Pesky J. Nixon launches new Fairfield County folk venue

Friday, September 30, 2011 by:Pat Quinn

Photo: Pesky J. Nixon band members include Ethan Scott Baird (guitar and vocals), Jake Bush (accordion and vocals), Dan Carp (percussion and vocals) and Eric McDonald (mandolin, guitar, and vocals).

Pesky J. Nixon, an alternative folk band hailing from Boston, will be kicking off the inaugural concert of Voices Café on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m.

Voices Café, an all-volunteer nonprofit at the Unitarian Church in Westport, is Fairfield County’s newest venue on the folk music scene, and will be regularly producing coffeehouse-style music shows in the coming months. Organizers said in a press statement that they intend to present performing artists whose messages are “provocative, powerful, uplifting, and most importantly, fun.”

Pesky J. Nixon fits that bill. The band specializes in bringing the audience into their world, songs and stories, organizers said, with band members drawing influences from contemporary urban balladeers and rowdy southern bluegrass. Rich harmonies and compelling narratives combine with instrumentation, including zydeco-style accordion, virtuosic mandolin, a variety of tribal percussion and a myriad of string instrumentation.

The Unitarian Church is at 10 Lyons Plains Road, Westport. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

For more information about this concert or Voices Café, contact David Vita at 203-227-7205 ext. 14, or by email at david@uuwestport.org.

Categories: General, Music

Out and about: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, September 30, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

Right: Former “The Partridge Family” star David Cassidy performs at at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart University on Saturday, Oct. 1.

This weekend, Fairfield County could experience a continuation of its post-Irene, wet-weather sorrows, as reports call for rain, rain and more rain. Haven’t we had enough? But area residents shouldn’t let the drizzle and gloom put a damper on what could be a very fun — and musically enlightening — weekend.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, fans of the teen heartthrob-turned-venerable songwriter David Cassidy will have a chance to hear the former Ridgefield resident rock out live when he takes the stage at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. That same night, Fairfield University’s Regina A Quick Center for the Arts will host Grammy-Award winning Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza, whose beautiful voice can brighten up even the dreariest of days.

If you’re looking for a more intimate, but no less rollicking, experience, stop by the Milford Fine Arts Council for a performance of Connecticut Irish music duo The Kerry Boys, who start the foot-stomping on Friday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m.

And what better way to spend a rainy afternoon or evening than at the movies? The Manhattan Short Film Festival, a global event, will bring 10 short films to the Palace Theatre in Danbury on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. Then, on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 3 p.m., Temple Adath Israel in Newtown will host a screening of “My Shanghai Memories,” a 30-minute film about a German Jewish family’s escape to, and new life in, China.

Of course, there’s still a pretty good chance the clouds will hold it together, and let the sunlight through. In which case, area nature lovers should make their way to Audubon Greenwich, which is hosting its annual HawkWatch Festival & Green Bazaar on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2. The event will feature kids’ activities, food, eco-friendly businesses and live birds-of-prey demonstrations. Even if it It is raining, don’t worry — the event will be held rain or shine.

Whatever you decide to do — staying indoors and cozying up with a good book is always an option — don’t let the persistent downpours ruin what could be another exciting weekend here in Fairfield County. Just put on your raincoat, open your umbrella and exercise your sense of adventure.

Until next time…

Categories: Event, Film, Movies, Music

Cirque du Soleil presents Michael Jackson show

Friday, September 30, 2011 by:Linda Tuccio-Koonz

Cirque Cirque du Soleil has announced that Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour will stop in Hartford on May 2 and 3 at the XL Center.

In partnership with Jackson’s estate, the production uses visuals, dance, music and fantasy to give fans worldwide a unique view into Jackson’s spirit, passion and artistic genius.

As of Sept. 28, Cirque Club members had exclusive access to purchase pre-sale tickets online for five days. Starting Monday, Oct. 3 at noon, tickets will be available to the general public here or here, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets range from $50 to $250.

The show is directed by Jamie King, who has choreographed music videos and directed concert tours, including Madonna’s 2008 Sticky & Sweet world tour, as well as her 2006 Confessions world tour and music video, “Sorry.” He most recently directed Rihanna’s Last Girl On Earth world tour and Britney Spears’ Circus tour.

For more information, on Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour, go online.

Categories: Dance, Event, General, Music, Theater

TV legends, musicians, comedians highlight Palace season

Thursday, September 29, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

Above: Comedienne Joan Rivers and TV host Larry King will appear at the Palace Theatre this season.

A pair of TV legends, rock and folk acts, ballets and symphonies, stand-up comedians, Latin dancers, Chinese acrobats and a host of family programs starring youth musicians, dancers and actors will be on tap for the Palace Theatre’s Fall/Winter Season 2011-2012, the Stamford Center for the Arts has announced.

This season, the Palace welcomes comedienne Joan Rivers and TV and radio host Larry King to the Palace stage, along with resident arts companies the Stamford Symphony and the Connecticut Ballet, folk singer Joan Baez, comedian John Pinette and the family-friendly Golden Dragon Acrobats in Cirque d’Or.

The line-up is rounded out by Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals and local favorite Jerry Pia, who will perform a benefit concert for Stamford Education 4 Autism; and Next Generation, The Young Artists Showcase, featuring students from a variety of area singing groups and instrumental ensembles.

“We are very pleased to announce that we have lined up a wonderfully diverse fall/winter season,” Elissa Getto, executive director of the SCA, said in a statement. “We continue to grow and expand our programming.” More performances will be announced in the coming months.

For the full schedule for the Palace Theatre’s Fall/Winter Season 2011-2012, visit the SCA website.

Categories: Comedy, Dance, Film, Music, Theater

Das Racist return to CT for Toad’s Place performance

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

Above: Das Racist members Himanshu Suri (aka Heems) and Victor Vazquez (aka Kool A.D) met as students at Wesleyan University in Middletown. The group performs at Toad’s Place in New Haven on Thursday, Sept 29 at 9 p.m.

Himanshu Suri was just a freshman in college when he saw Kanye West perform at Toad’s Place in New Haven.

It was six or seven years ago, and Suri, then a student at Wesleyan University in Middletown, wasn’t that impressed with the soon-to-be rap titan.

“I didn’t think the performance was that great,” Suri recalled. Still, he “did remember thinking that (Kanye) was having an impact on blurring the line between conscious rap and mainstream rap.”

It’s safe to say that Das Racist — the Brooklyn-based avant-rap trio Suri (aka Heems) started with fellow Wesleyan alum Victor Vazquez (aka Kool A.D) and high school friend Ashok Kondabolu (aka Dap) — have little in common with the bombastic West.

But in their own unique way, Das Racist have helped to blur that line between “conscious” and “mainstream” rap — by taking their hyper self-aware style — punctuated by mile-a-minute pop culture references; commentary on race, society and politics; and half-sensical, drugged-out jests — to the rap mainstream.

Das Racist formed in 2008, but Suri and Vazquez met earlier, when the latter was the former’s resident adviser at Wesleyan’s Students of Color for Social Justice-themed dorm. The two were just acquaintances then, but Suri “would always be hanging out when Victor and his band,” Boy Crisis, “came to practice.”

“When we moved to Brooklyn, we started making songs. The first songs we made were in the Boy Crisis Studio,” Suri recalled during an interview Monday.

Shortly after, the band made their Internet mark with the hilarious and highly-acclaimed debut single, “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.” They followed with the 2010 mixtapes “Shut Up, Dude” and “Sit Down, Man” and their 2011 debut LP, “Relax.”

Das Racist performs at Toad’s Place in New Haven on Thursday, Sept. 29. Tickets are $17.

Categories: Music

Andy Rooney bids farewell to ’60 Minutes’

Wednesday, September 28, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

Curmudgeonly commentator Andy Rooney, who lived in the Rowayton section of Norwalk, will bid farewell to “60 Minutes” when he makes his final appearance on the show Sunday, according to CBS.

Rooney, 92, will announce his departure in his regular essay at the end of the program, where he has been featured more than 1,096 times since 1978. The program will feature a segment in which Rooney looks back on his career, CBS said in a statement.

Rooney began his stint on “60 Minutes,” the CBS TV news magazine, in July 1978 with an essay about misleading reporting on automobile fatalities on Independence Day weekend.

“Car for car,” Rooney argued, “it’s one of the safest weekends of the year to be going someplace.” And since “fewer people are watching television over the Fourth, I suppose fewer die of boredom.”

He became a regular contributor, delivering sometimes folksy, sometimes cantankerous commentaries on everyday life.

This report came from the Associated Press.

Categories: Television

Bernie Williams plays music, softball in Ridgefield

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

Above: Bernie Williams will pick up a bat — and a guitar — when he comes to Ridgefield on Oct. 1.

Former New York Yankees superstar and guitarist Bernie Williams will play a charity softball game and a concert at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, Oct. 1. The charity softball game on the field next to the Playhouse starts at 1 p.m., and the musical entertainment by Williams and his begins at 8 p.m.

His latest albums, “Moving Forward” and “The Journey Within,” weave together such diverse styles as jazz, classical, Brazilian, pop and Latin. The fundraiser softball game will benefit the Ridgefield Playhouse’s Arts for Everyone initiative and the Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield.

Tickets are $70 or $60 for both the game and the show. The game only is $25. The Playhouse is at 80 East Ridge St. For more information, call 203-438-5795 or visit the Playhouse online.

Categories: Music

John Mayer donation to support HIV/AIDS services

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 by:Scott Gargan

Fairfield native and Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter John Mayer recently donated $15,000 in support of services for individuals with HIV/AIDS in Fairfield County.

The donation, which came from Mayer’s Back to You Fund, will go Family Centers‘ Stamford CARES program. This is the third year Mayer has supported Stamford CARES.

“With fewer state and federal dollars being allocated to HIV/AIDS education and support, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to provide our clients the services they desperately need,” said Bob Arnold, president of Family Centers, in a statement. “We applaud John Mayer and the Fairfield County Community Foundation for recognizing this need, and thank them for their generosity.”

Stamford CARES offers a host of counseling and education services — case management, emergency financial assistance, support groups and referral services — to help children and adults with HIV/AIDS lead healthier, more productive lives. For more information visit Family Centers online.

Categories: General, Music

Page 92 of 118« First 919293 Last »