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October 10, 2024

Cambridge Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Cambridge

5 News Notes

Comptroller Brooke Lierman at the Avalon Theatre Sunday

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Brooke Lierman

Free and open to the public, the annual meeting of the Talbot County Democratic Forum will be held on Sunday, April 2 at the Avalon Theatre in Easton. The social hour begins at 4 p.m with a smorgasbord of food and beverages, and all are welcome to partake in this opportunity to meet Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman. Following a brief business meeting, the guest of honor will speak at 5:30 p.m.

As a mother of two, practicing disability and civil rights attorney for several years, two-term state delegate for eight years, and now the first woman independently elected to state office in Maryland, Brooke Lierman is dedicated to creating a state that is resilient and prosperous.

As a member of the House of Delegates, she passed landmark legislation including bills to invest in public transportation and public schools, close loopholes in affordable housing laws, and create an office for statewide broadband.

Partnering with the Maryland General Assembly is now a key element in such efforts. Recognizing also the importance of partnering with local governments, investing in our communities and supporting small businesses, she is an advocate for the people dedicated to building communities that are more equitable, resilient and prosperous, so that all Marylanders can reach their full potential.

The Maryland General Assembly session for 2023 will adjourn on April 10. Scores of bills remain in the balance, and Comptroller Brooke Lierman appreciates this opportunity to communicate accomplishments and hear the concerns of Talbot County citizens.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Upcoming Events at the Avalon Theatre

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Guy Davis. Thursday, March 16, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“Truth be told, there just aren’t many who can deliver Americana in as interesting and entertaining a manner – or give acoustic traditional blues such a contemporary sound – as Davis…” The Blues PowR Blog

American roots artist Guy Davis once said, “I like antiques and old things, old places, that still have the dust of those who’ve gone before us lying upon them.”

Blowing just enough dust off roots music to see its beauty is something Guy has excelled at for over twenty years of songwriting and performing. His reverence for the music of the blues masters who’ve gone before him has been evident in every album he’s ever recorded or concert he’s given. Guy’s musical storytelling is influenced by artists like Blind Willie McTell and Big Bill Broonzy, and his musicality by artists as diverse as Lightnin’ Hopkins and Babatunde Olatunji. https://guydavis.com/wp/

Seamus Kennedy Friday, March 17, 2023 Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Awarded “Best Irish/Celtic Male Vocalist” every year since 1993 by The Washington Area Music Association! In his thirty years of professional performing, Seamus Kennedy has taken his music from Alaska to Florida, Maryland to California, and a host of stops in between, playing everything from the pubs to the concert halls. As a result, he’s a master showman of exceptional musical skills and unmatched repartee. As a headliner at Celtic festivals such as Hunter Mountain (NY); Celtic Classic (PA); Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Festival, (CO) and at Sacramento (CA) Highland Games, Seamus’ trademark is his ongoing interaction with his audiences. From the moment he steps on stage, he starts talking to them — and encourages them to talk back! He is quick with a quip and likes nothing better than to discover someone in the audience who is similarly inclined! https://seamuskennedy.com/

The Met: Live in HD 12 pm Lohengrin (Wagner). March 18, 2023, 12pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Md.

Wagner’s soaring masterpiece makes its triumphant return to the Met stage after 17 years. In a sequel to his revelatory production of Parsifal, director François Girard unveils an atmospheric staging that once again weds his striking visual style and keen dramatic insight to Wagner’s breathtaking music, with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium to conduct a supreme cast led by tenor Piotr Beczała in the title role of the mysterious swan knight. Soprano Tamara Wilson is the virtuous duchess Elsa, falsely accused of murder, going head-to-head with soprano Christine Goerke as the cunning sorceress Ortrud, who seeks to lay her low. Bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin is Ortrud’s power-hungry husband, Telramund, and bass Günther Groissböck is King Heinrich.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

Medium Debbie Wojciechowski. Saturday, March 18, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

During her interactions with audience members, Debbie draws on her extensive background and experience to deliver sensitive messages in a respectful manner from loved ones who have passed on to the “other side.”

Ever since her metaphysical journey began before she was 21 with two near-death experiences and the loss of her parents, Debbie has sought to learn more about her special gift…and to share it with others. Along with her formal certification as a Medium from the Lisa Williams International School of Spiritual Development, she has had a successful career in mental health and grief counseling with federal law enforcement.

Debbie feels both humbled and privileged to channel special messages from beyond to her audience.  https://www.mediumdebbie.com/

Fairytales On Ice Sunday, March 19, 2023 Doors: 1:30 p.m.; Show: 2 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Join Belle, the Beast, and some new friends as they take us on the original tale – Live On Ice! The characters skate through adventures, magic, and celebration – but beware of the Enchantress who wants to have the beast remain a monster for the rest of his days. Can Belle, her friends, and our royal audience help save the day? https://www.facebook.com/fairytalesonice/

Goldpine. Thursday, March 23, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“I love these guys…their never-ending onslaught of bold harmony is undeniable.”  Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes)

Exposing the pains of severed relationships and unearthing the pursuits of love and purpose, Goldpine is cathartic, moody, raucous, and relevant…all intertwined into one.

Veterans of making soul-stirring music, Ben and Kassie have been offering their own brand of raw Americana for years to audiences large and small. Recent winners of the 2022 Rocky Mountain Songwriter Contest at the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival, and finalists in the Kerrville Folk Fest 2021 New Folk Competition, the duo’s bold harmonies are clearly a channel for their highly charged songwriting.

They put their hearts and souls into their music, as evidenced by their self-produced debut LP, “One”, a snapshot of the current season of their lives — symbolizing a new beginning and an homage to their past— leading them to where they are now.

Sonny Landreth & Cindy Cashdollar. Friday, March 24, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Meet Sonny Landreth and Cindy Cashdollar, the Louisiana slide guitar wizards whose trademark bottle neck chops and dobro and steel string talents culminate in world renowned showcases of guitar virtuosity.

Revered for his unique slide guitar technique, Sonny Landreth has collaborated with many legendary performers, including John Hiatt, Jimmy Buffett, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton.

Five-time Grammy winner Cindy Cashdollar’s expertise is in great demand on both steel guitar and dobro. She’s worked with many leading artists in various genres including Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, and Ryan Adams.

Performing a mix of original songs with contemporary and traditional blues and roots music, their shows are electric, virtuosic, and tastefully delivered by two great instrumental masters.

The Steel Wheels. Friday, March 31, 2023. Doors 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Having staked their claim as independent upstarts in the burgeoning Americana scene, The Steel Wheels have long been at home in the creative space between tradition and innovation, informed by the familiar sounds of the Virginia mountains where the band was formed, but always moving forward with insightful lyrics and an evolving sound.

Whether at a joyous summer festival, in their many shows across the country and beyond, or in the studio, The Steel Wheels continue their mission set out over a decade ago: shaking up traditions to see what sticks, telling stories, and joining communities through song.

Having gained the experience of thousands of shows, festivals and many miles on the road, this stubbornly independent band has formed deep bonds with each other and the audience that sustains them. https://www.thesteelwheels.com/

The Met: Live in HD, 12:30 pm Falstaff (Verdi). Saturday April 1, 2023, 12:30pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover St, Easton, Md.

Baritone Michael Volle stars as the caddish knight Falstaff, gleefully tormented by a trio of clever women who deliver his comeuppance, in Verdi’s glorious Shakespearean comedy. Maestro Daniele Rustioni takes the podium on April 1 to oversee a brilliant ensemble cast that features sopranos Hera Hyesang Park, Ailyn Pérez, and Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano Marie-Nicole Lemieux, tenor Bogdan Volkov, and baritone Christopher Maltman.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

Mile Twelve. Saturday, April 1, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“Mile Twelve’s strength lies in its ability to apply bluegrass’ natural affect to modern concerns.” WBUR, Boston’s NPR Station

Boston’s modern string band, Mile Twelve, is back in motion. From the first manic downbeat of their virtuosic new record, “Close Enough to Hear”, you’ll discover a band that is ready to explode from a restless pandemic-induced hiatus.

You’ll hear the same warmth and innovation that earned the band IBMA’s 2019 Album of the Year nomination and 2020 New Artist of the Year Award, and that’s gained them an international reputation as one of the most dynamic bands in contemporary acoustic music.

Heard as a whole, “Close Enough to Hear” and their live shows display the vast creative potential of the bluegrass quintet — banjo (BB Bowness), mandolin (Korey Brodsky), fiddle (Ella Jordan), acoustic guitar (Evan Murphy) and upright bass (Nate Sabat) — in the hands of world-class musicians.  https://www.miletwelveband.com/

Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors. Friday, April 7, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Chris Barron, the singer and founding member of Spin Doctors, is known these days for solo shows that have all the lyric poetry and singing virtuosity that Spin Doctors fans appreciate, along with a range of expression and songwriting that will delight and surprise.

Chris plays nifty chords on an old Gibson to masterfully crafted songs that are poignant yet wistful and funny, all the while singing in a manner that’s sweet and somewhat different from what you would expect if you only knew his hits, “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes”.

Live, his stage patter is almost as entertaining as his singing. A powerful storyteller, at once hilarious and thought provoking, Chris sets up his songs with anecdotes from a life on the road, from opening for and encountering legends like the Rolling Stones to Polar expeditions.  https://thechrisbarron.com/home

Shemekia Copeland. Saturday, April 8, 2023. Doors: 7 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“Shemekia Copeland has established herself as one of the leading blues artists of our time.” NPR Music

Award-winning blues, soul and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. She is beloved worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory music, as well as for delivering each song she performs with unmatched passion.

Winner of the 2021 Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year, Copeland connects with her audience on an intensely personal level, taking them with her on what The Wall Street Journal calls “a consequential ride” of “bold and timely blues.” NPR Music says Shemekia sings with “punchy defiance and potent conviction.” The Houston Chronicle describes her songs as “resilient pleas for a kinder tomorrow.” https://shemekiacopeland.com/

The Met: Live in HD, Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss). Saturday April 15, 2023, 12pm. Avalon Theatre, Easton Md.

A dream cast assembles for Strauss’s grand Viennese comedy. Soprano Lise Davidsen is the aging Marschallin, opposite mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as her lover Octavian and soprano Erin Morley as Sophie, the beautiful younger woman who steals his heart. Bass Günther Groissböck returns as the churlish Baron Ochs, and Markus Brück is Sophie’s wealthy father, Faninal. Maestro Simone Young takes the Met podium to oversee Robert Carsen’s fin-de-siècle staging.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

Karla Bonoff. Friday, April 21, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Born and raised in Southern California, Karla Bonoff was a songwriter by the age of fifteen. Establishing herself in the early ‘80s as one of LA’s major artists and songwriters, Karla’s legacy as a writer and performer is captured in Billboard’s review of her song “All My Life” (made popular by Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt’s Grammy-winning cover): “Long before Alanis and Jewel, there was a breed of singer/songwriters whose earthly anthems of soul-searching, heartache and joy touched souls in a way few can muster today.”

Karla’s many accomplishments include: opening for James Taylor and Jackson Browne, working with musicians such as Russ Kunkel, Joe Walsh, Waddy Wachtel, Danny Kortchmar, Don Henley, and Peter Frampton, and singing “Somebody’s Eyes” in the hit Kevin Bacon movie “Footloose”. https://www.karlabonoff.com/

Adam Ezra Group. Thursday, April 27, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Working outside the confines of the traditional music industry, Adam Ezra and his bandmates – Corinna Smith (fiddle), Alex Martin (drums), Poche Ponce (bass) – built a community of fans through sheer grit and determination.

Fusing folk intimacy and rock energy with soul power and pop charm, the band first emerged from Boston in the early 2000s and quickly garnered widespread acclaim for their bold, insightful songwriting and interactive, euphoric performances.

From hole-in-the-wall bars and house concerts to sold-out headline shows and dates with the likes of Little Big Town, The Wallflowers, Gavin DeGraw, Train, and The Wailers, Ezra and his bandmates treated every single gig like their last, attracting a die-hard following that believed not just in the music, but in their commitment to activism and social change, as well.  https://www.adamezra.com/

Glenn Miller Orchestra. Friday, April 28, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“A band ought to have a sound all of its own. It ought to have a personality.”  – Glenn Miller

Formed in 1938, the Glenn Miller Orchestra — which would later include the likes of Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, Ray Eberle, Paul Tanner, Johnny Best, Hal McIntyre, and Al Klinck — soon began breaking attendance records all up and down the East Coast.

They would also go on to create record-breaking recordings that defined a world-changing era, such as “Tuxedo Junction”, “In the Mood”, “Moonlight Serenade,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000”, and “Chattanooga Choo-Choo”, among so many other classics.

Don’t miss this opportunity to capture the enduring magic of Glenn Miller Orchestra’s unique sound on the Avalon stage!

The Met: Live in HD, Champion (Blanchard). Saturday, April 29, 2023 12:55pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Md

Six-time Grammy Award–winning composer Terence Blanchard brings his first opera to the Met after his Fire Shut Up in My Bones triumphantly premiered with the company to universal acclaim in 2021–22. Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green is the young boxer Emile Griffith, who rises from obscurity to become a world champion, and bass-baritone Eric Owens portrays Griffith’s older self, haunted by the ghosts of his past. Soprano Latonia Moore is Emelda Griffith, the boxer’s estranged mother, and mezzo- soprano Stephanie Blythe is the bar owner Kathy Hagan. Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for Blanchard’s second Met premiere, also reuniting the director-and-choreographer team of James Robinson and Camille A. Brown.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Upcoming Events at the Avalon Theatre

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Ivy League of Comedy- Skirmishes of the Sexes. Friday, February 10, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Celebrate Valentine’s Day (or don’t!) with tales of love and not-love, bad dinners and good dates, broken cars and unbroken dreams…all served with a fresh comedic twist!

The Ivy League of Comedy is a premier group of stand-up comedians touring America, known for their elite brand of clever comedy. You’ve heard their brilliant comedic voices on late-night TV and Comedy Central. Now come see them live on the Avalon stage!

The Ivy League of Comedy offers audiences original, well-written comedy that doesn’t resort to playing on stereotypes or picking on the audience. They bring you stand-up comedy’s funniest and brightest.   https://www.ivystandup.com/

Across The Harbor. Saturday, February 11, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Baltimore is teeming with melodies and magic.

This ephemeral show celebrates both the jovial and the lamenting sounds found in the rowhouses, sidewalks corners, concert stages, and local sessions of Baltimore. Across The Harbor will transport you through time and space as the themes of “home” and “belonging” are explored.

You can expect to hear the songs of The Honey Dewdrops, Letitia VanSant, and Caleb Stine, each with a unique twist. The list of traditionally rooted instrumentalists is astonishing: David McKindley-Ward, Alex Lacquement, Patrick McAvinue, Laura Byrne, Brad Kolodner, Meghan Mette, Sam Guthridge, Jonathan Vocke, Matt Mulqueen, Sean McComiskey, and EJ Shaull-Thompson.

Never before have all of these artists performed together, traded tunes and re-imagined songs. Collaborating for Across The Harbor is the artists’ gratitude for the Baltimore music community, personified.   https://www.alexlacquement.com/across-the-harbor.html

Black Dog Alley. Friday, February 17, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Easton-based Black Dog Alley is on a mission to move, groove, and rock your very soul! And with a track record of entertaining audiences across Delmarva and Pennsylvania with hundreds of live performances, they know just how to do it!

Their style draws from influences as varied as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, ZZ Top, and Sublime, so their eclectic set list ranges from classic jam rock and rhythm and blues, to funk and reggae-tinged grooves.

If you’re looking for a home-grown blend of classic and original material, Black Dog Alley will not disappoint!  https://www.blackdogalley.com/

High Noon: Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd & Southern Rock. February 24, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

HIGH NOON is the East Coast’s premier tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd and Southern Rock, performing the classic ‘70s hits of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws, 38 Special, and The Marshall Tucker Band. With a deep dedication to the legacy of this timeless music, HIGH NOON brings an authenticity like no other.

Join them on a journey back to a golden age of live music, and experience once again the raw power of all of your favorite anthems from the founding fathers of Southern rock. https://www.highnoonrocks.com/

An Evening with Jorma Kaukonen. Saturday, February 25, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“A gifted writer, Kaukonen shares insight into a life well lived, with a certain amount of luck, a great deal of determination, and a towering love of music.” Relix.com

Jorma Kaukonen is a Grammy nominee, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a leading practitioner of fingerstyle guitar…and he also happens to be a founding member of two legendary rock bands: The Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna.

In addition to his work with Hot Tuna, Jorma has recorded more than a dozen solo albums on major labels and on his own, beginning with 1974’s “Quah” and continuing with his recent acoustic releases on Red House Records—2007’s “Stars in My Crown” and his new CD “River of Time”, produced by Larry Campbell and featuring Levon Helm.

Join Jorma for this special evening of insightful life stories and great music in the Avalon! https://jormakaukonen.com/

Shane Guerrette. Friday, March 3, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

It’s the old way of doing things that inspires a new sound for this upstate NY-based artist. Drawing influence from classic soul and roots rock genres, Shane Guerrette has only just begun to craft his own retro-flavored sound.  With a recent self-released debut album called “Here’s Hoping”, you’ll want to keep an eye out for what’s to come from this rising star. https://www.shaneguerrette.com/

Karen Jonas. Friday, March 10, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“Hailing from Virginia, Karen Jonas has put herself on the alt-country music map thanks to her strong songwriting, sultry vocals, and compelling stage presence.” Fairfax County Times

Americana/Alt-Country songwriter Karen Jonas knows how to tell a story. She’s both “warmly nostalgic” (American Songwriter) and “insightful, tenacious, and vulnerable” (No Depression).

Be sure to check out why there’s so much buzz around this three-time Wammie Award winner for Best Americana Artist, Mid Atlantic Song Contest winner, Ameripolitan Award nominee, and official SXSW and UK Americanafest Showcasing Artist. https://karenjonasmusic.bandcamp.com/

An Evening with George Winston. Saturday, March 11, 2023. Door: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

George Winston is undeniably a household name.

He’s inspired fans and musicians alike with his singular solo acoustic piano songs for more than 40 years while selling 15 million albums. A tireless road warrior playing nearly 100 concerts annually, live performance for Winston is akin to breathing.

Join him in the Avalon for a special evening of evocative music from his latest release, “Night”—it’s a chance to take a step back from our perpetually busy lives to let our minds adventurously wander. https://www.georgewinston.com/

Guy Davis. Thursday, March 16, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“Truth be told, there just aren’t many who can deliver Americana in as interesting and entertaining a manner – or give acoustic traditional blues such a contemporary sound – as Davis…” The Blues PowR Blog

American roots artist Guy Davis once said, “I like antiques and old things, old places, that still have the dust of those who’ve gone before us lying upon them.”

Blowing just enough dust off roots music to see its beauty is something Guy has excelled at for over twenty years of songwriting and performing. His reverence for the music of the blues masters who’ve gone before him has been evident in every album he’s ever recorded or concert he’s given. Guy’s musical storytelling is influenced by artists like Blind Willie McTell and Big Bill Broonzy, and his musicality by artists as diverse as Lightnin’ Hopkins and Babatunde Olatunji. https://guydavis.com/wp/

The Met: Live in HD 12 pm Lohengrin (Wagner). March 18, 2023, 12pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Md.

Wagner’s soaring masterpiece makes its triumphant return to the Met stage after 17 years. In a sequel to his revelatory production of Parsifal, director François Girard unveils an atmospheric staging that once again weds his striking visual style and keen dramatic insight to Wagner’s breathtaking music, with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium to conduct a supreme cast led by tenor Piotr Beczała in the title role of the mysterious swan knight. Soprano Tamara Wilson is the virtuous duchess Elsa, falsely accused of murder, going head-to-head with soprano Christine Goerke as the cunning sorceress Ortrud, who seeks to lay her low. Bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin is Ortrud’s power-hungry husband, Telramund, and bass Günther Groissböck is King Heinrich.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

Medium Debbie Wojciechowski. Saturday, March 18, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

During her interactions with audience members, Debbie draws on her extensive background and experience to deliver sensitive messages in a respectful manner from loved ones who have passed on to the “other side.”

Ever since her metaphysical journey began before she was 21 with two near-death experiences and the loss of her parents, Debbie has sought to learn more about her special gift…and to share it with others. Along with her formal certification as a Medium from the Lisa Williams International School of Spiritual Development, she has had a successful career in mental health and grief counseling with federal law enforcement.

Debbie feels both humbled and privileged to channel special messages from beyond to her audience.  https://www.mediumdebbie.com/

Goldpine. Thursday, March 23, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“I love these guys…their never-ending onslaught of bold harmony is undeniable.”  Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes)

Exposing the pains of severed relationships and unearthing the pursuits of love and purpose, Goldpine is cathartic, moody, raucous, and relevant…all intertwined into one.

Veterans of making soul-stirring music, Ben and Kassie have been offering their own brand of raw Americana for years to audiences large and small. Recent winners of the 2022 Rocky Mountain Songwriter Contest at the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival, and finalists in the Kerrville Folk Fest 2021 New Folk Competition, the duo’s bold harmonies are clearly a channel for their highly charged songwriting.

They put their hearts and souls into their music, as evidenced by their self-produced debut LP, “One”, a snapshot of the current season of their lives — symbolizing a new beginning and an homage to their past— leading them to where they are now.

Sonny Landreth & Cindy Cashdollar. Friday, March 24, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Meet Sonny Landreth and Cindy Cashdollar, the Louisiana slide guitar wizards whose trademark bottle neck chops and dobro and steel string talents culminate in world renowned showcases of guitar virtuosity.

Revered for his unique slide guitar technique, Sonny Landreth has collaborated with many legendary performers, including John Hiatt, Jimmy Buffett, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton.

Five-time Grammy winner Cindy Cashdollar’s expertise is in great demand on both steel guitar and dobro. She’s worked with many leading artists in various genres including Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, and Ryan Adams.

Performing a mix of original songs with contemporary and traditional blues and roots music, their shows are electric, virtuosic, and tastefully delivered by two great instrumental masters.

The Steel Wheels. Friday, March 31, 2023. Doors 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Having staked their claim as independent upstarts in the burgeoning Americana scene, The Steel Wheels have long been at home in the creative space between tradition and innovation, informed by the familiar sounds of the Virginia mountains where the band was formed, but always moving forward with insightful lyrics and an evolving sound.

Whether at a joyous summer festival, in their many shows across the country and beyond, or in the studio, The Steel Wheels continue their mission set out over a decade ago: shaking up traditions to see what sticks, telling stories, and joining communities through song.

Having gained the experience of thousands of shows, festivals and many miles on the road, this stubbornly independent band has formed deep bonds with each other and the audience that sustains them. https://www.thesteelwheels.com/

The Met: Live in HD, 12:30 pm Falstaff (Verdi). Saturday April 1, 2023, 12:30pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover St, Easton, Md.

Baritone Michael Volle stars as the caddish knight Falstaff, gleefully tormented by a trio of clever women who deliver his comeuppance, in Verdi’s glorious Shakespearean comedy. Maestro Daniele Rustioni takes the podium on April 1 to oversee a brilliant ensemble cast that features sopranos Hera Hyesang Park, Ailyn Pérez, and Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano Marie-Nicole Lemieux, tenor Bogdan Volkov, and baritone Christopher Maltman.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

Mile Twelve. Saturday, April 1, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“Mile Twelve’s strength lies in its ability to apply bluegrass’ natural affect to modern concerns.” WBUR, Boston’s NPR Station

Boston’s modern string band, Mile Twelve, is back in motion. From the first manic downbeat of their virtuosic new record, “Close Enough to Hear”, you’ll discover a band that is ready to explode from a restless pandemic-induced hiatus.

You’ll hear the same warmth and innovation that earned the band IBMA’s 2019 Album of the Year nomination and 2020 New Artist of the Year Award, and that’s gained them an international reputation as one of the most dynamic bands in contemporary acoustic music.

Heard as a whole, “Close Enough to Hear” and their live shows display the vast creative potential of the bluegrass quintet — banjo (BB Bowness), mandolin (Korey Brodsky), fiddle (Ella Jordan), acoustic guitar (Evan Murphy) and upright bass (Nate Sabat) — in the hands of world-class musicians.  https://www.miletwelveband.com/

Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors. Friday, April 7, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Chris Barron, the singer and founding member of Spin Doctors, is known these days for solo shows that have all the lyric poetry and singing virtuosity that Spin Doctors fans appreciate, along with a range of expression and songwriting that will delight and surprise.

Chris plays nifty chords on an old Gibson to masterfully crafted songs that are poignant yet wistful and funny, all the while singing in a manner that’s sweet and somewhat different from what you would expect if you only knew his hits, “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes”.

Live, his stage patter is almost as entertaining as his singing. A powerful storyteller, at once hilarious and thought provoking, Chris sets up his songs with anecdotes from a life on the road, from opening for and encountering legends like the Rolling Stones to Polar expeditions.  https://thechrisbarron.com/home

Shemekia Copeland. Saturday, April 8, 2023. Doors: 7 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“Shemekia Copeland has established herself as one of the leading blues artists of our time.” NPR Music

Award-winning blues, soul and Americana singer Shemekia Copeland possesses one of the most instantly recognizable and deeply soulful roots music voices of our time. She is beloved worldwide for the fearlessness, honesty and humor of her revelatory music, as well as for delivering each song she performs with unmatched passion.

Winner of the 2021 Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year, Copeland connects with her audience on an intensely personal level, taking them with her on what The Wall Street Journal calls “a consequential ride” of “bold and timely blues.” NPR Music says Shemekia sings with “punchy defiance and potent conviction.” The Houston Chronicle describes her songs as “resilient pleas for a kinder tomorrow.” https://shemekiacopeland.com/

The Met: Live in HD, Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss). Saturday April 15, 2023, 12pm. Avalon Theatre, Easton Md.

A dream cast assembles for Strauss’s grand Viennese comedy. Soprano Lise Davidsen is the aging Marschallin, opposite mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as her lover Octavian and soprano Erin Morley as Sophie, the beautiful younger woman who steals his heart. Bass Günther Groissböck returns as the churlish Baron Ochs, and Markus Brück is Sophie’s wealthy father, Faninal. Maestro Simone Young takes the Met podium to oversee Robert Carsen’s fin-de-siècle staging.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

Karla Bonoff. Friday, April 21, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Born and raised in Southern California, Karla Bonoff was a songwriter by the age of fifteen. Establishing herself in the early ‘80s as one of LA’s major artists and songwriters, Karla’s legacy as a writer and performer is captured in Billboard’s review of her song “All My Life” (made popular by Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt’s Grammy-winning cover): “Long before Alanis and Jewel, there was a breed of singer/songwriters whose earthly anthems of soul-searching, heartache and joy touched souls in a way few can muster today.”

Karla’s many accomplishments include: opening for James Taylor and Jackson Browne, working with musicians such as Russ Kunkel, Joe Walsh, Waddy Wachtel, Danny Kortchmar, Don Henley, and Peter Frampton, and singing “Somebody’s Eyes” in the hit Kevin Bacon movie “Footloose”. https://www.karlabonoff.com/

Adam Ezra Group. Thursday, April 27, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Working outside the confines of the traditional music industry, Adam Ezra and his bandmates – Corinna Smith (fiddle), Alex Martin (drums), Poche Ponce (bass) – built a community of fans through sheer grit and determination.

Fusing folk intimacy and rock energy with soul power and pop charm, the band first emerged from Boston in the early 2000s and quickly garnered widespread acclaim for their bold, insightful songwriting and interactive, euphoric performances.

From hole-in-the-wall bars and house concerts to sold-out headline shows and dates with the likes of Little Big Town, The Wallflowers, Gavin DeGraw, Train, and The Wailers, Ezra and his bandmates treated every single gig like their last, attracting a die-hard following that believed not just in the music, but in their commitment to activism and social change, as well.  https://www.adamezra.com/

Glenn Miller Orchestra. Friday, April 28, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“A band ought to have a sound all of its own. It ought to have a personality.”  – Glenn Miller

Formed in 1938, the Glenn Miller Orchestra — which would later include the likes of Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, Ray Eberle, Paul Tanner, Johnny Best, Hal McIntyre, and Al Klinck — soon began breaking attendance records all up and down the East Coast.

They would also go on to create record-breaking recordings that defined a world-changing era, such as “Tuxedo Junction”, “In the Mood”, “Moonlight Serenade,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000”, and “Chattanooga Choo-Choo”, among so many other classics.

Don’t miss this opportunity to capture the enduring magic of Glenn Miller Orchestra’s unique sound on the Avalon stage!

The Met: Live in HD, Champion (Blanchard). Saturday, April 29, 2023 12:55pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Md

Six-time Grammy Award–winning composer Terence Blanchard brings his first opera to the Met after his Fire Shut Up in My Bones triumphantly premiered with the company to universal acclaim in 2021–22. Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green is the young boxer Emile Griffith, who rises from obscurity to become a world champion, and bass-baritone Eric Owens portrays Griffith’s older self, haunted by the ghosts of his past. Soprano Latonia Moore is Emelda Griffith, the boxer’s estranged mother, and mezzo- soprano Stephanie Blythe is the bar owner Kathy Hagan. Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for Blanchard’s second Met premiere, also reuniting the director-and-choreographer team of James Robinson and Camille A. Brown.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

The Max Kaplan Band. Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

With a captivating front-man, soulful guitar leads, and a tight rhythm section, Memphis-based Max Kaplan has an exciting and original sound harkening back to the sonic landscape of funky Motown and Stax-era soul, to the guitar-driven blues of the 1960s.

Max is an energetic vocalist and stage performer whose influences include B.B. King, Leon Bridges, James Brown, Alabama Shakes, Al Green, The Staples Singers, and more. www.linktr.ee/mkappy33

The Met: Live in HD, Don Giovanni (Mozart). May 20, 2023 12:55pm. Avalon Theatre 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Md

Tony Award–winning director of Broadway’s A View from the Bridge and West Side Story, Ivo van Hove makes a major Met debut with a new take on Mozart’s tragicomedy, re-setting the familiar tale of deceit and damnation in an abstract architectural landscape and shining a light into the dark corners of the story and its characters. Maestro Nathalie Stutzmann makes her Met debut conducting a star-studded cast led by baritone Peter Mattei as a magnetic Don Giovanni, alongside the Leporello of bass-baritone Adam Plachetka. Sopranos Federica Lombardi, Ana María Martínez, and Ying Fang make a superlative trio as Giovanni’s conquests—Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, and Zerlina—and tenor Ben Bliss is Don Ottavio.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

The Met: Live in HD, Die Zauberflote (Mozart). Saturday, June 3, 12:55pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover St, Easton Md

One of opera’s most beloved works receives its first new Met staging in 19 years—a daring vision by renowned English director Simon McBurney that The Wall Street Journal declared “the best production I’ve ever witnessed of Mozart’s opera.” Nathalie Stutzmann conducts the Met Orchestra, with the pit raised to make the musicians visible to the audience and allow interaction with the cast. In his Met-debut staging, McBurney lets loose a volley of theatrical flourishes, incorporating projections, sound effects, and acrobatics to match the spectacle and drama of Mozart’s fable. The brilliant cast includes soprano Erin Morley as Pamina, tenor Lawrence Brownlee as Tamino, baritone Thomas Oliemans in his Met debut as Papageno, soprano Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night, and bass Stephen Milling as Sarastro.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

The Wildwoods. Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

The Wildwoods are an enchanting Folk/Americana trio based in Lincoln, Nebraska, whose flowing songwriting tandem has been praised by Paste Magazine as “focused and charmingly human”.

Comprised of husband and wife team Noah (guitar) and Chloe Gose (violin), as well as Andrew Vaggalis (bass), The Wildwoods draw inspiration from a wide range of influences, including the styles of: Watchhouse, The Decemberists, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Peter, Paul, & Mary, Nickel Creek, Joni Mitchell, and Gregory Alan Isakov.

The folk/Americana trio work to harmoniously and delicately blend their voices to create a sound so nostalgic that you may find yourself dreaming and longing for those sweet memories from your former days.  https://www.thewildwoodsband.com/

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Upcoming Events at the Avalon Theatre

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“1964”: The Tribute. Friday, January 27, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD                                                                                                        

“Best Beatles Tribute on Earth” Rolling Stone

For those who never saw The Beatles perform LIVE and always wanted to know what it must have been like, this is as close as anyone could possibly get to…FEELING the MAGIC of that special time!  The Beatles toured (and changed) the world in the early 1960s, but now only a precious few remain who actually saw them perform live, who actually felt the “mania” that brought them to world acclaim.

Today, all that remains are a few scant memories and some captured images in pictures and on poor quality film and video. “1964” meticulously re-creates the “MAGIC” of The Beatles’ early, live performances with artful precision and unerring accuracy. https://1964web.com/

Skribe with Daphne Eckman. Saturday, January 28, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street Easton, MD, Tickets: $25

They call it ‘garage folk,’ perhaps because the music is crafted without any more polish than it needs to showcase the allure of its soulfully delivered down-to-earth lyrics.” Visit Annapolis.

This show is a sure-fire way to heat things up on a wintry Saturday night in the Stoltz! Renowned for creating what’s been dubbed “garage folk Americana,” Skribe has shared the stage with artists like The Decembrists, Gregg Allman, G. Love & Special Sauce, Yarn, and so many others!

How to describe Skribe’s sound? It’s rhythmic acoustic strumming and plucking with emphatic vocals that epitomize the musical landscape of Annapolis’ small-town feel. https://www.skribestudios.com/

Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams. Thursday, February 2, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD, Tickets: $30                                                                        

“Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams are partners in music and in life, a husband and wife who work together as a duo as well as accompanying some legendary names in American music.” AllMusic.com

After a 7-year stint in Levon Helm’s band and frequent guest appearances with Phil Lesh, Little Feat, Jorma Kaukonen, and Jack Casady, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Larry Campbell and singer-guitarist Teresa Williams finally brought the crackling creative energy of their 30-year marriage to the stage in 2015.

Their music comes from an organic place, with a mixture of all of the influences in their lives. In their songs you’ll hear a little Tennessee twang, a dab of Delta blues, and some folky fascination. It’s Americana, but more.  https://www.larryandteresa.com/

Journos with Bryan Russo & Ryan Abbott “In the Key of WTF” Album Release! Friday, February 3, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD.

“Smart lyrics and great musicianship. Journos plays the role of court jester: Clever and chaotic rabble-rousers whose job is to remind the monarchy of its mortality.” PopRiot Music

Award-winning journalist and lyricist Bryan Russo teams up with workhorse punk-rocker Ryan Abbott to produce a terrific collection of deep-thinking, hard-drinking songs.

A scathing editorial, Journos’ debut full-length album “In the Key of WTF” is a sonic statement that neither buries the lead nor misses the point. Russo’s lyrics recall the snark of Elvis Costello and dry humor of Randy Newman, while Abbott’s hooks relentlessly propel this hard-driving quintessential record.

“In the Key of WTF” is a palate cleanser for an audience saturated with the static of televised news commentary, but it also does the trick turned up with your car windows down on a hot August night.  https://www.bryanrusso.com/  https://journos.hearnow.com/

High Voltage: AC/DC Tribute. Saturday, February 4, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

High Voltage, the nation’s premier AC/DC tribute band, consists of five veteran musicians putting it all on the line every time they take the stage to give audiences the most authentic AC/DC live performance possible.

Next to the real thing, Baltimore’s own High Voltage is the most entertaining AC/DC live show you will see. For over 10 years, they have delivered the pure energy, excitement, and concert experience that true AC/DC fans around the world have grown to expect.

High Voltage performs the very best AC/DC songs and the most recognizable hits, spanning the full range of epic hit songs from the Bon Scott era through the days with Brian Johnson at the helm.

Be prepared to rock to AC/DC’s biggest hits (“You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Highway To Hell”, “Back In Black”, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, and “Hells Bells”), as well as fan favorites (such as “Shoot To Thrill”, “Sin City”, “For Those About to Rock”, and more).  https://www.highvoltage.rocks/

Ivy League of Comedy- Skirmishes of the Sexes. Friday, February 10, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Celebrate Valentine’s Day (or don’t!) with tales of love and not-love, bad dinners and good dates, broken cars and unbroken dreams…all served with a fresh comedic twist!

The Ivy League of Comedy is a premier group of stand-up comedians touring America, known for their elite brand of clever comedy. You’ve heard their brilliant comedic voices on late-night TV and Comedy Central. Now come see them live on the Avalon stage!

The Ivy League of Comedy offers audiences original, well-written comedy that doesn’t resort to playing on stereotypes or picking on the audience. They bring you stand-up comedy’s funniest and brightest.   https://www.ivystandup.com/

Across The Harbor. Saturday, February 11, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Baltimore is teeming with melodies and magic.

This ephemeral show celebrates both the jovial and the lamenting sounds found in the rowhouses, sidewalks corners, concert stages, and local sessions of Baltimore. Across The Harbor will transport you through time and space as the themes of “home” and “belonging” are explored.

You can expect to hear the songs of The Honey Dewdrops, Letitia VanSant, and Caleb Stine, each with a unique twist. The list of traditionally rooted instrumentalists is astonishing: David McKindley-Ward, Alex Lacquement, Patrick McAvinue, Laura Byrne, Brad Kolodner, Meghan Mette, Sam Guthridge, Jonathan Vocke, Matt Mulqueen, Sean McComiskey, and EJ Shaull-Thompson.

Never before have all of these artists performed together, traded tunes and re-imagined songs. Collaborating for Across The Harbor is the artists’ gratitude for the Baltimore music community, personified.   https://www.alexlacquement.com/across-the-harbor.html

An Evening with Jorma Kaukonen. Saturday, February 25, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“A gifted writer, Kaukonen shares insight into a life well lived, with a certain amount of luck, a great deal of determination, and a towering love of music.” Relix.com

Jorma Kaukonen is a Grammy nominee, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and a leading practitioner of fingerstyle guitar…and he also happens to be a founding member of two legendary rock bands: The Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna.

In addition to his work with Hot Tuna, Jorma has recorded more than a dozen solo albums on major labels and on his own, beginning with 1974’s “Quah” and continuing with his recent acoustic releases on Red House Records—2007’s “Stars in My Crown” and his new CD “River of Time”, produced by Larry Campbell and featuring Levon Helm.

Join Jorma for this special evening of insightful life stories and great music in the Avalon! https://jormakaukonen.com/

An Evening with George Winston. Saturday, March 11, 2023. Door: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

George Winston is undeniably a household name.

He’s inspired fans and musicians alike with his singular solo acoustic piano songs for more than 40 years while selling 15 million albums. A tireless road warrior playing nearly 100 concerts annually, live performance for Winston is akin to breathing.

Join him in the Avalon for a special evening of evocative music from his latest release, “Night”—it’s a chance to take a step back from our perpetually busy lives to let our minds adventurously wander. https://www.georgewinston.com/

Guy Davis. Thursday, March 16, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“Truth be told, there just aren’t many who can deliver Americana in as interesting and entertaining a manner – or give acoustic traditional blues such a contemporary sound – as Davis…” The Blues PowR Blog

American roots artist Guy Davis once said, “I like antiques and old things, old places, that still have the dust of those who’ve gone before us lying upon them.”

Blowing just enough dust off roots music to see its beauty is something Guy has excelled at for over twenty years of songwriting and performing. His reverence for the music of the blues masters who’ve gone before him has been evident in every album he’s ever recorded or concert he’s given. Guy’s musical storytelling is influenced by artists like Blind Willie McTell and Big Bill Broonzy, and his musicality by artists as diverse as Lightnin’ Hopkins and Babatunde Olatunji. https://guydavis.com/wp/

The Met: Live in HD 12 pm Lohengrin (Wagner). March 18, 2023, 12pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Md.

Wagner’s soaring masterpiece makes its triumphant return to the Met stage after 17 years. In a sequel to his revelatory production of Parsifal, director François Girard unveils an atmospheric staging that once again weds his striking visual style and keen dramatic insight to Wagner’s breathtaking music, with Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin on the podium to conduct a supreme cast led by tenor Piotr Beczała in the title role of the mysterious swan knight. Soprano Tamara Wilson is the virtuous duchess Elsa, falsely accused of murder, going head-to-head with soprano Christine Goerke as the cunning sorceress Ortrud, who seeks to lay her low. Bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin is Ortrud’s power-hungry husband, Telramund, and bass Günther Groissböck is King Heinrich.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

Medium Debbie Wojciechowski. Saturday, March 18, 2023. Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

During her interactions with audience members, Debbie draws on her extensive background and experience to deliver sensitive messages in a respectful manner from loved ones who have passed on to the “other side.”

Ever since her metaphysical journey began before she was 21 with two near-death experiences and the loss of her parents, Debbie has sought to learn more about her special gift…and to share it with others. Along with her formal certification as a Medium from the Lisa Williams International School of Spiritual Development, she has had a successful career in mental health and grief counseling with federal law enforcement.

Debbie feels both humbled and privileged to channel special messages from beyond to her audience.  https://www.mediumdebbie.com/

Goldpine. Thursday, March 23, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“I love these guys…their never-ending onslaught of bold harmony is undeniable.”  Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes)

Exposing the pains of severed relationships and unearthing the pursuits of love and purpose, Goldpine is cathartic, moody, raucous, and relevant…all intertwined into one.

Veterans of making soul-stirring music, Ben and Kassie have been offering their own brand of raw Americana for years to audiences large and small. Recent winners of the 2022 Rocky Mountain Songwriter Contest at the Red Lodge Songwriter Festival, and finalists in the Kerrville Folk Fest 2021 New Folk Competition, the duo’s bold harmonies are clearly a channel for their highly charged songwriting.

They put their hearts and souls into their music, as evidenced by their self-produced debut LP, “One”, a snapshot of the current season of their lives — symbolizing a new beginning and an homage to their past— leading them to where they are now.

Sonny Landreth & Cindy Cashdollar. Friday, March 24, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Meet Sonny Landreth and Cindy Cashdollar, the Louisiana slide guitar wizards whose trademark bottle neck chops and dobro and steel string talents culminate in world renowned showcases of guitar virtuosity.

Revered for his unique slide guitar technique, Sonny Landreth has collaborated with many legendary performers, including John Hiatt, Jimmy Buffett, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton.

Five-time Grammy winner Cindy Cashdollar’s expertise is in great demand on both steel guitar and dobro. She’s worked with many leading artists in various genres including Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, and Ryan Adams.

Performing a mix of original songs with contemporary and traditional blues and roots music, their shows are electric, virtuosic, and tastefully delivered by two great instrumental masters.

The Met: Live in HD, 12:30 pm Falstaff (Verdi). Saturday April 1, 2023, 12:30pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover St, Easton, Md.

Baritone Michael Volle stars as the caddish knight Falstaff, gleefully tormented by a trio of clever women who deliver his comeuppance, in Verdi’s glorious Shakespearean comedy. Maestro Daniele Rustioni takes the podium on April 1 to oversee a brilliant ensemble cast that features sopranos Hera Hyesang Park, Ailyn Pérez, and Jennifer Johnson Cano, mezzo-soprano Marie-Nicole Lemieux, tenor Bogdan Volkov, and baritone Christopher Maltman.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

Chris Barron of the Spin Doctors. Friday, April 7, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Stoltz Listening Room, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

Chris Barron, the singer and founding member of Spin Doctors, is known these days for solo shows that have all the lyric poetry and singing virtuosity that Spin Doctors fans appreciate, along with a range of expression and songwriting that will delight and surprise.

Chris plays nifty chords on an old Gibson to masterfully crafted songs that are poignant yet wistful and funny, all the while singing in a manner that’s sweet and somewhat different from what you would expect if you only knew his hits, “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes”.

Live, his stage patter is almost as entertaining as his singing. A powerful storyteller, at once hilarious and thought provoking, Chris sets up his songs with anecdotes from a life on the road, from opening for and encountering legends like the Rolling Stones to Polar expeditions.  https://thechrisbarron.com/home

The Met: Live in HD, Der Rosenkavalier (Strauss). Saturday April 15, 2023, 12pm. Avalon Theatre, Easton Md.

A dream cast assembles for Strauss’s grand Viennese comedy. Soprano Lise Davidsen is the aging Marschallin, opposite mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as her lover Octavian and soprano Erin Morley as Sophie, the beautiful younger woman who steals his heart. Bass Günther Groissböck returns as the churlish Baron Ochs, and Markus Brück is Sophie’s wealthy father, Faninal. Maestro Simone Young takes the Met podium to oversee Robert Carsen’s fin-de-siècle staging.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

Glenn Miller Orchestra. Friday, April 28, 2023. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

“A band ought to have a sound all of its own. It ought to have a personality.”  – Glenn Miller

Formed in 1938, the Glenn Miller Orchestra — which would later include the likes of Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, Ray Eberle, Paul Tanner, Johnny Best, Hal McIntyre, and Al Klinck — soon began breaking attendance records all up and down the East Coast.

They would also go on to create record-breaking recordings that defined a world-changing era, such as “Tuxedo Junction”, “In the Mood”, “Moonlight Serenade,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000”, and “Chattanooga Choo-Choo”, among so many other classics.

Don’t miss this opportunity to capture the enduring magic of Glenn Miller Orchestra’s unique sound on the Avalon stage!

The Met: Live in HD, Champion (Blanchard). Saturday, April 29, 2023 12:55pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Md

Six-time Grammy Award–winning composer Terence Blanchard brings his first opera to the Met after his Fire Shut Up in My Bones triumphantly premiered with the company to universal acclaim in 2021–22. Bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green is the young boxer Emile Griffith, who rises from obscurity to become a world champion, and bass-baritone Eric Owens portrays Griffith’s older self, haunted by the ghosts of his past. Soprano Latonia Moore is Emelda Griffith, the boxer’s estranged mother, and mezzo- soprano Stephanie Blythe is the bar owner Kathy Hagan. Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium for Blanchard’s second Met premiere, also reuniting the director-and-choreographer team of James Robinson and Camille A. Brown.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

The Met: Live in HD, Don Giovanni (Mozart). May 20, 2023 12:55pm. Avalon Theatre 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, Md

Tony Award–winning director of Broadway’s A View from the Bridge and West Side Story, Ivo van Hove makes a major Met debut with a new take on Mozart’s tragicomedy, re-setting the familiar tale of deceit and damnation in an abstract architectural landscape and shining a light into the dark corners of the story and its characters. Maestro Nathalie Stutzmann makes her Met debut conducting a star-studded cast led by baritone Peter Mattei as a magnetic Don Giovanni, alongside the Leporello of bass-baritone Adam Plachetka. Sopranos Federica Lombardi, Ana María Martínez, and Ying Fang make a superlative trio as Giovanni’s conquests—Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, and Zerlina—and tenor Ben Bliss is Don Ottavio.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

The Met: Live in HD, Die Zauberflote (Mozart). Saturday, June 3, 12:55pm. Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover St, Easton Md

One of opera’s most beloved works receives its first new Met staging in 19 years—a daring vision by renowned English director Simon McBurney that The Wall Street Journal declared “the best production I’ve ever witnessed of Mozart’s opera.” Nathalie Stutzmann conducts the Met Orchestra, with the pit raised to make the musicians visible to the audience and allow interaction with the cast. In his Met-debut staging, McBurney lets loose a volley of theatrical flourishes, incorporating projections, sound effects, and acrobatics to match the spectacle and drama of Mozart’s fable. The brilliant cast includes soprano Erin Morley as Pamina, tenor Lawrence Brownlee as Tamino, baritone Thomas Oliemans in his Met debut as Papageno, soprano Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night, and bass Stephen Milling as Sarastro.

This live cinema transmission is part of the Met’s award-winning Live in HD series, bringing opera to movie theaters across the globe.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Marcus Roberts and The Modern Jazz Generation at The Avalon Theater September 3

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In October of 2021, acclaimed jazz pianist Marcus Roberts was honored to receive a Jazz Road Creative Residency grant through South Arts (funded by the Doris Duke Foundation). The award supports the creation, performance, and audiovisual recording of a new work by Roberts and his band, The Modern Jazz Generation.

The new work is entitled “Tomorrow’s Promises” and seamlessly fuses new music, narration, and spoken word, designed to appeal to a culturally-diverse, multi-generational audience.

The Modern Jazz Generation, an 11-piece band led by Roberts at the piano, will perform this new work composed by Roberts on Saturday, September 3, at The Avalon Theater in Easton, MD.

The Modern Jazz Generation is an extraordinarily talented group of musicians whose playing is filled with soul, charisma, and style. The group first came to national attention with its critically-acclaimed 2014 release, Romance, Swing, and the Blues.  This new work highlights new directions taken by the band over the last five years.

Marcus Roberts and The Modern Jazz Generation. Photo courtesy of Marcus Roberts

“Tomorrow’s Promises” will be at the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD by Marcus Roberts and the award-winning Modern Jazz Generation band on September 3rd.

The Modern Jazz Generation
Marcus Roberts, piano
Roland Guerin, bass
Bryan Carter, drums
Joe Goldberg, clarinet/tenor sax
Sam Taylor, alto saxophone
Ricardo Pascal, tenor/soprano sax
Tissa Khosla, baritone saxophone
Tim Blackmon, trumpet
Jianni Lazaga, trumpet
Andre Hayward, trombone

Show Details:
Avalon Theatre
Sept 3, 2022 @ 8:00 pm

Video Clips:
SHORT VIDEOS
1-minute trailer: Marcus Roberts & the Modern Jazz Generation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8j1rpIlADs

12-second trailer– Marcus Roberts
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9vIL3k2mFs

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February to March Current Shows at The Avalon Theatre

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Peter Fogel’s Til Death Do Us Part…You First

Friday, February 11, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $30

Eternal bachelor Peter Fogel has major commitment issues as the love of his life has just broken up with him on Valentine’s Day. He senses his own mortality and after much soul searching he decides to revisit the scene of all his romantic disasters.

Young or old, divorced or married… if you’ve ever been single (and that’s everyone) and want to experience (again) the feeling of finding that Special Person to spend the rest of your life with — then you’ll want to fasten your seat belt for 75 minutes of non-stop laughs with Peter Fogel’s “Til Death Do Us Part … You First!”

Peter Fogel stars in, “Til Death Do Us Part… You First!” (Directed by Academy Award-nominee Chazz Palminteri)

Amy Helm                                                                                                                                                                     

Saturday, February 19, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD

The daughter of Levon Helm, the iconic drummer and mandolin player in The Band, and songwriter Libby Titus (“Love Has No Pride”), Helm grew up with a front-row seat to the rock ’n’ roll generation. She brings her full band to the Avalon this February and audiences can expect and electric night of incredible music.

Music is a family affair for Helm. Amy was a backing musician for Levon’s Midnight Rambles band which played concerts at his farm in Woodstock and grew to become almost mythical shows in the world of roots music.

Often a musician with a famous parent will run from her legacy. That’s understandable and Amy Helm has certainly forged her own individual path over the years. But sometimes it’s good to come home and, on What the Flood Leaves Behind, her latest album, the spontaneity, sense of playfulness, and grounding in soul that made all the Midnight Rambles held on the farm so special, permeates.

Her sound in concert is shaped by rich acoustic chords and Helm’s elastic voice.

Amy Helm is the answer to the question, “How can a mandolin player also be such a soulful vocalist?” Well, it’s in her bloodline. While there are several tunes that highlight her mandolin playing, most fall squarely within Stax territory. Helm swings deep into a slow dance groove, Memphis style but by the end of the night the whole crowd is up and rolling to what looks to be one of the most promising artists in music today. Catch her while you can.

Black Dog Alley

Friday, February 25, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $20

“Black Dog Alley has quietly turned into a “Go To” Band on The Eastern Shore. Always solid, great set list and a good bunch of guys who just keep getting better and better and never disappoint. Every time they play the audiences just say how much they love them” Suzy Moore, Artistic Director, Avalon Theatre.

The mission of local band Black Dog Alley is pretty basic: to move you, to groove you, and to rock your very soul. And with the release of their first album and this live show in the Avalon, that’s just what they plan to do! With a set list ranging from classic jam rock and rhythm and blues, to funk and reggae-tinged grooves, this Easton-based band lists among its eclectic influences Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, ZZ Top, and Sublime.

Miss Tess

Thursday, March 10, 2022. Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover St. Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

“Old-time warmth, 21st-century sass.” — No Depression

Defying genres while transcending eras and resisting clichés is what Miss Tess is all about.

Drawing from jazz, country, blues and old-school rock and roll, she has employed all of her influences and talents on a tour-de-force, while cleverly taking standard perspectives and ideas, like the definition of a love song, to task.

However varied Tess’s music can be, front and center sits her voice that has been described as “alternately seductive and sexy, and a pure joy to listen to” (Pop Matters). Her music is further heightened by her partner, Thomas Bryan Eaton, who helps to shape the songs and arrangements with a deft touch on guitar & pedal steel.   https://www.misstessmusic.com/home.

Comedian Drew Landry

Saturday, January 22, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

Drew Landry, an LA-based stand-up comedian and writer from Baltimore, started doing comedy when he was 13, and went on tour with Carlos Mencia (Comedy Central’s “Mind Of Mencia”) just two weeks after graduating high school.

“In terms of my stand-up, I love attacking the stage with excessive energy. I’ve never really been the type to have messages or social commentary in my act. I do every now and then but it’s not frequent. There’s already enough of that out there, so I try to just focus on silly stuff,” says Landry.

In addition to his stand-up, Landry writes satirical articles for the popular hip-hop site DJBooth. Recently named one of the official top 50 humor writers on Medium.

Robert Cray Band

Sunday, March 20, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $60

“His guitar, his live stage show and his band are no joke. Stellar”..Tim Weigand, Avalon Theatre

“The most commercially and critically successful blues artist of his generation, Robert Cray took his music to the upper reaches of the pop and rock charts when many major blues acts were counting their sales in the tens of thousands.” Allmusic.com.

Five-time Grammy Award-winning Robert Cray has created a sound that rises from American roots and arrives today both fresh and familiar. In just over 40 years Cray and his band have recorded 20 studio releases, 15 of which have been on the Billboard charts, and played bars, concert halls, festivals and arenas around the world. In short Robert Cray is turning legend. And part of that legend are his live shows. Totally captivating and wrapping around you like a wall of sound, his live show is as good and memorable as they come.

Cray is a multithreat talent: fearless formal innovator, brainy bandleader, terse yet fluent guitarist, and the most authoritative singer to emerge from blues since Bland and King.

Lilli Lewis

Thursday, March 31, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover St., Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

Lilli Lewis is having a breakout year, including a Kennedy Center performance that the Center describes as powerful.

Lewis has composed in every tradition that inspires her, including soul, Americana, hip hop, classical, folk, jazz, rock, gospel, blues, soul and R&B. She integrated elements of New Orleans funk while co-writing and co-producing “Mask Up” in the summer of 2020. After carving out space for herself as an African-American lesbian of size, Lewis has also lent her voice to the inclusion and equity in the music industry.

And she’s further sharing her message in the music of her eagerly awaited “Americana” album, following 2019’s critically acclaimed “We Belong.” In all things, Lewis does her best to live by the creed she and her ensemble have become known for: Practice Radical Decency.  https://www.folkrockdiva.com/

Joan Osborne (performing with a trio)

Friday, April 1, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets:$50

“I feel like music has this important job to do right now. Part of that job is to help imagine a better future – and to hang on to hope. I want to play for people and get them up on their feet and dancing. To let music do that thing it does – bring joy and energy because we really need that right now.”…Joan Osbourne

Since she broke through 25 years ago with the multi-platinum “Relish” and its touchstone mega-smash “One of Us,” seven-time Grammy nominee Joan Osborne has never played it safe.She’s followed her restless musical heart, exploring a diverse range of genres: pop rock, soul, R&B, blues, roots rock, gospel, funk, and country – all of which can be heard on her tenth studio album, the masterful “Trouble and Strife”.

With stunning vocals, a diverse range of sonics, and incisive lyrics, this deeply engaging collection of new original songs is her response to “the crazy, chaotic times we’re living in,” she says, and “a recognition of the important role music has to play in this moment. Music has a unique ability to re-energize people and allow us to continue to hang on to that sense of joy of being alive.”

Avalon Theatre Technicolor Motor Home (Steely Dan Tribute)

Friday, April 22, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

“Technicolor Motor Home proves you can buy a thrill – just check out one of their shows.” — Best of Baltimore

Steely Dan tribute band Technicolor Motor Home is a mix of elegance and function.

Led by Crack the Sky’s keyboardist Glenn Workman, this 10-piece band not only plays selections from every Steely Dan album, it does so with the necessary precision and passion—horns and backup singers included.

Any major dude will tell you that this is a must-see show for fans of Steely Dan and everyone who loves great live music!  https://mail.technicolormotorhome.com/Home.html

High Voltage (AC/DC Tribute)                                                                                                                               

Saturday, May 14, 2022, 7 p.m. The Avalon Theatre, 40 E. Dover Street, Easton, MD. Tickets: $25

For every High Voltage show, the nation’s premier AC/DC tribute band puts it all on the line so audiences can enjoy as authentic an AC/DC live performance as possible…next to the real thing.

For over 10 years, Baltimore’s High Voltage has delivered the pure energy, excitement, and concert experience that true AC/DC fans around the world have grown to expect. They perform the very best AC/DC songs and the most recognizable hits, spanning the full range of epic hit songs from the Bon Scott era through the days with Brian Johnson at the helm.

High Voltage rocks you with the biggest hits: “You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Highway To Hell”, “Back In Black”, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, “T.N.T.”, “Whole Lotta Rosie”, “Hells Bells” as well as big fan favorites such as “Shoot To Thrill”, “Sin City”, “For Those About to Rock”, “Shot Down In Flames” and many, many more.  https://www.highvoltage.rocks/

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The Avalon Theatre to Present the Classic White Christmas This Holiday Season

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Paramount Pictures released the movie musical White Christmas in 1954. Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, and featured 17 songs by Irving Berlin. The top moneymaker of 1954, White Christmas set a new record as Hollywood’s all-time highest-grossing musical.

Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander. With a dazzling score featuring well-known standards including “Blue Skies,” “I Love A Piano,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and the perennial title song, White Christmas is an uplifting musical worthy of any Holiday Season.

The Avalon Holiday Show has become an Eastern Shore Tradition, so much so that the organization actually put on a holiday show last year, outside in freezing temperatures during the pandemic.  Come see your Friends and Neighbors bring the tradition back inside in this wonderful adaptation of the beloved musical.  It will surely raise your spirits.

The show dates and times are as follows, December 9, 10, 11 at 7 pm, December 12, Matinee 2pm and December 16, 17, 18 at 7 pm and December 19, Matinee 2 at 2pm.  You can order tickets online at avalonfoundation.org or call Deana in the box office at 410-822-7299.  Please understand that there will be some restrictions due to Covid.  We apologize for the inconvenience, but nevertheless we wish you the best of Holiday Seasons!!

“Simplicity, generosity and decency were our main themes and objectives in putting on this production,” said Tim Weigand who directs this year’s tradition.  The show is a light hearted telling of a man who is losing his business and the characters around him realize their connections and responsibilities to everyone around them.  We hope you will come and be a part of it.

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Avalon Features Talbot County Improv Troupe on Black Friday

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The Avalon Theatre tradition of hosting a Black Friday show continues this year with an evening of improvisational fun.  Members of the Talbot County Improv troupe will take the stage at the Avalon on Friday, November 26 at 7:00 pm. The show will feature members of the Reflex Improv Easton, Annapolis and Virginia groups.

Improvisational performance – also known as improv – is spontaneous and unscripted. No one, including the performers, knows what will come up. The audience becomes a part of the show by offering a word or location suggestions that spark ideas for games and scenes made up on the spot. Members of the audience will be invited on to the stage for a few scenes.

Improv classes came to the Eastern Shore in 2019 when Nancy Andrew, a student of Dan Brown’s Reflex Improv, invited Brown to teach a class in Easton. Since then, beginners and more experienced improv actors have met weekly to learn the fundamentals and to have fun.

Members of the Reflex Improv Easton and Annapolis troupes sold out the Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion for their summer show. The improv performers are the headliners at the Avalon Theatre on Friday, November 26 at 7pm for their Black Friday holiday show.

“Dan is a great teacher! He encourages us to have fun while we learn,” Andrews says. “He reminds us that we can’t do it wrong.”

Andrews adds, “Improv has helped me be more creative, develop my listening skills, and be more fully present. Those of us who get together every week say that we made friends with people we may never have met if we hadn’t played with them in improv class.”

Describing improv, Brown says, “Some people tell me that they can’t do improv because they’re not funny. You don’t need to be a natural comedian to learn how to do improv. Once you learn the fundamentals the fun will follow,”

The fundamentals of improv include the concept of “Yes – and,” which encourages everyone in a scene to listen to one another and find agreement. Two other improv fundamentals – “I’ve got your back” and making each other look good – encourage team work. “When everyone follows the process, funny happens.” Brown says.

Tim Weigand from the Avalon Foundation invited the Talbot County Improv students to perform at the Stoltz Pavilion after taking an intro class with them this summer. The show sold out and several members of the audience signed up for the next series of classes. “The Avalon is looking forward to what our local improv actors come up with to entertain local residents and their guests on Black Friday,” Weigand says.

Brown will be offering the next round of 6-week introduction and intermediate classes in Easton beginning Tuesday, January 11, 2022. For more information about Reflex Improv, visit https://www.refleximprov.com/easton.

The Avalon Theatre is located at 40 E. Dover Street in Easton. Tickets for the Talbot County Improv show on Friday, November 26 are $20 and can be purchased at tickets.avalontheatre.com.

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Avalon Line Up October-November

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The Dirty Grass Players, Saturday, September 18, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion $25                                                                     

The Dirty Grass Players, a four-piece new-grass band from Baltimore, is known for having one toe-tappin’ foot in traditional bluegrass while pushing boundaries with their blazing musicianship. Composed of Connor Murray on bass, Alex Berman on vocals & banjo, Ben Kolakowski with the guitar & vocals, and Ryan Rogers on mandolin, this group has been giving their growing fan-base a down-and-dirty performance for over five years.

Their ability to seamlessly transition from down-home bluegrass to spirited improvisation makes each performance unique. Mix in some Allman Brothers, Pink Floyd or a dash of southern rock and you’ll quickly understand what they mean by “Dirty Grass”.

Entering into their sixth year together, The Dirty Grass Players released their second studio album, “Beneath the Woodpile”. Put together with alluring harmonies, lyrics, and melodies, the band presents a sound precisely at the crossroads of traditional and progressive bluegrass. This isn’t just another run-of-the-mill bluegrass album or band; it’s cathartic and dirty grass.                                                             

The Bones of J.R. Jones

The Bones of J.R. Jones, Thursday, September 23, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion, $25

Over the course of three full-length albums and two EPs, Jonathon Robert Linaberry — the songwriter, storyteller, visual artist, and one-man band behind The Bones of J.R. Jones — has woven his own tapestry of American roots music. It’s a classic sound for the modern world, influenced not only by blues, soul, and forward-thinking folk, but also by J.R.’s environment.

From the bustle of New York City, to the rustic solitude of his current home in the Catskills, J.R. has always looked to the world around him for inspiration. In his newest release, “A Celebration”, the desert panoramas and infinite horizons of the American Southwest have inspired him musically to celebrate the thrill of getting lost in something new, whether it’s a landscape, a sound, a perspective, or all of the above.

“They definitely are a bit of a departure from my previous albums,” J.R. says. “But I feel like they still resonate with the darkness, honesty, minimalism I try to impart in all my work.” https://thebonesofjrjones.com/                         

Grain Thief

Grain Thief, Friday, October 1, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion $25

“Boston band Grain Thief distinguish themselves from the legions of fresh-faced East Coast kids packing mandolins and banjos, in that they use vintage Americana rather than emo or corporate American Idol pop as a springboard for their songs. And they tell some great stories, and have serious bluegrass chops.” New York Music Daily

Crafting their spirited bluegrass sound in the New England jam scene, Grain Thief has toured the north, south, east, and west of the U.S., playing stages large and small. They’ve graced the stages at the Greyfox Bluegrass Festival, Hempfest, Podunk Bluegrass Festival, Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival, Ossipee Valley Music Festival, UMS Music Festival, and Rockygrass, among others.

According to the Boston Globe, Grain Thief’s acclaimed new album, “Gasoline”, “is the sound of a band getting its ‘grass on.” https://grainthief.com/ 

Jill Sobule & Amy Speace

Jill Sobule & Amy Speace, Saturday, October 9, 2021 Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion $25

Jill Sobule has released a dozen of albums spanning three decades of recording, tackling such topics as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, shoplifting, reproduction, the French Resistance, adolescent malaise, LGBTQ issues, and the Christian Right, to name a few – with her trademark wit and aplomb.

While her songs cover expansive thematic ground, they benefit greatly from Jill’s subtle intelligence and skillful light-handedness. On stage, she entertains, amuses, provokes, and more often than not, takes her audiences on an emotional roller coaster, from comedy to pathos in a few bars of music, often within the same song.

Amy Speace honed her beautifully uplifting and deeply personal music in her mid-twenties while living in Greenwich Village. She taught herself “sound shapes” on guitar, highly influenced by Joni Mitchell’s compositional music and poetically direct lyrics.

Erin McKeown

Developing her talent as a songwriter, guitarist, and performer, she landed gigs at CBGB’s, The Living Room, and The Bitter End, and became entrenched in New York City’s nightlife — a moment in her life that cinematically unfolds in flashback in “Shotgun Hearts.”

“Amy Speace once again demonstrates why she’s one of the greatest artists in Americana today”- Mike Davies, Folk Radio UK https://www.jillsobule.com/https://www.amyspeace.com/       

Erin McKeown, Saturday, October 16, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $25

“In several distinctive ways—voice, dynamic subtlety, and sheer songwriting ability—Erin McKeown is in a class of her own.” – Sunday Times (UK)

Erin McKeown’s brash and clever electric guitar playing is something to see. Over the last 20 years, she’s performed around the world, released 10 full-length albums, and written for film, television, and theater, all the while refining her distinctive and challenging mix of American musical forms.

Chiara Izzi

Leading her own band, Erin has performed with Joan Baez, Carrie Rodriguez, and Josh Ritter (among many others), as well as at Bonnaroo, Glastonbury, and the Newport Folk Festivals.  https://www.erinmckeown.com/ 

Chiara Izzi & Perry Smith, Friday, October 22, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $25

Award-winning Italian singer-songwriter Chiara Izzi performs with guitarist Perry Smith in an autumn evening of cool jazz in the Stoltz Pavilion. Described by Jazz Times as “a talent to be heard, admired and anticipated” after the release of her debut album “Motifs”, Chiara Izzi started her musical path in Italy by learning to play the piano and performing very early.

Guitarist Perry Smith combines the tradition of jazz with broad influences from contemporary music to create his signature style. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Smith is now based in Brooklyn where he leads his own groups and is a sideman for local and touring artists.  https://www.jwpagency.com/Chiara_Izzi.html 

Naked Blue & Christine Havrilla

Naked Blue & Christine Havrilla, Saturday, October 23, Doors: 8:30 p.m.; Show: 9 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $25              

When you see husband-and-wife duos touring the country as musical partners— especially if they’ve been doing it for over twenty five years, you can be confident that they’ve achieved a level of communication and compatibility that guarantees the quality of the show.

That’s definitely the case with Jen and Scott Smith (aka Naked Blue), whose instinctive feel for progressive folk/pop music has resulted in legions of fans on the Eastern Seaboard, and long residencies on radio playlists across the country.

Pat McGee

They’re joined by Philadelphia native Christine Havrilla, who brings her “well-built, catchy, smart tunes” (Upstage Magazine) to audiences everywhere, touring nationally solo and also with the support of her band, Gypsy Fuzz. Christine uses the soft gritty texture of her vocals to express warmth and honesty listeners quickly embrace as well as her aggressive, raw, trash-style guitar playing and looping. https://www.nakedblue.com/  https://www.christinehavrilla.com/  

Pat McGee, Sunday, October 24, 2010 Doors: 6:30 p.m.; Show: 7 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $30                                                                                                             

Virginia’s Pat McGee Band is an acoustic-based sextet that has toured with Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, Ziggy Marley, Counting Crows, and the Wallflowers. In the 25 years since their initial formation, they’ve acquired a fanatical popular following. Building on his well-honed performing experience, Pat’s recent material has been influenced by the classic albums of the 1970s that were spun in his childhood home, including seminal records by James Taylor, Jackson Browne, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

Jason Weems

“McGee has assembled various star-studded ensembles over the years and continues to have a focus on the song supported with strong harmonies, percussive acoustic guitars, mandolins as well as a tight rhythm section and tasteful electric guitars.” Music Existence https://patmcgee.net/ 

Comedian Jason Weems Two Nights!, Friday and Saturday, October 29 & 30, Doors: 7:30 p.m.; Show: 8 p.m.

The Avalon Foundation’s Stoltz Pavilion  $25

A native of Baltimore, Jason Weems’ engaging and conversational style on stage leaves audiences feeling like they’ve just finished talking to a close friend. It also simultaneously acts as free therapy for him.

Weems’ live show is truly one of a kind, and tailor fit to each unique crowd. He has been seen at the most prestigious invitation-only comedy festival in the world, The Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, and reached the top 100 and semi-finalist rounds on two separate seasons of NBC’s Last Comic Standing. https://jasonweemscomedy.com/ 

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Avalon Foundation, Monty Alexander Jazz Festival 3rd September

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For over a decade the Labor Day weekend in Easton has reverberated to the sound of Jazz at the Avalon Theatre. Happily, the tradition was continued this year after Covid 19 silenced the live festival in 2020.

Now under the management of the Avalon Foundation with the new Avalon Jazz Club and the magnificent venues of the outside Stoltz Pavilion and the Avalon theatre, the festival featured world class musicians playing a variety of Jazz styles.

Bria Skonberg, the Canadian trumpet virtuoso and her band played two different sets at the Pavilion on the Friday evening. This meteoric rising star with her golden voice and masterful trumpet playing blew the top off the tent with her highly accomplished entertainment skills and an eclectic program including Cole Porter, the Beatles, Sonny and Cher and her own beautiful soulful and bluesy “So is the Day”. The musicianship of her band was exceptional and special praise should be given to the pianist and keyboard player Mathis Picard the 25 year old Juilliard trained composer, producer and band leader in his own right.

Saturday night of the festival the Avalon Theatre was the venue of the namesake of the festival the unique Monty “I don’t read music I use radar” Alexander and his band.

The first set featured Monty on piano with his longtime ex-Duke Ellington bass player JJ Shakur and our very own local Chuck Redd on drums. The program included old favorites from Nat King Cole, Count Basie and Sinatra and then a tribute to Django Reinhardt featuring Chuck Redd playing outstanding vibraphone solos. This set was exciting and skillfully executed with Monty’s legendary piano work and calypsos. The second set lost some pace and direction with what started out as a moving tribute to our military and Monty’s brother Larry’smilitary service but then morphed into an excess of Larry’s vocals and a surfeit of the Master’s piano playing.

The festival always brings a surprise bonus and the Sunday Tidewater Jazz Brunch was the venue for the really talented Hot Club of Baltimore led by guitarist Michael Harris with bassist Blake Meister and guitarist Connor Holdridge who performed some up tempo numbers also featuring a medley of Django Reinhardt tunes including “Limehouse Blues”. The music was the perfect complement to the sunshine and the Tidewater’s superb crabcakes and Bloody Marys.

The finale of the festival in the Avalon Theatre featured the highly accomplished MD born Pete and Will Anderson on saxes, clarinets, and flutes with accompanying trumpet, piano and bass.

The talented twins demonstrated their absolute mastery of this array of instruments playing a nicely balanced set of iconic standards including Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo”, Richard Rogers “Favorite Things” and the wonderfully bluesy “St James Infirmary” by Cab Calloway.

This was a great ending to the festival which as part of the Avalon Foundation Jazz Club annual program promises to keep Easton on the map in providing world class jazz concerts in great venues.

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