Shemekia Copeland
This is a 18+ event with standing room only 17 and under admitted with a parent or guardian Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. The multi-GRAMMY nominee is beloved and honored worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory songs, as well as for her winning, engaging personality. The Chicago Tribune says, “Copeland is the greatest female blues vocalist working today. There’s no mistaking the majesty of her instrument, nor the ferocity of her delivery.” On Copeland’s new album, Blame It On Eve, the songs all hit hard, with jaw-dropping performances that instantly take hold and command repeated listening. “There’s serious business on the new album,” Copeland says, “but there are a lot of smiles here too, a lot of joyous moments. It’s my blues for sure but it’s the brighter side. Issues are always important to me, but so is rocking, dancing and just having fun. And that’s something we all can all agree on.” Blame It On Eve was recorded in Nashville and produced by instrumentalist/songwriter Will Kimbrough (who also produced her previous three albums). It features 12 new songs that tackle subjects as important as a woman’s right to choose and climate change, but also leaves space for Copeland to have fun and unwind. From the autobiographical, rocking blues boogie Tough Mother to the anthemic title track’s good-humored but serious focus on reproductive self-determination to the happy hour of Wine O’Clock, Copeland is inspired throughout. Famed multi-instrumentalist Jerry Douglas adds his dobro to the fascinating, true story of Tee Tot Payne, the obscure early 20th century Alabama musician who taught Hank Williams the blues, and sacred steel player DaShawn Hickman brings his magic to the feisty and uplifting Tell The Devil. Shemekia’s friend, roots-rocker Alejandro Escovedo, joins in on the anguished, celestial query Is There Anybody Up There?. On the sad lover’s tale Belle Sorciere, Copeland sings the chorus in French, with the haunting melody composed by Pascal Danae of the Paris-based band Delgres (who were recently featured on the cover of Rolling Stone France). Copeland’s blistering, deep blues delivery of Down On Bended Knee—by her late father, the great bluesman Johnny Copeland—sets up the thought-provoking closer Heaven Help Us All, a song originally made famous first by Stevie Wonder and later by Ray Charles. Taken as a whole, the passionate, charismatic, joyous and at times confrontational Blame It On Eve is bound to become among the most celebrated releases of Copeland’s impressive, still-unfolding career. With Blame It On Eve, Copeland embarks on what she calls “a vacation from all the heaviness.” Blame It On Eve contains plenty of Copeland’s trademark bold and courageous songs, but here Copeland is also looking to unplug from the weight of world. “My last three records have dealt with breaking news,” she says. “This record is for people like me who want a break from the news.”
Gerald Clayton Trio 6pm & 9pm
This is a family friendly event with the first show starting at 6pm and the second starting at 9pmGerald Clayton Trio Four-time GrammyⓇ-nominated pianist and composer Gerald Clayton’s innovative approach to jazz has charmed audiences and critics across the globe. Son of bass player and composer John Clayton, Gerald’s training began young, and he honors the legacy of his father and all his musical ancestors through a commitment to artistic exploration, innovation, and reinvention. Clayton studied with piano icon Billy Childs and fellow Festival performer Kenny Barron. He has performed and recorded with artists including Diana Krall, Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, Ambrose Akinmusire, Dayna Stephens, Kendrick Scott, John Scofield, and Avishai Cohen. If you would like to purchase tickets to the 6pm showing click here 6 pm ConcertIf you would like to purchase tickets to the 9pm showing click here 9 pm Concert
Nduduzo Makhathini Quartet at 6pm & 9pm
This is a family friendly event with the first show starting at 6pm and the second starting at 9pm Nduduzo Makhathini Quartet Nduduzo Makhathini, pianoLogan Richardson, saxophone – Zwelakhe Duma Bell, bass – Francisco Mela, drumsSouth African jazz pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini blends traditional jazz and innovative storytelling. He heads the music department at Fort Hare University, and has performed at festivals including the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and Essence Festival (New Orleans and South Africa), and in 2019 made his debut appearances at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, where he was a featured guest with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. If you would like to purchase tickets to the 6pm showing click here 6 pm ConcertIf you would like to purchase tickets to the 9pm showing click here 9 pm Concert
The California Honeydrops – Bye Bye Baby Tour
This is a 21 and over event. “The California Honeydrops…evoke the greasy rumble of Booker T and channel the spiritual ecstasy of Sly and the Family Stone.”-Rolling StoneFormed in the subway systems of Oakland, retro-soul outfit The California Honeydrops are an electrifying group that defy convention at every turn. They’ve become a mainstay at festivals including Byron Bay Blues fest (Australia), Outside Lands, Monterey Jazz, Lightning In A Bottle, and touring with B.B. King, Dr. John, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, and Allen Toussaint. Led by the enigmatic and energetic frontman, Lech Wierzynski, and drummer Benjamin Malament, each member of the band is a virtuoso in their own rite—Yanos “Johnny Bones” Lustig on saxophone, Lorenzo Loera on keyboards/guitar, Beaumont Beaullieu on bass, and regularly accompanied by Scott Messersmith on percussion, Oliver Tuttle on trombone, Leon Cotter on saxophone/clarinet, and Miles Lyons on trombone/sousaphone—navigating through a vast repertoire of original songs and timeless classics every night. But what truly sets them apart is their unwavering commitment to the art of improvisation-a skill so finely honed that they have completely abandoned the use of set lists and no two shows are ever the same. Off stage, their music has been streamed more than 200 million times, and placed in a variety of TV and films, including “Dead To Me,” “Alaska Daily,” “Black-ish” and more. They are currently touring North America in support of their new deluxe album, ‘Soft Spot’.
