Charlie King has played with Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, John McCutheon and a host of other folk music greats. Pete Seeger even nominated him for the Sacco-Vanzetti Social Justice Award, which he received in November of 1999. Since 1976, Mr. King has released dozens of albums, including three collaborations with Bright Morning Star.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Adam Sandler, no it’s OperaFest. That’s right, this week at various venues around Oak Bluffs the sounds of passionately, tormented love affairs will fill the air. Note, this is not to be confused with recent events: Passionate, but illegal, sounds of tormented love affairs, the result of too much time spent at the Sand Bar.
Mezzo-soprano opera singer Lia Kahler-Littlefield and pianist Richard Gordon are coming to the Island to perform a benefit concert entitled, Songs for My Father. Ms. Kahler is dedicating the concert of songs and arias about flowers, plants and animals to the memory of her father, Albert Littlefield, who was born and grew up on what is now the Polly Hill Arboretum.
The concert benefits both the arboretum and the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard.
Motivation comes in many forms. But rarely do you hear the words, like a cow before slaughter, as a singular muse. But then again, David Parker is not your ordinary choreographer.
You never know when that tap on your shoulder is going to come. We’ve been watching you for a while, they say, as you look around bewildered. No, this isn’t a Skull and Bones initiation. It’s a cappella.
The Vineyard Sound have been delighting Island ears since 1992. From June to August they can be found wearing their trademark look of shorts, oxford shirts, ties, and sandals or boat shoes at various churches and private events around the Vineyard.
Fiesta time! The Latin musical ensemble Sol y Canto brings their pan-Latin, bilingual, joyful and very interactive concert to Chappaquiddick on Wednesday, August 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Chappaquiddick Community Center. Adults and kids alike are welcome.
Puerto Rican/Argentine singer Rosi Amador, New Mexican guitarist/composer Brian Amador, and their 15-year-old twin daughters, Alisa and Sonia, will perform after patrons enjoy chips, guacamole, salsa and even slushies at a meet-the-artists gathering prior to the concert, at 6:30 p.m.
This Sunday night, July 24, Taj Mahal is playing Nectar’s. Taj is huge and Nectar’s is small. Not small in taste or talent, mind you, but small in square footage. This is a very good thing. You will be just footsteps away from guitar greatness, rather than sniffing clouds while seated a football field away as at some arena stadium.
The name conjures up many questions but few answers; the Bee Eaters. What that means is anybody’s guess. What they do, however, is on the record.
The Bee Eaters are rocking musicians who trace their roots back to Celtic, jazz, bluegrass and old-time flavor. They have been called “bodaciously brilliant” by well tuned listeners. Renowned bassist Edgar Meyer enthused that the experience is “a joy to hear both the exploration of this music.. and the emphasis on the simple beauty of the acoustic instruments.”
A group of Island musicians was in the key of comfort Friday night at Nancy’s in Oak Bluffs, mixing old school tunes with a little new school funk. The Martha’s Vineyard Jazz Quintet was performing together for the first time. The group is a mix of jazz cats young and old — the three members of the Vineyard high school group Ramblin’ Tides and three members of the Brian King Nelson Sextet. Different ages, same passion.
Deer Tick is not just a really nasty strain of insect you could find attached to your leg after too much time spent at South Beach. It is also the name of John McCauley’s folk/punk/blues band playing at Nectar’s this Saturday night.
Mr. McCauley has carved out a reputation for his band within the crowded genre of indie rock bands with the prefix Deer (see: Deerhunter, Deerhoof) through raucous live shows.
