Roomful Of Blues plays an inspired, lively and heated brand of rippling, up-tempo, horn-dominated R&B.”—Rolling Stone
CENTENARY STAGE COMPANY BLUESFEST
WHEN: March 8—10
WHERE: Lackland Center, 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown (on Centenary College campus)
TICKETS: $25 in advance and $30 the day of performance. The March 10 performance will be $30 in advance and $35 the day of performance. Both performances will have a student discount of $15, with student ID. A special “Blues Pass” is also available, offering both days of performances for $50.
Tickets are available through the Centenary Stage Company box office open 1-5 PM. Monday through Friday and two hours prior to each performance. They may also be purchased online at www.centenarystageco.org or by calling the box office at 908.979.0900.
With nationally-renown musicians such as Roomful of Blues and Blood Sweat and Tears vocalist and harmonica virtuoso Rob Paparozzi, the festival offers top-notch entertainment throughout the weekend. Joining Roomful of Blues and Paparozzi for the festival will be The Hudson River Rats, Quimby Mountain Band, the VooDudes, Rhett Tyler, and Johnny Charles and Nasty Ned.
HUDSON RIVER RATS
WHEN: Friday, March 9, 7 PM
WHERE: Lackland Center
Kicking off the Lackland activities will be Grammy-nominated harmonica player and vocalist Rob Paparozzi (left). Known for his work as the lead singer for Blood Sweat and Tears, Paparozzi now brings his own band, The Hudson River Rats, to Hackettstown. A native of New Jersey, Paparozzi has also performed and with legendary musicians such as B.B. King, Whitney Houston, and Bruce Springsteen and toured with the Original Blues Brothers band. Paparozzi’s Hudson River Rats features blues musicians Ed Alstrom, John Korba, Chris Eminizer, Bernard Purdie, George Naha, and Bailey Gee. Also making an appearance at Friday night’s performance will be the veteran Blues Festival band, The VooDudes, accompanied by Hackettstown’s local Quimby Mountain Band. (Photo above by Jay Rosenblatt)
ROOMFUL OF BLUES
WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 6:30 PM
WHERE: Lackland Center
Roomful of Blues, the eight-piece award-winning lineup of musicians who have been recording albums and touring worldwide since 1967. Described by Billboard as “a tour de force of horn-fried blues… so tight and so right, ” the Roomful of Blues has earned a total of five Grammy nominations, seven Blues Music Awards, and most recently was awarded a Boston Music Award for Best Blues Act in 2011. The Roomful of Blues will feature Phil Pemberton on vocals, Chris Vachon on guitar, John Turner on upright and electric bass, Travis Colby on piano, Ephraim Lowell on drums, Rich Lataille on alto and tenor saxophone, Mark Earley on baritone and tenor saxophone, and Doug Woolverton on trumpet. Also performing on Saturday night will be Rhett Tyler, who has been described as “The certain face of future blues” by John Swenson of Rolling Stone. Following Rhett Tyler will be performances by harmonica player, vocalist, and veteran show host of American Roots Live, Nasty Ned, who will be accompanied by guitarist Johnny Charles.
- The BluesFest will move downtown during the weekend with a “Down-town Kickoff” on Thursday, March 8, from 5 – 7 PM at the Gazebo on Main Street with music by Amplified Heat, presented by Mr. Music.
- A performance on Friday, March 9, by Rockin’ Blue will take place from 4- 6:30 PM at Marley’s Gotham Grill on Main Street in Hackettstown.
- Marley’s will also host a performance by Great Fraud on Saturday, March 10, from 4-6 PM and a “post-show party” on Saturday, from 10:30 – 12 midnight, featuring Brooke Shive and the 45s at Marleys.
Blues Festival is a co-production of Centenary Stage Company and Joe Hirsch Productions, and is sponsored in part by PNC Bank. The 2012-13 season of performing arts at Centenary Stage Company is made possible (and affordable) through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ Council of the Arts, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, and Centenary Stage Company members and sponsors, including Premier Sponsors Fulton (formerly Skylands) Community Bank and Heath Village Retirement Community, as well as Hackettstown Regional Medical Center and Mama’s Café and Baci