{"id":22737,"date":"2014-07-31T10:36:45","date_gmt":"2014-07-31T14:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=22737"},"modified":"2014-07-31T10:16:04","modified_gmt":"2014-07-31T14:16:04","slug":"on-stage-riverfront-blues-fest-theatre-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=22737","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Riverfront Blues fest, theatre and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

Local musicals include Annie, Cline tribute and Book of Mormon<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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

\"jarekus<\/a>

Jarekus Singleton gave up a career in basketball to become one of the top-rated blues guitar players on the scene today. He is just one of the headline acts at this weekend’s Riverfront Blues Festival in Wilmington.<\/p><\/div>\n

There is a big difference between \u201chaving the blues\u201d and \u201chearing the blues.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you have the blues, you feel bad. If you\u2019re listening to the blues — especially if they\u2019re being played by a top-flight blues musician — you feel good.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a fan of blues music, you can feel really good this weekend by attending the 2014 Riverfront Blues Festival which is being held August 1-3 at Tubman-Garrett Waterfront Park (Water and South French streets, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-576-2139,\u00a0http:\/\/riverfrontbluesfestde.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Three of the top acts on the festival\u2019s roster are Alligator Records recording artists — Tommy Castro and the Painkillers, Jarekus Singleton and Marcia Ball.<\/p>\n

Castro will be the headline act on the Main Stage on August 1 at 8:30 p.m. The music will start at 5 p.m. with Popa Chubby. At 6:45 p.m., Southern Hospitality featuring the Damon Fowler Band & Victor Wainwright and the Wild Roots will take the stage.\u00a0 The Second Stage will feature Second Chance Blues Band at 6:15 p.m. and the Billy Walton Band at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe played this festival a few years ago and had a lot of fun,\u201d said Castro, during a recent phone interview from his home in San Rafael, California. \u201cIt\u2019s a great place to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Castro has released 14 albums in the last 20 years. His most recent \u201cThe devil You Know\u201d was released earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m coming in with basically a new album,\u201d said Castro. \u201cIt\u2019s a slightly different configuration of my group. I started the Painkillers about two years ago. The plan was to get a new record out for that group.<\/p>\n

\u201cRandy (McDonald), who has been my guitarist for 25 years, and I wanted to do something fresh and exciting — somewhat modern and somewhat traditional — and really rocking.<\/p>\n

\u201cBasically, it\u2019s more guitar-driven. We worked really hard on getting the right drum rhythms and grooves but it\u2019s not a rock record. It\u2019s more of a contemporary blues record. My music isn\u2019t so much about guitar as it is about songs. I\u2019m probably more a singer than a guitar player. I like a good hook and I want songs that people remember.\u201d<\/p>\n

Castro and his band are on the road a lot. After they play in Wilmington on August 1, they return to California to perform at the Art and Soul Festival in Oakland, California on August 2. They have shows in the Netherlands and Belgium on August 14 and 15, five shows in New England and eastern Canada from August 17-23 and then back to California for the Sausalito Art Festival on August 31.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt took awhile to make the album because we were touring so much. It came out in January. And, we took time to try things out and change them if we weren\u2019t happy. We spent the time needed to make it right. Then, we hit the road and we\u2019ve been touring ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n

The roster of performers for the Main Stage on August 2 at the Riverfront Blues Festival includes Jimmy Pritchard Big Band, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Carolyn Wonderland, Paul Oscher, Kinsey Report and James Harman\u2019s Bamboo Porch Revue.<\/p>\n

The acts on the Second Stage on August 2 will be Kenny Jones & The Jaded Angels, Gary Allegretto, James Day & The Fish Fry,\u00a0Crabmeat Thompson and The Billy Pierce Band. On August 3, the line-up includes Lower Case Blues and Mikey Junior.<\/p>\n

On August 3, the Main Stage will feature Jarekus Singleton\u00a0at 12:30 p.m., Wayne Baker Brooks Band at 2:30 p.m. and Marcia Ball at 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Singleton, a young guitarist from Clinton, Mississippi, is one of the brightest new talents in the world of blues music. He released his debut album \u201cHeartfelt\u201d in 2011 and followed with his new disc \u201cRefuse to Lose\u201d earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up with gospel,\u201d said Singleton, during a recent phone interview from his home in Mississippi. \u201cMy uncle taught me how to play bass guitar when I was nine. He needed a bass player for his church music at the True Gospel Church of God in Christ in Jackson.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy grandfather would preach and play guitar at the same time. He got older and got arthritis. So, he came to me and said you\u2019ve got to play guitar. We had this thing called \u2018testimony service.\u2019 Anyone could testify or sing a song. Older women would sing slower songs and younger people did faster songs. So, I had to learn to play in all different keys and tempos.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back then, music was never Singleton\u2019s first love. It was basketball and the sport loved him back.<\/p>\n

\u201cBasketball was my main thing growing up,\u201d said Singleton. \u201cI was named the number one high school player in Mississippi in 2002 and I went to University of Southern Mississippi on a basketball scholarship. I played there three years and then they changed coaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I transferred to William Carey University, a NAIA school that was also in Hattiesburg. I was the National Player of the Year and was ranked number one in scoring with a 25 point-per-game average and number five in assists with 6.3 per game.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I graduated, I played pro ball overseas. Then, I came back to the states and had tryouts with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Indianapolis Pacers. But, I tore my ankle up and that ended my basketball career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came back home on crutches. Lying in bed with my foot in the air, I started writing music and doing some soul searching. The blues has been a big-time healing process for me. For that, I\u2019m really grateful to God.\u201d<\/p>\n

Basketball\u2019s loss has been blues music\u2019s gain.\u00a0In 2009, he formed The Jarekus Singleton Blues Band and quickly built a reputation as a tremendously gifted musician and performer. He was named a \u201cstar on the rise\u201d by Blues & Rhythm magazine in the UK and Guitar Center named him the 2011 King of the Blues in Mississippi.<\/p>\n

\"edgar<\/a>

Edgar Winter was forced to cancel the tour of Rock ‘N’ Blues fest after the sudden death of his brother Johnny, a guitar legend, earlier this month.<\/p><\/div>\n

Every once in awhile, blues musicians get the blues on a personal level. It just happened again a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia\u00a0Rock \u2019N\u2019 Blues Fest<\/a>\u00a0was slated to be held at the Keswick on August 5 featuring\u00a0Johnny Winter Band,\u00a0Edgar Winter Band, Pete Rivera (of Rare Earth),\u00a0Vanilla Fudge and\u00a0Savoy Brown\u2019s\u00a0Kim Simmonds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the unexpected death of Johnny Winter two weeks ago forced the cancellation of the tour. Winter had been voted one of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time by Rolling Stone. He also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for Muddy Waters and was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1988.<\/p>\n

During a phone interview two weeks ago, Edgar Winter spoke about the tour and the opportunity to be on the road with his brother again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to touring with Johnny again,\u201d said Edgar Winter in the interview from his home in Southern California. \u201cThe last time I toured with him was about five years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always love playing with Johnny. It brings back memories of the gold old days when we were growing up together in Texas. Johnny is my all-time musical hero. He just has such a deep love and appreciation for the blues. I think he\u2019s the last living exponent of that traditional slide style.<\/p>\n

Less than 12 hours later, his brother passed away in\u00a0a Zurich hotel room at the end of a European tour. Johnny Winter was 70, had emphysema and was recently diagnosed with pneumonia.<\/p>\n

On July 31, the World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 302- 994-1400,\u00a0www.queen.worldcafelive.com<\/a>) will have Roomful of Blues and the Porkroll Project on the Downstairs Stage and Tauk and the Big Something on the Upstairs Stage.<\/p>\n

On August 1, the Downstairs Stage will host Stand Up for Fair Lending and Rock with DCRAC (Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council, Inc.)\u00a0featuring Club Phred. Fred Mascherino, an internationally-acclaimed rock musician, grew up and still lives in Coatesville.<\/p>\n

Other shows scheduled for the Upstairs Stage at the World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen over the next week are the Lovebirds and Katie Armiger on August 1; Mutts, Modern Inventors and Widowmaker Social Club on August 2; and 4W5 Blues Jam on August 6.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways\u2026Patsy Cline,\u201d which is based on the story of Patsy Cline, is running now through August 24 (Fridays and Saturdays, food service starts at 6 p.m.; Sundays, food service starts at 1 p.m.) at the Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0www.nctstage.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Tickets, which include a tasty buffet dinner, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).<\/p>\n

The Brandywiners, Ltd. will perform the award-winning musical \u201cAnnie\u201d at Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000,\u00a0www.longwoodgardens.org<\/a>) on 31 and August 1 in Longwood\u2019s beautiful Open Air Theatre.<\/p>\n

Tickets for the Brandywiners, Ltd. production include admission to Longwood Gardens beginning at 9 a.m. on the day of performance as well as a spectacular fountain display immediately following the show. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for students (ages 13-21) and $15 for children (ages 12 and under).<\/p>\n

Theater fans actually have a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n

\"book-of-mormon-794\"<\/a>

The hit Broadway musical Book of Mormon is running now through Sept. 14 at The Forrest Theater in Philadelphia.<\/p><\/div>\n

Three years ago, the \u201cBook of Mormon\u201d made its debut at the\u00a0Eugene O\u2019Neill Theatre.\u00a0During its first year, the show was consistently one of the top five best-selling shows on Broadway and it set 22 new weekly sales records at the O\u2019Neill.<\/p>\n

The show, which was\u00a0seven years in the making, met with immediate\u00a0critical acclaim and won numerous theater awards including nine\u00a0Tony Awards (including Best Musical)\u00a0and a\u00a0Grammy Award\u00a0for\u00a0Best Musical Theater Album.<\/p>\n

Finally, after a long wait, the hit musical is making a visit to this area. \u201cBook of Mormon\u201d opened this week and is running through September 14 at the Forrest Theatre (1114 Walnut Street, Philadelphia 866-276-2947,\u00a0www.kimmelcenter.org\/broadway<\/a>) as part of the Kimmel Center\u2019s \u201cBroadway Philadelphia\u201d series.<\/p>\n

A review in the New York Times called it \u201cthe best musical of this century\u201d while the Associate Press said \u201c\u2018The Book of Mormon\u2019 manages to offend, provoke laughter, trigger eye-rolling, satirize conventions and warm hearts, all at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

By all accounts, it is one of the funniest shows to hit the stage in years. Area fans have been waiting and now they\u2019re ready to laugh.<\/p>\n

The talent-laden cast features KJ Hippensteel as Elder Price, Alexandra Ncube as Nabulungi, Grey Henson as Elder McKinley and Stanley Wayne Mathis as Mafala Hatimbi.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis show is humorous,\u201d said Ncube, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Ottawa, Canada. \u201cPeople start laughing right from the beginning. I love that it\u2019s so well-written. Sometimes in comedy, you tend to push for laughter. With this show, it comes naturally. It\u2019s just so well-tailored.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Book of Mormon\u201d\u00a0tells the story of two young and inexperienced\u00a0Mormon<\/a>\u00a0missionaries<\/a>\u00a0who are\u00a0sent to Africa. It is set in a remote village in northern\u00a0Uganda<\/a>. In the village, which is about two hours north of Uganda\u2019s capitol Kampala, a brutal warlord is threatening the local population.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe primary antagonist is the General,\u201d said Ncube, whose Zimbabwean name is pronounced \u201cNoo-Bay.\u201d \u201cHe has superstitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Obviously, the General does not like the missionaries and he views them as a threat. Nabulungi becomes the missionaries\u2019 ally and even agrees to be baptized in the faith.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love that Nabulungi is so genuine and optimistic,\u201d said Ncumbe, who has a degree in theater from Arizona State University. \u201cShe trusts people unless they give her a reason not to be trusted. She puts her whole heart into everything she does.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis show is controversial. It has people talking about it. It pokes fun at the Mormon faith. But, there hasn\u2019t been a negative response. In some cities, there are Mormon missionaries outside the theater answering questions about their religion and inviting people to tours of their temple.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe show has a wonderful message of community and you see how religion is formed through storytelling. The narrative is wonderful. It\u2019s perfectly linear. And, it\u2019s educational. We even read directly from the Book of Mormon. I like being part of a show that makes a statement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ticket prices ranges from $67-$277. In Philadelphia, the production will conduct a pre-show lottery at the box office, making a limited number of tickets available at $25 piece. The wildly-popular lottery for the Broadway production has attracted as many as 800 entries at some performances.<\/p>\n

The producers generously offer low-priced lottery seats for every city on the National Tour. Entries will be accepted at the Forrest Theatre box office beginning two-and-a half hours prior to each performance. Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets.<\/p>\n

For those who prefer live music to musical theater, there are a lot of options.<\/p>\n

\"no<\/a>

No Stringz Attached performs at The Flash in Kennett, Aug. 2<\/p><\/div>\n

The Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will feature Hot Breakfast, Todd Chappelle and Melissa Bernard sharing the bill on August 1 at 8 p.m. while the 8 p.m. show on August 2 will have No Stringz Attached as the headliner and the Cle Younger Band as the opening act.<\/p>\n

Tickets for either show are $16 in advance and $20 at the door. On August 3, there will be an Open Mic night at The Flash beginning at 7 p.m. and hosted by Sam Kwietniak. Tickets for this event are $4 and there is a BYOB fee of $4.<\/p>\n

On August 5 at 7 p.m., the Eagleview Summer Concerts on the Square\u00a0(Wellington Square, Exton,\u00a0www.ineagleview.com<\/a>) will host a free concert featuring\u00a0Lera Lynn and The Wallace Brothers.<\/p>\n

On August 1, Steel City Coffee House will feature Fooling April and John & Brittany ay 8 p.m. On Gust 2, the coffeehouse will host John Eddie and His band for two concerts — 7 and 10 p.m.<\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) will present a show on August 1 featuring Somebody\u2019s Problem and Anthony Piergiovanni. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $10 in advance and $12 day of show.<\/p>\n

On August 2, Chaplin\u2019s will host an evening of music with The Rescue, An Honest Year, Modern Suits and The Escape. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are priced at $10 in advance and $12 at the door.<\/p>\n

Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts series (9 South Bryn\u00a0Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, 610-864-4303,\u00a0www.brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com<\/a>) will have David Wilcox as the headliner and\u00a0Danny Schmidt and Carrie Elkin<\/a>\u00a0as the openers on August 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.<\/p>\n

On July 31, the Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will present\u00a0Ashley Leone and Friends<\/a>\u00a0(Josh Dutton, Dry Reef, Ju-Tuan, the Sofa Kings and a special surprise guest. Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets are $15.<\/p>\n

The venue in Ardmore will host a triple-bill on August 2 at 8 p.m. featuring\u00a0Somewhere South<\/a>,\u00a0Sakima and The Golden Monkeys<\/a>. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.<\/p>\n

\"jeffrey-osborne<\/a>

Jeffrey Osborne is at The Keswick, Aug. 1.<\/p><\/div>\n

On August 1 at 8 p.m., the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0http:\/\/www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) will present R&B singer Jeffrey Osborne, the\u00a0five-time Platinum and Gold Record winner who is best known for \u201cOn The Wings Of Love.\u201d Tickets are $39.50 and $49.50.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theatre (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>)\u00a0has a busy week with the Ed Palermo Big Band on July 31,\u00a0ST94\u2019s The Local Connection: Jeff Thomas\u2019 All-Volunteer Army, The Peace Creeps & Adam Travis on August 1, Exile on August 2, Nellie McKay on August 3 and Gina Sicilia on August 4.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Local musicals include Annie, Cline tribute and Book of Mormon By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times There is a big difference between \u201chaving the blues\u201d and \u201chearing the blues.\u201d If you have the blues, you feel bad. If you\u2019re listening to the blues — especially if they\u2019re being played by a top-flight blues musician — […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22732,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[5914,5912,5910,5911,5915,5909,5913],"class_list":["post-22737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-book-of-mormon","tag-edgar-winter-band","tag-jarekus-singleton","tag-johnny-winter-band","tag-no-stringz-attached","tag-riverfront-blues-festival","tag-world-cafe-live-at-the-queen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22737","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=22737"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22737\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22737"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22737"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22737"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}