Okee dokee folks… Lately one of my cats has decided that sitting on my lap while I am at the computer is his new thing to do. This makes working on the computer quite difficult, but it makes scratching his head quite easy. When I had dogs they would just lie next to the desk chair or occasionally rest their heads in my lap if they wanted me to take them for a walk. I miss that. Cats demand it all. They don’t care what you are doing; they just want you to stop and focus on them. I just sat down at the computer to write and it was like there was a silent siren calling him onto my lap. He got up, got comfy and waited for the scratching to commence. Of course I obliged and he got his massage, but I got a delay in writing and some new claw marks in my thigh. The more he likes the attention the more his sharp claws dig into my leg. Is this a sadomasochistic relationship? Geez, I hope not! Read on…
Let’s get the “read it and run” shows out of the way first! Rock legend Andy Pratt (“Avenging Annie” and “Summer Summer”) will be at the Route 44 Music Series at The Harmony Lodge in Harmony on Thursday, March 7 at 7:30pm. Opening the show will be Heather Rose (hearinrhodeisland.com). Allysen Callery, Dan Blakeslee and Andrew Victor will perform on March 7 at Pump House Music Works in Peacedale. Don’t forget about the Pump House’s Monthly Open Mic and Potluck on March 30 (pumphousemusicworks.com). Thursday, March 7, Askew has International Women’s Night featuring poetry, song and even a little stand up comedy by Ali McGuirk, Nat Ále, Proper Lovers, Briana White, Ashley Frith, Nika Z, Kate Mick, Jodie Treloar Sampson, Chrissy Stewart, Lynny Bryan, Africia Ben, Jen Long, Jane Hesser, Meg Renee, Grace Goodrich and Loveday. A portion of the evening’s profits will benefit Girls Rock Rhode Island (askewprov.com). Canadian singer-songwriter Garnet Rogers performs at Music in the Gallery concert on Friday, March 8 at the James Arnold Mansion located at 427 County Street in New Bedford. Rogers will present his memorable music punctuated with witty banter (brownpapertickets.com/even
Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland has music from Scotland, Quebec and Ireland as part of their March lineup. On March 10 it will be Heron Valley, whose roots lie in Scottish and Irish traditional music, but have been influenced by various folk, country and bluegrass sounds. On March 16, the award-winning band Le Vent du Nord will hit the BRT stage as a quintet with the addition of fiddler Andre Brunet (Celtic Fiddle Festival, La Bottine Souriante). Le Vent du Nord is a leading force in Quebec’s progressive francophone folk movement. March 24 brings one of the best Irish bands in the world to BRT: Lunasa. And on March 30, award-winning fiddler Jane Rothfield and Scottish singer and guitarist Allan Carr will be joined in a split concert by The Vox Hunters-Armand Aromin and Benedict Gagliardi. Fore more, jig on to riverfolk.org
For all you singer-songwriter types out there, the NewSong Music and the LEAF Festival announce the 6th Annual LEAF Singer-Songwriter Competition. The competition aims to bring some of the country’s most accomplished emerging artists to showcase, network and compete at the 48th LEAF Festival, which takes place May 9 – 12. The LEAF Festival Competition is accepting original song submissions through April 11. The grand prize winner will be awarded a paid, featured performance at the Fall 2019 LEAF Festival, held October 17 – 20 in Black Mountain, NC. For more, compose on over to newsong-music.com
The Rhode Island Songwriters Association (RISA) has two showcases coming up this month. The first one is in Tiverton at Sandywoods Center for the Arts on Friday, March 15 and features performances by Mark Stepanoff, Nellie Walcoff and Jeff Johnstone, Tracie Potochnik, Katherine Quinn and Little Black Heart. This is a BYOB show. The following night, March 16, RISA is at the Brooklyn Coffee, Tea and Guest House on Douglas Ave in Providence. The line-up for this one is Mark Cutler, Mike Laureanno and Josh Schurman. These showcases spotlight the talents of RISA members and visiting artists as writers, musicians and performers. For more, risongwriters.com
Natalie McMaster and Donnell Leahy play the Zeiterion on March 17. McMaster is a Juno award winning Cape Breton fiddler who was step dancing before she could walk, and Donnell Leahy is the star fiddler of the Leahy Family band, a Juno Award-winning Canadian folk group. In 2002 they were married and became Canada’s ruling couple of Celtic music. They have performed at RI’s Rhythm and Roots festival a few times and are one of the most popular acts they have. They usually have some, if not all, of their six kids in tow as part of the performance. They are all remarkably talented as well. For more, rosin over to: zeiterion.org
I have been a lifelong fan of the band Yes, but I never thought I would hear the music performed by anyone other than them. Awaken has proved me wrong. They are composed of seasoned musicians dedicated to celebrating the music of Yes. By combining elements from the original studio recordings along with the inspirational power of past live Yes performances, Awaken provides a truly authentic and dramatic musical experience that will impress even the most critical and passionate Yes fans. Catch them live on Saturday, March 16 at the Courthouse Center for the Arts in Kingston. Also coming up is Satisfaction on March 8, Capricorn on March 9, Whole Lotta Heart on March 22 and Barefoot Rebel on March 23. For more, “Roundabout” to courthousearts.org
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. JohnFuzek.com
