Get a taste of the blues this week in CT arts featuring legendary beats and new treats
A tribute to the late guitar legend George Baker at Cafe Nine reminds attendees of Baker's prowess in the R&B, jazz and blues genres, and the Connecticut Blues Challenge, which sends the victorious act to a national competition in Tennessee, is in its final round.
Van Gogh and Monet, both known for their vibrant blues, are the subjects of a multimedia 'Beyond' art exhibit at Connecticut Convention Center and the String Queens feature a violin/viola/cello combo who delves into numerous styles, from classical to spirituals to 'Stand by Me.'
Here are some of the top things to see this week.
The late George Baker settled in New Haven in the 1990s after an astounding career as the music director for Marvin Gaye, a member of the house band at New York's Apollo Theatre and as the guitarist for dozens of pop, Motown, blues and R&B acts, from the Dixie Cups to The Drifters to Melba Moore to Earl Davis and the Upsetters. Former members of his band, the George Baker Experience, and many other friends and fellow musicians will be part of a tribute to Baker marking five years since his death. The celebration is March 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cafe Nine. Hosts include Baker's longtime friend Jo Ann Haller, Cafe Nine founder Mike Reichbart and the event's music director Lou Ianello. cafenine.com.
The 2025 Connecticut Blues Challenge is holding its four-hour finals on May 18 at Black-Eyed Sally's starting at 3 p.m. The winner gets to go to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. No cover charge. blackeyedsallys.com.
Billy Sherwood, the multi-instrumentalist who succeeded Chris Squire as the bassist for Yes (a gig he's had for over a decade), also has nearly a dozen solo albums to his name and has worked with many other bands from World Trade and Lodgic to Prog Collective and Light Freedom Revival. Sherwood, who is the son of 1960s actor/singer/heartthrob Bobby Sherman, is at Toad's Place on May 20 at 8 p.m. $40, $35 in advance. toadsplace.com.
Two long-serving pop/punk bands are on tour together, each playing one of their best-known albums (which also happen to be their respective second albums) in their entirety. For The Smoking Popes, it's their 1995 classic 'Born to Quit,' which featured the song 'Need You Around.' For the Minnesota punk legends Off With Their Heads, it's the album 'In Desolation,' released after the band signed with Epitaph Records in 2010. May 21 at 8 p.m. $32.34; $28.75 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
The New York-based New Orleans-rooted comedian Sean Patton, who's been on all the late night shows, is at Fairfield Theatre Company on May 22 at 8 p.m. $40, $35 FTC members. fairfieldtheatre.org.
Little Theater of Manchester's regular script-in-hand reading series offers three one-acts: David Ives' 'Time Flies,' Murphy Guyer's 'The American Century' and Rich Or's 'The Whole Shebang,' directed by Bobby Schultz. May 23 at 7 p.m. Free; $5 suggested donation. cheneyhall.org.
Mayday Parade is on its 'Three Cheers for 20 Years' tour, marking two decades as a band. Not only that, the Florida rockers just released the first part of what will be a trilogy of new albums this year. Mayday Parade is joined on tour by Microwave, Grayscale and Like Roses. May 23 at 7 p.m. $50.35-$136.33. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Septuagenarian horror rocker Alice Cooper, who is releasing a new album featuring the surviving members of the original Alice Cooper group in July, is doing one of his standard hits-filled shows with his usual backing band on May 23 at 8 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena. $61.85-$253.70. mohegansun.com.
Three hot soul/R&B acts of the 1990s — 112 ('Only You'), Total ('Kissing You') and H-Town ('Knockin' Da Boots') — are on a nostalgic tour, groovin' at Foxwoods' Premier Theater on May 23 at 8 p.m. $78.55-$154.55. foxwoods.com.
Cuban actor/comedian Faizon Love, who has appeared in everything from 'Elf' and the first 'Friday' film to 'The War with Grandpa' and the series 'Step Up: High Water,' does four sets at the Funny Bone in Manchester on May 23 at 7 and 9:45 p.m. and May 24 at 6:30 and 9:15 p.m. $32. hartford.funnybone.com.
The new exhibit opening on Memorial Day weekend at Mystic Seaport Museum is designed to show the massive scale and scope of the whaling industry in the United States at its peak in the 19th century. The exhibit includes a 51-foot whale-themed mural, harpoons and other tools used in whaling, items made from whale parts and much more. Opening on May 24 in the Collins Gallery at the seaport's Thompson Exhibition Building, the exhibit is viewable daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Museum admission is $32, $30 seniors and $22 youth. mysticseaport.org.
The India Arts Foundation presents an adaptation by Rasa Dance Project of a classic romantic Indian play from the 5th century. May 24 at 6 p.m. $10-$20; $10 seniors and children. bushnell.org.
A violin/viola/cello trio that plays everything from classical chamber pieces to old-school jazz and present-day pop, The String Queens are at The Kate on May 24 at 7 p.m. $42. downtownlivect.com.
The Louisiana-rooted Latin pop duo Ha*Ash titled its sixth album 'Haashtag.' Now its seventh is out and it's 'Haashville,' with a country theme. Sisters Hannah and Ashley are at the Oakdale Theatre on May 24 at 8 p.m. $30-$86.50. concerts.livenation.com.
The celebrated cellist Yo Yo joins Orchestra Lumos. The program includes Jean-Féry Rebel's Les élémens, Antonín Dvořák's 'Silent Woods' for cello, Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 5 and Josef Haydn's Cello concerto No. 1. May 24 at 7 p.m., May 25 at 3 p.m. $25-$125. palacestamford.org.
The multimedia 'Beyond Van Gogh' exhibit is back at Connecticut Convention Center (where it was first seen in 2022), and this time it's been joined by 'Beyond Monet.' These great artists' works are rendered not just in digital clarity but become the basis of fancy projection/lighting effects installations. May 24 through June 29. $29. ctconventions.com.
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