Dar Williams Hummingbird Highway Tour with special guest: Joy Clark
Dar Williams “It’s a highway, filled with deep, exotic colors and beautiful delicate things as well as the perils that come from moving so fast,” says Dar Williams, describing modern life. On her 13th album, Hummingbird Highway, out September 12 on Righteous Babe Records, Williams celebrates the colors she glimpses from her vantage as a touring musician. “I was a kid from the suburbs who listened when her hippie teachers said to get out in the world,” Williams muses. Hummingbird Highway is the latest chapter in a richly unfolding story. Drawing on her experience as a playwright, Williams populates her latest album with nuanced characters that come alive in the space of a few minutes. On the title track, Williams sings from the perspective of a child speaking to her peripatetic and sometimes struggling parent. Blooming columbines, china blue teapots, and cinnamon bark number among the “treasures” in her life, despite the “pirates” that she imagines populating her worldly parent’s life. “The pirates can be all sorts of things living inside and outside your head. The child, for better or worse, knows that there is joy, unpredictability, and instability on the home front. She’s rooting for the joy.” Joy Clark Joy Clark is a New Orleans singer-songwriter, lyrical guitarist and composer who creates soulful original compositions that celebrate peace and the undeniable power of love. Her intricate rhythms and warm melodies reveal a sweet vulnerability that enchants her audiences around the world. Like so many other artists in New Orleans, Joy’s first stage was in church. Growing up the daughter of a minister, she learned to create an atmosphere ripe for an emotional experience. So it’s no wonder she believes music is her ministry and intimacy is her superpower. “I love boots, guitars, mangoes, horses, jasmine blossoms, road trips, cloud watching, donuts and my family. I believe in the power of inner peace. I understand the glory of a righteous twist out. I make time to marvel at the mysteries of the world around me. I pour my fears and anxiety into vectors for healing. Joy’s melodic offerings are a healing balm to an anxious heart. Each song welcomes the close listener in with open arms– always beckoning truth, authenticity and the courage to tell one’s story. The Boot says “Joy’s music is rhythmic like the pull of the tide.” Her single “Good Thing” beautifully captures her craft and depth of her artistry, and musicianship and has garnered radio play along with an official video debut with DittyTv. Joy has toured with Allison Russell in her ensemble of phenomenal artists as well as Brandi Carlile and The Indigo Girls. Joy received a Grammy for her work on The Returner album with Allison Russell. The past few years have brought beautiful beginnings for Joy. Joy signed with Righteous Babe Records in 2023 and has released several singles so far for them. “Guest” and a holiday song “Gumbo Christmas”, Lesson and “One Step In The Right Direction”, and the new single “Shine” that was released October 4, 2024 along with the debut album “Tell it to the Wind”. Joy has toured as lead guitarist with Cyril Neville and Water Seed and shared the stage with Ruthie Foster and Hozier, Brandi Carlile, and many others. Joy just completed a tour with Ani DiFranco thru Texas In January 2025 and a tour with Madeleine Peyroux in Europe in February 2025.
10,000 Maniacs
Together now for more than four decades, 10,000 Maniacs remain one of America’s most beloved independent bands. They’ve been cult heroes, mainstream stars and alt-rock trailblazers. Through it all the creative core of the band remains, along with its trademarks of eclectic music and poetic lyrics. Mary Ramsey ( lead vocals and viola) has been working with the Maniacs in the studio or on tour since 1991. She became lead singer in 1994. Dennis Drew (keyboards), Steven Gustafson (bass and vocals), John Lombardo (guitar and vocals), Jerome Augustyniak (drums) are founding members. New kid, Ben Medina (lead guitar and vocals), channels Robert Buck. It’s spooky. 10,000 Maniacs is the most famous musical progeny of Jamestown, New York, the city that spawned them back in 1981. The band and the city share an honest and hardworking nature, both being a step outside the mainstream, and both possessing a bit of magic. “It’s a city of blue-collar poetry,” says Drew. “And that’s what we’re about, real-life stories. We’re a family, we do real work and we keep moving forward.” Originally drawing from everything from African rhythms to bluegrass to English folk balladry, the group streamlined its sound during the ‘80s with legendary producer Peter Asher, kicking off a string of beautifully crafted singles including “Like the Weather,” “What’s the Matter Here?”, “Trouble Me,” “These Are Days” and “Candy Everybody Wants.” They performed at President Clinton’s inaugural ball in 1992 and around that time became one of the first bands to score a hit from MTV’s Unplugged–namely their version of the Patti Smith/Bruce Springsteen classic “Because the Night.” While new songs and recordings are always in the works, the live shows remain their place to really shine. Says Dennis Drew, “Musical ideas have never been a problem for us. We know what a gift it is to be able to do this. And we know from doing shows with the Grateful Dead that it’sreally about going onstage every night and playing as well as you can.”
The Brit Pack
The Brit Pack – the most authentic British Invasion experience this side of the Atlantic. Formed in 2011 by British session musicians based in NYC, The Brit Pack take their audience on a journey through a dynamic blend of British classics, including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen, David Bowie, Elton John, The Who, Oasis, Radiohead, The Police, Amy Winehouse and many more. The talented band members of The Brit Pack have performed with artists such as Paul McCartney, Britney Spears, Elton John, Chet Faker, Tom Rush and Mark Hudson among many others, and enjoy delivering a high-energy show to their audiences.
Carlos Jones & The PLUS Band + John Welton and The Awakening
Carlos Jones has been entertaining audiences for over 40 yearsthroughout the eastern half of the United States, first as a member of the roots-reggae group “I-Tal”, and then with the legendary “First Light”, before finally pursuing a solo career with his most recent group – the Peace, Love, Unity Syndicate (aka “PLUS” or “The PLUS Band”).Carlos is the landed gentry of Cleveland reggae. He has been involved in every important reggae project in Cleveland since the days of I-Tal and First Light in the 1980’s, when Cleveland had the most vibrant reggae scene in the Midwest. He has released 3 full length CD’s plus one Live CD, 1 EP, and numerous singles in his solo career alone on Little Fish Records. He has had his music appear in movies, textbooks and greeting cards, receiving airplay nationally and internationally, including on Sirius XM radio.The band’s gift of groovy music provides beautiful positivity and healing vibes, with spiritual and mystical overtones…and the message is one of PEACE-LOVE-and UNITY!John Welton John Welton & The Awakening are powerful practitioners of musical medicine, sharing original music that is sure to touch your heart and keep you dancing. Every song speaks directly to all within earshot. Cleverly written lyrics, humor, big harmonies, and a genuine connection to the crowd results in a performance that ALWAYS leaves an impact on any audience!
The Kingston Trio
Fans of legendary folk icons The Kingston Trio can re-discover their timeless music all over again. All three current members, Mike Marvin, Tim Gorelangton and Buddy Woodward have intrinsic links to and experience with the original group: Growing up, Mike was a regular part of founding member Nick Reynolds’ household, who was also his musical mentor; Tim, a close friend since boyhood, is one of the few musicians outside the Trio who has recorded with Nick Reynolds; and Buddy, who has performed with longtime Kingston Trio member George Grove. Many of their personal memories recall the iconic trio’s performances and journey as folk music made its extraordinary ascent to the pinnacle of popular culture – and the top of the music charts. They’ll perform such timeless classics “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” and “Tom Dooley.”
TUSK – The Classic Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
Playing the hits and deep cuts spanning the career of Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame group Fleetwood Mac, Tusk has been crisscrossing the country since 2008 as The Classic Fleetwood Mac Tribute. Five pro musicians turned into masters of their trade through decades of individual music study, live performance, creative risk and devotion to the art. TUSK features note-perfect renditions of both the solo and full band songs, with each member specializing in one of the core lineup of Fleetwood Mac (Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood). They possess an electric stage presence that can only come from well over a decade touring together. Truly the best at what they do, TUSK is unmatched in their tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time.
CANCELED – An Evening with Leo Kottke
Acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke was born in Athens, Georgia, but left town after a year and a half. Raised in 12 different states, he absorbed a variety of musical influences as a child, flirting with both violin and trombone, before abandoning Stravinsky for the guitar at age 11. After adding a love for the country-blues of Mississippi John Hurt to the music of John Phillip Sousa and Preston Epps, Kottke joined the Navy underage, to be underwater, and eventually lost some hearing shooting at lightbulbs in the Atlantic while serving on the USS Halfbeak, a diesel submarine. After sending tapes to guitarist John Fahey, Kottke was signed to Fahey’s Takoma label, releasing what has come to be called the Armadillo record. Fahey and his manager Denny Bruce soon secured a production deal for Kottke with Capitol Records. Kottke’s 1971 major-label debut, “Mudlark,” positioned him somewhat uneasily in the singer/songwriter vein, despite his own wishes to remain an instrumental performer. Still, despite arguments with label heads as well as with Bruce, Kottke flourished during his tenure on Capitol, as records like 1972’s “Greenhouse” and 1973’s live “My Feet Are Smiling” and “Ice Water” found him branching out with guest musicians and honing his guitar technique. With 1975’s Chewing Pine, Kottke reached the U.S. Top 30 for the second time; he also gained an international following thanks to his continuing tours in Europe and Australia. His collaboration with Phish bassist Mike Gordon, “Clone,” caught audiences’ attention in 2002. Kottke and Gordon followed with a recording in the Bahamas called “Sixty Six Steps,” produced by Leo’s old friend and Prince producer David Z. Kottke has been awarded two Grammy nominations; a Doctorate in Music Performance by the Peck School of Music at the U of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; and a Certificate of Significant Achievement in Not Playing the Trombone from the U of Texas at Brownsville with Texas Southmost College.
An Evening with Jesse Cook
Beyond his prolific accomplishments as a beloved Nuevo Flamenco guitarist over the past 25 years, JESSE COOK has honed his skills as a composer, producer, arranger, performer and, more recently, filmmaker and content creator. By the numbers, Jesse Cook has ten platinum and gold studio albums with combined sales exceeding two million copies, 700 million streams online, five concert DVDs and live discs, five PBS specials, a library of over 300 YouTube videos, a JUNO Award win and 11 nominations, three Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, a Gemini Award, and an Acoustic Guitar Magazine Player’s Choice Silver Award to his credit.
Wishbone Ash – Wishlist Tour featuring ARGUS LIVE!
Half a century spent touring while continually releasing live and studio albums, Wishbone Ash is now gearing up for their “Wish List Tour”, an evening of requests gathered from their fans on social media. “I love the interactive element of this,” says Andy Powell, founding guitarist, vocalist and songwriter.” We have so many chapters, lineups and flavours in our music. There’s more than 500 songs, and we continue to write new ones. It is fun to let the fans decide.” “In some ways our career is like a smaller but global version of the Grateful Dead’s , where radio was not the primary path where people discovered our music,” Powell continues.“Many of our fans came on board through word of mouth and exposure to our fan community. With such a long and varied history, fans have followed us closely through certain eras during which they might have come of age musically speaking. They’ll have their favorite songs that they’ll ask us to play. So we decided to give them the show they want!” Using Set.Fan.com, and their social media platforms, the band has gathered up the most requested songs which will form the ongoing world wide tour, beginning in the UK this Fall, and coming to America 07 November thru 07 December.
Deuce ‘n a Quarter
Deuce ‘n a Quarter is an award-winning band that has made quite an impression in the blues scene! As 2023 International Blues Challenge finalists, they have gained recognition amongst top blues acts and have earned themselves the title of one of the current notable bands. In addition, front-man Brian Peters was awarded the Lee Oskar Best Harmonica Player award in the 2023 International Blues Challenge. Original music is their forte and their sound has something for everyone, regardless of whether you prefer traditional blues or something more modern and upbeat. This is one band that should not be missed. Fans will tell you that seeing this act live is something special! The members of Deuce ‘n a Quarter bring their unique individual styles together to form a powerful sound and an undeniable chemistry on stage. From Brian’s smooth vocals & original lyrics to Keith’s electric guitar riffs, each member brings something special that is sure to captivate your attention. With Tim’s keyboard licks, Brian’s harmonica solos, Ander’s hard-hitting drums, and Martin’s bass grooves you are guaranteed a blues show like no other. Stunning performances, Deuce ‘n a Quarter has it all! Deuce ‘n a Quarter continues to capture the attention of audiences and will surely be making waves in the blues scene for years to come. With that in mind, it’s easy to see why this is one of the must-see blues acts right now. Don’t miss out on your chance to experience a Deuce ‘n a Quarter live show!