Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this piece are those of the artist and not necessarily those of Motif, other writers or staff. Grammy Award Nominee and platinum-selling artist Five for Fighting (aka John Ondrasik) has kicked off his current tour with the October String Quartet, which includes esteemed Broadway musicians, and will perform over two […]
Okee dokee folks … I am VERY tempted to start off my review with the refrain, “So Good, So Good,” heard many times throughout the jukebox musical, A Beautiful Noise, but I am not that corny, or am I? Well, it was “So good!” The Story Behind a Beautiful Noise A Beautiful Noise is the […]
Okee dokee folks … “Happy Farm Aid!” is a phrase that was exclaimed by performers and fans many times over at the sold out, 39th annual Farm Aid concert in Saratoga, NY. I should correct myself here though, Farm Aid is much more than a concert, it’s more of a day of awareness with a […]
Welcome to Autumn – and – welcome to another edition of Stop, Rock n Roll! Here are five local releases to carry some summer into your fall: GEORGE RICHTER – “INFINITE TEXAS” George Richter, a Rhode Island musician and member of bands Smug Honey and Liminal Space, recently released a new solo EP, Tributary. The […]
Music is universal. It transcends age, culture, religion, and nationalistic borders. At any moment, the right piece can cut through ages of political, social, and dogmatic segregation. It can create a shared experience that defies decades of prejudice. That’s what makes music so special. Despite its ability to connect us to the human condition, music […]
On August 1, I sat at the bar in a sold-out Blue Room (Cranston live music venue) and noticed the comfort, joy, and heartache Chris Capaldi’s music can bring to a space. This was the record release show for Capaldi’s 4-song EP Smaller Fires. It was apparent that each song was crafted with story and […]
Okee dokee folks … Before I do anything, I want to send a shout-out and a BIG THANK YOU to all who attended, performed at – and helped run the Rhode Island Folk Festival this year. I will just name a few here – Beth Barron, Allysen Callery, Anthony Loffredio, Jen Long, Dave Carney, Jaimie […]
Rhode Island’s longest-running premiere sketch-comedy showcase, the Empire Revue, is a curation of original sketches and songs, with the music of the Empire Revue House Band featuring special guest comedians, musicians, and other performing artists. Summer is a great time to escape, and August 11, allowed us to do just that! The show is billed […]
Okee dokee folks … Music venues seem to be an ever changing landscape in Rhode Island. They come and they go. Some open with big promises of support and shows, but just crash and burn on the runway. Others surprisingly flourish like a weed through the cracks of a sidewalk. Around here, it’s very hard […]
It’s sad news that Wes’ Rib House and The Boiler Room will be closing after only seven months of operations. I’ve heard some say, as they always do when a venue closes, the Providence music scene is dead. This seems a tad melodramatic. Certainly, it’s sad to lose another venue but what was iconic about […]