LOCAL SHOW PICKS • Sunday, Lee Fields and the Expression, Brighton Music Hall, 8 p.m. — Touring behind his new album “It Rains Love,” the soul singer with a physical and vocal resemblance to James Brown is enjoying a career renaissance in his 50th year or recording. The Jay Vons open.• Monday, John Paul White, ONCE Ballroom, … Continue reading Picks for Week of May 12
Mike Ledbetter tribute, benefit comes to Bull Run
Mike Ledbetter performs at the White Mountain Boogie and Blues Festival in Thornton, N.H. When flourishing blues star Mike Ledbetter died suddenly and unexpectedly at 33 after a medical emergency at his Elgin, Illinois, home in January, the repercussions were felt deeply throughout the blues world. Ledbetter was an extraordinary singer and a multi-instrumentalist in … Continue reading Mike Ledbetter tribute, benefit comes to Bull Run
Picks for Week of May 5
LOCAL SHOW PICKS • Sunday, Alastair Moock’s 100th Birthday Trib-Hoot to Pete Seeger, Club Passim, Cambridge, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. — The Boston-based Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter hosts a two-part tribute the famed folk star Seeger. The early show is a family showcase featuring Anand Nayak and Fiddlin’ Quinn. The late show features Sean Staples, Eric and … Continue reading Picks for Week of May 5
Picks for Week of April 28
LOCAL SHOWS OF THE WEEK • Sunday, Jimmy Ryan and Hayride, Atwood’s Tavern, Cambridge, 4 p.m. — The mandolin maestro and his band Hayride (Stu Kimball, Dana Colley, Dave Westner and Mike Piehl) perform the last of this monthly residency until the fall. • Monday, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, Atwood’s, 9:30 p.m. — The disarming … Continue reading Picks for Week of April 28
Gracie Curran hits 4/20 high note — in fact, she owns it
Gracie Curran sings on the 9 Wallis Stage Saturday night with the latest in her line of inventive costumes celebrating the national cannabis day. SHOW REVIEW Gracie Curran and 4/20 go together like Zig and Zag. The Boston Music Award winner was one of the local music industry’s first and most ardent supporters of the … Continue reading Gracie Curran hits 4/20 high note — in fact, she owns it
Duke Levine finds the ‘Super Sweet’ spot — it’s the ’70s
Duke Levine takes a ride back in the time machine to play the songs of his youth in his Super Sweet Sounds of the ’70s showcases. When he launched the showcase as a change of pace in the fall of 2017, Duke Levine didn’t realize precisely what he was getting himself him into. Now, the … Continue reading Duke Levine finds the ‘Super Sweet’ spot — it’s the ’70s
McNeill doubles down at the Lizard on his ‘farewell tour’
Christian McNeill performs during his sold-out show last night at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. SHOW REVIEW There are two artists within him. There’s Christian McNeill, the achingly poignant balladeer who — with just his lush voice and guitar — can hush a Somerville Theater crowd as he did when opening for British folk star … Continue reading McNeill doubles down at the Lizard on his ‘farewell tour’
Picks for week of April 14
LOCAL SHOW PICKS • Sunday, Down Home Up Here Bluegrass Festival, Club Passim, Cambridge, 4-11 p.m. — This mini-festival delivers a different band on the hour including the Revenants, Gin Daisy, the Spring Hill Rounders, Ellen Jordan and Korey Brodsky, the Riverside, and Gabe Hirshfeld and Massachusetts. • Monday, the Duppy Conquerors, Sally O’Briens, Somerville, 10 … Continue reading Picks for week of April 14
Wooden Leg stands up to the test of time brilliantly
Jimmy Ryan performs during last night's Wooden Leg show at the Fallout Shelter in Norwood. SHOW REVIEW: In an astonishing display of musicianship last night at the Fallout Shelter, Wooden Leg, with nothing more than the sound check as a rehearsal for the five players, somehow contained its whirring jam-band energy with a tightness that … Continue reading Wooden Leg stands up to the test of time brilliantly
Victor Wainwright and The Train veritable blues express
Barrelhouse blues master Victor Wainwright performs during last night's sold-out show at 9 Wallis in Beverly. SHOW REVIEW: For Victor Wainwright, the flight path has been more akin to a rocket launch. While he comes from a musical family and learned piano at the feet of both his father and grandfather, the Savannah, Ga., native … Continue reading Victor Wainwright and The Train veritable blues express