fund-raiser will feature some of the best of Rhode Island's homegrown talent as well as others who now live in the Ocean State. This show always sells out and is a great chance to sample some of the best music presented at BRT so get your tickets early! At 7:00 PM and during intermission, Blackstone River Theatre will hold a silent auction featuring CDs, jewelry, original artwork, Christmas items and gift certificates. 100% of the proceeds from both the concert and the silent auction will go to support Blackstone River Theatre's programming and operating expenses.
DECEMBER
Partial programming support provided by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
- The exhibit of Russell Gusetti's photographs of Ireland continues in BRT's Art Gallery through December 13.
- Blackstone River Theatre will shut down for the holiday season starting December 14 and will reopen again on January 9. We wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season with best wishes for a peaceful new year!
- Blackstone River Theatre gift certificates make a great gift for friends and family of all ages!
Saturday, December 6, 8:00 PM, $18.00 advance/$20.00 day of show
PENDRAGON and ATWATER-DONNELLY TRIO HOLIDAY SHOW
Advance ticket purchase recommended!
Though Pendragon is celebrating 25 years together in 2008 and Atwater-Donnelly has been together for over 21 years, tonight marks the first joint concert by these two well-known New England groups! Expect the unexpected... songs, poetry, carols, dancing... as each group will perform on their own and also join in on some holiday pieces together. Plans are also under way to include some Victorian Carolers and some special dance guests! Stay tuned for more details....
Saturday, December 13, 11:00 AM, $5.00 children/$7.00 adults
ROSALITA'S PUPPETS - Mrs. Claus and the Ice Queen
Ideal for ages 4-and-up. Rudolph the Red-nosed Dragon is living happily at the North Pole with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Everyone is getting ready to deliver presents for the holidays when tragedy strikes and Santa mysteriously falls ill. Was it the apple pie the stranger gave Santa to eat? Or was it the Ice Queen's evil spell? Will Rudolph be tempted by the Ice Queen to leave the North Pole and work for her? Will the Ice Queen use her gold to turn good hearts cold and spoil the spirit of the Holidays? Can Mrs. Claus save the day and make sure Santa is able to ride his sleigh? Come out and discover the answers to these questions this holiday season as Rosalita's Puppets brings another original show with many of your favorite puppet characters and a few new ones to Blackstone River Theatre. As always, this show includes songs, audience participation and is ideal for the whole family! Face or hand paintings by Ellen will be available 30 minutes before the show and 30 minutes after the show!
Saturday, December 13, 8:00 PM, $18.00/$20.00 day of show
Robbie O'Connell and Aoife Clancy Christmas Celebration
Advance ticket purchase recommended!
Tonight's Christmas show brings together two great voices of Irish music - Aoife Clancy and Robbie O'Connell - joined by fiddler George Keith. Aoife Clancy (pronounced "Eefa") brings a refreshing new voice to folk music, one that ranges from traditional Irish songs to ballads and contemporary folk. Aoife comes from the small town of Carrick-on-Suir, in Co Tipperary, where her musical career began at an early age. Her father Bobby Clancy placed a guitar in her hands at age ten, and by age fourteen was playing with her father in nearby pubs. She later moved to Dublin, where she studied drama at the Gaiety School of Acting. In 1995 Aoife was asked to join the acclaimed group Cherish the Ladies, one of the most sought-after Irish American groups in history. Since 1999, Aoife has pursued a solo career and clearly established herself as one of the divas of Irish and contemporary folk music. Robbie O'Connell was born in Waterford, Ireland and grew up in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. In 1977, he joined the Clancy Brothers with whom he recorded 3 albums. With the 1982 release of his first solo album, "Close to the Bone," Robbie emerged as an artist of major stature. Soon after, he began touring with Mick Moloney and Jimmy Keane, and also with Eileen Ivers and Seamus Egan in the Green Fields of America. Robbie has taught songwriting at the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshop in West Virginia and has earned international acclaim as a singer-songwriter by making it quite clear that there's more to being Irish than filling stereotypes. Don't miss an amazing evening of songs and laughter as Robbie and Aoife celebrate the Christmas holiday and the traditions they grew up with in Ireland...
Blackstone River Theatre wishes you a very safe and happy holiday season and a peaceful new year! We look forward to seeing you in 2009!
UPCOMING SCHEDULE - More will be announced!
Partial programming support provided by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission
Friday, January 9
THE WIYOS
Friday, February 13
RORY RAVEN - Mentalist and mindbender
Saturday, February 21
MATT & SHANNON HEATON - CD release
Saturday, February 28
LIADAN
Saturday, March 14
MALINKY
Sunday, March 15
PENDRAGON
Saturday, May 9
NORTH SEA GAS
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