7.23.10
The Stuff Legends are Made of

Here at the Newport Yachting Center we get pumped for each of our events, concerts and festivals. But there’s a special buzz in the air about what’s happening under the tent tomorrow night, and who’s to blame us for feeling just a tad bit giddier about it? In fact, the show is looking to be legendary, and it’s got us a bit speechless. So we’ll let the pros do the talking - you know, B.B. King, The Providence Journal, and Jimmy Carter (the former President of the United States? Really? You’ll have to read on to find out)!

Saturday night, July 24th, Rhode Island hometown hero Duke Robillard is the opening act (yes that’s right, opening act) for our Sunset Music Series show. The multi-Grammy nominated and four-time Best Blues Guitarist Winner at the Blues Music Awards takes to our stage on the waterfront. Robillard, named by B.B. King himself as “one of the greats,” brings his blues back home to beckon the crowds under our tent to jam the night away.

Why would a man of this stature be the opening act at our Sunset show? As Rick Massimo, Pop Music writer for the Providence Journal puts it, “It takes a serious headliner to push Rhode Island blues legend Duke Robillard down the bill to opening act, but The Blind Boys of Alabama are serious business.” How to best describe the storied singing group ready to take Newport by storm? “They’re the real deal of Southern red-clay gospel, and they may be holy, but their harmony is hard-edged. They can make even the Lord sound nasty. In the best way, of course.” Well put Massimo, we couldn’t have said it any better ourselves!

Jimmy Carter, the last active surviving member of the group, recently spoke with Newport Now about how he is excited to bring their show back to Newport. So no, it wasn’t the former President, but we’re pretty sure if he were staying in town this weekend, he’d be lining up to see the show, too! As Jimmy Carter the musician notes, they’ve played at the White House three times already and “are pros at it,” so they are certainly a presidential favorite.

Best part about the show? Tickets start at just $25. (It’s ok, we spit out our drink when we heard the ticket price, too!) Immediately we ran to our closets and found enough money folded up in pockets of previously worn pants to cover the cost. So now can you see why we’re all a-twitter about what’s happening on the harbor tomorrow night? We thought so. See you there when the gates open at 5:30!

6.18.10
Waiting for the music to start

It’s only a week and a day until the 2010 Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series is underway, permeating the waterfront chorus the rest of the summer with a mix of rock, blues, gospel, acoustic, and reggae - something for everyone! And the series certainly starts off on a high note. John Hiatt returns to our tent a crowd favorite looking to impart some of his rootsy, bluesy soul with his enchanted audience. His songs have been covered by artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Iggy Pop, the Neville Brothers, and Willie Nelson, but you have the chance to encounter the original master at work on Saturday, June 26th!



Another reason to see the show? When will you have another opportunity to catch an up-and-coming band, about to make it “big,” open for one of their influences? The Adam Ezra Group has got music lovers and critics alike buzzing about their sound, charisma, and talent. What does the band’s front man think of the upcoming show? “These are bands I’ve been listening to for a long time and now I’m performing in shows with them,” he said. “I love John’s (Hiatt) music and I’m looking forward to the show.” Plus, they are just so darn nice. In addition to teaching Boston area students how to write their own pop songs, these guys donate proceeds from their tour to local charities and organized their own “Rumble,” a special concert that they bussed their fans to, to raise awareness about medical relief in Haiti. “I think music is an effective way to empower the community and to make a difference on a local level,” is Adam’s philosophy.



Well sheesh. A master and an up-and-coming force to be reckoned with, playing the same stage in one night? How can you miss it? For tickets and more information, visit newportwaterfrontevents.com. And for some easy tunes to kick off your weekend, we recommend the tracks by our Sunset stars above.

10.1.09
Deutsch Drink and Dance

Better start practicing your best yodel and perfect your beer-line etiquette, because the International Oktoberfest! commences its celebration of all things Bavarian one week from tomorrow.  This is the one time of the year that sporting a feather in your cap is fashion forward and the man playing feet-tapping tunes on the accordion is the coolest guy in the room.  Just take a listen to DIE LUSTIGEN ALMDUDLER, one of our featured artists at this year’s festivities - gets you a bit giddy for the celebration, no?

Discounted advanced tickets are only on sale until tomorrow, so don’t forget to get yours early!  How could you - it’s so exciting!  So exciting even the official name of the festival has its very own exclamation point! Now that’s impressive!

8.28.09
Odds & Ends

A few things to share with you all before one of the last official weekends of summer:

1.  What are the odds you should make it to the Newport Arts Festival this weekend?  Good,  according to Providence Business News and Rhode Island Monthly e-newsletters.  Both magazines named the festival the #1 and #3 thing to do this weekend, respectively.  Who are we to argue with two of the biggest publications in the state? Stop on by to see how a creative mentality and unique viewpoint has made a whole slew of homegrown artists  successful. And don’t forget, there is a special concert there on Saturday night, featuring Avi & Celia and Twist of Fate.

2. If you missed our wee reminder earlier this week,  your chance to get advance discounted tickets for the Newport Waterfront Irish Festival ends today, August 28th.  Unfortunately, if you don’t buy them now, the luck of the Irish will not be with you come ticket-taking time, so print your tickets ahead of time and beat the lines!  Everyone else will be jealous as you whisk easily to the Guinness Gig Rig, with perfect pint in hand and not a care in the world.

May the lilt of Irish laughter lighten your every load, me dears! Until next week!

8.21.09
Get Ready…

…because they’re here!  The Temptations close out one hot summer line-up for our Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series tonight at the Newport Yachting Center.

Motown’s back, baby!

Be sure to visit newportwaterfrontevents.com for great new pictures from all our shows this season.  Have a groovy weekend!

8.19.09
First Up, Music

When people think of arts festivals, they may immediately picture paintings and craft booths.  But what about the terrific tunes at this year’s Newport Arts Festival on August 29th & 30th?  There is  a plethora of talented musicians taking the stage throughout the day , including Boston-based folk-group Session Americana, flamenco guitarist Juanito Pascual, and blues bard T.J. Wheeler. Don’t forget about appearances by the Boston String Quartet, Mac Chrupcala (a Newport Jazz Hall of Fame inductee), and many more.  All of these terrific acts will be included in the $3 admission price.  Talk about bang for your buck!

And now, on to the main event…

Saturday night from 7 - 10 PM the festival will feature a heart-warming show by Avi & Celia and Twist of Fate.  Tickets are only $16 in advance or $20 the day of the show.  A splash of color on the waterfront, energizing artists, music to move you, and affordable prices…how could you go wrong?!

Stay tuned (pun obviously intended) for more details on this creative cavort of a festival.

8.14.09
The Home Stretch

Collective Soul put on a great show last night, and even in the midst of the drizzle and drear, they lit up the town.  And guess what? they thought we were a rockin’ crowd! (Were you there?  Have a good story?  Fill this gull in on the gossip!) But I got to thinking, the series ends just next Friday with the Temptations on the 21st - what else will cap out our sweltering season on the harbor?  What else is there to look forward to before the end of the summer?

The Newport Arts Festival, that’s what!  Check it out:

“Indulge your senses at this exciting festival of the arts. Stroll through a colorful marketplace of art. Thrill to the sounds of acclaimed musical performances and savor a tantalizing selection of food in the festival café. Children join in the fun with activities to inspire young imaginations. On the harbor front in the hub of Newport’s summer scene, Newport Arts Festival features 60 national artists from as far as California, Colorado and Louisiana, and includes local talent from our own backyard.”

You better believe I’ll be there, sporting a beret and attempting my best Andy Wargull impression.  Stay tuned throughout the next two weeks, as we cover the festival from paint to brush until it enlightens us all on August 29th & 30.  Yearning for more info now?  Check out newportartsfestival.com for all the details!

Have a great weekend everyone!

8.12.09
Spotlight Shines on Collective Soul

Collective Soul is in town tomorrow, which means another unbelievable night of rockin’ the harbor!  With seven number one hits spanning their career, these guys truly know how to preform.  Everyone has his or her own favorite song by this band (even if you might not know they sing it!).  Check out their greatest hits with some lyrics to help you identify them - it always helps this bird!

“Shine” - Give me a word, Give me a sign, Show me where to look, Tell me what will I find, What will I find?…Oh, heaven let your light shine down…

“December” - Don’t scream about, Don’t think aloud, Turn your head now baby just spit me out…

“The World I Know” - So I walk up on high and I step to the edge to see my world below. And I laugh at myself while the tears roll down, ‘Cause it’s the world I know, it’s the world I know…

“Where the River Flows” - Find yourself another soul to hold, You think, you thought, I know, Off upon my journey I must go, To where the river flows…

In fact, in a recent radio interview with WHJY, they were pronounced “the most underrated band in the history of rock & roll” - click here to listen! Get your tickets today and tomorrow for as little as $30.

8.11.09
What You Wish(ed) For

And here’s what all Guster fans have been wishing for…pictures from the fantastic show on Friday night!  A big thank you goes out from our Newport Waterfront Events team to all you enthusiastic fans that made the evening one to remember.  Guster rocked the waterfront and we are so glad that we got to share such an incredible time with all of you! Were you at the show?  Leave us a comment and let us know what you thought!

And if you are still jonesin’ for a Ryan, Joe, Brian, or Adam fix, check out the exclusive band interview with WBRU’s Scuba Steve.  Ryan gives a little more insight into the men behind the music as they work on their new album.  So whether you were lucky enough to attend the show or not, you can feel up close and personal with the talented guys of Guster!

Click the links to listen to the full interview: First Half | Second Half

8.7.09
Ticket Treasure Hunt

So it’s no surprise that the tickets for Guster’s show tonight went fast - and by fast we mean like Speedy Gonzales fast.  So we were overly intrigued to see Guster’s twitter status posted this morning:

What could this mean? Are there more tickets to be found to the hottest show in town?  I guess we’ll have to sit tight like the rest of you and find out…If you’re looking for tickets, start following Guster now!