Roots Report

Okee dokee folks…Well, spring is officially here. This doesn’t mean that winter is finished with us. A friend already pulled up his snow stakes which all but guarantees another storm! We live in New England where we can experience a full year of seasons in one day! I will never forget the year when we had a snow day on my 16th birthday, IN MAY! A sure sign of spring is that the peepers are peeping. They have peeped in the snow but hopefully they won’t have to this year. The sound of peepers has to be one of nature’s most beautiful. I know we already selected the Motif RI Music Award winners but those birds surely deserve one for nature’s best chorus! Read on… 

For the past year, local singer-songwriter, Steve Allain has been hosting a monthly music series at The Graduate in Downtown PVD. I’m a Rhode Islander so it will always be the Biltmore to me. Besides, that’s where my senior prom was! 

The series celebrates its first anniversary with a fundraising show on April 2, from 5 – 7:30pm.. The Graduate Sessions is a free songwriter series that happens on the first Sunday of every month and is held at Poindexter Coffee, a cozy, vintage-style cafe located inside the historic Graduate Hotel. This series has brought together some of the best singer-songwriters from New England performing original music, acoustically, and in-the-round. The one-year anniversary show will be raising money for Sojourner House. Sojourner House is a victim service agency that provides support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. All of the songwriters performing at the show are donating their time and talent. One hundred percent of the money raised at the show, and through the GoFundMe campaign (https://gofund.me/6b02e892), will go directly to Sojourner House. Free street parking is available on Sundays in PVD. Featured performers: Mark Cutler, Kala Farnham, Allison Rose, Nate Cozzolino, Nicole Gauthier, Kris & Tara Hansen, Vudu Sister, Morgan Johnston, et moi. For more, “Pomp and Circumstance” over to: facebook.com/events/252672537097247

A night of local talent will take place at the Stadium Theatre’s Open Mic Night Artist Showcase on April 13 at 7:30. The evening is filled with performances by both groups and solo artists performing music that spans multiple genres. Brayden Fanti, Heidi Keith, Merynn Flynn, Roger LaCroix, Deb Aufiero, Joel “Average Joel” Kahn, Brian James, Joe Lanctot, Valentina McCarthy, and The Frederick Chamberlain Band are all scheduled to appear. The show happens in the Marquee Room so seating is limited. Also coming up at The Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre in Woonsocket: Swan Lake, Divas of Drag, Talking Heads Tribute, Doo Wop Project, One Night of Queen, Dino’s Lounge, Moody Blues Tribute, and many others. For more, vaudeville to:  StadiumTheatre.com.

If you had a chance to watch the Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over documentary, you surely will want to see Dionne perform live. This film takes you through the ups and downs, life and legacy of the famed singer. For over 65 years Warwick has been recording and performing, which has earned her a spot on many a “One of the Greatest Artists of All Time” list. She is well known for singing many Burt Bacharach/Hal David songs and making many of them charting hits. You probably have heard a song or two from her on the radio — “Promises, Promises,” “Alfie,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,””This Girl’s in Love with You,””I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “Valley of the Dolls,” “Then Came You,” “I’ll Never Love this Way Again,” “That’s What Friends Are for,” and many more. Warwick is now 82 and who knows how much longer she will be touring. The time is now to see this legend live! Dionne Warwick will be at Bally’s Twin River Event Center in Lincoln on April 8. For more, don’t “Walk On By,” get to: Casinos.Ballys.com/Lincoln

The Greenwich Odeum has been on a roll booking shows and selling them out!

When a show is added, it is best to get your tickets early. TWO of my all time favorite bands will be performing a double bill on April 14 – Orleans and Firefall. Both have lots of hits and can easily play their own full shows but they have been teaming up at many auditoriums across the country. Orleans is known for their hits, “Dance with Me,” “Still the One,” “Let There Be Music,” and Firefall for “Strange Way,” “You Are the Woman,” “Just Remember I Love You,” but both have so many other songs you will certainly know. These bands represent some of the best music from one of the best eras of music. Here is your chance to see them both at once! Also coming up at The Odeum: Will Evans, Joan Osborne, Pure Prairie League, Debbie Gibson, and many others. For more, take the Clouds Across the Sun to:  GreenwichOdeum.com 

The Zeiterion in New Bedford will host On Your Feet!, for one night only, April 12. This true story is about heart, heritage and two people who believed in their talent, and each other, to become international sensations — Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The tale has been turned into an original musical that has been winning the hearts of critics and audiences alike. On Your Feet! features some of the most iconic songs of the past quarter-century, including “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Get on Your Feet,” “Don’t Want to Lose You Now,”  and “Coming Out of the Dark.” For more, “1-2-3” over to: Zeiterion.org

That’s it for now. Don’t forget you can listen to my podcasts – Susan Cowsill, and Robin Lane, to name a couple of recent episodes, at: MotifRI.com/RootsReportPodcast. You can also find my concert photographs at MotifRI.com/FuzeksFotos. Thanks for reading and listening. JohnFuzek.com