Cafe nine Upcoming Events

ALAN WALKER

Alan Walker was formerly the lead singer and keyboard player for New York City's rootsy/melodic pop legends The Brilliant Mistakes, who were aptly named after a song by one of their songwriting mentors, Elvis Costello. The band frequented the downtown NYC club scene from the early 90's through 2011, and played across the US, from Portland, ME to Southern California, from Austin, TX to Milwaukee, WI, and were independent radio favorites along the way (WFUV, WFMU, WFDU, WXPN among many others). They released three records which are still available on CD through Alan's website and on all streaming services.

After releasing his first solo album in 2018, Something Up My Sleeve, Alan is close to releasing his second solo effort with special guests Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams, Lucy Kaplansky and Jon Herington (of Steely Dan). He will be performing songs from both records as well as an oldie or two from The Brilliant Mistakes catalog, backed by a stellar backup band made up of John Putnam on guitar (Richard Shindell, Jimmy Cliff), Mike Visceglia on bass (Suzanne Vega, John Cale) and Denny McDermott (Donald Fagen, Graham Parker). 

"Sparkling pop in the vein of Crowded House and Squeeze." —The Boston Globe

"Alan Walker's voice reminds me of Karl Wallinger from World Party . . . terrific melodies and songs." —Portland Press Herald

"Well-crafted rock songs with a healthy twangy bent reminiscent of . . . Neil Young, Teenage Fanclub, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Wilco and The Jayhawks." —powerofpop.com

"Pop songs for adult listeners, clothed in rich musical arrangements with a nod towards such classic bands as the Byrds, Squeeze and the Jayhawks." —Maverick Magazine (UK)

"Seriously mature pop; intelligent lyrics with depth, breadth and meaning, grown-up melodies and brilliantly conceived catchy choruses." —www.toxicpete.co.uk

Alan Walker's website is https://alanwalkermusic.net/

BRIAN LARNEY

THE SPLIT COILS

The Split Coils are a Valley band. From the literal banks of Connecticut’s mighty Housatonic, they play down-to-earth, melodic power pop informed by songwriter/guitarist Jay Russell’s time in bands like Hot Rod Circuit and Diamond J and the Rough. His wife Katelyn Kazukynas Russell adds sweet harmonies and rhythm, making it a family affair. It’s guitar-driven rock, with some classic rock influences, some ‘90s indie vibes, and some entirely new sounds.

I & R

I&R is the music of Josh Cournoyer, a Nashville-based songwriter, bandleader, and recordist. The duality of his New England DIY origins and the collaborative playground that is Music City, his adopted home since 2014, is the connective thread throughout I&R’s recordings and live shows. Hymnal Victoria, the 2024 extended play and follow up to 2019’s Bankrupt City and 2022’s Keep the Sun in Your Eyes, shines with optimism in the face of trying times. Once again the songs are composed, engineered, and produced by Cournoyer with the help of his frequent collaborators, Mike Poorman (Hot Rod Circuit) and Zac Clark (Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness). In contrast with the pandemic isolation of Keep the Sun in Your Eyes, the latest release was intentionally made in community. Hymnal Victoria features contributions from Suzie Zeldin (The Narrative, Twin Forks), Dylan Sevey (The Minks, Ron Gallo), Joe Pisapia (Guster, Ben Folds), Nicole Atkins, and Dave “Squirrel” Covell (Shangri-La Studios). During the writing and recording of Hymnal Victoria, Josh honed his craft contributing to studio recording and live performances with artists like Ben Folds, Robert Finley, and Ian Ferguson.

LITTLE SILVER
The duo of Erika Simonian and Steve Curtis wrote their debut LP, Somewhere You Found My Name, about the ever-shifting landscape of holding perspective and losing loved ones. They're currently working on a new record at Firehouse 12 in New Haven, and will be joined by their full band at Cafe Nine.

“The elegantly understated debut from this Brooklyn band does what great, grown-up indie rock at its best has always done: It maps out states of personal, emotional and historical in-betweenness with careful, intelligent grace… Songs […] take their time building from muted beauty to closely held grandeur.”
—ROLLING STONE

Chervansky, Tappan & Ice Jazz Jam

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

Iba MaHr is a reggae singer known for his unique vibrato style and hit record "Diamond Sox". 

Iba MaHr was born Mario Glendon Greaves on January 21 and was raised in Linstead, Jamaica to parents, Glendon Greaves and Roselin 'Mama Rosie' Embden. 

With a passion for music at a young age, he began by writing his own songs. In 2010, he released his first single, "Had It and Lost It" produced by reggae legend Max Romeo then, "Rather Be Alone" in the same year and in 2014 he released his debut album/EP titled "Great is H.I.M."

He has earned representation from a variety of different record labels including Marley's Tuff Gong/Ghetto Youths, VP Records/VPAL and Tad's Record Inc. 

As a musician who focuses primarily in the reggae genre, Iba can be seen in relation to other artists who utilize the genre including Jacob Miller, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown and Damian Marley. 

His music can be found on all streaming services including Spotify, iTunes and Youtube. 

URL: 

https://linktr.ee/IbaMaHr 

Kevin Saint James & The Crown Street Orchestra - Classic Roots Rock, Americana, Rhythm & Blues Bar Band
The Crown Street Orchestra started taking pickup gigs way back in the days when original owner Mike Reichbart ran Cafe Nine. All the guys played (and drank) there regularly in several different bands and sometimes he'd hastily put together a group of them to go fill late cancellations for other bars and clubs. In those days, the lineup changed almost every night and the band got to play the hell out of whatever the hell they felt like playin' with all those other great local Blues/Roots/R&B musicians. They're all set to do it again with an All-star line-up of musicians who've been playing together at Cafe Nine and all around the greater New Haven area and parts well beyond for decades.
Peter Blossom - Guitar, Joe McWilliams - Keys, Lou Ianello - Tenor Sax, Pat Haddon - Bass, JB Sutherland - Drums and singer Kevin Saint James.

Sarah Uyar is a Connecticut-based jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator. She currently lives in Hartford where she recently graduated from the Jackie Mclean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School of Music. Sarah has been playing the trumpet for eleven years and her journey into jazz trumpet began in her junior year of high school when she stumbled upon the Artists Collective, Inc. in Hartford, CT, founded by the great saxophonist Jackie Mclean. Beginning her studies under the tutelage of renowned saxophonist Rene Mclean in the Youth Jazz Orchestra summer program, she remained there for three summers before enrolling in the Jackie Mclean Institute of Jazz for her collegiate studies.

Sarah has been fortunate to study and share the stage with masters of the music in and out of her undergraduate studies. At the Hartt School, Sarah was under the instruction of distinguished jazz educators such as trumpeter David Smith, trombonist Steve Davis, bassist Nat Reeves, pianist Zaccai Curtis, and saxophonists Rene McLean, Michael Thomas, and Javon Jackson. As part of the 2023 Woman in Jazz Organization mentorship program, she was a mentee to trumpeter Bria Skonberg, from whom she learned much about succeeding as a woman in the jazz industry. Sarah has also been privileged to study under the mentorship of the great trumpeter Jeremy Pelt in his private studio.

Sarah started gigging as a professional in her junior year of her undergraduate degree, playing at venues in Connecticut such as Black Eyed Sally’s, The Side Door, Cafe Nine, Jazzy’s Cabaret, the Bushnell, and many others as a bandleader and side-woman. She has also had the extreme privilege of sharing the stage with masters such as Yoron Israel and Avery Sharpe with a band called The Makanda Project, playing primarily in Boston and once in New York City. Sarah also had the opportunity to open for the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in the summer of 2023 as part of the Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency.

Currently, Sarah is one of the most sought-after trumpet players in the Connecticut jazz scene. Her current project, Iris, is a chordless quartet that includes four of Connecticut’s most talented young jazz musicians. The band features post-bop, avant-garde, and modern jazz as its main vehicle for expression.

INTERNET TEARS

Hailing from Connecticut, rising indie pop band Internet Tears has already begun to win over fans throughout the New York tri-state area and beyond with its infectious, glowing sound, establishing its path to becoming one of the most promising new groups on the scene today.

Comprising Daniel Louis (vocals), Zack Apuzzo (drums), Esteban Rivera (bass guitar), and Chris “Leap Frog” Jones (lead guitar), the band incorporates nostalgic nods to pop-rock, synth-punk and synthwave bands of the ‘80s and ‘90s, as well as influences from acts like Neon Trees and The 1975, in its irresistible compositions. Lyrically, the group explores themes such as self-empowerment and relationships, providing listeners with access to revealing and deeply personal confessions.

Internet Tears dropped its self-titled debut EP in 2021, and followed the project’s release with a variety of popular singles, including “Over me?” and “Okay” ft. Smerkk.

In January 2024, the band started an exciting new chapter in its career, inking a record deal with the independent Connecticut-based label Black Barrel Records. The quartet is set to release a series of singles throughout the year, beginning with “Death & His Friends” on March 1.

SILVER LIZ 

JOHNNY MANCHILD AND THE POOR BASTARDS

Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards is an American multi-genre ensemble founded by Johnny Manchild (composition, production, vocals, keys), and forming members Ethan Neel (drums), Ben Wood (trumpet), with Alex Coleman on Bass, Isaac Stalling on Guitar, and Eric Neel on Saxophone. Since its founding in 2016, the band took the internet by storm, with a unique conundrum of jazz idioms, alt-rock, world music, and funk that prompted even Anthony Fantano himself (known as “The Only Music Critic Who Matters” by the NYT) ask “what gives them the right to be this good? ” The Bastards have since answered that question, drawing from a dedicated and thriving fanbase that is bound together by a deep love of music, lyricism, engineering and sonic exploration. From their hometown of Oklahoma City to the global stage, each release has been a marked discovery not just for the fans, but the Poor Bastards themselves. With 18+ million streams, 4 albums, and new sonic horizons to be crossed, the Poor Bastards have morphed into a collective of sorts with as many as 10 collaborators (affectionately “Bastards”) in regular rotation, with Johnny Manchild at the helm.

HOLDFAST

Charlie, Tommy, and Mikey Maddocks of the Denver based alt-rock band "Holdfast." have quickly taken the U.S. and U.K. by storm with their energetic, captivating live show and introspective songwriting. Beginning touring in 2022, this band of brothers took on the U.S. with their own headline tour in the summer and joined Red Rum Club for both their U.S. National tour and U.K. tour. On May 15th, 2023 Holdfast opened for Dermot Kennedy at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre with an unforgettable show and then hit the road for the summer on their own headline tour. Holdfast. is a must-see band for fans of The Killers, Coldplay, Muse, The 1975, U2, and Bad Suns. These three brothers will be selling out stadiums of their own someday soon.

LOVECOLOR

Singer, Songwriter and Record Producer Vanessa Silberman and Musician and Actor Ryan Carnes are a musical force of sultry alt pop, dark synth, dance and rock sounds, centered around exploring the many aspects of love. The pair officially teamed up in 2019 and launched LOVECOLOR in November 2022. Both have a long list of credits and, together, create undeniably catchy songs and deliver energetic, powerful live shows. The act has drawn comparisons to the likes of Sinead OʼConnor, The 1975, Chvrches, Lana Del Rey, and St. Vincent. Prior to 2020, Vanessa was widely known through the DIY touring community for playing and booking over 800 shows (2015-2020) across the U.S. - as well as in the UK and Europe - in support of 2 EPs and numerous singles. Audiofemme.com named the touring singer and guitarist one of the hardest working bands of 2019, 2018 as well as 2017 (she played over 200 shows that year alone). In the studio, Silberman has engineered for Tony Visconti, Kimbra, Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) and worked as the in-house assistant engineer at Studio 606 (the Foo Fighters Studio). Sheʼs also assisted for the likes of the Foo Fighters, The Kills, Joan Jett, Blues Traveler, and James Williamson (Iggy Pop and the Stooges) in Los Angeles, CA. Additionally, she owns and operates a record label (A Diamond Heart Production) that has put out over 75 releases since 2014, and for which she was named 1 of "11 LGBTQIA+ AND WOMEN-OWNED LABELS THAT ARE CHANGING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY" by Alternative Press Magazine.

Ryan Carnes has amassed numerous credits over the years, including roles in the smash hit ABC series “Desperate Housewives,” Clint Eastwoodʼs LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, as well as the superhero title character in "The Phantom.” Carnes also starred as the lead in LA BODA DE VALENTINA (Valentinaʼs Wedding), one of the top 10 grossing movies in Mexican cinema history. Recently, he starred in the Hulu Holiday film CUPID FOR CHRISTMAS, currently streaming on the platform and recently featured in People Magazine as one of the best Christmas movies to stream on Hulu in 2022. LOVECOLOR'S debut single ‘Dangerousʼ was released on Feb. 3rd, 2023 (accompanied by a stylized, Blade Runner-inspired music video). In support of that release, they hit the road for an East Coast tour with Tea Eater (members of Gustaf & Sharkmuffin).

The duo released their follow-up single, ‘Pure Love,ʼ on May 26th, 2023. The track is musically inspired by and built on dark, new wave alternative synth-driven samples and accompanied by heavy, 90s inspired drop D alternative tuned guitar sounds. They supported the second release with a West Coast and Western Mountain U.S. Tour in May and June of 2023.

LOVECOLORʼS 3rd single, 'Crazy Love,ʼ was released Nov. 15th, 2023 and supported with Western U.S. and CA tour dates with Volores (ft. Nathan Maxwell of Flogging Molly) & Holdfast. The duo's fourth single ‘Hearts on Fireʼ was released on Valentine's day, February 14th, 2024. 'Dangerous,' 'Pure Love,' 'Crazy Love' and 'Hearts on Fire' were Produced by Vanessa Silberman, Co-Produced by Ryan Carnes, Recorded & Mastered by Vanessa Silberman and Mixed by Andrew Dawson (Jay Z, Phantogram, Sleigh Bells, Linkin Park).

THE HYMANS 

Gabba Gabba (New)HEY(van)!

 Michael Coppola

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

After playing for 20 years, Michael Coppola, on a mission to solve the age old problem of executing jazz piano voicing on guitar, created a tuning for an 8 stringed instrument. This new type of guitar, with inner high end strings was the predecessor to the 9 string "hydra", which became Coppola’s instrument for life.

Heaven is New Haven’s Post-Disco dance night. Expect to hear Italo, Electro, Hi-NRG, Synth-Funk, alternative pop, and Disco-infused electronics of all kinds!

LOOLOWNINGEN AND THE FAR EAST IDIOTS 

LOOLOWNINGEN and the Far East Idiots are a Tokyo-based avant-punk alternative blues trio. With inkwash painting-like sounds and unicursal rhythms, they released 3 albums, 4 EPs, and a handful of digital singles. 

They have played with: Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Dinosaur Jr., Louis Cole Big Band, Pinback, and Built to Spill.

The New Haven Jazz Underground is a grass roots, community based organization dedicated to promoting & supporting Jazz and all of it's forms in New Haven, CT. The NHJU is committed to preserving New Haven’s vibrant music scene and history, while also providing employment for local musicians, support for local business, and to the community through social interaction and activism.Normally in the best of times we would be gearing up for our 2nd annual jazz festival.

The 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, the New Haven Jazz Underground hosts a night of jazz performance at cafe nine, with a house band/performer followed by an open jam session. It's always free admission and don't forget to bring your instrument with you to participate in the jam session immediately following the performance. 

MC Homeless is a punk rock-influenced rapper residing in North Carolina. He is currently on tour promoting his Mushrooms and Acid EP with Kool Keith. Homeless has toured with everyone from Ceschi to Kool Keith to Aceyalone. 

With special guests Indigaux, MJ Bones, and DJ Halo 

CAMP SAINT HELENE

For Camp Saint Helene, the concept of otherworldliness is neither strange nor complex, but alluring and holy. Created by Elizabeth Celeste Ibarra, Dylan Nowik, Wesley Harper and Alex P. Wernquest, they approach their craft akin to a ritual, leaning into the notion that art and expression are sacred experiences on an overstimulated planet. Often informed by the spirit of a defunct Christian-summer camp turned arts-colony deep within the mountains of New York, their music searches for shimmers of hope amidst hints of doom. 
“Farfisa Song”, off their debut record, Mother (2019), was named KEXP’s Song of the Day and added to KEXP Music that Matters Vol. 683 by Cheryl Waters. She describes Camp Saint Helene as  “..call[ing] to mind the '60s California folk scene with their gentle, waltz-like pastoral sound”. Additionally, “Farfisa Song” was featured predominantly both  in Amazon Prime’s teen horror drama, “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2022) and Zoe Lister-Jones’ series SLIP on The Roku Channel (2023). Mother was named by Bandcamp as a New and Notable record of 2019, describing it as “Occult-folk in the 70’s U.K. tradition that further affirms the link between Appalachian and British folk songs”.  

In 2023, they were commissioned by NADA x Foreland to present a live performance and installation piece titled “Into the Garden” for Upstate Art Weekend in Catskill, NY.

They recorded their first album almost entirely live to 8-track, ½” tape, at Basement Floods Records in Catskill, New York. Their second album is currently in production.

WALLY

Wally is a dream-pop/indie rock band from New Haven, CT. Blending many elements of shoegaze to pop -- brothers, Teo and Lucas Hernandez along with lifelong friend Alex Blair, share a tight relationship that reflects in their recordings and live shows.

MINTEA

A sci-fi and veggie lovin girl who likes to sing in her bedroom.

DAGWOOD

Dagwood is a New Haven based punk band. Bubblegum melodies and a 'Raw Power' rhythm section energize their chronicles of clumsy and surreal suburban malaise. Princes of power pop and the greatest band of all time.

WASTEWORLD

Gary Grippo

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

It’s obvious listening to Sarah Shook and the Disarmers’ clear-eyed, biting, and unafraid songs that integrity is the most important thing to the Chapel Hill, North Carolina, country-punk outfit. “A lot of artists are in this industry for fame, recognition, and money but those things don’t mean anything to me,” says bandleader River Shook. “Songwriting is it for me. It’s the only real healthy coping mechanism I've ever had. It’s life-saving. I don't care about any superficial things when I’m making a record.” On their resonant fourth album Revelations, produced by Shook and out March 29 via Thirty Tigers, these raw and resilient tracks come first. Throughout, Shook’s deft storytelling documents regular people getting by and keeping on, all presented without filter or pretension.

In 2022, Shook was remarkably productive. They released two albums: debut solo indie rock record Cruel Liars under the moniker Mightmare (Kill Rock Stars) and a third Disarmers full-length called Nightroamer (Thirty Tigers). Compared to every Disarmers record before that, which captured the in-the-room energy of the band with live recorded songs, the latter LP was instead more of a product of the studio with meticulous tracking sessions and an outside producer. While that effort was well-received, Shook believed the songs on Revelations deserved a more direct approach. “Since the Disarmers started in 2015, our strength has always been in our live performance,” says Shook. “To me, an album should capture the essence of a band. With this new set of songs that are all super special to me, I didn't trust anybody else to capture the songs and decide how to best serve each song.” Shook, who honed their production skills with their Mightmare LP and Izzy Ryder’s debut record, confidently took the reins during a blistering recording session, capturing 10 songs in two days.

For Shook, it was paramount the recordings match the band’s tangible live ferocity because these songs boast their most immediate lyrics yet. “All of my writing is autobiographical, and I write everything based on my observations and experiences,” says Shook. “But there was something about Revelations that felt more personal to me. I unlocked this level of honesty with myself and an ability to be more objective about the things I struggle with daily.” Take the title track, which finds Shook singing about the precariousness of navigating mental health under capitalism. Over a rollicking, twang-hued arrangement, they sing, “Black cloud followin' me around, little storm in my head / Some days I levitate off the ground, some days I can't get outta bed.” The track doesn’t preach or romanticize. Instead, it’s galvanizing and relatable.

These are lived-in stories about real people with real dreams, atmospheric pasts, and inescapable problems. “I think of myself as a collector: I just go around and collect experiences and observations,” says Shook. “I'm still adjusting to writing songs as a sober person but a lot of the themes are just about being a working person and navigating mental health and relationships with other people going through the same things.” Lead single “Backsliders” comes directly from Shook’s life when they were a bartender at a Chapel Hill dive called The Cave. The song is a deceptively breezy romp about workplace romantic entanglements with Shook singing, “Love you like a breath when I ain't workin' myself to death / cause I'm longin' for the ghost of a friend.” On one hand, it captures the closeness that only service workers can experience on the job but on the other, it plainly states how easy it is to fall into bad habits when dealing with any type of loss.

Throughout the LP, there are cathartic, snarling kiss-offs to villainous men (“Motherfucker”) but also moments of tenderness and ecstasy. Shook describes closer “Criminal” as their “gay cowboy song”, the torturous longing of the lyrics is anchored by shimmering guitar leads from Blake Tallent and bastioned by drummer Jack Foster’s hypnotic rhythms. River sings, “If lovin' you will always be a crime I'll always be a criminal.” It’s a triumphant line that highlights Shook’s emotional sturdiness. “That line got me thinking about how we as queer people have been persecuted, and how we so often have to keep all kinds of things under wraps because of the law because of social taboo,” says Shook. “I wanted “Criminal” to portray these feelings of longing and desire that two gay people can have for each other. They're complicated feelings because human beings are complicated. Gay love is every bit as complicated as straight love.”

Revelations is the most assured Sarah Shook and the Disarmers record yet because it so pointedly captures the gamut of the human experience: anger, sadness, confusion, love, and acceptance. It’s a document of Shook at the top of their game and a reflection of their own journey not just as a writer but as a person. “I’m a firm believer that if you are an artist, and you want to make better art, a big part of that isn't just exercising your musical skills, it’s growing as a human being,” says Shook. “So every time I make a record, I want to be able to listen to it and look back on who I was then. I want to see this arc and this evolution. That's really fucking important to me.”

AMELIA WHITE 

“All I wanna do is get up there and sing.

I don’t wanna hear about ice on the wing.”

And there you have the greatest couplet in history that encapsulates a musicians’ road life. The hazards, fatigue, poverty, all that’s endured just so you can get up in front of people and play your songs. The icy-wing tale “Get to the Show” is a nicely loose rocking paean to the job as a troubadour. “No matter where you are, there’s always somewhere else to go.”, she sings, and she nails it. 

Her extraordinary new release “Love I Swore” coming out on 31 Tigers FEB of 2024 is both bracing and sweet. The songs crafted meticulously by producer (and performer in her own right) Kim Richey, who brings out musicality and copious golden backing vocals.  The record is like a quilt in which every square sewn on is a variation from the one next to it. There is some rock and roll, some catchy pop, good country and also a brooding intensity when such is called for. 

On “Love I Swore”, whether Amelia White lyrically deals with loneliness, bears deep down about relationships, learns how love is hard work, gives the middle finger to the soul-sucking marriage-killing road life, there is a tongue wedged ever so slightly into her cheek and the record is leavened with lots of simple happiness itself and pure love with no agenda. The partnership with Kim has turned out a record so tuneful, so damn catchy, it’s a war story where joy wins out. With Kim Richey’s forte in vocal harmonies and her extensive knowledge of the structures of what makes a great song, Amelia was fertile ground and Kim worked a mean plow. Without a compromise of Amelia’s honest integrity, “Love I Swore” is, dare say it, accessible. Non-Americana civilians might even warm to this one. Dare to dream.

“It’s funny,” Amelia says, “but for me, I’ve been in a long relationship, and I wrote this record in a period where I thought I was going to lose that relationship. So, there’s that theme, keeping love  going when you’re having to re-meet each other every time I return home. I have this great idea, halfway houses where partners can come over and visit us traveling musicians in there and as we get reacquainted with real life.”

Kim says, “Roger Nichols engineered it, and is a major part of the whole record. We made the record in Roger’s studio, which is about as big as somebody’s living room, with one isolation booth. We were jam packed in there. There’s one booth, so we had the drums in there, and all the rest of us were sitting in the control room with roger. it was cozy.” She laughs.

“We went through a whole bunch and decided which songs for the record,” Kim says, “and I think that’s Amelia’s strongest thing is the songwriting. It wasn’t done quickly. A lot of hours were put into the record, especially with Roger and I. And Amelia was really amenable to reworking the songs if we needed to.” They also had some great musicians to goose along such proceedings: Doug Lancio on guitar, Mark Pisapia on drums, Billy Harvey on bass and Amelia cutting loose with her own acoustic and electric guitars.

Choice tunes abound, but to single some out we can go with “Beautiful Dream” which sounds like one and coins the musician’s motto, “It’s hard to wake up to the setting sun.” The captivating jangle of a mandolin and guitar with gorgeous voices of “Don’t You Ever Forget”, the murky minor-key title track that would fit comfortably alongside Dylan’s “Time Out of Mind” until it explodes into rocking deliciousness halfway through.  “Time”co-written with Mando Saenz is arpeggiated deliciousness about a “bird on a wing with x-ray eyes.”  

No teenage starlet, Amelia shouldered her guitar in Boston for years, then Seattle, and now in East Nashville, where she’s been in the trenches for a good many years. Google “paid her dues” and there she is, with her reddish-brown shoulder length locks, eyeglasses and a smile. Then the unthinkable happened – her 2019 record “Rhythm of the Rain” actually stuck to the wall, doing well in the charts and spring-boarding Amelia from playing Tuesday nights for tips to actually headlining venues and god forbid getting somewhere! It couldn’t happen to a better artist, and one listen to “Love I Swore” will be a very convincing listen to one of America’s great “new” singer-songwriters. She just wants to get up and sing and she couldn’t care less about any ice on the wing."

ANNE CASTELLANO

SARAH DUNN 

I'm a singer-songwriter, Southerner, New Englander, mother to children and chickens. 

Too Much full length album is on all streaming platforms! And, Thank You EP has been there for your enjoyment.  There is even a “single.” Rude.

Sarah started playing the piano at age three and violin at age nine. In high school she started bass and guitar, and then dropped out of music school in college for "a real job." A lifelong singer-songwriter, she brings elements of life, depression, relationships, and family, into her songs. With hardcore soccer mom energy, she is punctual, charming, and organized in rehearsals and performance. 
Music is available on Bandcamp and Amazon Music, the Spotify, etc. If you like what you hear you can follow me on Bandcamp and/or subscribe to my upcoming email newsletter where I'll regale you (selectively, and not with obnoxious frequency) with tales of the recording life. And maybe some pictures of the chickens. 

For a more formal bio, check out my EPK. 

Thank you, to all y'all!

“Billy Liar is one of my favorite songwriters. Powerful and honest.”
–Tim Armstrong, Rancid

In May of 2022, after a year of heavy touring across the US and Europe, Billy Liar and his band barricaded themselves into Big Dog Recordings studio just outside of Antwerp, Belgium with producer Joe McMahon (Smoke Or Fire). For seven days and nights they spilled blood, sweat, and beer into Billy’s new album, emerging only to stock up on more Brussels sprouts and cheap vodka.

The end result is Crisis Actor, a cathartic ripper of a punk record about life, death, breaking up, and barely surviving the pandemic era.

“I feel like we’ve all been living in crisis mode for the past few years,” Billy says about the album’s provocative title. “Hell, I’ve been doing it since I was a teenager. And I feel like a bad actor most of the time, struggling to contain all my anxieties and inconsistencies.”

Billy’s previous album, Some Legacy, earned him high praise from outlets like Brooklyn Vegan, Punknews.org, and Louder Than War. And it caught the attention of one of his favorite artists: solo songsmith Frank Turner. It was a full circle moment when Frank Turner—coincidentally touring through Belgium while Billy was in the studio—joined Billy to record guest vocals on a new track called “Negroni.” A track which, synchronistically, was written with references to some of Frank’s lyrics.

Other guests on Crisis Actor include keyboardist Franz Nicolay (The Hold Steady / Against Me!) and guitarist Joe McMahon (Smoke or Fire). Meanwhile, drummer Robin Guy, who has played with everyone from Faith No More to Sham 69 to the Bay City Rollers, fought through the agony of cancer and chemotherapy to supply the album’s furious rhythm.

The tracks on Crisis Actor run the gamut of emotions, as evidenced by songs like “Hogmanay.” The title is a traditional term for New Year’s Eve in Billy’s native Scotland, and the song blends melancholy themes about drinking and dancing alone with a Celtic-inspired upbeat tune and lighthearted delivery. On their final night in the studio, Billy and his band gathered in the vocal booth for this song, drank heavily, threw each other into the walls, and sang themselves hoarse to create an anthem of triumphant misery.

The emotional peak of the record, though, is the closing track, “Troubled Mind,” which is a stripped-down acoustic confessional.

“It’s a song about owning up to the holes in my brain,” Billy explains. “The lyrics are the rawest I have ever written. So much so that I actually broke down when we were recording it. Which we kept on the album.”

Crisis Actor takes the sadness and sweetness of The Cure and filters it through the angry grit of The Clash and Rancid to create a modern punk album with a wounded heart, belted through a blown out larynx.

Or, as Billy himself puts it:

“It’s an album for the end of the world.”

JIVE TALK

Hailed as “retro nerd-core supreme mother f*ckers”, Nashville based Jive Talk began making a name for themselves through their high energy live performances. They are known for their anthemic, synth-rock sound and have been featured on Spotify's Fresh Finds, Apple New Alternative, Sirius XMU and more. Emerging on the live circuit in 2021, they quickly found themselves sharing the stage supporting acts like The Districts, Stephen Sanchez, The Brummies, and more.

“Nashville is synonymous with country music, but a new wave of pop is having its moment…avant-guard synth-rock band Jive Talk represent a once-overlooked segment of Music City.”

• Rolling Stone

“a breath of fresh air for Music City...they stand out amongst the crowd.”

• Acme Radio

•  

DADDY'S BEEMER

Charleston-based band Daddy’s Beemer (comprising lead vocalist/guitarist Brady Sklar, guitarist Bob Magee, bassist Wesley Heaton, and drummer Payton Kutyla) formed in 2016 at Clemson University, where they soon established their brand of dreamy, buoyant indie rock. Influences from across the pond like Two Door Cinema Club, The Kooks and The Cure mingled with the likes of REM and even Frank Ocean to form a left-field melting pot across their first EPs, Daddy’s Beemer (2017) and Pucker (2018). Meanwhile, they forged their identity on the road, playing over 200 shows since their inception and heading as far afield as New York and SXSW, all while building a rock-solid base in their home state of South Carolina.

Their debut full-length, 2020’s Denmark, saw the band expand their recording capacity and flex their production muscles. After a mid-Covid release and snowball of live shows, the band began crafting a follow-up. 2023’s Tangles finds Daddy’s Beemer in peak form with a nearly-live tracked 10 song exploration of love & life on the road. Their newest lineup since releasing the album guarantees the same quality of live experience since 2016: energetic, fun, spontaneous, and emotionally filling.

CT Rocks! Festival 2024

Featuring all the best local talents the Nutmeg State has to offer. This year's CT Rocks! Festival has two time slots.

From 5:00 - 7:30 PM, admission is free, and the acts are:

-Luke Rodney

-Terry Lachance

-Vicki F.

-Sarah Dunn

From 8:00 PM to midnight, admission is $10, with all proceeds going to Haven Harvest, and the acts are:

-Trashing Violet 

-Gregory Frost & Ghost Radio 

-No Rush!

-Violet Dusk 

Arrive early, stay late!

JOHNNY DYNAMITE AND THE BLOODSUCKERS 

John Aaron Morisi better known by his stage name Johnny Dynamite is an American multi-instrumentalist, producer, and singer-songwriter. Inspired by the illustrative work of his grandfather, Morisi took on the name of one of his most iconic characters, an anti hero detective from the underworld; "Johnny Dynamite". Morisi started his career playing in bands with DIY self-releases on Bandcamp, playing local shows in his native New York City and building up an audience through extensive touring and festival appearances. His solo debut “Heartbroken” (2020) garnered the attention of Philadelphia's Born Losers Records who released his sophomore effort “Sleeveless” (2021) to critical acclaim from publications such as Post-Punk.com, Under The Radar Magazine, and CVLT Nation.

Over the course of his first two solo albums, Morisi has emerged as a succinct storyteller and songwriter. The character’s inside Morisi’s dream world are lucid, manic, and brimming with pangs of nostalgia. Poised against dark and atmospheric instrumentals, Morisi’s harrowed vocal delivery and lyrics paint a picture of lost youth, hopeless romanticism, and teenage rebellion. Morisi blends many different genres and connects the dots between different pockets of subculture; equal parts glossy new wave and anthemic rock n’ roll. Morisi’s signature beat centric production style incorporates big stadium drum samples, dreamy alternate guitar tunings and ethereal retro synth patches. Morisi’s sound has been compared to legacy acts such as Pet Shop Boys, INXS, and The Cure as well as more modern acts such as MGMT and M83.

SNOOZER

SNZR is an alternative rock band from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, formed in 2007 by brothers Mike and Tom Kelly.

Beginning life as a Philly-house-show band, Mike and Tom’s only goal was to be loud.  Their songwriting has evolved through experimenting with every tool available in their home recording studio.

Since 2016 Tom has been the touring drummer for Alex G and in that time Mike has recorded and produced for his solo project Shyin and Orchids but 2024 marks the year of their first official release as SNZR; Mid-Earth.

Tony Di  and Friends

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

Tony Dioguardi is a Connecticut based jazz and blues guitarist who has performed with Jaimo's Jazz Band, Bernard Purdie, Jim Oblon, Guitar George Baker, Laco Deczi and Rickie Miller.

The New Haven Jazz Underground is a grass roots, community based organization dedicated to promoting & supporting Jazz and all of it's forms in New Haven, CT. The NHJU is committed to preserving New Haven’s vibrant music scene and history, while also providing employment for local musicians, support for local business, and to the community through social interaction and activism.Normally in the best of times we would be gearing up for our 2nd annual jazz festival.

The 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, the New Haven Jazz Underground hosts a night of jazz performance at cafe nine, with a house band/performer followed by an open jam session. It's always free admission and don't forget to bring your instrument with you to participate in the jam session immediately following the performance. 

DAVID DONDERO

CARDIEL

Natives of Valencia, Venezuela, Cardiel formed in Mexico City in the middle of 2010 by Samantha Ambrosio (drums/vocals) and Miguel Fraino (guitar/vocals). The idea behind the band was to make music for skateboarding videos, achieving the combination between the fast and aggressive to a psychedelic dub. The band has gained notoriety among the skate sub-culture and has been featured by Thrasher magazine.

They have played at important events for the skate community in Mexico, like the 30 years of the Thrasher Magazine party in Mexico, Skate Rock concert tours with Thrasher magazine in Mexico, and the 50 year event of House of Vans in Mexico City.

In 2015 and 2017, they played at the SXSW festival. They have also played at the Festival Palafoxiano, the Doomed and Stoned Festival Latin America and have been featured on media music shows and throughout Latin America, including Vice Media, Univision and Canal Once.

GRIZZLOR

Grizzlor is a noise rock power trio from Hell. 

TIN TYPE

Chervansky, Tappan & Ice Jazz Jam

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

DIET LITE

MILWAUKEE ROCK N ROLL COMPANY
We're Diet Lite. We're alright.
NEW ALBUM "INTO THE PUDDING" OUT NOW!

THE PROBLEM WITH KIDS TODAY 

The Problem With Kids Today are New Haven rock & roll delinquents. 

HELL FAIRY 

Freaks from hell. 

GLIMMER 

https://glimmerisaband.bandcamp.com/album/buried

VVEBS 

 Michael Coppola

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

After playing for 20 years, Michael Coppola, on a mission to solve the age old problem of executing jazz piano voicing on guitar, created a tuning for an 8 stringed instrument. This new type of guitar, with inner high end strings was the predecessor to the 9 string "hydra", which became Coppola’s instrument for life.

MESSER CHUPS

While Messer Chups’ mostly instrumental sound is hard to neatly categorize, it’s safe to say that it would be embraced by fans of rockabilly, horror punk, vintage surf records, Italian slasher films, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, Pulp Fiction, lounge music, the theremin, The Cramps, and the theme song from The Munsters. Their catchy music combines surf, vintage Russian melodies, rare film samples from the 50s and 60s, scratchy historical recordings, and lounge loops. Live, they explode with garage-punk intensity, all played against a video-collage backdrop of mid-century trashy cult and horror movie clips featuring Russ Meyer and Ed Wood, and superstars like Vampira and Bela Lugosi in a zombie mash-up.

FOUNTAINHEAD

“The best bar band in Connecticut, period!”
Fountainhead, formed in 1977, is the legendary Connecticut rock band who came to fame in the heyday of the 80’s club scene. They rocketed to local and regional stardom opening for and playing with
Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, The Marshall Tucker Band, and The Outlaws, to name a few, while headlining in their own right. The 1981 recording “Live” produced by Toads Place in New Haven
and recorded at RCA and Toads, still holds the record for most sales of a local band in Connecticut and charted on all the rock radio stations in the region.

Today, the band continues to bring its magic to the stage with original and long time members featuring Fountainhead classics like “Stay Away” and “I Saw You”, and their latest hit, “Fake It ‘Till You Make it”,
and covering their favorite R&R tunes.

Band members include Art Deske - lead guitar, Steve Nystrup - rhythm guitar/vocals, Maureen Wasik - vocals, Steven Woods - Drums, Stephen Bruno, - bass.

ABIGAIL LAPELL 

Toronto songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Abigail Lapell returns with Anniversary, an evocative collection of original love songs. Produced with Great Lake Swimmers’ Tony Dekker, the album was recorded at 200-year-old St Mark’s Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Dekker helped shape the sessions’ spooky, resonant sound and also lent his voice to a couple of spellbinding duets. Lapell’s deft lyrics jostle with love song tropes, grappling with love’s finitude and the irony of how codependency and longing are revered in popular music. Balancing upbeat earworms with elegiac ballads, Anniversary ultimately emerges as an earnest celebration of commitment. A stellar cast of musicians rounds out Lapell’s powerhouse vocals, piano, harmonica and fingerstyle guitar. The ensemble’s sensitive orchestral country-jazz arrangements feature bass, drums, viola, trumpet and pedal steel along with the church’s own harpsichord and organ.

Anniversary is out May 10, 2024 on Outside Music.

Peoples Club is a four piece party rock band from Lock City. 

Hell Fairy are freaks from hell.

Black Moon Cult is Ohio-based Heavy Psych/Prog Rock.

Cherry Drop is 5 Pieces of heavy psychedelic noise to make you shake and the earth around you quake.

The Human Fund is Connecticut's #1 pseudo-political three-piece neo-psychedelia indie garage punk orchestra.

Gary Grippo

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

Life is Grand: A Tribute to Camper Van Beethoven

Embark on a sonic journey as local musicians celebrate the music of Camper Van Beethoven. The legendary indie rock band known for their eclectic fusion of punk, country, psychedelic, and Eastern European music have been captivating and cultivating audiences since their formation in 1983 and arrival on the charts in 1986. Camper Van Beethoven’s 1980’s alternative radio hits include Take the Skinheads Bowling, Life is Grand, Eye of Fatima, and their cover of Status Quo's "Pictures of Matchstick Men."

To celebrate the majesty of Camper Van Beethoven, a supergroup of New Haven musicians will perform a selection of the band’s songs from the 1980’s through the 2010’s. Band members include Bill Fryer (GFlatMinor), Kedric Becker (Bad Assets, Russ Becker Quartet), Bruce Crowder (Shellye Valauskas Experience, Cryptones), Caroline Kendall, Sarah Dunn (Sarah Dunn and Band, Corpse Flower), Rebecca Scotka (Vomettes), Elaine DiMasi (Vomettes), Steve Gambini (New Cardiff Giants, Mighty Fighting Cocks), Kevin Day (gigglejuice), Dustin Kreidler (Fusilaje, Vomit Horns), and Cary Pollick (The Big Fat Combo, The Danglers). Special guests include singer-songwriter Brian Larney, Dave Schneider (Zambonis, LeeVees),Shellye Valauskas (Shellye Valauskas Experience), Jeffrey Thunders (Lost Riots, Mitch Kramer), Christopher Bousquet (American Elm), and Mark Zaretsky (Cobalt Rhythm Kings, Chicago Dawgs).

This afternoon of songs of great enduring strength and beauty will take place on Sunday, June 9th at Cafe Nine in New Haven, Connecticut. Doors at 3:00, Music at 4:00. $10 at the door or online, ages 21 and up.

Seán Dagher

Seán Dagher is widely known for his recordings with the Assassin’s Creed video game series, including Black Flag. His renditions of sea shanties and other songs from the games have been streamed some 70 million times. His own Shanty of the Week video series receives thousands of views each week, and has a loyal following the world over.

He has been nominated for numerous OPUS and ADISQ awards and participated in the ADISQ-winning CD, La Traverse Miraculeuse with La Nef and Les Charbonniers de l’enfer. He has won OPUS awards for Creation of the Year (Leave Her, Johnny), Album of the Year (Skye Consort & Emma Björling) and Youth Production of the Year (Le chat et le gondolier, La Nef).

My Druthers

Fensom & friends: Rebel Songs of Ireland & the Sea

GO KAT GO! Presents the long awaited return of your favorite undead psychos The Living Deads! Plus CT's own The Slick Tones!

THE LIVING DEADS
If The Ramones, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits and The Cramps all donated their DNA to a rock n roll science experiment, The Living Deads would be formed. The band has performed over 1800 shows in the U.S, Canada, Europe, U.K. and Japan.  Taking Do-It-Yourself to a new level...recording and distributing their own albums, filming and editing their own videos, designing and printing their t-shirts and booking their own tours, they take it all upon themselves and they are still ready for more!

THE SLICK TONES
The Slick Tones, a little psycho, a little billy, and a lot of rock and roll, from Hartford, CT!

THE BACKYARD COMITTEE

The Backyard Committee is a New Haven band that plays New Haven songs for people who live in New Haven. Our genre is sort of a psychedelic Americana, with some ‘90s-era indie influences, and a heavy dose of improvisation. The lineup is different for each show, but every member is in like 50 other bands you probably already know. Our most recent album is called Surf Hotel Ghosts and it came out in March 2020, just in time for the pandemic. It’s streaming everywhere you might think to stream it.

Our good friend Richard Killeaney (of Glitter Militia fame) will spin tunes during all the times when we’re not playing. A good time will be had by all.

Tony Di  and Friends

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

Tony Dioguardi is a Connecticut based jazz and blues guitarist who has performed with Jaimo's Jazz Band, Bernard Purdie, Jim Oblon, Guitar George Baker, Laco Deczi and Rickie Miller.

JENNY DON'T & THE SPURS 

    Since their inception in 2012, the Spurs have kept a relentless schedule of recording, playing locally, and touring. After nearly 500 live appearances in almost a dozen countries, and with a slew of albums and singles to their name, Jenny Don’t and The Spurs are just getting warmed up.

    The Spurs were founded one cold, winter’s evening by Jenny and Kelly. Jenny had been fronting her own band, DON’T, for some time, as well as playing the occasional solo acoustic set here and there. Kelly, who had been in a slew of Portland punk bands since the 80’s, and who had spent the previous several years balancing a grueling touring schedule playing drums with the garage rock trio PIERCED ARROWS and bass with Portland punk-rock destroyers P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S., and wanted to switch gears a bit. After the concept of forming a raw, real, and back-to-the-roots country band had taken hold, it wasn’t long before the couple was rehearsing a seminal set of standards by such influential early country crooners and outlaws like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb, and Hank Sr., as well as a sprinkling of originals. It was only a few weeks later that Kelly’s bandmates Fred and Toody Cole got wind of the developing musical project that was taking form in Jenny and Kelly’s kitchen and decided to call their bluff by giving them an unsolicited support slot on an upcoming show featuring the Cole’s own solo two-piece act. Not having anticipated such a high-profile live appearance as a first live outing, and feeling like the guitar-and-bass-only lineup that the band had started life as was lacking something on the rhythm end of things, they decided to ask their friend Sam Henry to join them on drums. Sam, who in addition to being Jenny’s bandmate in DON’T and sometimes solo-set-collaborator, had already had a long, well-respected career as one of Portland’s best drummers, having played with such first-generation punk bands as the Wipers, The Rats and Napalm Beach. After a couple of weeks of practice, the debut live appearance of the band went off without a hitch and the core lineup of Jenny Don’t and The Spurs was born. The trio of Jenny, Kelly, and Sam existed in this form for the first year-an-a-half or so of the band’s existence, playing whatever local venue would take them – bars, clubs, porches, basements, backyards, and even a bookstore. This worked well for a while, and occasionally the Spurs would enlist talent from a pool of several friends to sit in on lead guitar or lap steel. The addition of a second guitar rounded out the sound of the band to the point where Jenny and Co. decided to make it a permanent part of the band’s lineup. After a couple of false starts and a bit of difficulty finding a fourth member who could commit to the Spur’s sometimes grueling touring schedule, the incredible Christopher March became a member of the family in early 2017. Christopher brought with him a wealth of talent and live gig experience, having spent years playing on the Northwest Country, Rockabilly, and Honky-Tonk circuit. 

    This lineup – Jenny, Kelly, Christopher, and Sam – formed the core of the group for several great years, solidifying the band’s sound and enabling them to tour extensively until January of 2022.  It was at this point, while on their winter West coast tour in California, that Sam began experiencing abdominal pains.  His discomfort increased to the point where the band had to cancel the last date of the tour in order to get Sam to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with late-stage cancer.  This was devastating news for Sam, the band, and all of the people around the world that loved him, and when, only weeks later, Sam passed away after a brief battle with the disease, everyone was stunned. As saddened and lost as the remaining members of the band were, there was really no question as to whether the band would continue.  Sam was truly dedicated to his art until the very end, and there was no way that he would have wanted the band to dissolve.  He had dedicated his life to his music and the last ten years of his life to Jenny Don’t and The Spurs, and the surviving members of the band decided without reservation to keep Sam’s legacy alive by continuing to play.  The trio has sense welcomed Buddy Weeks to the band and now with him they have been touring non stop. Buddy brings with him a great playing style and has a lot of touring experience under his belt. A perfect fit for being on the road!  

    With a decade of live appearances under their tooled-leather Western belts, the Spurs aren’t slowing down a bit. The Spurs are a musical force to be reckoned with, and the intensity and energy of their live set is a must-see for anyone who enjoys spirited garage-infused country music played with sincerity and raw conviction.

JAMES MASTRO & THE GOLD STARS 

James Mastro & The Gold Stars feature an all-star line-up of Tony Shanahan on bass (Patti Smith); Dennis Diken/drums (Smithereens), Megan Reilly/vocals & guitar, Chris Robertson/guitar (Elk City).They will be performing songs from Mastro's new album "Dawn of. New Error," on MPress Records, along with some other surprise songs.

Chervansky, Tappan & Ice Jazz Jam

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

Deke Dickerson has devoted his long career to keeping America’s roots music alive while interjecting new creativity into genres of music that flourished in decades previous. Dickerson is 52 years old and has been carrying the torch since he was 13, playing in his first rockabilly band in his hometown of Columbia, Missouri. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 22 and proceeded to found his primary band, Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Fonics, his newest group, Deke Dickerson and the Whippersnappers, as well as several side projects.

Dickerson has provided rootsy music for a slew of television shows and movie projects, including scoring the music for a Paramount Pictures film starring Johnny Knoxville, Action Point.

Dickerson has his own signature guitar, manufactured by the Hallmark Guitar Company of Maryland.

Dickerson is currently writing the official biography of guitar legend Merle Travis. He also writes for several guitar magazines and had two books published by Voyageur Press, The Strat in the Atticand The Strat in the Attic 2. Dickerson is well known as a historian of roots music and regularly contributes liner notes to reissue projects for such labels as Capitol, RCA, Bear Family, and Sundazed.

In 2019 Dickerson won the Ameripolitan Music Award for Musician of the Year! PKM interviewed him afterward about his many contributions to the genre. 

Two of Dickerson’s songs are featured in the newest Disneyland ride, Cars Land, at Disney’s California Adventure theme park.

He is consistently booked to play festivals, club shows, and tours throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

THE CENTURIES

The Centuries are based out of Los Angeles, CA and play authentic rockabilly, rock and roll and guitar instrumentals!

They have played all around the USA and beyond! Some notable Festivals The Centuries have played include: Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, Rockin' Race , Jamboree Spain, Rockabilly Rave England, Rockabilly on The Route New Mexico, Viva East Boston, and Rockabillaque Florida!

Keep an eye out for their new single this year on SLEAZY records!

BELUSHI SPEED BALL 

Belushi Speed Ball is a crossover thrash band from Louisville, KY. Over the years the band has gathered a following through their mix of theatrical trash induced shows and fierce music. Examples include filling a skate bowl of 1000 people full of rave foam, playing from a moving van dressed in mad max attire, and singing in a human size hamster ball on top of a crowd.

In addition to their unique shows, the band has released albums on several obscure media formats including; Nintendo 64, Gameboy Advance, and a furby. Everything has been self-funded and all merch has been created by the band. Belushi Speed Ball has toured several times through the midwest and have played several festivals including The Gathering of the Juggalos, Muddy Roots, and multiple appearance’s at Full Terror Assault. Debut festival appearances in 2024 include Milwaukee Metal Fest, RPM Fest and New England Death Metal Fun Time Bonanza.

Belushi’s last release was described by Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) as, “The funniest fucking thing he has heard all year”. “What, Us Worry?” Contains a plethora of talent, including being mastered by Joel Grind (Toxic Holocaust), Artwork by Andrei Bouzikov (Municipal Waste), and featured solos by Jamison Land (Former Beefcake of Gwar), Tony Barhoum (Condition Critical), and Nick Burks (Savage Master). Jamison “Beefcake the Mighty” Land is now a permanent member of Belushi Speed Ball.

The band is currently working on the new album, which will be released on Super Nintendo and Dreamcast.

JOE BUCK YOURSELF

The once anti-Nashville based Joe Buck Yourself first gained notoriety touring the world as the guitarist of The Legendary Shack Shakers. He then reached new heights as Hank III's villainous sideman onstage, taking his live show to every corner of the globe and playing to rabid crowds every night. The snarling, beloved upright bass player became infamously recognizable and is now a stalwart, underground institution in his own right. Joe Buck Yourself is more than music, it’s a philosophy and Joe’s way of life, and his live show will demonstrate with absolute certainty that he is indeed a bona fide, evil, motherfucking one man band. Joe Buck Yourself, motherfuckers!!

THE HUMAN FUND 

The Human Fund is Connecticut's #1 pseudo-political three-piece neo-psychedelia indie garage punk orchestra.

CARLISLE WRIGHT 

The New Haven Jazz Underground is a grass roots, community based organization dedicated to promoting & supporting Jazz and all of it's forms in New Haven, CT. The NHJU is committed to preserving New Haven’s vibrant music scene and history, while also providing employment for local musicians, support for local business, and to the community through social interaction and activism.Normally in the best of times we would be gearing up for our 2nd annual jazz festival.

The 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, the New Haven Jazz Underground hosts a night of jazz performance at cafe nine, with a house band/performer followed by an open jam session. It's always free admission and don't forget to bring your instrument with you to participate in the jam session immediately following the performance. 

Madou Sidiki Diabaté is the youngest son of the late Sidiki Diabaté. "The King of the Kora." Since 1997, Madou has filled the position as lead kora for some of the best singers and musicians in West Africa, including Kandia Kouyaté, Ami Koita, Baaba Maal, Salif Keita, Sekouba “Bambino” Diabaté, and many others. He has performed at over 1000 concerts and more than 40 festivals throughout Africa, North America, Europe, and Australia. Madou has collaborated with artists such as Damon Albarn, Will Calhoun, and Brian Eno and continues to redefine the role of Kora in the traditional and modern world.

Salif Bamakora, aka Gordon Hellegers, has been playing Kora for over 20 years and has been a primary student of Madou Sidiki Diabaté for over 15 years. Salif is deeply versed in the traditional repertoire, histories, and cultural practices of Mande Djeliya and has become a skilled and experienced performer in concerts around the world. As a foundational member of the world music group SIMRIT and a periodic collaborator with Estas Tonne, Bamakora continues to explore the growing edges of contemporary kora music, from original composition to spontaneous  improvisation concerts. 

KUMBIA QUEERS 

Get ready to immerse yourself in a vibrant explosion of music, energy, and diversity like you've never experienced before! Get your dancing shoes ready and join us for a live show by Kumbia Queers, the ultimate trailblazers of the music industry. This all-female band is taking the world by storm, blending cumbia beats with their unique punk-inspired style, creating a fusion that will leave you breathless.

With their infectious energy and unstoppable charisma, Kumbia Queers deliver a one-of-a-kind performance that celebrates the power of diversity. Each member brings their own cultural background and musical influences, resulting in a dynamic display of creativity and talent. From the moment the first note hits your ears, you'll be transported to a world where boundaries disappear, and the universal language of music takes over.

Prepare yourself for an unforgettable night of non-stop dancing, as Kumbia Queers unleash their captivating stage presence, infecting everyone in the audience with their joyous spirit. This is more than just a concert; it's a celebration of inclusivity and freedom, where everyone is invited to let loose and join the party.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to witness the magic of Kumbia Queers live in action. Grab your tickets now and be prepared to experience the beauty of diversity on a whole new level!

Artistic Billing:

Kumbia Queers

Social Media Account Handles:

Ig: @kumbia_queers

X: @laskumbiaqueers

FB: kumbiaqueers

Tiktok: @kumbiaqueers

Gary Grippo

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

HILLBILLY CASINO 

In a town known for ‘hat act’ pop country, and slick production, the Hillbilly Casino has been working hard.  Since 2005, the band has been an anchor of Nashville’s underground roots music community.  Booking their own local shows, and touring across the US and Europe with acts as diverse as Brian Setzer, Rancid and Yelawolf, and releasing their own records, The Hillbilly Casino took the best of the DYI ethic from the punk scene, and applied it to their very own brand of real american music.

Drawing inspiration from early rock and roll and blues, to punk, metal and everything inbetween, these four have created a sound and attitude that is unforgettable.  Featuring former members of Brian Setzer’s Nashvillains, BR549, and the Blue Moon Boys, The Hillbilly Casino has a roots pedigree that comes through in their writing and playing, and a live show that has blown away audiences from all over the world.

SASQUATCH & THE SICK-A-BILLYS

Serious songwriting from YEARS of hardship, road experience and inner turmoil.
The way it was supposed to be, but with a new approach.

Over 10 years of relentless touring has cemented SASQUATCH as one of the most high gear, powerhouse band leaders around... his bands, The Sick-a-Billys, Holy Hellraisers, Full Moon Boys and his critically acclaimed King Sickabilly 'One Man Band' have all stayed true as far as vocals, lyrics and his fiery guitar-work. Never giving up his song-writing mission... keeping real music alive and dangerous in the under-underground. Risen from a not so forgotten past, when Live Music still meant something and the scene wasn't a Pre-Apocalyptic Ghost Town... bloody fingertips and a soul-haunting voice will deliver you songs about Sin, Love, Murder, Tornadoes and drinking until you wake up under a random barstool.

THE COURETTES 

The Courettes is an explosive rock duo from Denmark and Brazil who found the perfect blend between garage rock, 60s Girl Group, Wall of Sound, surf music and doo wop. Like The Ronettes meet The Ramones at a wild party at Gold Star Studios echo chamber. Praised by the biggest music magazines around the world, in 2020 the band signed with legendary British label Damaged Goods, putting them on the same roster as top international rock icons like Buzzcocks, Manic Street Preaches, Atari Teenage Riot, New Bomb Turks, Amyl and the Sniffers, Billy Childish, Captain Sensible and many others. Their last and third album, “Back in Mono” was released in the Fall 2021 and is a truly milestone in the career. The album brings the band in top form, showing great songwriting skills and with broader nuances, influences and sound qualities to their garage rock recipe. Their last singles, “Want You! Like a Cigarette”, “Hop The Twig” and “R.I.N.G.O.” all got airplay at BBC 6 Radio in England and radio stations in Europe and the USA. “Back in Mono” got top reviews in the main music magazines like Mojo, Classic Rock and Shindig and was featured in countless Best Albums of 2021 lists:

Tony Di  and Friends

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

Tony Dioguardi is a Connecticut based jazz and blues guitarist who has performed with Jaimo's Jazz Band, Bernard Purdie, Jim Oblon, Guitar George Baker, Laco Deczi and Rickie Miller.

THE EMPTY POCKETS 

Light flickers in even the darkest of spaces and smallest cracks. Similarly, The Empty Pockets ignite a bright flame of their own by harnessing a joyful friction between Americana, folk, and rock ‘n’ roll spiked with roots soul. The Chicago quartet—Josh Solomon [guitar, vocals], Erika Brett [keyboards, vocals], Nate Bellon [bass, vocals], and Adam Balasco [drums]—lean on an unspoken, yet airtight musical dialogue honed by countless miles on the road, performances alongside the likes of Kenny Loggins, a procession of fan favorite releases (including two #1 debuts), and a wealth of memories together.

Chervansky, Tappan & Ice Jazz Jam

Come enjoy an afternoon of live jazz with the areas finest players. Sit in with the band and show off your chops or just sit and enjoy a cold drink while the music creates the vibe.

HAUNTING TITANS 

Many bands tote the notion of being made up of distinct ingredients, but with Haunting Titans, it truly is the case that each member brings something different to the band. Of course, by contrast, where the members overlap in their tastes is just as interesting, and of equal potency. Rather than being ineffective, existing between genres has served to help the band in reaching a broader audience. Their increased range means the listener can experience various emotions, moods, and thoughts through their music.

This allows fans to connect to the band on a deeper level. The band was formed in 2017 and has endured various obstacles and line-up changes in its time. However, even in the face of adversity, the unwavering spirit and resolve of the band have remained intact. The four piece we know and love as the Haunting Titans today represent the hard work the band has done in its past, the incredible work they are doing now, and the limitless potential of the future that awaits them.

During the Spring of 2023, Haunting Titans released two singles, "Opium" and "Care For You". These tracks showcase the band's ability to combine and bend genres to create their unique sound.

In the Fall of the same year, they dropped their latest single "Hey Girl", which further demonstrates their boundary-pushing, theatrics, and social commentary within an expression of psychedelic rock. Fans can look forward to more new music in 2024.

THE SUITCASE JUNKET 

Matt Lorenz's vision, manifest in The Suitcase Junket, developed in the tension between the grand and the solitary. Grand in its imagery, sound, and staging. Solitary in its thrift and self-reliance. What instruments he requires, Lorenz builds from scratch and salvage. What parts five players would perform, he performs alone. The spectacle of his one-man set bears constant comparison to legends of showmanship, brilliance, madness, and invention. 

While audiences are captivated by his solitary form and the show itself, Lorenz, who homesteads in rural Western Massachusetts, is most serious about the songs. He has been building a catalog, writing a world into existence. Solitary on stage and on the road, his mind is crowded with characters, narratives, voices, imagery, sounds as wide and varied as mountain throat singers and roadhouse juke boxes, plus newsreels of the planet's destruction and salvage. With this 2020 release, The End is New, Lorenz’s grand vision for the song overrides the how of it.