Peter Fogel’s Til Death Do Us Part…You First

Friday, February 11, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $30

Eternal bachelor Peter Fogel has major commitment issues as the love of his life has just broken up with him on Valentine’s Day. He senses his own mortality and after much soul searching he decides to revisit the scene of all his romantic disasters.

Young or old, divorced or married… if you’ve ever been single (and that’s everyone) and want to experience (again) the feeling of finding that Special Person to spend the rest of your life with — then you’ll want to fasten your seat belt for 75 minutes of non-stop laughs with Peter Fogel’s “Til Death Do Us Part … You First!”

Peter Fogel stars in, “Til Death Do Us Part… You First!” (Directed by Academy Award-nominee Chazz Palminteri)

Amy Helm                                                                                                                                                                     

Saturday, February 19, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

The daughter of Levon Helm, the iconic drummer and mandolin player in The Band, and songwriter Libby Titus (“Love Has No Pride”), Helm grew up with a front-row seat to the rock ’n’ roll generation. She brings her full band to the Avalon this February and audiences can expect and electric night of incredible music.

Music is a family affair for Helm. Amy was a backing musician for Levon’s Midnight Rambles band which played concerts at his farm in Woodstock and grew to become almost mythical shows in the world of roots music.

Often a musician with a famous parent will run from her legacy. That’s understandable and Amy Helm has certainly forged her own individual path over the years. But sometimes it’s good to come home and, on What the Flood Leaves Behind, her latest album, the spontaneity, sense of playfulness, and grounding in soul that made all the Midnight Rambles held on the farm so special, permeates.

Her sound in concert is shaped by rich acoustic chords and Helm’s elastic voice.

Amy Helm is the answer to the question, “How can a mandolin player also be such a soulful vocalist?” Well, it’s in her bloodline. While there are several tunes that highlight her mandolin playing, most fall squarely within Stax territory. Helm swings deep into a slow dance groove, Memphis style but by the end of the night the whole crowd is up and rolling to what looks to be one of the most promising artists in music today. Catch her while you can.

Black Dog Alley

Friday, February 25, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $20

“Black Dog Alley has quietly turned into a “Go To” Band on The Eastern Shore. Always solid, great set list and a good bunch of guys who just keep getting better and better and never disappoint. Every time they play the audiences just say how much they love them” Suzy Moore, Artistic Director, Avalon Theatre.

The mission of local band Black Dog Alley is pretty basic: to move you, to groove you, and to rock your very soul. And with the release of their first album and this live show in the Avalon, that’s just what they plan to do! With a set list ranging from classic jam rock and rhythm and blues, to funk and reggae-tinged grooves, this Easton-based band lists among its eclectic influences Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, ZZ Top, and Sublime.

Miss Tess

Thursday, March 10, 2022. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover St. Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

“Old-time warmth, 21st-century sass.” — No Depression

Defying genres while transcending eras and resisting clichés is what Miss Tess is all about.

Drawing from jazz, country, blues and old-school rock and roll, she has employed all of her influences and talents on a tour-de-force, while cleverly taking standard perspectives and ideas, like the definition of a love song, to task.

However varied Tess’s music can be, front and center sits her voice that has been described as “alternately seductive and sexy, and a pure joy to listen to” (Pop Matters). Her music is further heightened by her partner, Thomas Bryan Eaton, who helps to shape the songs and arrangements with a deft touch on guitar & pedal steel.   http://www.misstessmusic.com/home.

Comedian Drew Landry

Saturday, January 22, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

Drew Landry, an LA-based stand-up comedian and writer from Baltimore, started doing comedy when he was 13, and went on tour with Carlos Mencia (Comedy Central’s “Mind Of Mencia”) just two weeks after graduating high school.

“In terms of my stand-up, I love attacking the stage with excessive energy. I’ve never really been the type to have messages or social commentary in my act. I do every now and then but it’s not frequent. There’s already enough of that out there, so I try to just focus on silly stuff,” says Landry.

In addition to his stand-up, Landry writes satirical articles for the popular hip-hop site DJBooth. Recently named one of the official top 50 humor writers on Medium.

Robert Cray Band

Sunday, March 20, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $60

“His guitar, his live stage show and his band are no joke. Stellar”..Tim Weigand, Avalon Theatre

“The most commercially and critically successful blues artist of his generation, Robert Cray took his music to the upper reaches of the pop and rock charts when many major blues acts were counting their sales in the tens of thousands.” Allmusic.com.

Five-time Grammy Award-winning Robert Cray has created a sound that rises from American roots and arrives today both fresh and familiar. In just over 40 years Cray and his band have recorded 20 studio releases, 15 of which have been on the Billboard charts, and played bars, concert halls, festivals and arenas around the world. In short Robert Cray is turning legend. And part of that legend are his live shows. Totally captivating and wrapping around you like a wall of sound, his live show is as good and memorable as they come.

Cray is a multithreat talent: fearless formal innovator, brainy bandleader, terse yet fluent guitarist, and the most authoritative singer to emerge from blues since Bland and King.

Lilli Lewis

Thursday, March 31, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover St., Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

Lilli Lewis is having a breakout year, including a Kennedy Center performance that the Center describes as powerful.

Lewis has composed in every tradition that inspires her, including soul, Americana, hip hop, classical, folk, jazz, rock, gospel, blues, soul and R&B. She integrated elements of New Orleans funk while co-writing and co-producing “Mask Up” in the summer of 2020. After carving out space for herself as an African-American lesbian of size, Lewis has also lent her voice to the inclusion and equity in the music industry.

And she’s further sharing her message in the music of her eagerly awaited “Americana” album, following 2019’s critically acclaimed “We Belong.” In all things, Lewis does her best to live by the creed she and her ensemble have become known for: Practice Radical Decency.  http://www.folkrockdiva.com/

Joan Osborne (performing with a trio)

Friday, April 1, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets:$50

“I feel like music has this important job to do right now. Part of that job is to help imagine a better future – and to hang on to hope. I want to play for people and get them up on their feet and dancing. To let music do that thing it does – bring joy and energy because we really need that right now.”…Joan Osbourne

Since she broke through 25 years ago with the multi-platinum “Relish” and its touchstone mega-smash “One of Us,” seven-time Grammy nominee Joan Osborne has never played it safe.She’s followed her restless musical heart, exploring a diverse range of genres: pop rock, soul, R&B, blues, roots rock, gospel, funk, and country – all of which can be heard on her tenth studio album, the masterful “Trouble and Strife”.

With stunning vocals, a diverse range of sonics, and incisive lyrics, this deeply engaging collection of new original songs is her response to “the crazy, chaotic times we’re living in,” she says, and “a recognition of the important role music has to play in this moment. Music has a unique ability to re-energize people and allow us to continue to hang on to that sense of joy of being alive.”

Avalon Theatre Technicolor Motor Home (Steely Dan Tribute)

Friday, April 22, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

“Technicolor Motor Home proves you can buy a thrill – just check out one of their shows.” — Best of Baltimore

Steely Dan tribute band Technicolor Motor Home is a mix of elegance and function.

Led by Crack the Sky’s keyboardist Glenn Workman, this 10-piece band not only plays selections from every Steely Dan album, it does so with the necessary precision and passion—horns and backup singers included.

Any major dude will tell you that this is a must-see show for fans of Steely Dan and everyone who loves great live music!  http://mail.technicolormotorhome.com/Home.html

High Voltage (AC/DC Tribute)                                                                                                                               

Saturday, May 14, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

For every High Voltage show, the nation’s premier AC/DC tribute band puts it all on the line so audiences can enjoy as authentic an AC/DC live performance as possible…next to the real thing.

For over 10 years, Baltimore’s High Voltage has delivered the pure energy, excitement, and concert experience that true AC/DC fans around the world have grown to expect. They perform the very best AC/DC songs and the most recognizable hits, spanning the full range of epic hit songs from the Bon Scott era through the days with Brian Johnson at the helm.

High Voltage rocks you with the biggest hits: “You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Highway To Hell”, “Back In Black”, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, “T.N.T.”, “Whole Lotta Rosie”, “Hells Bells” as well as big fan favorites such as “Shoot To Thrill”, “Sin City”, “For Those About to Rock”, “Shot Down In Flames” and many, many more.  https://www.highvoltage.rocks/

The Dirty Grass Players, Saturday, September 18, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion $25                                                                     

The Dirty Grass Players, a four-piece new-grass band from Baltimore, is known for having one toe-tappin’ foot in traditional bluegrass while pushing boundaries with their blazing musicianship. Composed of Connor Murray on bass, Alex Berman on vocals & banjo, Ben Kolakowski with the guitar & vocals, and Ryan Rogers on mandolin, this group has been giving their growing fan-base a down-and-dirty performance for over five years.

Their ability to seamlessly transition from down-home bluegrass to spirited improvisation makes each performance unique. Mix in some Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd or a dash of southern rock and you’ll quickly understand what they mean by “Dirty Grass”.

Entering into their sixth year together, The Dirty Grass Players released their second studio album, “Beneath the Woodpile”. Put together with alluring harmonies, lyrics, and melodies, the band presents a sound precisely at the crossroads of traditional and progressive bluegrass. This isn’t just another run-of-the-mill bluegrass album or band; it’s cathartic and dirty grass.                                                             

The Bones of J.R. Jones

The Bones of J.R. Jones, Thursday, September 23, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion, $25

Over the course of three full-length albums and two EPs, Jonathon Robert Linaberry — the songwriter, storyteller, visual artist, and one-man band behind The Bones of J.R. Jones — has woven his own tapestry of American roots music. It’s a classic sound for the modern world, influenced not only by blues, soul, and forward-thinking folk, but also by J.R.’s environment.

From the bustle of New York City, to the rustic solitude of his current home in the Catskills, J.R. has always looked to the world around him for inspiration. In his newest release, “A Celebration”, the desert panoramas and infinite horizons of the American Southwest have inspired him musically to celebrate the thrill of getting lost in something new, whether it’s a landscape, a sound, a perspective, or all of the above.

“They definitely are a bit of a departure from my previous albums,” J.R. says. “But I feel like they still resonate with the darkness, honesty, minimalism I try to impart in all my work.” http://thebonesofjrjones.com/                         

Grain Thief

Grain Thief, Friday, October 1, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion $25

“Boston band Grain Thief distinguish themselves from the legions of fresh-faced East Coast kids packing mandolins and banjos, in that they use vintage Americana rather than emo or corporate American Idol pop as a springboard for their songs. And they tell some great stories, and have serious bluegrass chops.” New York Music Daily

Crafting their spirited bluegrass sound in the New England jam scene, Grain Thief has toured the north, south, east, and west of the U.S., playing stages large and small. They’ve graced the stages at the Greyfox Bluegrass Festival, Hempfest, Podunk Bluegrass Festival, Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival, Ossipee Valley Music Festival, UMS Music Festival, and Rockygrass, among others.

According to the Boston Globe, Grain Thief’s acclaimed new album, “Gasoline”, “is the sound of a band getting its ‘grass on.” https://grainthief.com/ 

Jill Sobule & Amy Speace

Jill Sobule & Amy Speace, Saturday, October 9, 2021 Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion $25

Jill Sobule has released a dozen of albums spanning three decades of recording, tackling such topics as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, shoplifting, reproduction, the French Resistance, adolescent malaise, LGBTQ issues, and the Christian Right, to name a few – with her trademark wit and aplomb.

While her songs cover expansive thematic ground, they benefit greatly from Jill’s subtle intelligence and skillful light-handedness. On stage, she entertains, amuses, provokes, and more often than not, takes her audiences on an emotional roller coaster, from comedy to pathos in a few bars of music, often within the same song.

Amy Speace honed her beautifully uplifting and deeply personal music in her mid-twenties while living in Greenwich Village. She taught herself “sound shapes” on guitar, highly influenced by Joni Mitchell’s compositional music and poetically direct lyrics.

Erin McKeown

Developing her talent as a songwriter, guitarist, and performer, she landed gigs at CBGB’s, The Living Room, and The Bitter End, and became entrenched in New York City’s nightlife — a moment in her life that cinematically unfolds in flashback in “Shotgun Hearts.”

“Amy Speace once again demonstrates why she’s one of the greatest artists in Americana today”- Mike Davies, Folk Radio UK https://www.jillsobule.com/https://www.amyspeace.com/       

Erin McKeown, Saturday, October 16, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $25

“In several distinctive ways—voice, dynamic subtlety, and sheer songwriting ability—Erin McKeown is in a class of her own.” – Sunday Times (UK)

Erin McKeown’s brash and clever electric guitar playing is something to see. Over the last 20 years, she’s performed around the world, released 10 full-length albums, and written for film, television, and theater, all the while refining her distinctive and challenging mix of American musical forms.

Chiara Izzi

Leading her own band, Erin has performed with Joan Baez, Carrie Rodriguez, and Josh Ritter (among many others), as well as at Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, and the Newport Folk Festivals.  https://www.erinmckeown.com/ 

Chiara Izzi & Perry Smith, Friday, October 22, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $25

Award-winning Italian singer-songwriter Chiara Izzi performs with guitarist Perry Smith in an autumn evening of cool jazz in the Stoltz Pavilion. Described by Jazz Times as “a talent to be heard, admired and anticipated” after the release of her debut album “Motifs”, Chiara Izzi started her musical path in Italy by learning to play the piano and performing very early.

Guitarist Perry Smith combines the tradition of jazz with broad influences from contemporary music to create his signature style. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Smith is now based in Brooklyn where he leads his own groups and is a sideman for local and touring artists.  http://www.jwpagency.com/Chiara_Izzi.html 

Naked Blue & Christine Havrilla

Naked Blue & Christine Havrilla, Saturday, October 23, Doors: 8:30 p.m.; Show: 9 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $25              

When you see husband-and-wife duos touring the country as musical partners— especially if they’ve been doing it for over twenty five years, you can be confident that they’ve achieved a level of communication and compatibility that guarantees the quality of the show.

That’s definitely the case with Jen and Scott Smith (aka Naked Blue), whose instinctive feel for progressive folk/pop music has resulted in legions of fans on the Eastern Seaboard, and long residencies on radio playlists across the country.

Pat McGee

They’re joined by Philadelphia native Christine Havrilla, who brings her “well-built, catchy, smart tunes” (Upstage Magazine) to audiences everywhere, touring nationally solo and also with the support of her band, Gypsy Fuzz. Christine uses the soft gritty texture of her vocals to express warmth and honesty listeners quickly embrace as well as her aggressive, raw, trash-style guitar playing and looping. https://www.nakedblue.com/  https://www.christinehavrilla.com/  

Pat McGee, Sunday, October 24, 2010 Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $30                                                                                                             

Virginia’s Pat McGee Band is an acoustic-based sextet that has toured with Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, Ziggy Marley, Counting Crows, and the Wallflowers. In the 25 years since their initial formation, they’ve acquired a fanatical popular following. Building on his well-honed performing experience, Pat’s recent material has been influenced by the classic albums of the 1970s that were spun in his childhood home, including seminal records by James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

Jason Weems

“McGee has assembled various star-studded ensembles over the years and continues to have a focus on the song supported with strong harmonies, percussive acoustic guitars, mandolins as well as a tight rhythm section and tasteful electric guitars.” Music Existence https://patmcgee.net/ 

Comedian Jason Weems Two Nights!, Friday and Saturday, October 29 & 30, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $25

A native of Baltimore, Jason Weems’ engaging and conversational style on stage leaves audiences feeling like they’ve just finished talking to a close friend. It also simultaneously acts as free therapy for him.

Weems’ live show is truly one of a kind, and tailor fit to each unique crowd. He has been seen at the most prestigious invitation-only comedy festival in the world, The Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, and reached the top 100 and semi-finalist rounds on two separate seasons of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. http://jasonweemscomedy.com/ 

Members of the Easton improvisation troupe will take the stage at the Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion on Friday, July 23 at 8:00 pm. The Talbot County Improv Show will feature music by local musician Dan Van Skiver and include members of the Reflex Improv Annapolis group.

The Easton improvisers who will be performing on July 23 include Nancy Andrew, Val Cavalheri, Heather Hall, Jeremy Hillyard, Linda Mastro, and Howard Townsend. The audience becomes a part of the show by offering a word or location suggestions that spark ideas for games and scenes made up on the spot. The show is unscripted and everything that happens is spontaneous.

Photo: Shown practicing the freeze frame game “Pictures from our vacation” are (left to right), back row, Nancy Andrew, Jeremy Hillyard, Dan Brown, and Howard Townsend; front row, Heather Hall and Linda Mastro. Photo credit: Val Cavalheri. 

In 2018 Nancy Andrew of Easton took her first improv class in Annapolis with master teacher Dan Brown, owner of Reflex Improv. “Dan is a great teacher! He encourages us to have fun while we learn,” Andrews says. “He reminds us that we can’t do it wrong.”

Andrews adds, “Improv has helped me be more creative, develop my listening skills, and be more fully present. I have made friends with people I may never have met by having fun with them in improv class.”

Brown, who is based in Virginia, agreed to offer an improv class in Easton when Andrew invited several friends to try it out. The Easton class has been growing and going strong since 2019. The group even played during the pandemic, when Brown hosted groups on Zoom.

“Some people tell me that they can’t do improv because they’re not funny,” Brown says. “You don’t need to be a natural comedian to learn how to do improv. Once you learn the fundamentals the fun will follow,”

The fundamentals of improv include the concept of “Yes – and,” which encourages everyone in a scene to listen to one another and find agreement. Two other improv fundamentals – “I’ve got your back” and making each other look good – encourage team work. “When everyone follows the process, funny happens.” Brown says.

Brown, who teaches in Virginia, Annapolis and Easton, caught the improv bug while in college, performing in the school’s short-form and sketch program, acting in school and community plays, as well as writing, directing, and starring in many comedy short films. After moving to the Washington, DC area, he took a free workshop at Washington Improv Theater and fell in love with the joy and freedom of long-form improv. His approach to teaching is positive, encouraging, joyful, fast-paced, and, most of all, fun.

Linda Mastro of Easton was one of the first Eastern Shore improv students. She remembers, “When Nancy invited me to an improv class I was nervous that I wouldn’t get it ‘right’ or be funny or smart enough to follow along. My nervousness left within the first five minutes because Dan Brown is a master at making newcomers feel welcome. My weekly improv class is often the only time when I can just have fun!”

Jeremy Hillyard, another Easton improv regular, says, “I truly enjoyed meeting and connecting with a group of complete strangers through laughter, something that just makes life better. I also noticed that improv has made me a quicker thinker and a better listener and communicator. As a high school teacher, I have been able to incorporate a variety of philosophies and games from improv class into my Spanish classroom.”

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion is located under a tent at 218 N. Washington Street in Easton. Tickets for the Talbot County Improv Show are $40 for two, $80 for four. In the event of inclement weather the show will be moved to the Historic Avalon Theatre at 40 E. Dover Street. To purchase tickets for the July 23 improv show, visit tickets.avalontheatre.com.

Learn more about Dan Brown and Reflex Improv at www.refleximprov.com