Filed under: Concerts
Hey, the New Haven Advocate did a nifty interview with Vance Gilbert this week, our next performer. Nice! http://www.newhavenadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=16546
Filed under: Concerts
Vance Gilbert lighting up the universe
Next Friday: Vance Gilbert in the house! And we’re pleased to announce that we’ve invited the dynamite Sarah LeMieux to do a short opening set at 7:30 pm. [Tickets on sale now... save money by purchasing online ahead of time.]
Sarah LeMieux
Sarah LeMieux is a blues and jazz singer, songwriter and guitarist. Featured at the 2007 and 2008 National Women in Blues Festivals, Sarah also appeared on the JoMar records’ Women in Blues compilation CD alongside such greats as Sophie Kay and Gina Sicilia. Her smoky, silky voice, and unique brand of “storytelling” blues and jazz are all over her CD “Superbleu” like gravy on a biscuit. You can get a little taste at virb.com/sarahlemieux.
Meanwhile, if you’re still on the fence about Vance Gilbert, consider this:
We could rave about his spellbinding live show …. his deliriously virtuosic singing… his accomplished guitar style… his outrageous, edgy humor… And then there’s his songwriting…. first-class by any standard.
Vance Gilbert burst onto the singer/songwriter scene in the early 90’s when the buzz started spreading in the folk clubs of Boston about an ex-jazz singer who was knocking them dead at open mikes. Astute music fans sat up and took notice when Shawn Colvin invited Vance Gilbert to be special guest on her Fat City tour.
Since then, Vance has recorded seven CDs that are staples of adult contemporary radio, and has recorded with Ellis Paul, Tuck and Patti, Jane Siberry and other notable artists. Words like “brilliant,” “passionate,” and “enthralling.” accompany the reviews of his live shows.
Vance is so funny, so warm, and so endearing in person that you could safely bring someone who says they “don’t like folk music”to this show and you’ make a convert. He’ not just a folk musician, he’s a showman and a writer and and a very funny guy.
Dirty Linen magazine: “His lyrics are highly personal, his tenor vocals fluid and enthralling… passionate vocal delivery, brilliantly intuitive guitar playing, and immeasurable courage…gives you a feeling of utter joy.”
Sing Out! magazine: Vance Gilbert is a “musical visionary extraordinare.”
The Boston Globe: “Young songwriters should study (Vance’s songs) the way law students cram for bar exams.”
To sample Vance’s music, visit his web page: www.vancegilbert.com
Vance Gilbert in concert on Friday, Feb. 5 2010
First Presbyterian Church 704 Whitney Avenue, New Haven
First Fridays acoustic concert series
Tickets are available on line at www.ctfolk.com/fridays.html .
Tickets are $20 in advance. $25 at the door.
A senior/student discount is available.
Sarah LeMieux will open with a short set at 7:30
Doors open at 7 pm.
Filed under: Concerts
Harry Manx did a great show for us last night for a capacity crowd, many of whom were full-on guitarheads. Harry mesmerized the audience with his famous Mohan Veena (an arch-top guitar with 20 strings), a souped-up cigar-box banjo, a lovely little Taylor guitar and his relatively normal six-string banjo. The “normal” banjo was the instrument he used for his smashing version of Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child — what else?
Local favorite Ron Anthony did a soulful opening set. I love his songwriting, which combines classic bluesy melodies with heartfelt and well-chosen words: “She makes me feel like I got into heaven for free.”
Our next show is Vance Gilbert, who graced our Festival Main stage several years ago. He ended up playing a 90-minute set that year when Eddie from Ohio’s bus broke down on the New Jersey turnpike. Good man!
Vance will play our First Fridays series on Friday, Feb. 5.
Vance is so funny, so warm, and so endearing in person that you could safely bring someone who says they “don’t like folk music” to this show and you’d make a convert. He’s not just a folk musician, he’s a writer and a showman and a very funny guy.
And, you know, he’s a regular at Falcon Ridge, the Iron Horse, and all those other prestigious acoustic music places. We’re just lucky enough to have him come to our smaller venue so you can be up close and personal with the Vance experience.
Vance Gilbert
Friday, Feb. 5, 2010
“First Fridays Acoustic Concert Series”
First Presbyterian Church
704 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06511-1314
Intimate, coffeehouse-style concerts in the church’s social hall. Fully handicapped accessible. We use folding chairs but you may bring your own seating if you prefer.
Tickets are on sale now at http://www.ctfolk.com/tickets.html
General admission $20; student/senior discount available.
–Anne K
Filed under: Concerts
We’re looking forward to our first concert of the year, Jan. 8 with Harry Manx, and we have some folk news flashes to send your way…
Tickets for Harry Manx are selling much faster than we expected. We usually have tickets at the door on the night of the show, but don’t count on it this time… our venue is limited to a cozy 85 people. You may want to get your tickets ahead of time at to avoid disappointment and sadness.
We’ve also had a general clamor for tickets for our February concert, Vance Gilbert…. so you might want to get those tickets ahead of time too.
Ron Anthony opens for Harry Manx
For our upcoming concert, we’ve just signed on Ron Anthony to open for Harry Manx. Ron performs original songs delivered in a smooth baritone, backed up by an acoustic guitar style that simultaneously combines flat picking and finger picking. His songs reflect a mixture of folk, country, blues and jazz, with lyrics that “tell a good story without being trite.”
Ron has performed extensively from Maine to Pennsylvania and opened for some of our favorite artists, like Chris Smither and John Hammond. We’re pretty sure you’ll like him as much as we do, and if you do, you can pick up a copy of his CD “Live at Slates” at our show.
See you at First Pres on January 8!
Harry Manx — our next outstanding First Friday artist,
January 8, 2010, 7:30 pm.
Ron Anthony opens
First Presbyterian Church, 704 Whitney Avenue, New Haven.
Tickets at www.ctfolk.com/ fridays
–Anne K
Filed under: Concerts
Harry Manx — 
our next outstanding
First Friday artist,
January 8, 2010, 7:30 pm.
First Presbyterian Church,
704 Whitney Avenue,
New Haven.
Tickets at www.ctfolk.com/ fridays
Manx’s reputation is already huge in his homeland of Canada and over in Australia where he fills concert halls. In the last year, after concentrating in t he States for a bit, his name recognition here has grown considerably. A year ago he was touring opening for Richie Havens, which he still does occasionally. But now the venues that had him opening in the past are bringing him back as their feature artist.
It won’t be long before Manx outgrows smaller, more intimate venues in the States. So purchase your tickets to see Harry now at First Fridays New Haven on January 8. Next time he comes through the venue will have to be a lot bigger.
First Fridays takes place in the reception hall of the First Presbyterian Church 704 Whitney Avenue, New Haven and tickets are available on line at www.ctfolk.com/ fridays. Remaining tickets, if available, will be sold at the door beginning at 7:00 P.M. on the 8th.
Manx’s music has been likened to “vintage Taj Mahal.” (New York Jazz and Blues Society Reviews) Infused with Eastern influences garnered from over a decade of living in the Far East, Manx has been called an “essential link” between the music of East and West. Born on the Isle of Man, Manx spent his childhood in Canada and left in his teens to live abroad. He busked on street corners, then played cafes, bars and festivals. In recent years Manx has been nominated for multiple Canadian music awards including two 2005 JUNO nominations for West Eats Meet.
–Anne and Barbara
