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May 29, 2022

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Arts Arts Notes

February to March Current Shows at The Avalon Theatre

February 4, 2022 by Avalon Foundation 1 Comment

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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/

Filed Under: Arts Notes Tagged With: Arts, Avalon Theatre, local news

A New COVID Q & A Show Launches for Delmarva

January 9, 2022 by Avalon Foundation Leave a Comment

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Choptank Community Health’s Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer, Megan Wojtko, CRNP

As Covid Rates across the region continue to skyrocket the Avalon Foundation and Choptank Community Health have decided to partner together again to connect the community with valuable, local answers about Covid 19.

Capitalizing upon the Avalon Foundation’s expertise in video production and communications and using Choptank Community Health’s medical resources, the organizations have committed to producing two video Question and Answer sessions a week to inform the local community.  The short 2 to 5 minute videos titled “COVID Answers with Choptank Community Health” will drop online by 7pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  The program will feature Choptank Community Health’s Senior Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer, Megan Wojtko, CRNP.  Megan has a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Salisbury University and a Master of Science in Nursing-Family Nurse Practitioner from Duke University.

“We’re grateful to partner with the Avalon in reaching out with this messaging to our communities,” said Choptank Community Health System CEO Sara Rich. “As our Chief Clinical Officer overseeing our primary patient care and leading our ongoing clinical COVID response, Megan understands patient concerns and can share her medical knowledge on this platform to help us all navigate towards a healthy future.”

“I know people have concerns and questions about COVID variants, boosters, and more,” said Wojtko. “We want to use this platform to give timely answers to the most common questions our offices are receiving from patients every day.”

Each episode will begin with an update of what Megan is seeing regarding COVID across the region and with any updates to medical guidance or advice regarding the ever changing pandemic.  Megan will then answer a few questions.

“We recognize that the medical system is currently stretched and that getting access from our providers is not as easy as we would like it to be.  Our goal is to ask Megan the kinds of questions that we all wish we could ask our primary care providers right now.” said Jessica Bellis, Chief Operating & Finance Officer for the Avalon Foundation, Inc.  “There is so much anxiety out there, people are wondering…What do we do if we test positive?  Do I have to quarantine if my child has COVID? What supplies should I have on hand?  How reliable are the at home tests?  We hope we can work on these questions and answers together and share this info with the broader community.”

The organizations hope to provide an immediate, valuable resource to the community.  Participation is encouraged by submitting questions and topics for Megan to cover.  “We will be monitoring the threads on social media for questions and we welcome viewers to email us at info@choptankcommunityhealth.org with questions for the program as well.” said Lucie Hughes, Director of Communications at Choptank Community Health.  The program will run at least through the last week of January.

“COVID Answers with Choptank Community Health” will be available on the Choptank Community Health and Avalon Theatre Facebook pages, on YouTube youtube.com/MidshoreCommunityTelevision and will be reported in The Spy.

“We were proud of the work that we did with Choptank Community Health last year to aid in equitable vaccine access and distribution at the Multicultural Festival and Fourth of July.  We are pleased to act as a community resource with them once again as the pandemic reaches a new phase.” concluded Ms. Bellis from the Avalon Foundation.

Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all. Choptank Community Health’s medical services include primary healthcare, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health, chronic health management, and care navigation, with new medical patients now being accepted. More information is at www.choptankhealth.org.

The mission of the Avalon Foundation is to foster a strong community on the Eastern Shore by creating accessible, uplifting arts, education, and cultural experiences that appeal to the interests of a diverse population and to ensure the long term viability of the historic Avalon Theatre. More information about the work of the Avalon Foundation and a list of current programming can be found at www.avalonfoundation.org

This is the link to the first episode https://youtu.be/MaFMTET9T5k

Filed Under: Health Homepage Tagged With: choptank community health, Health, local news

Avalon Line Up October-November

September 16, 2021 by Avalon Foundation Leave a Comment

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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/ 

Filed Under: Arts Notes Tagged With: Arts, Avalon Theatre, local news

Avalon Foundation, Monty Alexander Jazz Festival 3rd September

September 16, 2021 by Avalon Foundation Leave a Comment

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For over a decade the Labor Day weekend in Easton has reverberated to the sound of Jazz at the Avalon Theatre. Happily, the tradition was continued this year after Covid 19 silenced the live festival in 2020.

Now under the management of the Avalon Foundation with the new Avalon Jazz Club and the magnificent venues of the outside Stoltz Pavilion and the Avalon theatre, the festival featured world class musicians playing a variety of Jazz styles.

Bria Skonberg, the Canadian trumpet virtuoso and her band played two different sets at the Pavilion on the Friday evening. This meteoric rising star with her golden voice and masterful trumpet playing blew the top off the tent with her highly accomplished entertainment skills and an eclectic program including Cole Porter, the Beatles, Sonny and Cher and her own beautiful soulful and bluesy “So is the Day”. The musicianship of her band was exceptional and special praise should be given to the pianist and keyboard player Mathis Picard the 25 year old Juilliard trained composer, producer and band leader in his own right.

Saturday night of the festival the Avalon Theatre was the venue of the namesake of the festival the unique Monty “I don’t read music I use radar” Alexander and his band.

The first set featured Monty on piano with his longtime ex-Duke Ellington bass player JJ Shakur and our very own local Chuck Redd on drums. The program included old favorites from Nat King Cole, Count Basie and Sinatra and then a tribute to Django Reinhardt featuring Chuck Redd playing outstanding vibraphone solos. This set was exciting and skillfully executed with Monty’s legendary piano work and calypsos. The second set lost some pace and direction with what started out as a moving tribute to our military and Monty’s brother Larry’smilitary service but then morphed into an excess of Larry’s vocals and a surfeit of the Master’s piano playing.

The festival always brings a surprise bonus and the Sunday Tidewater Jazz Brunch was the venue for the really talented Hot Club of Baltimore led by guitarist Michael Harris with bassist Blake Meister and guitarist Connor Holdridge who performed some up tempo numbers also featuring a medley of Django Reinhardt tunes including “Limehouse Blues”. The music was the perfect complement to the sunshine and the Tidewater’s superb crabcakes and Bloody Marys.

The finale of the festival in the Avalon Theatre featured the highly accomplished MD born Pete and Will Anderson on saxes, clarinets, and flutes with accompanying trumpet, piano and bass.

The talented twins demonstrated their absolute mastery of this array of instruments playing a nicely balanced set of iconic standards including Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo”, Richard Rogers “Favorite Things” and the wonderfully bluesy “St James Infirmary” by Cab Calloway.

This was a great ending to the festival which as part of the Avalon Foundation Jazz Club annual program promises to keep Easton on the map in providing world class jazz concerts in great venues.

Filed Under: Arts Portal Lead Tagged With: Arts, Avalon Theatre, local news, Monty Alexander Jazz Festival

Avalon Theatre Calendar – August Through Mid September

July 31, 2021 by Avalon Foundation Leave a Comment

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19th Street Band, Friday, August 6, 2021. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion, 218 N. Washington Street, Easton, MD  $25

Characterized by high energy and strong vocal harmonies, The 19th Street Band brings together a constellation of Americana, country, and rock with a taste of punk. They ignite an audience with their passion for music, their magnetic presence, and enthusiasm.

Bridging the musical traditions of bluegrass and roots from Ireland to the Appalachian, their eclectic gypsy-rock spirit literally leaps from the stage and engages the crowd in the music. Their clever turns of phrase and unexpected syncopation teases the audience into wanting more from every song and set.

The charismatic vibe that Caolaidhe (pronounced “Cally”) Davis (guitar/harmonica/vocalist) blends with fiddle/mandolin/vocalist (and wife), Meghan Davis, creates a joy-filled chemistry that no crowd can resist. Add to the mix the talented rhythm section, Greg Hardin (bass) & Patty Dougherty (drums), and this band will have every crowd enthralled.  https://19thstreetband.com/

Clones of Funk- Dance Party!, August 7 – FREE Harrison St. Easton, Md – 7pm

Part of the Avalon’s FREE Outdoor Summer Concert Series brought to you by The Tidewater Inn present the annual Street Dance Party featuring The Clones of Funk.

Hackensaw Boys, Thursday, August 12, 2021. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion, 218 N. Washington Street, Easton, MD  $25

This quote from Saving Country Music just about sums it all up: “Before The Avett Brothers were selling out arenas, before Mumford & Sons were becoming the biggest band in music in a given year, before everybody and their brother was growing a beard and wearing suspenders and playing in jug bands, the Hackensaw Boys were mixing bluegrass and old time music with a punk attitude.”

For almost two decades, the Hackensaw Boys have plowed the asphalt bringing their raw, gritty American vernacular sounds to the music halls and streets across the world. Twenty years later, the group continues their burning hot vision of American roots music into a new age, fueled as much by a rowdy punk spirit as by the traditional masters that first inspired them.  http://hackensawboys.com/about

Yasmin Williams, Friday, August 13, 2021. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion, 218 N. Washington Street, Easton, MD  $25           

“Williams’s music transcends the standard idea of what a guitarist should do.” – NPR Music

Yasmin Williams is an acoustic fingerstyle guitarist with an unorthodox, modern style of playing. Her music has been commonly described as refreshing, relaxing, and unique and has been called some of the most imaginative guitar music out today.

Williams has won various local talent shows, was a finalist in the Rolling Stones Young Gun guitar competition, was the grand prize winner of New York University’s Ultra Violet Live talent show, and won the gold prize in the instrumental category of the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.

Her recently released album, Urban Driftwood, has received high praise from numerous major publications including Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, NPR Music, No Depression, Bandcamp, Paste Magazine, and other outlets. https://www.yasminwilliamsmusic.com/home

Mule Shine, August 14 – FREE Harrison St. Easton, Md.

Part of the Avalon’s FREE Outdoor Summer Concert Series brought to you by The Tidewater Inn presents the Bluegrass and rock and Roll Sounds of Mule Shine.

Yarn, Friday, August 20, 2021. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion, 218 N. Washington Street, Easton, MD  $25 

“Yarn has…developed a harmony-rich sound that conjures comparisons to The Band.” NPR Music

Yarn is a roots-music group with an Americana-tinged alt-country sound. Their unconventional sound has garnered them four Grammy nominations, nods from the Americana Music Association, and the “Download of the Day” from Rolling Stone.

For over a decade, this four-piece band has toured the country several times over, developing legions of devoted fans (called “the Yarmy”), and sharing the stage with Dwight Yoakam, Charlie Daniels, Allison Krauss, and The Lumineers, among many other stars.  https://www.yarnmusic.net/

Susan Werner with Trina Hamlin- Contemporary Folk, August 21st

FREE Harrison St, Easton Md, 7pm

Part of the Avalon’s FREE Outdoor Summer Concert Series  brought to you by The Tidewater Inn present the Popular Adult Contemporary music of Susan Werner with special guest Trina Hamlin

Shawn Mullins, Tuesday August 31, 2021. Doors: 7:30; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Stoltz Pavilion, Easton, Maryland $40                                                                                                      

Shawn Mullins is an American singer-songwriter who specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, adult alternative, and Americana music. He is best known for the 1998 single “Lullaby”, which hit number one on the Adult Top 40 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

For its 20th anniversary, Shawn is revisiting the music of Soul’s Core by recording two new versions of the album. He is calling this Soul’s Core Revival. This is not a remix or a remaster of the original, but rather brand new recordings with new arrangements of the songs.

Monty Alexander Jazz Festival, Labor Day Weekend!

Friday, September 3-Sunday, September 5, 2021

The Avalon Theatre 40 E Dover Street, Easton, Maryland                                                                                     

Be sure to save the date for when the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival, one of the most distinctive small-town jazz festivals in the nation, returns!  Trumpet and Vocalist Bria Skonberg opens the festival on Friday night and  Peter and Will Anderson close the festivities on Sunday afternoon.

Glenn Miller Orchestra, Thursday, September 9, 2021. Doors: 6:30; Show: 7 p.m.

The Avalon Theatre 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Maryland $30

“A band ought to have a sound all of its own.  It ought to have a personality.” – Glenn Miller

The Glenn Miller Orchestra is keeping Miller’s legendary jazzy sound alive onstage today for old-time fans and new generations alike!

With its unique Big Band sound, the Glenn Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time, known for such enduring classics as “Tuxedo Junction”, “In the Mood”, and “Pennsylvania 6-5000”.

The old recordings are still great, but nothing beats experiencing Miller’s music live and in-person!  https://glennmillerorchestra.com/

The Wailers, Friday, September 10, 2021. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Maryland $45                                                                          

Although Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded, toured and made history together between 1972 and 1981, it was Marley’s wish that the Wailers would continue spreading their righteous reggae vibe after he was gone. Today, carrying on that mission are legitimate members, children-of-legends, and a host of immensely talented musicians.

Aston Barrett, Jr., delivers startling echoes of his uncle’s (Carlton ‘Carly’ Barrett) one-drop drumming sound. Guitarist Donald Kinsey is joined by Wendel ‘Junior Jazz’ Ferraro, shaping that classic sonic identity. Owen ‘Dreadie’ Reid (Julian Marley’s Uprising Band and a former student of ‘Familyman’) and Andres Lopez (Albrosie, LutanFyah) add yet more quality to an incredible line up!

Suzanne Vega, Thursday, September 16, 2021. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Maryland $60

Widely regarded as one of the foremost songwriters of her generation, Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s, going on to make “vital, inventive music” (NPR Music) throughout the course of her critically acclaimed, decades-long career.

Through her sold-out concerts in many of the world’s best-known venues, Vega is known for performances that convey deep emotion expressed in her distinctive, “clear, unwavering voice” (Rolling Stone) described as “a cool, dry sandpaper-brushed near-whisper” by The Washington Post.

James McMurtry, Sunday, September 19, 2021. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Maryland $30

“The most vital lyricist in America today.” —Bob Harris, BBC 2 Radio

James McMurtry, the acclaimed singer, songwriter, and guitarist, began his interest in music at the age of seven when his father, novelist Larry McMurtry, gave him his first guitar. McMurtry’s mother, an English professor, taught him how to play it.  “My mother taught me three chords,” he recalls, “and the rest I just stole as I went along. I learned everything by ear or by watching people.”

Now, in a career spanning 20 years of rock, folk, and americana, McMurtry has crafted a unique repertoire ranging from soft ballads to tough rock songs to political anthems.

“The simple fact is that James McMurtry may be the truest, fiercest songwriter of his generation…” Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly

Filed Under: Arts Notes Tagged With: Arts, Avalon Theatre, local news

Easton Improv Troupe Takes the Avalon Stage on July 23

July 17, 2021 by Avalon Foundation Leave a Comment

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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

Filed Under: Arts Notes Tagged With: Arts, Avalon Theatre, local news

Avalon Theatre Adds New Jazz Wing to Repertoire

May 20, 2021 by Avalon Foundation

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The Avalon Foundation expanded its reach a little further this past weekend with a jazz concert to thank members and founders of the newly formed Avalon Jazz Club.  The Avalon Jazz Club will focus its efforts year round on giving jazz music fans, jazz players and local students the opportunity to experience all that jazz music has to offer in Talbot County and on Delmarva into the future.

Al Bond, CEO of The Avalon Foundation thanked committee members Joe Fischer, Al Sikes, John Malin and Marty Sikes for planning the evening and thanked the Jazz Founders Club for their support.  “I want to thank the Avalon Jazz Foundersfor supporting Jazz in our community. Every single one of you. This event is what is going to propel our effort forward so I hope you all feel a real sense of ownership in what is going to unfold not just over the next several months but in the years to come. You are at the beginning of this so thank you.”

Joe Fischer then introduced a video from Monty Alexander announcing the line-up for none other than the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival and then the night got intop full swing with a jaw-dropping duet on trumpet and piano from jazz stars Dominick Farinacci and Aaron Diehl.  Other numbers included music form The Gypsy Kings, Cole Porter and a screaming rendition of “Screamin Jay” Hawkins “I Put A Spell On You” featuring vocalist, Shenel Johns.

By supporting the May 15 fundraiser, attendees will have the first access to tickets to the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival in September and other upcoming shows, ensuring great seats and they become members of the Avalon Jazz Founders Club. The Monty Alexander Jazz Festival, one of the most distinctive small town jazz festivals in the nation, has been enhanced by its active collaboration with the Avalon Theatre since its inception.

For more information on The Avalon Jazz Club or for upcoming jazz shows from the Avalon please email Kimberly Stevens at Kimberly@avalonfoundation.org or visit The Avalon online at avalonfoundation.org.

Filed Under: Arts Notes Tagged With: Arts, Avalon, local news

The Multi-Cultural Vaccination and Wellness Day

April 11, 2021 by Avalon Foundation

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For over 20 years, friends & neighbors have gathered at Idlewild Park in Easton, MD to celebrate the cultural diversity of our community through music, dance, art, crafts, games, food and more.  The Festival celebrates cultural diversity by providing programming that positively showcases cultural differences and encourages people to share and celebrate in unity.  “Planning events during a pandemic presents significant challenges,” states Suzy Moore, the Artistic Director for the Avalon Foundation.  “Historically, international food has been a focus of the annual event, but for many reasons, that is just not feasible this year.”

Through its prior work operating the COVID vaccine call center for the Talbot County Health Department, the Avalon Foundation staff became keenly aware that vaccine distribution was not a one size fits all proposition in Talbot County and that Choptank Community Health was providing much needed options.  “We know that the pandemic has disproportionally affected our communities of color, pivoting the focus of the Festival to concentrate on health and wellness seemed like a logical move and our dream became to use the Multicultural Festival as an opportunity to bring access to vaccines. When it was announced that Choptank Community Health was chosen for the program that provides for federally directed distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, it felt like it could be a perfect match” explains Jessica Bellis, Avalon Foundation Chief Operating Officer.

While planning for the Festival is still in development, through this newly formed partnership those attending the Festival on May 1, 2021 in Idlewild Park in Easton, MD will enjoy live music from local and regional groups, learn from exhibitors about health related services available to them in the County, have their blood pressure checked and register for school based medical care for their children.  The Avalon promises crafts and socially distanced activities to occupy children while their parents get vaccinated with the one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (available to anyone over the age of 18+) through Choptank Community Health.  Masks will be a requirement to participate in the festival and all best safety practices will be observed.

“We are excited to present this outdoor vaccination opportunity.  What a great way to get vaccinated – being entertained with live music while you wait, activities to occupy your kids and a feel good celebration of PEACE?  We are hoping many of our friends and neighbours use this as a chance to get vaccinated and we are so grateful to Choptank Community Health for making this a possibility” stated Moore.

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, acting as a health/wellness exhibitor or if you are with a group that would like to utilize this event to vaccinate your members contact Suzy Moore at suzy@avalonfoundation.org.  For more information about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the vaccination process contact Lucie Hughes at Choptank Community Health at lhughes@choptankhealth.org. More information will be coming soon at avalonfoundation.org

The Festival is organized by a committee of people representing a diverse array of community groups and faith based organizations.  It features curated live entertainment provided by community groups and regional acts.  Historically more than 40 vendors such as Healthy Talbot, ChesMRC, the Talbot County Free Library, the Department of Social Services, Adkins Arboretum and more have used this event to engage and educate people across the community. For More Information Contact Artistic Director, Suzy Moore, suzy@avalonfoundation.org or 410-200-8660

Filed Under: Arts Notes Tagged With: Arts, choptank community health, local news

Avalon Live Concerts are Back Safely on the Shore

April 6, 2021 by Avalon Foundation

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The Avalon Foundation announces the 2021 official opening of its brand new outdoor music venue, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion. Conceived and constructed in 2020 as a means to keep music going amidst pandemic restrictions, the organization is very excited to program the space over the course of an entire spring, summer and fall. “We are going to program predominantly for the outdoors until the world gets back closer to normal,” said Suzy Moore, Artistic Director at The Avalon.

On March 25th, the Stoltz Pavilion had a soft opening with a couple of concerts for staffers to reacquaint themselves with a space where they have spent very little time up to this point. From getting patrons seated, to focusing lights, to sending out a professional video stream, all hands were back on deck to remount last year’s initiative. “From October to December last year, we were working in temperatures averaging 37 degrees,” said Scott Milligan who directs the technical aspects over all of the Avalon venues, “temperatures are going to be great this spring.” A substantial outdoor landscaping plan is on tap for the Pavilion and will take place over the next couple of weeks. “We wanted to make it prettier and more appealing. It’s great to be one of the first venues in the country to say that concerts are back safely, but it feels even more hopeful to say we are brightening the corners at the Pavilion in 2021,” said Moore.

The Stoltz Pavilion was built from the ground up to ensure that audiences, staff, volunteers, and performers can enjoy live music, while substantially mitigating health risks. But it was also a way to offer musicians a chance to play and make a living again. Putting the hard-hit professional musicians back to work gives audiences a reminder that normal life is on the horizon. While Covid safety measures will stay in place in the immediate future, the Avalon will roll with the changes as the situation continues to evolve. “Yes we must still be safe. And we will abide by that rule first,” said Jess Bellis CFO and COO at The Avalon. “Safety has been at the forefront of our minds ever since our industry vanished into thin air and we were left to reinvent ourselves in 2020. Safety was the reason we came up with putting up an outdoor venue when everything else was shutting down. Keith Stoltz and The Stoltz family made it happen.”

So the plan is to use the outdoor pavilion safely, and to the max this year. “We encourage those groups that think that they may want to use the space, to contact us at the theatre and we will go over with them what is possible outside at the pavilion,” said Bellis. In the meantime, Moore has booked a lineup of stellar bands from across the spectrum to satisfy those who want to hear live music again. The schedule will continue to grow as long as there are no Covid setbacks to slow the process down.

“We are starting with an entirely clean slate and that is exciting to me,” said Tim Weigand, Marketing Director at The Avalon. “It’s the perfect time to get in on the ground floor with what the Avalon is doing in our community and listen to what superb musical acts and players come through our backyard. Our track record has proven it. I don’t care what music you gravitate towards, if you are a music fan, sign up for our email list, or use social media for some good and follow us there to stay in touch with what we are doing. We are one of the first spaces hosting a full calendar in the USA. Because of the vision of Avalon management and Keith Stoltz, we are back safely much earlier than other venues across the nation.”

Statistics show that more people are going to head out to a concert this year than ever before. Gene Simmons of KISS offers this advice when doing so. “Rock is dead. Not because the talent isn’t there, but because the business model just doesn’t work. And so that leaves live performances. And I really hope once this vaccine takes hold that people go out to the local clubs and see all the new bands and support new bands. Like a baby that’s on the floor, go up there, pick that baby up and coddle it, give it love, because those new bands need your love. It’s not going to affect me. I make a living, but the new bands need the love and attention. Don’t just go see Metallica and Taylor Swift or KISS. On the weekends, go to a place that’s got live music. You need to support the new generation of talented people who are musicians and writers and so on. Don’t let the robots take away everything.’”

If you do The Avalon promises to provide the exact same excellent customer service, positive vibes and a fantastic list of new music that thousands have come to know, depend on and love as patrons of the Avalon.

For those who are more comfortable listening and enjoying music at home, all of the Avalon concerts are streamed in High Def and Hi Fidelity on You Tube and facebook on The Avalon Theatre pages. Showtimes are 8pm.

For more information and/or tickets to Avalon shows please visit the organization online at avalonfoundation.org or call Tim Weigand at 410-253-9629.

Concert Line Up

Seamus Kennedy, Friday, March 26 at 8 pm The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion, 8pm $25
Wylder Saturday, March 27, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Pressing Strings , Friday, April 2, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Dead Letter Office, Saturday April 3, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Cris Jacobs Friday, April 9, The Avalon Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $30
The 19th Street Band Saturday, April 10, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Jack West Friday, April 16 The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
The High and Wides Friday, April 23, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Deanna Bogart Saturday, April 24, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $30
Los Day Trippers Friday, May 7, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Tom Rush Two Shows! Saturday, May 8, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion X p.m. and X p.m., $XX
Phillip Dutton and the Alligators Friday, May 14, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8 pm $25
Kentavius Jones Friday, May 21, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8 pm $25
Dan Navarro Saturday, May 22, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $30
Kat Parsons Friday, May 28, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8 pm $25
Anthony Turk Cannon Jazz Saxophonist Saturday, May 29 The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Ryan Martin Friday, June 4, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Vance Gilbert, Saturday, June 5 The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Martin Sexton, Friday, June 18, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $55
Jamie McLean, Saturday, June 19, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Peter Bradley, Sunday, June 20, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25
Dirty Cello, Friday, June 25, The Avalon’s Stoltz Pavilion 8pm $25

Filed Under: Arts Notes Tagged With: Arts, Avalon, local news

The Avalon to Present The Monty Alexander Jazz Festival

March 30, 2021 by Avalon Foundation

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The Avalon Foundation is proud to announce that in 2021 the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival (MAJF) will once again be performed over the Labor Day Weekend.

A special kick-off event headlined by Dominick Farinacci and Aaron Diehl to celebrate the collaboration with Monty Alexander will be held in the new Avalon Stoltz Pavilion on May 15. The celebration, a fundraiser, will feature world-class jazz trumpeter Dominick Farinacci in rhythmic and soulful collaborations with pianist Aaron Diehl.

The Monty Alexander Jazz Festival, one of the most distinctive small town jazz festivals in the nation, has been enhanced by its active collaboration with the Avalon Theatre since its inception.

Al Bond, CEO of the Avalon Foundation said, “We are certainly looking forward to working actively with those who have been instrumental in producing the Festival since its beginning eleven years ago.

The group of jazz enthusiasts led by Joe Fischer, Al Sikes, John Malin and Marty Sikes will represent a steering committee within the Avalon Foundation and assist in producing the MAJF.

In addition, noteworthy jazz concerts will be presented throughout the year. “Ultimately, we want to continue hosting a festival and are delighted to partner with the Avalon Foundation because of their multiple venues and excellence as presenters of artistic events,” said Joe Fischer.

The steering committee has a wealth of experience in producing events in the jazz genre for Talbot County. “It was eleven years ago that I began working with the production talent of the Avalon Foundation. Together, with Chesapeake Music, we brought a signature Festival to Easton,” said Al Sikes, the founder of the MAJF.

The official kick-off for the group is a special donor event to establish the Festival’s own wing under the Avalon umbrella. Dominick Farinacci will headline the evening and plans are being made to include Covid-safe perks and other promotions. “We know from the size of the festival’s crowds that there are a lot of music fans who love jazz and everything about the festival and we want to continue to see it be a success,” said Jess Bellis, COO/CFO of the Avalon Foundation. “This is a great way to celebrate spring, great music and help insure the longevity of this great event in Easton.” By supporting the May 15 fundraiser, attendees will have the first access to tickets to the Festival in September ensuring great seats and will become members of the Avalon Jazz Founders Club.

Dominick Farinacci is a jazz trumpeter, composer, and in recent years, a producer. He along with Monty Alexander could be said to regard Easton as a musical second home. Dominick’s recent production, Modern Warrior Live, was premiered in the Avalon Theatre and several weeks later in New York City. It will soon be released as a film.

In 2010, Dominick Farinacci and Aaron Diehl opened the MAJF. Those in attendance were mesmerized by the duo’s soulful rendition of Willow Weep For Me. Aaron, like Dominick, is now at the pinnacle of 21st Century jazz expressions.

For more information about the benefit show, please visit The Avalon Foundation’s web page at avalonfoundation.org or email Kimberly Stevens at kimberly@avalonfoundation.org .

Filed Under: Arts Notes

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