2019 Summer Tracks | Season 20

Thank you everyone!

Friday, June 14  —  Ol’ 74 Jazz Band

18 Piece Jazz & Swing Band playing music from Glenn Miller classics to Earth Wind & Fire. Ol’ 74 Jazz is an eighteen member big band that started in 2010.  Our area did not have a big band at the time, so we formed our own.  Ol’ 74 Jazz is comprised of professional musicians and others who work outside the music field.  We are not limited to big band era charts; we perform a variety of tunes from different genres including: rock, funk, swing, bebop, Latin, and others.  We have live public performances on a regular basis that can be found online at www.ol74jazz.com. You can also check us out on Facebook under Ol’ 74 Jazz.

Friday, June 28 — Gigi Dover & The Big Love

Incorporating the sounds and vibes of world instruments, Gigi Dover & The Big Love deliver a fresh blend of gypsy, jazzy, bluesy, funky Southern Soul and World Music. An uplifting musical experience somewhere between Marvin Gaye and Fiddler on the Roof, their music has been described as “World Music thru the eyes and ears of Southerners.” Their seventh studio recording titled “Travelin’ Thru,” a collection of songs and a few short whimsical instrumentals, more wood than steel, designed to inspire the listener to “dance, meditate, or anything in between.” Countless tours and gigs both regionally and internationally, thru the US, the UK and Europe have garnered them recognition and success from fans, peers and critics alike.  https://www.gigidover.com/home

Friday, July 12  — Lauren Mitchell

Lauren wowed Summer Tracks in 2015 and returns this year with her mix of soulful blues and R&B. “A mesmerizing performer, with a voice for the ages” (Jack Sullivan, Blues Music Magazine). Her latest album “Desire”, was produced by Tony Braunagel (Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Robert Cray).  The album spent 10 weeks in the top 5 on the Roots Music Report Soul charts, including two weeks at number one & was listed as the Number 6 top Soul Album for 2017 on the same chart.  “Desire” has been played all over the globe & has received accolades from some of the best in the blues world. She also received two Blues Blast Nominations for the album (Best Soul/Blues Album & Sean Costello Rising Star Award) along with numerous other credits.  http://www.laurenmitchellband.com

Friday, July 26  — Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues

 Mac Arnold’s first band included James Brown on piano. Mac moved to Chicago and Muddy Waters hired him to play bass. He toured and recorded with the Muddy Waters Band and John Lee Hooker. Mac moved to Los Angeles and produced Soul Train with his friend Don Cornelius. He even played bass on the Sanford & Son TV show.
Mac now has his own Chicago style blues band, Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues. Mac is one of the few remaining legendary old school blues men who puts on a stellar show.  At 76 years old, Mac Arnold’s voice is absolutely amazing and his band is super tight. The band features Austin Brashier (lead guitar, vocals) Max Hightower (keys, harp, vocals) and a rotating list of hot drummers. Mac was inducted into the Alabama Blues Hall of Fame in September 2017. http://www.macarnold.com

Friday, Aug 9  — Alien Music Club: Bridge: Paul Simon Meets The Beatles

  The concept of scaling down obscure and beloved Beatles tunes hatched during a conversation Peggy Ratusz shared with Jonathan Pearlman several years ago. They figured, with all the tribute and specialty shows taking place around the country, no one had truly done much with Beatles tunes, other than copy them verbatim. Pearlman has been brainstorming arrangements and Ratusz tests them out during their many acoustic shows together. Encouraged by the applause they receive each time they do their versions of classics like Oh Darlin, Two Of Us, Back in the USSR, I’ll Follow the Sun, they decided it was time to put the finishing touches on these songs and present them in a special show. Because the two of them grew up listening to, learning and playing Paul Simon tunes, they determined it to be a no brainer, to throw some of his greatest hits into this special night, bridging the acoustic sensibilities of Simon with the rock and roll aesthetic of the Beatles. Their buddies Eric Congdon on guitar and vocals and Grant Cuthbertson on upright bass along with Micha Thomas on kit and percussion, will add the missing links to the arrangements and play key roles in bringing their concepts/arrangements to fruition!
https://www.facebook.com/peggy.ratusz

Friday, Aug 23 — Fireside Collective

Fireside Collective wowed us last year at Summer Tracks and we couldn’t be happier to have them return this year! Winners of the 2016 Merle Fest Band Competition, Fireside Collective is quickly blazing a name for themselves as a must-see progressive acoustic ensemble. —  Formed in 2014, Fireside is a group of folk music enthusiasts who blend elements of traditional bluegrass and American roots music with modern acoustic arrangements. With an energetic live show, the band presents finely crafted original music infused with impeccable solos and tight harmonies. Captivating listeners with songs centered around change, relationships, and being on the road, they transition smoothly between danceable bluegrass numbers and passionate folk ballads. — With mandolin, dobro, and acoustic guitar layered eloquently on top of rock solid standup bass, Fireside Collective delights in tastefully exploring the boundaries of roots music.  — 2017 was a momentous year for the band as they released their second studio album, “Life Between The Lines.” The album helped garner a nomination for an IBMA momentum award for best band. — Their new album recorded at Echo Mountain Studios ini Asheville, NC will be released late summer/early fall. They have recently opened for Yonder Mountain String Band and The Infamous Stringdusters.
— Fireside Collective is Jesse Iaquinto (mandolin), Tommy Maher (dobro), Carson White (bass), Joe Cicero (acoustic guitar) and Alex Genova (banjo).
http://www.firesidecollectiveband.com