5 Live Music Musts - April 3, 2015
Ken Abrams, GoLocalProv Music Critic
5 Live Music Musts - April 3, 2015
This weekend, “5 Live” features some great artists at some top local venues. Get out and enjoy some music! UPDATE: Due to a last minute cancellation by Arborea, RI rockers Vudu Sister will be joining Allysen Callery at Sandywoods tonight April 3.
Zoetical Festival - Arc Iris and Friends at Aurora
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Zoetical Festival is a creation of Rhode Island indie sensation Arc Iris. We picked Arc Iris as one of our 15 to Watch in 2015 - this is one reason why. The band, led by former Low Anthem-ite Jocie Adams, has put together a glam inspired festival at Aurora over the next four Fridays. The band promises that “Aurora will be the rainbow road between a 70's Glam Rock concert and a futuristic space station cocktail lounge.” Tonight, Arc Iris will be joined by Penn Sultan, The 'Mericans, and The Big Nazo Intergalactic Creature Band. The Festival continues every Friday in April. Music starts around 8PM, and expect it to go on all night. Tickets are $10 - more information here.
Allysen Callery and Vudu Sister at Sandywoods
Also tonight, don’t miss a dark and mystical show at Sandywoods with Allysen Callery and Vudu Sister. Callery is well known in these parts for her “ghost folk” melodies, as well as her take on some unlikely re-worked covers. Rhode Island roots rockers Vudu Sister are also likely to stir up a ghost or two. Show begins at 7:30PM - tickets are $12 at the door. BYOB and BYOF!
Marshall Tucker Band at Stadium Theatre
An original “outlaw country” band if there ever was one, the Marshall Tucker Band will be at the Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket tomorrow night. The band is known for hit singles like “Heard it in a Love Song,” and “Can’t You See.” They’ll bring those hits and more to Woonsocket’s Stadium Theatre. Little known fact - no one with the name Marshall Tucker ever played in the band, the name was taken from the owner of a building they were rehearing in. Show is at 8PM – tickets start at $29.
Lisa Fischer at Park Theatre
For those who don’t know her, Lisa Fischer is a superstar back-up singer and word class solo artist to boot. We previewed this concert in GoLocal last week and discovered that she also has a vast and passionate fan base. This show ranks as a “not-to-be-missed” event this weekend. Catch her along with her kick ass band, Grand Baton, tomorrow night at 8PM at the Park Theatre in Cranston – tickets start at $35.
George Winston at Narrows
Pianist George Winston rose to prominance as part of the New Age movement of the 1980's. His albums chronicling the four seasons made him one of the top performers of the genre. His influences are more diverse - including artists like John Coltrane, Dr. John and The Doors. He's bringing his keys to the Narrows Center in Fall River tomorrow night, show begins at 8PM, tickets are $50.
Have suggestions for 5 Live? E-Mail Ken Abrams here.
Top 5 Spring Concerts
John Mellencamp at PPAC
John Mellencamp is playing the Providence Performing Arts Center April 16th on the final leg of his “Plain Spoken" tour of over 80 cities. Reviews from the tour have been spectacular, with critics noting the singer sounds better than ever. The “Voice of the Heartland” has some great stories to tell. His latest mostly acoustic album, Plain Spoken, has an Americana bent, and has been compared to Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks. Special guest Carlene Carter opens for Mellencamp.
Lisa Fischer at Park
Grammy winner Lisa Fischer will be playing the Park Theatre in Cranston on April 4. You may not know her name, but you definitely know her voice; she’s been a background singer for artists as varied as Luther Vandross, Sting, and most notably, the Rolling Stones, who she’s toured with since the late 80’s. Her vocals on “Gimme Shelter” propelled her career, and landed her a central role on the Oscar winning film “20 Feet From Stardom,” a documentary about background singers (which by the way, we highly recommend). Fischer will be in town leading her top notch R&B/Jazz band Grand Baton.
Kacey Musgraves at Lupos
Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves will be at Lupos Friday March 27. Musgraves is a sassy upstart who made a splash with her hit “Follow Your Arrow,” a song that has become an anthem for many young country fans. The tune comes from her album Same Trailer, Different Park, which debuted at #1 on the Country charts in 2013. The album won a Grammy in 2013 for Best Country Album and Best Country Song in 2014 for “Follow Your Arrow.” Not too shabby a way to start a career!
David Lindley at Lilypads
One of the greatest sidemen in Rock and Roll history will be at Lilypads in Peacedale on May 16. David Lindley is well known for his work with Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt and numerous others, live and in the studio. He’s always done his own thing as well, touring with just about every instrument ever fitted with strings. You’ve heard his voice before too, singing falsetto on “Stay” from the classic Jackson Brown album, Running on Empty.
Sandywoods Folk Festival
A new Memorial Day Weekend tradition begins this year with the Sandywoods Folk Festival. The first annual event with headliners like Antje Duvekot and Christine Lavin will be held “in the fields” at Sandywoods, an arts community in Tiverton. There’s a wide variety of talent scheduled over two days and the Festival jabs Newport with its “Pay What You Can” policy. (Not to mention, bottled water for only $1 a bottle!) All the details can be found here – be sure to get out and support some great local and national artists!
Honorable Mention - Rock
A whole bunch of rock shows are coming to town over the next couple of months. Lupos has Neutral Milk Hotel April 19, Scott Bradley's Post Modern Jukebox on May 1 and Of Monsters and Men on May 9. Twin River has shows with Sugar Ray and The Gin Blossons March 20, The Beach Boys April 17, and Steve Miller June 19. The Met has indie-rock supergroup Diamond Rugs on March 28 and legendary guitarist Richard Thompson April 19.
Mellow Rock in Kingston
The Courthouse Center for the Arts in Kingston has an impressive line-up of 70’s rockers this Spring starting this Saturday night March 21 with folk singer Melanie. Follow that on March 27 with the Pousette-Dart Band, Jonathan Edwards on April 18, and Pure Prairie League on May 2. John Ford Coley closes things out on May 30. And in between, the Center has RI’s top tribute band, Forever Young, interpreting the tunes of Neil Young on April 25, and the highly regarding Bluegrass Gospel Project on May 23. The soft rock beat continues into the summer with Livingston Taylor on June 27.
The Coffee House Scene
The local Coffee House scene remains busy until the annual summer break. Common Fence Music in Portsmouth has modern Bluegrass band Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys on March 28 and The Gnomes on April 18. Head to Stone Soup in Pawticket March 21 for Antje Duvekot and return on April 11 for Gordon Bok. Also, check out the Zoetical Festival with Rhode Island's own Arc Iris in residence at Aurora in Providence every Friday in April. Lots happening!
Rock, Folk, Jazz and More
The Narrows Center has Rock, Folk, Blue and Jazz royalty passing through this Spring. The Fall River venue has original Buffalo Springfield member Richie Furray leading his band on March 19, New Age pianist George Winston April 4, and Paul Barrere, Fred Tackett and the New Orleans Suspects on April 9. Suzzy Bogguss is there April 17 and Bruce Coburn visits May 11. A major Jazz show featuring the Gerry Gibbs Thrasher Dream Trio with Kenny Barron and Ron Carter is scheduled for April 25.
