Friday, March 31, 2023 7:00 PM
The Way Down Wanderers sing like angels but write songs with guts that are unmistakably earthbound: a soon-to-be dad, excited but scared, fighting for self-growth; someone recovering from alcohol dependency, devoted to healing but with a confession to make––there are no fairytales here. The band’s gorgeous harmonies and string-band virtuosity still anchor the new album, but the sonic borders the Way Down Wanderers once flirted with crossing have been beautifully breached. Their lyricism has also evolved, giving way to true stories that cut deep. To form the Way Down Wanderers, Collin and Austin welcomed jazz percussionist John Merikoski, classical upright bassist John Williams, and banjo player Travis Kowalsky. The quintet’s years on the road have built a devoted grassroots following, which the band cherishes. Collin points to the connection with audiences as a key cultivator of their latest songwriting.
Karen Morgan, Comedian
GEM OF A SEASON EVENT
Friday, April 21, 2023 7:00 PM
Karen Morgan was born and raised in Athens, Georgia but now calls Maine home. A former trial attorney, she began her professional comedy career as a Finalist on Nickelodeon Television’s “Search for the Funniest Mom in America.”
Karen’s comedy specials can be seen on Dry Bar Comedy, and her latest album, “Cocktails in Pajamas,” is now available on streaming platforms. Her TV appearances include comedy shows and ads for companies like Wal-Mart and Zyrtec. Karen’s clean shows in Performing Arts Centers around the country have made her a favorite among theater audiences.
Dave Sharp World’s Quartet
GEM OF A SEASON EVENT
Sunday, May 7, 2023 2:00 PM
Recognized in the Jazz Times 2010 Critic’s Poll, the DAVE SHARP WORLDS QUARTET masterfully blends rhythms, sounds, and textures from across the globe with world music inspired original compositions. Featuring oud, violin, electric bass, synthesizer and world percussion, the WORLDS QUARTET is fueled by the spirit of jazz, world music and dynamic exploratory improvisation. Bassist, composer and bandleader Dave Sharp leads the WORLDS QUARTET to explore music traditions from Turkey, Egypt, Ukraine, India, Bulgaria and Greece.
War Bonds – The Songs and Letters of World War II
GEM OF A SEASON EVENT
Saturday, May 27, 2023 7:00 PM
WAR BONDS: The Songs and Letters of World War II ” is a musical journey through a war that redefined the world. This multi-media living history cabaret is interspersed with personal letters from the Front and headline news of the period. The production is a warm reminiscence and a harrowing reminder of a time that is not unlike the present. The cabaret is created and performed by Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen of EbzB Productions.
Michigan I-O
GEM OF A SEASON EVENT
Friday, June 23, 2023 7:00 PM
In the 19th century, while the lumber and mining trades prospered in Michigan, so did the folk tradition. That’s owed mainly to the workers themselves, who, after a hard winter spent felling trees, or a dangerous voyage in a freighter filled with far too much iron ore, turned that pain and adventure into music. These very songs — and many songs like them — were sung throughout the Great Lakes region for decades, yet, in spite of their popularity, were rarely written down. They might have been lost for good, but for the work of a young song collector by the name of Alan Lomax. In 1938 the Library of Congress sent Lomax through Michigan and Wisconsin for the sole purpose of documenting the folk tradition there. The trip yielded impressive results: after three months of travel, interviews, and recording sessions, Lomax returned home with hundreds of vinyl field recordings, photographs, and even a few black-and-white video clips. All together, they compose the largest single collection of the folk music and storytelling tradition from Michigan’s early statehood. The Library of Congress recently published a large portion of this collection at loc.gov, so you can go see for yourself what all the fuss is about.
The Blooze Brothers
GEM OF A SEASON EVENT
Friday, July 21, 2023 7:00 PM
For over a quarter of a century (yes, really), the Blooze Brothers Band has been one of Chicagoland’s most in-demand show bands. They not only honor the music made by the original Blues Brothers in movies, & TV, but also embrace Soul, R & B, Motown, and John Belushi’s love of classic rock. Like Aykroyd and Belushi, we fuse those great musical traditions into a stage show that energizes and delights music fans.
With a combination of two high-energy front-men, a dynamic female lead singer, some of Chicago’s top musicians, and our 1974 Dodge Monaco Bloozemobile replica, the Blooze Brothers provide a musical experience that can’t be beat!
Mustard’s Retreat
GEM OF A SEASON EVENT
Saturday, August 19, 2023 7:00 PM
Mustard’s Retreat has always sung the songs they enjoyed and cared about, regardless of the trends of the music industry and pop culture. They are committed to simply being themselves, not chasing fame or brass rings, while delighting in and connecting with their audiences as if they were family. The honesty of what they present onstage and the extensive body of outstanding original songs and recordings all contribute to a fiercely loyal audience that continues to grow. “Music to cure what ails you” was how one reviewer in the 1970s described them, and that is as true now as it was then.
Fourever Fab
GEM OF A SEASON EVENT
Friday, September 8, 2023 7:00 PM
Fourever Fab and its founding members have been performing the hits of the world’s most-loved lads, The Beatles, for over twenty years. From the Asia-Pacific to the east coast of the US, audiences have fallen in love all over with the magic that is recreated by this band.