Choice Concerts
Ladysmith Black Mambazo burst into the American consciousness in 1986, when the band played a huge part in Paul Simon's Grammy-winning "Graceland," one of the first albums to blend world music with rock traditions in a successfully commercial way. But the group has been around for more than four decades,
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Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus, and Joe Don Rooney are a hard-working' bunch. The trio - better known as Rascal Flatts - has played the Rochester area four times in the last two years. That's a lot of touring. And the guys somehow manage to keep pumping out best-selling albums, including
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With more than 20 years of experience, impeccable musicianship, and uplifting, heady music, Donna the Buffalo has become one of the premier Americana and roots-rock outfits on the eastern seaboard, if not the whole country. Led by the songwriting duo of vocalist-guitarist-fiddler-accordionist Tara Nevins and vocalist-guitarist Jeb Puryear, DTB produces
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On Friday, the RIT Gospel Ensemble will celebrate its 30th anniversary with one of the biggest names in contemporary Christian music - Smokie Norful, an Arkansas native whose passionate, heartfelt songs and vocal delivery have made him a nationwide success, and earned him a Grammy award in 2004 (not to
Choice Concerts
Seeing one guitar virtuoso playing live is thrilling. Seeing two of them together? Potentially mind blowing. Rory Block is perhaps the foremost contemporary purveyor of traditional acoustic Delta blues, channeling the spirits - and talents - of Son House, Robert Johnson, and Mississippi Fred McDowell. Cindy Cashdollar is a master
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Both instrumental genius and droll satirist, Canada's Wendell Ferguson uses guitar virtuosity and razor-sharp wit to amaze and entertain at his inimitable, interactive concerts. His latest CD, "Ménage A Moi," released on Wen Hel Freezes Records, reflects his deft songwriting ability and dazzling guitar chops. This weekend he ventures down
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A third-generation member of the first family of country, Carlene Carter belongs to musical royalty. As the granddaughter of Maybelle Carter, daughter of June Carter and Carl Smith, and step-daughter of Johnny Cash, Carlene has, for more than 30 years, forged the same type of trailblazing music as her forebears.
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Born and bred in the bayous south of New Orleans, Sammy Naquin began playing music as a youngster, and by age 16 he was gigging on Bourbon Street in The Big Easy. Mentored by the King of Zydeco, Clifton Chenier, and influenced by luminaries like Rockin' Dopsie Sr., Boozoo Chavis,
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The name that keeps coming up in numerous reviews of rising roots-music star Eilen Jewell is Gillian Welch, the Americana singer-songwriter who has become both a model and an inspiration for countless hopefuls like Jewell. But Jewell, born in Boise, Idaho, and based in Boston, is well on her way
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The Canal Street String Band, a newly formed roots trio from Buffalo, explores the origin of American folk music, playing everything from traditional Western swing to rags to sea chanteys. Leading the way is fiddler Phil Banaszak, a former state fiddle champion and member of the North American Fiddlers Hall
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The Vassar Brothers describe themselves as "polyethnic funkgrass," a jam-based, groove-centric concoction of bluegrass, funk, soul, and country stylings that practically dares listeners not to dance. The Rochester-based outfit is as yet unsigned to any label, but word is spreading about its ability to get people out of their seats
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On String Theory's MySpace page, the group's list of influences mentions many of the familiar bluegrass standards - Ralph Stanley, Doc Watson, Union Station, etc. But it also includes Talking Heads and Public Enemy. It's hard to imagine Bill Monroe doing a duet with Chuck D., but String Theory manages
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On "Play Time," his latest solo effort, country rocker Brady Seals believes he has finally produced the album and the sound he's always aimed for. After contributing to the chart success of Little Texas and Hot Apple Pie, Seals has honed his songwriting skills and continues to go against the
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When Mike Zito was a kid growing up in St. Louis, he worked in a music store where one of the regular patrons was none other than Chuck Berry, himself a native of the Gateway to the West. Not a bad start for an aspiring guitar player and soulful blues
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If a friend said you were going to see a critically acclaimed, folk-rocking singer-songwriter from Austin who reminds people of Lucinda Williams and Patty Griffin, then got to Lovin' Cup and saw BettySoo on stage, you might think your friend was playing a practical joke. Because as a Korean-American who
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The truth is that the real Genesis ended in 1975, when singer Peter Gabriel departed the band, leaving lead vocal duties in the hands of some drummer. Gabriel went on to a successful and fruitful solo career, one that makes "Invisible Touch" (shudder) sound like campfire music. In the absence
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For those of us cursed with a painful lack of natural funk, we need a little help finding the groove. But thankfully, Old School Funk Fest will provide all the assistance we need. The show is headlined by the Ohio Players, led by lead singer Leroy "Sugarfoot" Donner, who hit
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Sure, you had DeFord Bailey and Charley Pride, and maybe Cowboy Troy. Oh, and don't forget Ray Charles' landmark crossover recordings. But let's face it: black country-music stars are about as scarce these days as a Buffalo Bills win. But those artists proved it can be done, and Darius Rucker
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As Tanglefoot alumni, guitar fingerpicker Terry Young and fiddler Sandra Swannell cut their teeth with that revered Canadian roots-music band. With their own duo, My Sweet Patootie, Young and Swannell have explored the boundaries of swing, producing a melding of big band rhythms and country blues stylings into what they
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In many ways zydeco music is all about tradition. The skills and nuances and culture of zydeco are passed down through the generations orally and intimately, and it's not uncommon for whole families to play the music. Such is the case with Jimmy "Lil Pookie" Seraile, whose grandfather and uncle
