{"id":22609,"date":"2014-07-17T10:24:40","date_gmt":"2014-07-17T14:24:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=22609"},"modified":"2014-07-17T09:46:40","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T13:46:40","slug":"on-stage-blantons-blue-ridge-roots-thrived-in-philly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=22609","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Blanton’s Blue Ridge roots thrived in Philly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pair of singer\/songwriter to pair up for benefit at Chaplins, Friday<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"blanton<\/a>Carsie Blanton, who is performing July 19 at the Ardmore Music Hall, is a talented singer-songwriter whose music spans a variety of genres. She is also adaptable when it comes to finding a place to call home.<\/p>\n

Blanton grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountain area in Virginia, moved to Oregon when she was 16 and relocated to Philadelphia five years later. Now, she has established residence in New Orleans.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was 21 when I moved to Philly,\u201d said Blanton, during a recent phone interview from a tour stop in Minneapolis. \u201cI had a fun and pretty easy time there. I still love Philly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blanton released her debut album \u201cHush\u201d in 2002 and followed with \u201cAin\u2019t So Green\u201d in 2009 and the \u201cBeau\u201d EP in 2010. Her next LP was \u201cIdiot Heart\u201d in 2012. Her latest album is \u201cNot Old, Not New,\u201d which was released earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made the new album last year in New Orleans, where I\u2019m now living,\u201d said Blanton, who toured not long ago with\u00a0Anais Mitchell<\/a>\u2019s \u201cHadestown: A Folk Opera\u201d \u00a0playing the role of Head Fate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like living in New Orleans. There is a slower pace of life which is more conducive to my writing. Everything is slower down there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Things may have been slower for the most part but fans\u2019 reactions to Blanton\u2019s anticipated new disc definitely were not slower. It was just the opposite.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy new album was funded by a Kickstarter campaign last August,\u201d said Blanton, who opened for\u00a0Paul Simon<\/a>\u00a0on his\u00a0\u201cSo Beautiful or So What<\/a>\u201d\u00a0tour a few years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cI needed to raise $29,000 and I finished with a little more than $50,000. I was a little nervous going in. But, it picked up its own momentum.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did one week in the studio with a full band and then a couple days of overdubbing. Mixing it took a long time. I finished it at Cambridge Sound in Philly with (producer\/engineer) Jim Salamone.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Blanton has a large repertoire of her own songs from which to draw, she chose a different route for the new album.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis album is all covers,\u201d said Blanton. \u201cIt\u2019s just my take on my favorite jazz songs from the 1930s and 1940s.<\/p>\n

The album opens with Duke Ellington\u2019s \u201cAzalea\u201d followed by \u201cI\u2019ll Be Seeing You\u201d, a song with music by\u00a0Sammy Fain\u00a0and lyrics by\u00a0Irving Kahal that was popular in\u00a01938.<\/p>\n

The disc also features Jake Little\/Joe Young\u2019s \u201cYou\u2019re A Heavenly Thing,\u201d\u00a0Cole Porter\u2019s \u201cLaziest Gal In Town,\u201d and \u201cNot Old, Not New,\u201d a 45-second song composed by Blanton.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a project that I wanted to do for years,\u201d said Blanton. \u201cI love that music. And, I love those great songs — songs I want to share with people. I\u2019ve released four original LPs and a couple EPs so it was an O.K. time to do a covers album. And, I had access to a lot of great musicians in New Orleans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tickets are $15 and $20 for Blanton\u2019s 8 p.m. show at the Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the venue are \u201cThe THE BAND Band\u201d on July 18, \u201cOdyssey Road: A Tribute to Journey<\/a>\u201d on July 20, Melvin Seals and JGB on July 21 and Patrizio on July 23.<\/p>\n

\"reggie<\/a>

Reggies Harris<\/p><\/div>\n

Reggie Harris, who usually performs with his wife as Kim and Reggie, is one of the top singer-songwriters to come out of Philadelphia. Bernard \u201cB.J.\u201d Sarkissian, whose songs address the human potential in all of us, is also a local singer-songwriter.<\/p>\n

The two singer-songwriters will perform Friday with Charlie Phillips at Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) in an in-the-round benefit concert for \u201cChildren on the Border, Central American\u00a0 Refugee Crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBernard and I have been corresponding on Facebook since we found out that we had the same doctor for our liver transplants,\u201d said Harris, during a phone interview Wednesday as he was heading to a recording studio in Woodstock, New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve wanted to perform with him for a while. And, I\u2019ve heard of Charlie but never have played with him. Actually, none of us have ever even met before. Bernard and I have a visceral connection with the same surgeon laying hands on us.<\/p>\n

\"bernard<\/a>

Bernard Sarkissian<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI usually perform with my wife Kim Harris. Our last album \u2018Resurrection Day\u2019, which came out in 2012, was about my experience with a liver transplant. I had sclerosing cholangitis, which is really rare auto-immune illness that causes the immune system to attack the bile ducts.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a 13-year struggle for me. Finally, the doctors told me I had one-and-one-half weeks to live. Four days later, they found a liver donor — a 43-year-old man from Delaware who had just died. I was blessed to receive a liver at the last moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the opportunity arose for Harris to perform a benefit for other people who are in need of help, he immediately seized it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we saw things developing with these immigrant children, it really hit me that we\u2019re a country that is supposed to have compassion for the world,\u201d said Harris, who (along with his wife) has been acclaimed for contributions to the resources and knowledge base on the Underground Railroad and the modern civil rights movement.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we decided to do a benefit. The immigration issue is very complex and our political leaders need to be putting their differences aside. Things like these benefits fill my heart with hope. On a personal level, we can do events and make people aware.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though Harris, Sarkissian and Phillips will be strangers in the night at Chaplin\u2019s, Harris expects a smooth in-the-round performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cMuch of what I do is collaboration — getting people singing,\u201d said Harris. \u201cThe three of us will talk before the show and figure out songs we can collaborate on. It shouldn\u2019t be hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show at Chaplin\u2019s will get underway at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door. On July 19, Chaplin\u2019s will present Eric DiSanto, Jessica Graae and Quinn Devlin. Tickets are $10.<\/p>\n

July 17 presents a hard choice for music fans trying to decide on which show to attend.<\/p>\n

The Sun Center (63 Concord Road, Aston, 610-492-7722,\u00a0http:\/\/www.suncenterconcerts.com<\/a>) is presenting Procol Harum. The veteran British band had a huge hit in 1967 with the song \u201cWhiter Shade of Pale.\u201d<\/p>\n

The song, which featured Gary Brooker\u2019s haunting organ playing and distinctive voice, was a Number One hit around the world. The current line-up, which includes Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid (who was a founding member), has been together for more than 20 years.<\/p>\n

The show, which starts at 7:30 p.m. and has a ticket price range from $59.50-$75.00, also features Carl Palmer as the opening act. Palmer is familiar to fans of classic rock as the drummer for the 1970s supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer. He also has been the drummer for Asia, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and Atomic Rooster<\/p>\n

On July 17, Market Street in Wilmington will be the location of the 2014 Ladybug Music Festival. The free event, which will be held in the 2nd<\/sup>\u00a0& LoMa neighborhood along Market Street downtown Wilmington, will run from 5-10 p.m. and feature 40 talented music acts — all female.<\/p>\n

The long roster of performers features a wide array of talent such as Rachael Sage, Angela Sheik, Danielle Cuoco, Andrea Nardello, Rachel Schain, Nalani & Sarina, Danielle & Jennifer, Hadar, Sweet Leda, Grace Bernicker, No Stringz Attached, Lauren Kuhne and Jessica Cayne.<\/p>\n

Also on July 17, the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0http:\/\/www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) will welcome Dennis DeYoung, who was the lead singer of Styx and wrote seven of the group\u2019s eight Top 10 singles. The band\u2019s major hits were \u201cCome Sail Away,\u201d \u201cLady\u201d and \u201cBest of Times.\u201d<\/p>\n

On July 17, the World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 302- 994-1400,www.queen.worldcafelive.com<\/a>) has Deltron 3030 and Kid Koala on its downstairs main stage and Sin City Band and the Mosstins on the upstairs stage.<\/p>\n

Other shows slated for upstairs at the Queen are \u201cSweet Loretta Fat (aka Fooling April)\u2026As the Beatles\u201d on July 18, the July Singer Songwriter Showcase on July 19 and the Movement on July 23.<\/p>\n

If you visit the American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Hwy East, Lancaster, 800-648-4102,http:\/\/www.amtshows.com<\/a>) on July 17, you can catch a performance of AMT\u2019s original stage show \u201cMusic of the Night — The Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber\u201d featuring songs such as\u00a0\u201cThe Phantom of the Opera,\u201d \u201cJesus Christ Superstar,\u201d \u201cCats\u201d and \u201cEvita.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will have a triple-bill show on July 18 with RKCV, Janine Walters and Chris Ferron. On July 19 at 11:30 a.m., The Flash will host a matinee \u201cCD Release Party\u201d for \u201cWe Kids Rock!,\u201d the new album by Bill Currier and We Kids Rock.<\/p>\n

Shows this weekend at Burlap & Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547,\u00a0www.burlapandbean.com<\/a>) include Jesse Terry, Lizanne Knott, and Tom Hampton on July 18 and Theresa Noye and Stacey Harcum on July 19.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theatre (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>)\u00a0will present Get The Led Out on July 20, Skid Row on July 22 and Trampled Under Foot on July 23. Get the Led Out is also performing from July 17-19 but all three shows are already sold out.<\/p>\n

Steel City Coffee House (Bridge Street, Phoenixville,\u00a0610-933-www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a>) has a triple feature on July 18 with Torri Melhart, Ben Kessler and Larkspur Gunther. On July 19, the twin bill at Steel City features Devin Tuel and Brian Medlin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pair of singer\/songwriter to pair up for benefit at Chaplins, Friday By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times Carsie Blanton, who is performing July 19 at the Ardmore Music Hall, is a talented singer-songwriter whose music spans a variety of genres. She is also adaptable when it comes to finding a place to call home. Blanton […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22606,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[5847,5845,5835,5836,5846],"class_list":["post-22609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-bernard-b-j-sarkissian","tag-carsie-blanton","tag-ladybug-music-festival","tag-procol-harum","tag-reggie-harris"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}