The Line Up for Saturday, August 18
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Marcia Ball – 6pm – performance moved to Sunday
“Fifty years have passed in a flash,” says Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist, songwriter and vocalist Marcia Ball of her long and storied career. Ball, the 2018 Texas State Musician Of The Year, has won worldwide fame and countless fans for her ability to ignite a full-scale roadhouse rhythm and blues partyevery time she takes the stage.Her rollicking Texas boogies, swampy New Orleans ballads and groove-laden Gulf Coast blues have made her a one-of-a-kind favorite with music lovers all over the world. With each new release, her reputation as a profoundly soulful singer, a boundlessly talented pianist and a courageous, inventive songwriter continues to grow. Her love of the road has led to years of soul-satisfying performances at festivals, concert halls and clubs. The New York Times says, “Marcia Ball plays two-fisted New Orleans barrelhouse piano and sings in a husky, knowing voice about all the trouble men and women can get into on the way to a good time.” The Houston Chronicle says simply, “She’s as perfect as an artist can be.”With her new album, Shine Bright, Ball set out to, in her words, “Make the best Marcia Ball record I could make.” In doing so, she has put together the most musically substantial, hopeful and uplifting set of songs of her five-decade career. Produced by Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) and recorded in Texas and Louisiana, Shine Bright contains twelve songs (including nine originals), ranging from the title track’s rousing appeal for public and private acts of courage to the upbeat call to action of “Pots And Pans,” a song inspired by renowned Texas political writer and humorist Molly Ivins. From the humorous advice of “Life Of The Party” to the poignantly optimistic “World Full Of Love,” the intensity of Ball’s conviction never wavers while, simultaneously, the fun never stops. Shine Bright is exactly the album Ball set out to make. “It is a ridiculously hopeful, cheerful record,” she says, in light of some of the album’s more serious subject matter. The secret, according to Ball “is to set the political songs to a good dance beat.”Website: http://www.marciaball.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJHNMwJePTlLgMV9TRLaZg/featured -
Jack Broadbent – 4pm – performance moved to Sunday
Hailed as “The new master of the slide guitar” by the Montreux Jazz Festival and “The real thang” by the legendary Bootsy Collins, Jack Broadbent has spent the past year wowing international audiences with his unique blend of virtuosic acoustic and slide guitar, and poignant folk and blues inspired vocals. Following a string of successful shows opening for legendary artists, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Hallyday, Robben Ford, and Tony Joe White, Jack headlined his own whirlwind international tour, playing sold out shows for music lovers in Europe, New Zealand, Japan, the US and Canada.
Website: http://www.jackbroadbent.co.uk/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqHtcL4R1aV0iQg3aBbNr9A -
Heather Gillis Band – 2pm
Heather Gillis is the TOTAL package as a guitar player, lap steel player, singer, songwriter, and arranger. You may not know her yet BUT listen up, as you are going to hear a lot about this young lady in the next few years! Heather is an amazingly versatile player and performer. She and her band have the stage presence and confidence to appeal to a variety of musical tastes be it rock, blues, soul, jazz, roots or gospel. At 22 years old, Heather has not only formed a strong southeastern following but has played alongside and befriended the likes of The Allman Brothers Band, Col Bruce Hampton, North Mississippi All-Stars and Damon Fowler just to name a few.Website: http://heathergillisband.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Soz79bRuQvbGIYMYIRWQQ -
Neal & The Vipers – Noon
Neal & the Vipers are a Rhode Island-based band who play American Roots Music encompassing blues, rock & roll, rockabilly, and surf, that will get you up out of your chair to dance all night long! When the show is over, you will feel full of energy and looking forward to catching the next show.The Vipers are professional musicians; all experts in their instruments with decades of playing experience that is one of the the keys to their amazing performances. You can feel the chemistry between them as they play hits from their many original songs off their CD’s as well as covering classic songs such as “Little Wing”, “Hey Joe”, “Right Place Wrong Time” and instrumentals like “Sleepwalk” and “Pipeline”. The Vipers always put their own spin on these classic songs, making them their own. Some fans even say that they enjoy hearing their versions better than the original.
Website: https://nealandthevipers.com/