Dangermuffin, a 3-piece band from Folly Beach, South Carolina, is a perfect companion to all your Dark Star Orchestra, Warren Haynes, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Furthur, Gov't Mule and Yonder Mountain String Band albums. They offer an exquisite blend of Americana, bluegrass, and folk with smart lyrics and a careful jammy sense about them during their live performance.

As a songwriter, their guitarist Dan Lotti won the Songwriters Hall of Fame's 2005 "New Writers Showcase" award and with hefty hometown support, Dangermuffin was voted the Best Jam/Groove/Reggae Band of the Year in the 2011 Charleston City Paper Music Awards. Lotti’s poetic lyrics carry the songs down harmonious and atmospheric quality to most of the songs while the band presents an at-times-minimalist, at-times-energetic dichotomy -- for a soulful, thrilling and unassumingly confident folk rock package.

“If you appreciate soulful, stirring numbers, infused with the spirit of fun and late night romps, this album will definitely register with you.  I am officially obsessed with this trio from South Carolina and look forward to seeing them in concert.” - HomegrownMusic.net

Dar Williams has become a major force on the New England folk scene. An idiosyncratic songwriter who writes folk songs from a unique, often insightful perspective, Williams takes pains to avoid the coy and the quirky; her songwriting and performing style has been compared to that of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, but with a few acidic and at times hilarious twists.

Williams, a native of Mount Kisco, N.Y., is a classic made-for-coffeehouses artist, writing about the world around her, her encounters in it, and the conclusions she’s drawn; she’s as comfortable rhapsodizing about a favorite babysitter (“The Babysitter’s Here,” from her self-released debut, The Honesty Room) as she is inveighing against the evil political monolith (see “Empire,” from 2005’s accalimed My Better Self).

At the core of Williams’ work is a belief in the innate ability of people to make a better world, the product of countless observations in her travels and conversations with her fans. If anything, her optimism has intensified as she’s crisscrossed America during the tough times of recent years. “My big secret,” she says, with a twinkle in her eye, “is that we are gonna make it — but we’ll be the last to know.”

“Williams has a vocal style quite like that of Joan Baez (who happened to be one of Williams’s early supporters)- a variable, semi-operatic, vibrato-laced, high-pitched tone full of passion.” – Bershire Living Magazine
 

The venerable Delbert McClinton is a legend among Texas roots music afficionados, not only for his amazing longevity, but for his ability to combine country, blues, soul, and rock & roll as if there were no distinctions between any of them in the best time-honored Texas tradition.

For McClinton fans, this will be a major cause to celebrate. For the uninitiated, this is as fine a place as any to be introduced to some gritty Texas rhythm & blues, hard honky tonk blues, slippery acoustic country, and killer funky white boy Southern soul.

"Smoking, jumping big-band blues and gospel-rooted '60s soul honed to a razor sharp edge in the Texas juke joints. Jalapeno-hot!" -- Los Angeles Times

"Breathtaking, hardcore roadhouse rhythm & blues." --Rolling Stone
 

It’s been said that the musicians of New Orleans are all members of one gigantic band that breaks up into smaller groups on a nightly basis. If this were really the case, The New Orleans Suspects would be in a class all their own. The group is comprised of musicians with experience and versatility that rival any other band that the city has ever produced. The suspects include-” the Neville Brothers’ drummer, “Mean” Willie Green; the Radiators’ bass player, Reggie Scanlan; the lead guitarist from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Jake Eckert; the classically-trained pianist and Hammond wizard CR Gruver; and founding member of and sax player for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Kevin Harris. Now do you see why they’re referred to as “the Suspects?”

Together these five musicians create music that is firmly rooted in the modern New Orleans sound with compelling originals and tasteful covers. The rhythm section of Scanlan and Green are as comfortable together as red beans and rice. Gruver tickles the ivories or soars into the stratosphere on the organ. Harris provides stellar saxophone fills and solos with great aplomb. Eckert’s rhythm guitar work neatly complements his razor sharp solos. Though the band can clearly jam, with Eckert and Gruver trading off on lead vocals they are no simple jam band.

“…This is a powerhouse of seasoned veterans” - ListenUpDenver.com

Tonight’s double bill brings two multi-instrumentalist/singers to StageOne, each with their own take on folk songwriting.

Born in New York and essentially raised in Northern California (from age 13), Lauren Shera took to folk music quickly. For her indie folk sound, she has been compared to Lucy Kaplansky and Dar Williams, with a Celtic flare. She has been called “Folk’s new royalty” as a result of her soulful original songs. Melancholy but uplifting, her songs are often crafted by her alone, playing instruments like the mandolin, violins, the cello, the clawhammer banjo and the ukelele.

When Shera was 18, she was invited to perform at the Bob Dylan Tribute Concert in NYC and has since shared the stage with Jason Mraz, Joan Osborne, Ray LaMontagne, Phil Lesh and Shawn Colvin and has performed at Bonnaroo, the High Sierra Music Festival and South by Southwest among others. When she isn't performing solo, Shera performs with the Monterey-based female trio Honeymoon.

Austin-based David Ramirez is known for his “folk brewed pop,” as he calls it. After a rough start in Nashville, he didn’t give up; he sold all his belongings and hit the road. This kind of passion has taken him around the country, gathering up praise from people like Paste Magazine, who called him “the best damn songwriter you don’t know yet.” His sound combines a simple Johnny Cash, voice and guitar approach to his own brand of thoughtful and soulful Americana. His album Strange Town has been praised for its lyrical prowess and his live shows, for their wild energy.

A London-based New Wave group, The Fixx has been often heralded as one of the most innovative bands to come out of the MTV era and their cool and stylish looks made them an MTV staple when MTV actually was a 24/7 video delivery system. In the early 1980s, the Fixx became a fixture on the American pop charts. One of many British New Wave bands that conquered the airwaves in the United States at the time, the Fixx stood out for their echoing vocals, political lyrics, and richly textured production.

Live, in concert, the band delivers that same sonic authenticity fans have come to expect from their recorded performances because The Fixx is the genuine article, it's  the real deal. Concert-goers, whether longtime fans, or those experiencing The Fixx for the very first time, are thrilled by the band's dynamic stage presence and trademark sound.

On any of the Caravan of Thieves' three studio albums, they creep around like a band of gypsies in the night fog at a carnival. Somehow the songs simultaneously fit the moods of the smiling little children at the clown show, the men on dates with their mistresses, the gang of kids spooking the horses and also the Ferris wheel full of people that just came unhinged.

Fuzz and Carrie San Giovanni, the band's Bridgeport-based singer/songwriter core, are life-long performers who can't stop writing dark little masterpieces for their band of traveling street performers. Add the wailing violin ticklings of Ben Dean and the wiggly but sturdy backbone of Brian Anderson's double bass, and you’ve got one of the area’s most theatric, unique and most successful world-touring – and completely independent – bands. They're not bluegrass. They're not alt-country. They're not just gypsy jazz. They're all of that — with some John, Paul, George and Freddie Mercury thrown in.
Come out and welcome our hometown Gypsy heroes back to StageOne, Last year they completed a new album, The Funhouse, (with funds raised on Kickstarter.com) and this year they’ve been touring feverishly. So come ready to hear exciting new tunes and share in the dark, twisted joy.

“When it comes to this Caravan Of Thieves the only thing you have to worry about them stealing is your heart, as their music sweeps you across the dance floor and then bounces your around quite a bit.” – Blog Critics Magazine

“There's something about the band's witty, spirited gypsy folk-jazz that is so new and yet so familiar all at once.” – Washington Post
 

BMW OF BRIDGEPORT DRIVING MUSIC SERIES

How many people could you legitimately call a living legend? Not many, but Jimmy Cliff is one. Jimmy Cliff helped turn the world on to the good vibes of reggae, thanks to his starring role and music for the film The Harder They Come — one of the biggest-selling reggae albums of all time — and a stellar career, characterized by sublime songs like "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and "You Can Get It If You Really Want."

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has an easy, slow grooving and soulful sound. His wide vocal range and ability to tap into raw emotion has made his voice a stand out in roots reggae. He continues to produce powerful, skanky rhythms with profound messages as the Jamaican reggae ambassador to the world.

To see a legend of reggae tearing it up, a sea of arms raised in supplication at The Klein, will make for a special night indeed.

"Along with Bob Marley and Toots & the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff was one of the original driving forces behind the emergence of reggae music." - NY Times

"Years later, Cliff is producing some of the most powerful music of his career." - GQ

As a solo artist, Simone Felice brings even more poetic Americana sincerity than his highly acclaimed work with The Felice Brothers and the Duke and the King. Not since Damien Rice has a songwriter pierced the heart of the listener like this – honestly, softly and with an edge. Felice’s songwriting and vocal originality is compared to that of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and James Taylor. He’s that good.

After The Felice Brothers disbanded rather publicly in an open letter from Simone, and after the “tragedy, sadness, and regeneration” he referred to in this letter, the creative fervor is stronger than ever. This year he releases his self-titled debut album on Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst’s label, Team Love. Hitting stores April 3, Simone Felice is a rootsy, bluesy and raw album that presents us with ten new timeless American tales. He recorded it in an old bard, an old church and an abandoned high school.

Check out this “New York Times” video, recorded and shot in an old train car- http-//www.glidemagazine.com/hiddentrack/video-simone-felice-new-york-times/

“Each live performance suggesting we are in the presence of a rare, fiery brilliance.” –The Guardian.

“So authentic, it’s strangely uplifting, it’s almost like you’re greeting the sunrise.” – NPR

Calling all golfers, slicers, chunkers and duffers alike! It's that time of the year again folks! We're hosting the only kind of golf tournament we know how -- one with live music and an open bar -- and we think you should make a tee time. Get ready to support FTC while celebrating the only game in which you yell "fore," shoot six, and write down five.

It's a great excuse to take a day off work and tee off for a great cause. Regardless of your handicap, you know that even a bad day on the greens is better than a good day at work.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

A suburban Long Island family heads into New York City for the day in the delightful 1996 comedy-drama “The Daytrippers” that features early movie performances by Liev Schreiber, Hope Davis, Stanley Tucci, Parker Posey, and many others.

Anne Meara is wonderful as the family matriarch who leads the search for her daughter’s possibly adulterous husband. Writer-director Greg Mottola packs the brisk 90-film with Manhattan color which makes it the perfect, high-spirited finale to the Fairfield Theatre Company’s season of films about life in New York City.

ABOUT MARTINI AND A MOVIE

Curated and hosted by Hearst Connecticut News Group Entertainment writer Joe Meyers, FTC continues its film series with NYC at its center. New York City has been a setting and subject matter for movies since the art form began more than 100 years ago. For the past nine months the Fairfield Theatre Company's "Martini And A Movie" series has screened comedies and dramas - old and new - that show us NYC in all of its glory and that bring to life memorable characters who could only exist there.

Generously Underwritten by BMW of Bridgeport

John Sebastian has had a varied career as an American songwriter and harmonica player. As the leader of the folk-rock band and the Lovin' Spoonful - inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 - he was responsible for a string of Top Ten hits in 1965-1967 that included the chart-toppers "Daydream" and "Summer in the City".

In the early '70s, no rock festival was complete without the tie-dyed singer/songwriter and his warm and friendly stage manner. He's a performer capable of reaching back to the music of Jimmie Rodgers and Leadbelly, Carl Perkins, and the Five Satins, demonstrating how such predecessors had influenced the good-time music he made in the '60s. A virtual jukebox, he makes the history of popular music seem like endless fun while sweeping his audience into that good-time vibe.
 

Of course we’re still trying to book the original, but meanwhile we’re excited to announce the next best thing. This precision tribute all-female band of long-haired rockers kicks possibly more ass than those guys would today, anyway. If you’re a true fan, you’ll even appreciate their inspired moves and play-the-part attitudes that simultaneously seem sincere and fictitious. Taking the sturdy sex appeal of the original dudes and rotating it to match their own femme vibe (see their righteous versions of the Led logos), the powerful Lez Zeppelin hits it note-for-note for a revolution in rock history reincarnation.

“There are a few jarring moments when it will feel like the most powerful all-female band in rock history…” - Chuck Klosterman, SPIN

“Four women rockers who took on the music of Led Zeppelin are driving club audiences to a frenzy…the group is electrifying!” - Reuters/CNN.com

Of course we’re still trying to book the original, but meanwhile we’re excited to announce the next best thing. This precision tribute all-female band of long-haired rockers kicks possibly more ass than those guys would today, anyway. If you’re a true fan, you’ll even appreciate their inspired moves and play-the-part attitudes that simultaneously seem sincere and fictitious. Taking the sturdy sex appeal of the original dudes and rotating it to match their own femme vibe (see their righteous versions of the Led logos), the powerful Lez Zeppelin hits it note-for-note for a revolution in rock history reincarnation.

“There are a few jarring moments when it will feel like the most powerful all-female band in rock history…” - Chuck Klosterman, SPIN

“Four women rockers who took on the music of Led Zeppelin are driving club audiences to a frenzy…the group is electrifying!” - Reuters/CNN.com

Simply put, The Rebirth Brass Band is a New Orleans institution. Formed in 1983 by the now infamous Frazier brothers, the band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world.  Rebirth is committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands while at the same time incorporating modern music into their show.  Their signature brand of heavy funk has not only won over several generations of music lovers, it has become the soundtrack to an entire city.  In the wake of the sometimes-stringent competition amongst brass bands, Rebirth is the undisputed leader of the pack, and they show no signs of slowing down.

“Rebirth, as the band is often hailed at home, has barely deviated from the formula set by its leader, the sousaphone player Phil Frazier, in 1983. Commingling parade-band protocols with the more ragged aspects of jazz and funk — “junk music” is Mr. Frazier’s term for the crossbred result — the group chases down euphoria one boisterous groove at a time.” - NY Times

Sign up, lace up and support the arts.  Run the Fairfield 5K as part of team FTC and help raise money for the Fairfield Theatre Company!

The race takes place at Jennings Beach in Fairfield, CT.

Simply put, The Rebirth Brass Band is a New Orleans institution. Formed in 1983 by the now infamous Frazier brothers, the band has evolved from playing the streets of the French Quarter to playing festivals and stages all over the world.  Rebirth is committed to upholding the tradition of brass bands while at the same time incorporating modern music into their show.  Their signature brand of heavy funk has not only won over several generations of music lovers, it has become the soundtrack to an entire city.  In the wake of the sometimes-stringent competition amongst brass bands, Rebirth is the undisputed leader of the pack, and they show no signs of slowing down.

“Rebirth, as the band is often hailed at home, has barely deviated from the formula set by its leader, the sousaphone player Phil Frazier, in 1983. Commingling parade-band protocols with the more ragged aspects of jazz and funk — “junk music” is Mr. Frazier’s term for the crossbred result — the group chases down euphoria one boisterous groove at a time.” - NY Times

Run the Fairfield half marathon as part of Team FTC and help reaise money for the Fairfield Theatre Company!

The race starts at Jennings Beach in Fairfield, CT.

A night of island music, brought to you by two of the hottest new singer/songwriters to come out of Bermuda and Hawaii, respectively- Mishka and Anuhea. Each with the own summery brand of reggae, folk rock and pop melodies, this is a night like no other for StageOne. Should we order sand and umbrellas?

Anuhea Born Rylee Anuheake'alaokalokelani Jenkins, the sassy and upbeat pop folk singer from Hawaii has been turning head ever since releasing her first self-titled album in 2009. From there, she sat cozy on the top of Billboard, iTunes and Reggae charts and enjoyed touring the world with her funky R&B, infectious pop and soulful island grooves.

"I'm influenced highly by R&B and Soul, Hip Hop and Funk,” Anuhea says. “But my instrument is acoustic guitar. I tend to write most of my songs during the craziest parts of my life. I'll write pages and pages in my notebook in no order then go back with my guitar in my hands and sing the words as lyrics to some chords. That's how most songs start for me."

In April 2010 Anuhea performed alongside Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley & Taj Mahal at the sold out Kokua Festival at the Waikiki Shell. She went on to win 2 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Contemporary Album of the Year and Most Promising Artist, making her Hawaii's #1 female artist.

Her latest album, For Love, was released on Valentine’s Day this year and has been called, “A mix of poppy reggae tunes and smooth, intimate grooves,” by Maui Time

Mishka A child of the islands, it was almost inevitable that Mishka would be drawn to reggae, Rastafari, and the natural mystic that inhabits his music and soul. His music carries a unique vibe, not unlike a combination of Peter Tosh, Jimmy Buffet, Bob Dylan and The Police mixed with real roots reggae acts like Culture, Marley and Burning Spear.

He began with a career in windsurfing, representing Bermuda and gradually made the full switch to creating soulful, folk- and rock-influenced reggae music. With an enormous following in the UK and Japan, he has a tight-knit and fast-expanding fan base in the States. Mishka is also the face of O’Neill’s new line of eco-friendly surf clothing and he embodies the summery spirit of reggae, something he embraces in every part of his life.

If you want to know how deeply sincere this internally known reggae artist goes, just ask his new boss. That’s right, after Mishka recorded his third album in ‘05, Above the Bones, he connected with the one and only Matthew McConaughey over a shared appreciation for reggae and was welcomed onto his record label, j.k. livin. McConaughey says, “It’s conscious reggae that reminds me to bless up, keep a high eye, work hard, love hard, remember true, hope faithfully, give thanks and just keep livin.”

"When I heard Mishka sing for the first time, I had to look behind the curtain to see if someone else was doing it, because I couldn't believe his authenticity and tone.  He is a true artist. There’s not a pretentious bone in his body, which is a rarity in this business." - Butch Walker, Producer
 

The revered and irreverent Sandra Bernhard appears on StageOne for a special, intimate engagement of her latest show, I Love Being Me, Don't You? Backed by a smokin' rock band, Bernhard draws on her acclaimed new comedy recording of the same name for a no-holds-barred evening delivering her unforgettable blend of outrageous humor, cutting satire and fiercely energetic live performance.  Described by WCBS as "Funny but foxy, super smart and slightly mad," Bernhard has delivered her edgy and incisive work in extended runs off-Broadway, as well as numerous tours throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Despite being best known for her role in Roseanne and her turbulent friendship with Madonna, it's the biting, cynical sarcasm of her stage shows that Sandra Bernhard's fans love.  Since she first stepped on stage at the Comedy Store in the ‘70s, Sandra Bernhard has been challenging fans and critics with her outrageous humor, keen satire and rollicking stage shows. “Give the dame her due,” writes the New York Times, “It's invigorating to be in the presence of a true original.”

The revered and irreverent Sandra Bernhard appears on StageOne for a special, intimate engagement of her latest show, I Love Being Me, Don't You? Backed by a smokin' rock band, Bernhard draws on her acclaimed new comedy recording of the same name for a no-holds-barred evening delivering her unforgettable blend of outrageous humor, cutting satire and fiercely energetic live performance.  Described by WCBS as "Funny but foxy, super smart and slightly mad," Bernhard has delivered her edgy and incisive work in extended runs off-Broadway, as well as numerous tours throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Despite being best known for her role in Roseanne and her turbulent friendship with Madonna, it's the biting, cynical sarcasm of her stage shows that Sandra Bernhard's fans love.  Since she first stepped on stage at the Comedy Store in the ‘70s, Sandra Bernhard has been challenging fans and critics with her outrageous humor, keen satire and rollicking stage shows. “Give the dame her due,” writes the New York Times, “It's invigorating to be in the presence of a true original.”
 

Celebrate FTC's First Year of Music Education for Bridgeport Students.

Hear a sampling of wonderful music by students, teachers and musicians from our FTC Saturday Kids program, take a tour of FTC and join us for food and drink outside in our parking lot.

All ages welcome.

Los Angeles’ Orgone is an Afro-beat funk machine, not unlike the enchanting Budos Band or Brooklyn’s Antibalas. Like any group as highly influenced by Parliament Funkadelic, Fela Kuti and James Brown grooves as Orgone, they really let the early funk shine through in each song.

Starting off as an on-again off-again backup band for hip-hop acts, this soulful and tight group of friends made it official in 1999 when they named and formed Orgone. Deeply rooted in the funkiest old-school R&B, their rhythms are inspired by present-day DJs and they share a lucid freedom with the conscious hip-hop movement. You can’t generalize their sound and they’re always growing and learning from each other as musicians. Come out to StageOne to witness pure musical innovation at its best.

According to their site, they are “many souls with a cosmic connection, a natural creative force and musicians who have played together for years.  They are self schooled and continue to shape their musical voice as a solid unit of guys who hang, spin records and jam out their shared inspirations.”

“The band could definitely hold down a groove, whether it was New Orleans blues, Afropop, Southern rock, or a multitude of ’70s sounds that all tied together within the rhythm section’s pounding funk style.” - Boulder Weekly
 

Known for his comedic dueling banjos work with the legendary Steve Martin, the young and prolific banjo player and songwriter Noam Pikelny is a bluegrass master and member of the Punch Brothers and, before that, the hilariously named Leftover Salmon. For an idea of his wildly reserved and classically contemporary sound, take a look at the lineup on his most recent album, Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail. Produced by Gabe Witcher, the disc features Tim O'Brien, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Chris Eldridge, & Mark Schatz, with Special guests Steve Martin, Chris Thile, Aoife O'Donovan, & Bryan Sutton. Packed with impressive and creative melodies, he pushes acoustic music forward and integrates the banjo into modern music as if it has always belonged there.

“It also speaks to Pikelny's adventurous perspective about how the banjo can be used in modern music. Even more than his impressive chops, it's that creativity that makes Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail an essential, if likeably unassuming, listen.” - Slant Magazine
 

The enduring, hard-touring, and self-caricaturing rock group Cheap Trick worked its way up to platinum sales with an explosive fusion of Beatlesque melodic hooks, Who-styled crunching power chords, and a flair for the absurd. Cheap Trick is one of the best live bands of its era. For all of the gimmickry (best epitomized by Rick Nielson's pick showers and trademark outlandish guitars, such as the quintuple-neck checkered monster he breaks out on "Surrender"), Cheap Trick live is uniformly tight, as blistering and raw as it is cunningly melodic.

Though Cheap Trick's most visible recent moves-- re-recording Big Star's "In the Street" for That '70s Show, performing the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in its entirety at a 2007 Hollywood Bowl concert-- may paint them as a nostalgia act, their influence on contemporary indie/alt-rock is as pronounced as ever- For the Foo Fighters, Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, Ted Leo, the Raconteurs-- basically any band that's ever tried to weld a Beatlesque melody to a power chord-- all roads lead back to Cheap Trick.

After more than 5,000 performances, 20 million records sold, 29 movie soundtracks and 40 gold and platinum recording awards, the band was honored by the NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) for their contributions to the music industry.

In short, Cheap Trick revel in taboo subjects with abandon, devoting themselves to the power of the hook, as well as sheer volume and gut-wrenching rock & roll – making them one of the defining bands of their era, as well as one of the most influential. But in the end, Cheap Trick won their fans and fame the honest way- through incessant touring in support of era-defining anthems like "Surrender" and "I Want You To Want Me" earning their status as rock 'n' roll royalty.

DENNIS DEYOUNG-THE MUSIC OF STYX showcases the Greatest Hits spanning the 70's, 80's, and 90's performed live with Dennis and his six member band. The set includes all eight Top 10 hits including "Lady," "Babe," "Come Sail Away," "Too Much Time On My Hands," plus Classic Rock Anthems "Grand Illusion," "Renegade," "Blue Collar Man," "Suite Madame Blue," "Rockin The Paradise" and many more. All the hits and memories in one unforgettable evening. Dennis is a founding member of Styx. He wrote and sang lead on seven of the band's eight Top 10 hits. He is a legendary singer, songwriter, keyboardist, composer and record producer with a career spanning over 40 years. His voice is one of the most recognizable in the music world today and continues to inspire new generations of fans.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE WAIT LIST FOR THIS SHOW, CALL THE BOX OFFICE AT 203-259-1036, SUNDAY-MONDAY FROM 12 PM-5 PM.

Known to be one of the finest songwriters of his vibrant generation, they say Conor Oberst has the voice of an angel and, to his fans, he is like nothing less than a musical deity. They – in this case, are not wrong. He has been writing and releasing songs about self-doubt, artistic ambition and a search for love for half his life and shows no signs of stopping; only signs of improving.
Oberst is the lead singer and writer for the recently reunited indie/folk/pop band Bright Eyes and has led or performed in several other successful bands, like Desaparecidos, Norman Bailer (The Faint), Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and Monsters of Folk.

An insightful prolific artist, his widely varied music is compared to that of Bob Dylan, early Paul Simon, Radiohead and Neil Young. And just like them, Oberst is equally comfortable (and simply genius, despite the occasional awkward vibe) when performing slow and easy country, punk, indie rock, lamenting with some post-hardcore or raising you up with something quiet and poetic or loud, catchy pop tunes. The intimate and welcoming StageOne was built for people like Conor Oberst.

“Recently… Mr. Oberst’s songs are less diaristic than they once were. He sings about spiritual quests, ponders technology and slings Dylan-esque conundrums; he’s more circumspect.” – New York Times

“Like anyone on the hunt for meaning, Oberst is compelled by mystical or metaphysical enclaves,” – Pitchfork.com

The classic rock band Pure Prairie League was a crazy successful country-rock group in the ‘70s and early '80s, riding the same country-tinged rock wave that carried the Eagles, Buffalo Springfield, Poco and The Band to popularity. They released ten albums and enjoyed radio hits with several different configurations of the group, including the songs "Amie" and "Let Me Love You Tonight."

Influenced by bluesy drive of the Byrds and the seamless fusing of country and rock first introduced by bands like the Flying Burrito Brothers, PPL benefits from tight slide guitar, dueling solos and plenty of jammy Americana. Having reformed for several festival shows after disbanding in ’88, PPL is now comprised of steel guitar player John David Call, frontman and bass player Mike Reilly, drummer Rick Schell and guitarist Donnie Lee Clark.

Helping to tell the tale of how country rock came to be, Pure Prairie League’s timeless songs have kept the band going strong through the years and lineup changes, and they are best experienced live, loud and on StageOne.

“Pure Prairie League is definitely in a League above the rest and I truly enjoyed the show and would jump at the chance to see them again.” – Rock Chicago Magazine
 

Credited by Rolling Stone as crucial to the start of the singer/songwriter era, Tom Rush has been performing on stage for fifty years, always relying on word-of-mouth success. When Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Jackson Browne were starting out, Rush was their biggest supporter, and would perform covers of their songs at coffee shops across the country, bringing attention to the blossoming world of singers who write and play their own tunes.

Excellent examples of this can be found on the 1970 album The Circle Game, which was a folk album that featured Rush’s versions of songs by Mitchell and Taylor. In subsequent years, Rush recorded may albums such as Ladies Love Outlaws, and Merrimack County, in which Rush touched upon blues, country, rock and folk to create his own distinctive musical style.

2009 brought Rush’s first album in 30 years, called What I Know. Widely praised, the album features the spirited Rush back on top. A year later, he experienced the wonders of the internet firsthand with a video of the performance of Steven Walters’ “The Remember Song” going viral on YouTube, now with more than 5 million views. He said, “I felt terrible at first, thinking I was being accused of being a musical equivalent of Ebola, but my children explained to me that this was a good thing." Embracing the web, he just started a Kickstarter.com campaign to raise enough money to perform a guest-filled concert at Boston’s Symphony Hall in December. After less than 10 days, he is more than half way there.

“He hasn't recorded a studio album in more than 30 years, but you'd never guess that he'd been away so long, from the lithe spirit in his voice on these 15 tracks.” LA Times, on What I Know

Arguably the only band in the world able to transform The Klein into a real-life “Love Shack,” the B52s really are coming to town and, while you better act fast and buy your tickets today, you don’t need you to bring your juke-box money!

These pop rock heroes are heavily rooted in New Wave and 1960s rock and roll, as well as other styles ranging from post-punk to dance pop. Formed by Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson in Athens, GA (before Athens was Athens), their positive, enthusiastic, slightly oddball party band vibe was a huge influence for pop bands like the Barenaked Ladies, the Tom Tom Club and the New Young Pony Club.

The B52's tell tall tales, glorify wild youth, and celebrate wild romance with the best of them, drawing influence from similar groups like the R.E.M., the Talking Heads, The Cars and Devo. The "guy vs. gals" call-and-response-type vocals and the campy ‘60s pop styles found in the hit songs “Love Shack,” “Rock Lobster,” "Strobe Light," "Private Idaho," and "Good Stuff,” are just as much a trademark as the loyal dance party that follows them around the world every year on lengthy tours.

Keeping the dream alive, their most recent studio album, Funplex, as well as the just-released live album With the Wild Crowd- Live in Athens, capture their almost invincible sense of fun, performance power and ‘60s high-wig energy.

“New wave’s most unapologetic loons… the B-52s have always celebrated music’s power to make you feel a lot better.” The New York Times

More than just another local band, the gutsy alt-rockers in the Alternate Routes are each close personal friends of StageOne. A five-piece that formed around the Fairfield University grads Eric Donnelly (lead guitar) and Tim Warren (lead vocals, guitar), the Routes are guitar rockers who write anthemic rock & roll songs with alluring melodies as well as some lighter, folky Americana tunes.

The band includes bassist/guitarist Mike Sembos and drummer Richard Medek, and they have been known to record with My Morning Jacket’s multi-instrumentalist Carl Broemel. Their folk-tinged rock storytelling has carried them around the country and the world many times, have toured with O.A.R., played on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and recently co-headlined with the Chicago-based indie-rock band Scattered Trees.

Having just played Rock By the Sea in Panama City Beach, with Sister Hazel, Shawn Mullins and many more, as well as The Rock Boat, they’re probably craving a nice sturdy StageOne show, a veritable home away from home for the guys at this point.

“It would be convenient to say that the 2010 album Lately also feels like it ends too soon. Actually, at slightly less than an hour, the album lasts just long enough to demonstrate how successfully the Alternate Routes have developed from another roots-rock band into one with a sound of its own.” - The Hartford Courant

The Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars - a crash course in south Louisiana's rich musical history. An eclectic mix of soulful blues, New Orleans funk, hoodoo rhythms, Cajun Zydeco, and gritty rock-n-roll, the band takes listeners through many of the genre that has made southern Louisiana music special. The band features the who's who of Louisiana music.

South Louisiana guitarist Tab Benoit, the main voice for the Voice of the Wetlands Organization, is both a musician and an advocate for the restoration of coastal Louisiana. Before hurricane Katrina hit the coastline in 2005, Benoit and the All Stars were already working together to raise awareness of the erosion of the Gulf Coast wetlands. As lead guitarist of the All Stars, Benoit celebrates Louisiana blues and jazz while bringing awareness to the area’s important needs.

Imagine singer Cyril Neville switching verses with Tab Benoit, feet from your seat, as Johnny Sansone (Galactic) goes wild on the drums and Johnny Vidacovich (Astral Projection) rocks out on the harmonica. OK, stop imagining. They’re coming back to StageOne, along with the larger-than-life Big Chief Monk Boureaux and mad Cajun fiddler Waylon Thibodeaux.

For these artists, there came a time when touring the world playing the music of New Orleans took on new meaning. Together they work to preserve their homeland through music. And as the rock arm of Tab Benoit’s non-profit Voice of the Wetlands, they can do just that. With these guys on stage, you get the most authentic N’Awlins blues available today. They don’t call them the All Stars for nothing.

Throughout her long career with Throwing Muses, 50 Ft. Wave and as a solo performer, Kristin Hersh has crafted a catalog that’s equal parts avant-garde and alternative pop. While aging has not brought Kristin Hersh the fame she probably deserves, it has done wonders for her voice. A quarter century of this stuff has brought Hersh a weathered delivery, croaking at the moments of despair and wailing away at the mysterious imagery she conjures up with her lyrics.

You can’t understand her quickly. She subverts pop conventions with subtle movements, using her stream-of-consciousness to engineer both lyrical and musical lines that translate as journeys into a surreal world with no real beginning, middle or end.

Live, her strength of character, commanding voice and dexterity on the semi-acoustic guitar personify an artist who is passionate, intriguing and mysterious—essentially the same characteristics that have defined her career.

This Swedish-born, world-traveled slide guitar-playing bluesman returns to StageOne for one night only. Which, frankly, for anyone who’s heard Anders Osborne’s unique brand of New Orleans rhythm and blues, is not nearly enough. And yes, he’s still got the beard.

Though he carries with him strong influences from his worldly travels and artists like friend and collaborator Tab Benoit, R&B singer Johnny Gill and even Van Morrison, his gruff and honest every-man approach to rack stardom is truly his own.

Out on his own at 16, Osborne hitchhiked and played music across Asia, Africa, North America and Europe. He now calls New Orleans home. In addition to Osborne’s creative and, many would say, spiritually moving solo music, Anders has written songs for Brad Paisely, Jonny Lang, Tab Benoit and Jimmy Thackery to name a few. Keb' Mo's 1999 Grammy Award-winning album Slow Down, featured two songs co-written with Osborne. A gritty, soulful world-born blues master, Osborne was meant for StageOne.

His latest album, Black Eye Galaxy, has been called “a very fine effort that includes something for everyone,” by Blues Revue, but to truly experience his wild balancing act of several lead-guitar styles you have to see him live.

"Oftentimes the most true portraits of America have been rendered by those who have come from outside its borders, yet somehow seem to understand and inhabit our culture more than those of us who have lived here all our lives." - Jambase

Maybe this show brings a little too much funk. With brilliant trombonist Glen David Andrews on stage, a massive talent in the New Orleans music scene, our humble little StageOne isn’t going to know what hit it. Aside from his immense height, his sonic presence is amazing. Growing up, he’d play on the streets of the French Quarter (for quarters) and soon he was jamming with Anthony “Tuba Fats” Lacen, a traditional-music icon and mentor to many musicians. He was recruited into a brass band led by his younger cousin, Troy Andrews, and played in both the New Birth, Lil Rascals, and Tremé brass bands, among others, lending equal measures of musicianship and showmanship to each. Now he fronts his own high-powered ensemble that veers from traditional jazz to gospel, rock, blues and funk, all in the same show.

His most recent live Gospel album, Walking Through Heaven’s Gate, is the first CD to have captured on record the entrancing quality of Andrews' performances at venues like Jazzfest, Lincoln Center, Preservation Hall, Tipitina’s, and most powerfully of all, on the streets, where it all began. Join us in welcoming one of today’s finest funk legends to StageOne.

“Approximating the power released by a six-pack of hydrogen bombs detonated at tent central, carrying his audience along on a wild ride from one detonation to the next, Andrews was searingly, exhaustingly astonishing" - Nola.com

“It may have been the most raucous night in the 25-year history of the Dakota. It’s the only time I’ve felt the floor move. People stood on the mezzanine, the stairs, at the bar, in the doorways. They screamed. They jumped up and down. They raised their hands and shook their behinds and sang along.” - Bebopified

One of the most enjoyable Tin Pan Alley revivalists we’ve ever come across, Leon Redbone also turned Bob Dylan’s head in the early ‘70s, about a year before he had a record deal. This led Rolling Stone to feature him, and call his 1920s jazz and blues “so authentic, you can hear the surface noise [of an old record].” His singing voice is a sort of old-timey Southern voice, reminiscent of old blues tunes and vaudeville performers and his character is unforgettable. Frequently seen on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Saturday Night Live, Redbone was launched onto the scene, earning a giant following and recording more than 15 albums in his career. Known for his mustache and vaudevillian get-up, Redbone has also been rumored to be an alternative identity for Andy Kaufman or Frank Zappa, adding to the natural mystique that already surrounds this travelling minstrel.

“Redbone doesn't just dig up the past, he embodies it.” New York Times

Blues Traveler creates a ‘90s nostalgia moments for many listeners, with fast-lined, harmonica-fueled pop rock songs like “But Anyway,” “Run-Around” and “Hook,” but true fans know that Blues Traveler has only been getting better since those hits. Their tight, wild live performances blow other jam rock bands’ out of the water and with the Stamford-raised John Popper on the blues harp, their sound is always incredibly unique.

Blues Traveler blends American roots with reggae, classic rock and a slight country twang, all with power. On stage, they carry an at-times Grateful Dead, at-times Led Zeppelin vibe, and often the musicians can take things in a Phish or Medeski, Martin and Wood direction. Their pop rock songwriting shines on stage, when backed by such inventive talent. 

Now in their 25th year together, Blues Traveler is releasing a new album, called Suzie Cracks the Whip, they are embracing a bigger, fresher and more collaborative songwriting approach and they’re touring hard. After shaking it up with a solo album last year, and a subsequent tour with the Duskray Troubadours, the explosive blues singer and harmonica wizard John Popper almost immediately became interested in building a new Blues Traveler record. But this time, he wanted to expand their sound and work with songwriters like the Spin Doctors’ Chris Barron, Carrie Rodriguez and Ron Sexsmith, just to keep on switching things up.

Popper told Rolling Stone the process really helped unearth the band’s true creative juices- "This album will actually cure measles! This album will cure erectile dysfunction! This album is better than roofies!”

“Despite the weather, if any band could make you dance hard enough to forget how cold and miserable you are, it’s Blues Traveler.” - Reverb.com, regarding a recent July 4th concert at Red Rocks

When legendary finger picking guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, a founding member of both Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, tours with mandolin master Barry Mitterhoff, there’s a sort of telepathic energy shared between them that can’t be explained. Get ready for at least two long sets, spanning at least two hours, of some fine bluesy, folky and rock-driven acoustic collaboration. Building and improvising harmonies and feeding off each other’s musical energy, the two virtuosos join to make an impressive stage duo. Playing a wide range of deep, old, storied blues, folk rock and Dead-era classics, it’s an acoustic night for every live music lover. StageOne is honored to have them.

“And while the duo never strove to show off, even as they sped up during "I Know You Rider" late in the performance, the expertise and the consummate touch they share deserved the standing ovation they received after so many rounds of applause during the course of the two sets.” – AllAboutJazz.com
 

Perhaps you’re one of the lucky ones who know PJ Pacifico from before he landed a chance to play on the Main Stage at the Gathering of the Vibes a few years back. Since then he’s been touring near and far, sometimes four nights a week, sharing his upbeat acoustic pop rock. His air of sincerity is unmistakable and entirely contagious and his tales of heartache and the quest for artistic freedom above all else are inspiring. We at FTC are proud to have been supporting PJ Pacifico for years, through his young, budding and now sturdy music career. Come out and bring your friends, PJ’s back in town.

Come celebrate PJ Pacifico’s latest release, Outlet, before he hits the road and the skies to tour the US and Europe. With a radio-friendly sound that evokes Gin Blossoms and Matthew Sweet, and a storyteller’s cadence that has been compared to James Taylor, Pacifico appears poised for mainstream success with the new album, his third.

“It is the artist who can make you forget all the work that went into creating what you are hearing that is the true artist. Pacifico makes it seem easy.” - Seattle Post Intelligencer
 

Most well-known for the song “Stacy’s Mom,” a song that really had it going on, the band’s lead singer and songwriter, Adam Schlesinger is also responsible for the catchy-as-can-be title song for That Thing You Do, starring Tom Hanks. Although Fountains of Wayne didn't enjoy mainstream attention until the release of "Stacy's Mom" in 2003, the band had already established itself as one of America's strongest power pop acts.

The group also recorded the theme song for the Comedy Central show Crank Yankers, and wrote songs for, and appeared as animated characters in, the VH1 cartoon series Hey Joel with columnist Joel Stein. The show aired briefly on VH1 in 2003, but was later picked up by Teletoon in Canada. They would perform original songs while the action was taking place, or moments before it, and the theme song.

Most recently, following a hiatus, the band has released Sky Full of Holes, a finely crafted, maturer version of the same pop punk vibe. The New York Times says, “Since 1996 they have been writing finely observed, neatly rhymed character studies set to sleekly produced pop-rock.”

If you love Weezer, Ween, the Lemonheads or the Flaming Lips, you’re going to love seeing Fountains of Wayne on StageOne -- even if it’s not part of your 90s Nostalgia. Don’t hesitate to grab these tickets, for a rowdy night of pop punk. While you’re at it, get psyched for the show by heading to Amazon.com to buy Sky Full of Holes, for an amazing low price of $5!