Carnival of Soul

One thing the pandemic has shown is the variety of ways the entertainment community has found to bring us the blues. We’ve seen many shows and festivals, in spite of the pandemic, thanks to their innovation.

Clubs and venues continue to line up new shows. As the state reopens, we look forward to more options for the blues. In the meantime shows are still scheduled; the only problem is the Facebook and web pages are not as up to date as they were in the past.

Dr. G and the Believers return to Filomena’s Restaurant and Private Dining Friday. Also on Friday, Eran Troy Danner plays Sunset Grille with Billy Bileca on bass, Don DeStefano on harmonica and Dennis Cotton on drums.

Saturday, Screamin Eagle Unplugged is playing at Deemans Bar Grill.

Big news in Southwick, Massachusetts: The Blues Jam is ready for American Legion Post 338, 46 Powder Mill Road on Sunday from 3-6 p.m. There’s lots of room, under cover, in a large pavilion. Please RSVP and get the COVID-19 protocols that are part of the Jam.

Don’t forget the Stonehouse Blues Jam every Sunday, 4 to 8 p.m.

The Norwich Art Center is hosting a benefit Mini-Blues Festival from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday. Featured performers will be The New Rising Sun Band; Liviu Pop & Friends featuring Neal Vitullo; and The F & Blues Band.

The concert is a fundraiser to support the Norwich Arts Center and their “Blues on Broadway” series. Norwich Art Center’s Donald L. Oat Theater celebrates its 20th season this year. Due to the circumstances surrounding the pandemic, the stage fell silent in March. The benefit show will be limited to 50 attendees with safe social distancing; masks will be required; and, for the added safety of guests, it will be held in the parking lot next door with seating provided.

Happy fifth anniversary to the FTC Warehouse. It has been five years since Rusted Root played the first show in The Warehouse. FTC would like to send a thank you to the thousands of fans and artists who have helped make this one of the hottest venues in the region. And, yes, they’ll be back just as soon as it’s safe. Once again, The Warehouse will be filled with music and film and theatre and comedy and much more.

Bridge Street Live is bringing music to the outdoors. Join them and listen to your favorite artists alongside the Farmington River during the outdoor concert series. Tickets are on sale now at https://41bridgestreet.com/calendar/

The Ridgefield Playhouse has a free event coming up, at 7 p.m. Wednesday, when the Diversity Film Series continues with a free screening of filmmaker Sophie Huber’s Blue Note Records “Beyond The Notes.” The film takes you on a revelatory, thrilling and emotional journey behind the scenes of Blue Note Records, the pioneering label that gave voice to some of the finest artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The film is presented by the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. The bonus content following the screening will include an interview with six-time Grammy Award-winning Jazz musician Christian McBride, New York Jazz Award winner Thelonious Sphere “T. S.” Monk and Blue Note Record president Don Was, led by entertainment reporter Cheryl Washington. The bonus content will be shown after the film in the theater, as well as on The Ridgefield Playhouse’s YouTube channel for home viewing. For more information visit the website or call the box office at 203-438-5795. The Playhouse is doing socially distanced seating, and all patrons will be seated by an usher on a first-come, first- served basis.

The Blues Foundation recently announced the appointment of Patricia Wilson Aden as its next president and CEO. Aden brings more than three decades of non-profit management experience to the foundation, with a specialization in the preservation and celebration of African American cultural resources. Her most recent experience as president and CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia and her earlier role as Executive Director of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation make her uniquely qualified to lead The Blues Foundation and its Blues Hall of Fame. Aden stated, “I am genuinely excited to join The Blues Foundation and the Blues community in celebrating the Blues and the artists who have made it America’s original musical genre.”

Aden will join the foundation’s staff Oct. 1. She succeeds Barbara Newman, who will begin her retirement Sept. 30. Under Newman’s leadership, The Blues Foundation saw marked growth in engagement and reach in all facets of the organization’s operations. She embraced technology to offer greater access to and programming of major Blues Foundation events, including The International Blues Challenge and Blues Music Awards, forged new industry alliances, and amplified awareness of organizational activities in fulfilling The Blues Foundation’s mission.

Most recently, she led the charge to develop a relief fund to provide financial support for basic living necessities to blues musicians whose income streams have evaporated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the first of April, that fund has raised over $250,000 and assisted close to 250 musicians.

Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.