{"id":55021,"date":"2024-12-27T10:35:28","date_gmt":"2024-12-27T15:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=55021"},"modified":"2024-12-27T10:35:29","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T15:35:29","slug":"on-stage-slambovian-circus-of-dreams-returns-for-years-end-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=55021","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Slambovian Circus of Dreams returns for year’s end tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/div>\n
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Slambovian Circus of Dreams<\/p><\/div>\n

Music acts in all genres have special holiday shows and tours.<\/p><\/div>\n

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If you\u2019re dealing with the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, there doesn\u2019t seem to be any holiday they can\u2019t celebrate with a show (or series of shows).<\/div>\n
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The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, which has been making music since 1998, features a trio of founding members Joziah Longo (singer, songwriter, guitarist, leader of the band), his wife Tink Lloyd (accordion, cello, flute, ukulele, theremin, keyboards) and Sharkey McEwen (guitar,\u00a0mandolin, backing vocals).<\/div>\n
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The current line-up also features RJ McCarty (keys, sax, banjo, backing vocals), Bob Torsello (bass), and Matthew Abourezk (drums).<\/div>\n
Traditional shows for the band include the \u201cSlambovian Circus of Dreams Halloween Show,\u201d the \u201cFairport\u2019s Copredy Convention,\u201d \u201cKingston Earth Fair,\u201d and two December Slambovian Circus of Dreams traditions — Christmas and New Years concerts.<\/div>\n

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The band just finished a five-state December run of \u201cA Very Slambovian Christmas\u201d shows which finished with a show last week in Newtown (Bucks County).<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe just played the Newtown Theatre on Monday night,\u201d said Lloyd, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from upstate New York where she and Longo reside.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis is the second year we\u2019ve done the show there. It\u2019s a nice venue and was very close to being sold out Monday night.\u201d<\/div>\n
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On December 30, the Slambovians play perhaps their most important show each year \u2013 the \u201cSlambovian Circus of Dreams New Year\u2019s Eve Eve\u201d show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400,www.worldcafelive.com<\/a><\/u>).<\/div>\n
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Longo is a Philly native who went to St. John Neumann High which back then was called Bishop Neumann High. Both the school and Longo\u2019s childhood home are located in South Philadelphia \u2013 a hotbed for Mummers\u2019 activity.<\/div>\n
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The Mummers Parade is a great Philadelphia tradition.<\/div>\n
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It dates back more than a century, has its roots in South Philadelphia and is always held on January 1.<\/div>\n
The Slambovians holiday show dates back a decade-and-a-half.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m pretty sure our first was in 2009 \u2013 after we released our second album,\u201d said Lloyd. \u201cWe played the XPonential Music Festival in 2009 and then followed up with the World Caf\u00e9 Live show.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe definitely booked it for New Year\u2019s Eve given Joziah\u2019s history with Philadelphia. We really wanted to play the World Caf\u00e9 Live because of the history with Philadelphia.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Generations of Longo\u2019s family (including him) have danced or played with string bands in the Mummers Parade.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe didn\u2019t want a New Year\u2019s Eve show,\u201d said Lloyd. \u201cWe wanted a New Year\u2019s Eve Eve to do a little warmup for everybody. The New Year\u2019s Eve Eve is a gathering of tribes.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe show at the World Caf\u00e9 live has become an annual reunion for Joziah\u2019s family and friends. They\u2019re part of Mummers groups so they spend New Year\u2019s Eve getting ready for the Mummers Parade the next day. Our New Year\u2019s Eve Eve show extends the holiday.<\/div>\n
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\u201cJoziah is the son of Italian and Swedish immigrants. His grandfather sold fruit on the streets. His parents met at Gloria Dei Old Swede\u2019s Church in South Philly on New Year\u2019s Day when his father was wearing clown make-up for the parade.<\/div>\n
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\u201cJoziah always had costumes from back then. He\u2019s a real \u2018Two Streeter.\u2019\u201d<\/div>\n
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Because of the large number of Mummers clubhouses there, South 2nd Street (Two Street) often serves as a party location after the parade, with the center of activity being South 2nd Street and Mifflin Street.<\/div>\n
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Local residents and others in the area for the parade crowd the local bars, clubhouses and sidewalks, sometimes joining in the unofficial parade.<\/div>\n
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With the parade they spent months preparing for finished, the Mummers let loose and celebrate. This multi-block party continues well into the night or early morning — with some Mummers not sleeping for twenty-four hours straight.<\/div>\n
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\u201cOur New Year\u2019s Eve Eve show is always a big tradition for Joziah,\u201d said Lloyd. \u201cHis childhood babysitter comes to the show. His family comes to the show. His friends from kindergarten come to the show. They all come to the show to connect with everybody.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Just as the Mummers Parade features dancers with decorated umbrellas and parasols, so does the Slambovian Circus of Dreams annual show on the year\u2019s penultimate night. The concert features a Mummers medley with banjos and unique renditions of songs such as \u201cOh, Dem\u00a0Golden Slippers.\u201d<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe parasols combine the Mummers tradition with that of New Orleans and its Second Line,\u201d said Lloyd. \u201cThe umbrellas celebrate rebirth.<\/div>\n
\u201cWe play the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival every summer. Our audiences there use umbrellas with lights — \u2018Immortal Jellyfish.\u2019 They live in the Hudson Valley and many of them come down to Philly for the New Year\u2019s Eve Eve show.<\/div>\n
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\u201cOur fans want to be part of the show. They want to show their respect and their love for the band.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The band always approaches its New Year\u2019s Eve Eve show in Philly as something special.<\/div>\n
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According to Longo, \u201cI\u2019m a South Philly boy and all my South Philly people bring umbrellas and dance like jellyfish. Coming back to Philly means a lot to me because it\u2019s the place where I was born. It\u2019s a great way to end the year. We\u2019re all trying to find our best self.<\/div>\n
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\u201cNew Year\u2019s is an analysis of what we want to be \u2013 where are we going to go this year. Let\u2019s unravel everything we know and get back to feeling for each other. Let\u2019s get in a room and escape what other people call reality \u2013 even though it\u2019s not real reality. Real reality is love, unity and friendship.<\/div>\n
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\u201cPhilly is our hometown. It\u2019s like we come back and bring it to the elders. Being in Philly at this time of year just feels right.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The band has another feature that dates back more than a decade-and-a-half.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing summer shows in the U.K. since 2008,\u201d said Lloyd. \u201cWe\u2019ve gone over every year except 2020 and 2021 because of COVID.\u201d<\/div>\n
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In 2023, the\u00a0Slambovian\u00a0Circus of Dreams played the Fairport Convention\u2019s Copredy Convention\u00a0in Banbury and was named the \u201cfans\u2019 favorites.\u201d They also played the Wickham Festival in Wickham with the Waterboys headlining.<\/div>\n
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\u201cOur first time to play in the U.K. was the Rhythm Festival,\u201d said Lloyd. \u201cIt was a classic rock festival with acts like the Animals and the Zombies. Jim Driver, who is involved with the Glastonbury Music Festival, asked us to play at the festival.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The\u00a0Rhythm Festival, which was last held in 2011,\u00a0was an outdoor\u00a0music festival\u00a0held in\u00a0Bedfordshire. From 2006 until 2010 it was held at\u00a0Twinwood Arena, near the village of\u00a0Clapham. In 2008, it was held from August 29-31.<\/div>\n
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Performers included\u00a0Jefferson Starship,\u00a0Saw Doctors,\u00a0Richie Havens,\u00a0Michelle Shocked,\u00a0Big Star,\u00a0Steve Cropper,\u00a0Quicksilver Messenger Service,\u00a0The Zombies,\u00a0Chas and Dave,\u00a0Jah Wobble,\u00a0The Pretty Things,\u00a0Nine Below Zero, The Foxes,\u00a0Neville Staple\u00a0and\u00a0Gandalf Murphy and the\u00a0Slambovian\u00a0Circus of Dreams.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThey had us as the opening act for the festival,\u201d said Lloyd. \u201cAnd they also had us play as the closing act. People just freaked out over us. It was pretty crazy.\u201d<\/div>\n
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This year, the\u00a0Slambovian Circus headed back across the pond for a series of shows, including a pair of festivals — Devizes Arts Festival in Devizes and First Light Festival in Lowestoft. They also played shows in Pocklington, Saltaire, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Chelmsford and London.<\/div>\n
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The big news for 2024 has been the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the band\u2019s debut album, \u201cA Good Thief Tips His Hat.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The album was initially released in 1999 and then re-released in 2021 after the band got control of its catalogue.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe album was never released in the U.K. and is now being released by a British label,\u201d said Longo. \u201cWe\u2019ve been playing songs from that album. Learning to play songs from a 25-year-old album was like learning new stuff.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Longo has been extremely busy at his home along the Hudson.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m working on three musicals and four new albums,\u201d said Longo. \u201cI\u2019ve been writing a lot.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe musicals are moving along \u2013 starting to happen. The whole skeleton is coming together. I\u2019ve been reading books about scriptwriting. It\u2019s really about articulation.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe albums are written and arranged. Matthew and I have been laying down tracks for one of them.\u201d<\/div>\n
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\u201cA Very Unusual Head,\u201d which\u00a0is the band\u2019s sixth studio album, was released January 21, 2022, on their new label, Storm King Records.<\/div>\n
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\u201cA Very Unusual Head\u201d was recorded over four years in five studios and two countries. The album is a step away from the\u00a0guitar-based Americana vibe heard on their previous albums.<\/div>\n
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\u201cA Very Unusual Head\u201d is a real\u00a0Slambovian\u00a0tribal project with contributions from many friends and a few \u201cspecial guests\u201d such as Dar Williams,\u00a0Anthony Thistlethwaite (The Waterboys),\u00a0Kolson Pickard (Tall Heights, Pico Romanesque), drummer\u00a0Felipe Torres\u00a0(protege of Carmine Appice and sideman for Davey Jones), drummer\u00a0Matt Abourezk\u00a0(Thin White Rope) and Tristan Tadin\u00a0(keyboards).<\/div>\n
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Canadian engineer\u00a0Dio Tadin\u00a0(Tristan\u2019s father) recorded the bulk of the album on a former reindeer farm near Peterborough, Ontario and at Big Blue in Cornwall, New York. Tadin\u2019s resume includes work at Daniel Lanois\u2019 studio in Hamilton, Ontario.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe recorded two-thirds of the album in 2018,\u201d said Lloyd. \u201cWe got half of it mixed and then COVID hit. We released \u2018Beez\u2019 as a single and made an EP that was only sold at our U.K. tour.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThen, we pulled together all the tracks recorded over the last five years. We did a lot of work with Dio Tadin in Peterborough, Ontario. Then, the Tadins moved their studio (Big Blue) to Cornwall, New York \u2013 which is near us. We finished making the album there.\u201d<\/div>\n
Inspired by the Surrealists and early British Psychedelia and the paths they pioneered, the songs on the album deal with topics ranging from the pseudo-scientific to the pseudo-religious realms and other forms of hob-nobbery for fun and profit.<\/div>\n
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The diverse album has a song about Steven Hawking (\u201cForce of Nature\u201d), the planets (\u201cPluto\u201d) and an inspirational song about the importance of bees in the ecosystem (\u201cBeez (I Know Where the Beez Have Gone).\u201d<\/div>\n
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As always, the\u00a0Slambovians\u2019 songs feature great instrumentals accompanied by lyrics that are intelligent, socially aware, witty and mindful. Longo is a modern-day troubadour bringing a message to the people of 2025.<\/div>\n
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The new album displays many of the band\u2019s influences \u2014 Beatles, Bowie, Incredible String Band, Syd Barrett, Brahms and The Waterboys\u2026along with a good measure of Woodstock-era psychedelia.<\/div>\n
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\u201cAt the show on New Years Eve Eve, we have an original country song that we\u2019ll be playing \u2013 \u2018Ghost of The Grand Ole Opry — and rare classics,\u201d said Lloyd.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ll be playing some new things and some songs from \u2018A Very Unusual Head.\u2019 And we be doing some Christmas stuff.\u201d<\/div>\n
With the world getting crazier, the Slambovian Circus of Dreams wants to help things get more chill.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe want to help with music \u2013 like it was in the \u201960\u2019s,\u201d said Longo. \u201cIt\u2019s time to bring some rebirth \u2013 to brings light to the end of the tunnel.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Fans of the Slambovians are in for another treat in a few weeks.<\/div>\n
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The Slambovian Circus of Dreams will return to the area on February 22 for a concert at the Elkton\u00a0Music Hall (107 North Street,\u00a0Elkton, Maryland, www.elktonmusichall.com<\/a>)<\/div>\n
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Video link for the\u00a0Slambovian\u00a0Circus of Dreams \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/9UTTwqUOJPE<\/a><\/div>\n
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The show on December 30 will start at 8 p.m.<\/div>\n
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Tickets are $25 advance and $28 day of show.<\/div>\n
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Other upcoming shows at the World Caf\u00e9 Live are Jimmy & The Parrots on December 27, Paul Bumbry on December 28, and Too Many Zoos on December 31.<\/div>\n
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Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org<\/a>) will present Gillian Grassie on December 27 and the Laugh Lounge at Uptown on December 31.<\/div>\n
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Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com<\/a>) is a place to go if you\u2019re looking for tasty music along with tasty food.<\/div>\n
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The Blue Muthas<\/p><\/div>\n

On December 28, Jamey\u2019s will present The Blue Muthas.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Blues Muthas are blues and blues rock. Steve Shanahan\u2019s first album, \u201cBlue Ranchero,\u201d charted on more than 40 blues programs since its release 11 months ago.<\/div>\n
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Fans at Jamey\u2019s can expect a holiday helping of Clapton, SRV, Hendrix and more.<\/div>\n
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Shanahan, a Delco native, is joined by guitarist Gene Hawrylak (Gene and the Hurricanes, Lights Out), a local Delco multi-instrumental musician for over 60 years; bassist Tom Donovan (Slim and the Perkolators bassist); and Judd Nielsen on keyboards.<\/div>\n
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The Blue Muthas show on December 28 will start at 8 p.m.<\/div>\n
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Tickets are $20 advance online and $25 at the door.<\/div>\n
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Every Sunday, Jamey\u2019s presents \u201cSUNDAY BLUES BRUNCH & JAM\u201d featuring the Philly Blues Kings.<\/div>\n
The event features free admission.<\/div>\n
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Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) is hosting Gordon Sterling & The People on December 31.<\/div>\n
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The Philadelphia Ballet\u2019s annual production of \u201cGeorge Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker\u201d is one of the most cherished\u2014and longest running\u2014family holiday traditions for families in the region.<\/div>\n
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For many, a visit to Philadelphia to enjoy the lavish presentation by the world-famous Philadelphia Ballet is an integral part of the holiday season.<\/div>\n
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This year\u2019s production, which is running now through December 29 at the Academy of Music (Broad and Locust streets, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999, www.philadelphiaballet.org<\/a>), is in the fifth decade of staging of the classic ballet.<\/div>\n
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The ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffman\u2019s tale \u201cThe Nutcracker\u00a0and The Mouse King\u201d and set to a score by Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky.<\/div>\n
Featuring lively dances, colorful costumes and elaborate sets, \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d is a production that appeals to audiences of all ages. The original version of the timeless classic was first presented in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1892.<\/div>\n
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The ballet is performed\u00a0under the guidance of artistic director Angel Corella. The ballet is based on the choreography of George Balanchine.<\/div>\n
The Philadelphia Ballet\u2019s production of the ballet features more than 100 performers and has an annual audience attendance of more than 50,000. And it is staged in one of the most beautiful performance halls in the country.<\/div>\n
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The version of \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d performed by the Philadelphia Ballet features everything audiences associate with the timeless ballet\u2014a cast of 19th-century families celebrating Christmas Eve, a little girl\u2019s dream of her Nutcracker\u00a0Prince, the Prince\u2019s toy soldiers battling a fleet of mice led by the Mouse King and the crowd-pleasing second act of dances in the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.<\/div>\n
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\u201cRight now, we\u2019re still doing Balanchine\u2019s \u2018Nutcracker\u2019 because it works,\u201d said Corella. \u201cBalanchine\u2019s \u2018The Nutcracker\u2019 is one of the best in the world.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe whole process makes it feel like it\u2019s Christmas. There is hot chocolate. It\u2019s snowing outside. The whole family is there and time seems to stop. It goes back to a certain place and time that everyone seems to recognize\u2014being able to re-connect and share.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Video link for Philadelphia\u00a0Ballet\u2019s \u201cGeorge Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker\u201d \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/ypfQQ2duYS0<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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Ticket prices start at $25.<\/div>\n
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The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-648-4102, www.AMTshows.com<\/a>) has its holiday show running now through December 30.<\/div>\n
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The AMT\u2019s current show, \u201c2024 Christmas Show: Joy to the World,\u2019 is an all-new presentation of favorite sacred and secular holiday songs performed by professional artists from across the country. The show will feature spectacular vocal harmonies, lively musical arrangements, impressive dancing, and the music of the AMT Orchestra.<\/div>\n
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Also featured will be elaborate scenery, elegant costumes and a theater decked out with holiday decorations.<\/div>\n
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Audience members will be able to bask in the beauty of the season and cherish the stories of spirit and love. Beautiful snowscapes, child-like joy, cherished stories, the spirit of love, and all your favorite things about the holiday season are cast onstage in this glorious celebration of timeless holiday classics.<\/div>\n
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Ticket prices start at $ 25.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Music acts in all genres have special holiday shows and tours. If you\u2019re dealing with the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, there doesn\u2019t seem to be any holiday they can\u2019t celebrate with a show (or series of shows). The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, which has been making music since […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":55019,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8457],"tags":[7426,8480,15907],"class_list":["post-55021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-slambovian-circus-of-dreams","tag-the-blue-muthas"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55021","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=55021"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55022,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55021\/revisions\/55022"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/55019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=55021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=55021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=55021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}