Tupelo Announces Seven New Shows

Ellis Paul will perform at the Londonderry music hall later this year.

Marc Fortier, Patch Staff

Posted Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 10:15 pm ET

We have SEVEN new shows to announce this week!

July 7 FRANK VIGNOLA and VINNY RANIOLO: Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo are some of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. Frank's stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world's top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, Wynton Marsalis, Tommy Emmanuel, Mark O'Connor, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named Vignola to his "Five Most Admired Guitarists List" for the Wall Street Journal. Vinny Raniolo at the age of 28 has already proved himself to be among the elite having performed and recorded with Bucky Pizzareli, Tommy Emmanuel and David Grisman just to name a few. Since Frank and Vinny teamed up in 2008 they have performed over 1000 shows at some of the most prestigious concert halls and festivals in the world including the Sydney Opera house, Lincoln Center, Liverpool Philharmonic, Quebec Music Festival and Italy's Teatro Olimpico. Their jaw dropping technique and incredible showmanship explains why the New York Times deemed them, "---stars of Guitar." Frank & Vinny have a new CD release due for Jan. 2013, and also have a 60 minute PBS special featuring Tommy Emmanuel and Bucky Pizzarelli currently being aired with a DVD release later in 2013 LISTEN

July 14 VIENNA TENG: She shares her name with the Austrian home of Mozart and Beethoven. And she herself studied classical piano from the age of five. But there’s nothing old-world about the music of Vienna Teng, whose music debut brings to mind artists as diverse as Tori Amos, Simon & Garfunkel and Radiohead. “People used to ask what kind of music I played and I never knew how to answer that,” says Teng. “I work a lot with classically trained musicians, but most of my influences are from 1970s-era folk music. So now I call it chamber folk.” She adds: “I’m always looking for the perfect pop song combined with an unexpected amount of depth—that’s my idea of great music.” LISTEN

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July 19 CHRIS SMITHER: Having distilled his own signature sound of blues and folk for over 40 years, Chris Smither is truly an American original. A profound songwriter, Chris continues to draw deeply from the blues, American folk music, modern poets and philosophers. From his early days as the New Orleans transplant in the Boston folk scene, through his wilderness years, to his reemergence in the 1990s as one of America's most distinctive acoustic performers, Chris Smither continues to hone his distinctive sound. He has always traveled his own road, eschewing sophisticated studio tricks and staying true to his musical vision. He has developed and maintained loyal friendships over the years with kindred-spirited musicians like Bonnie Raitt and the late Stephen Bruton while at the same time throughout his career been inspired by and inspiring to today's next-generation of musicians. Reviewers continue to praise his dazzling guitar work, gravelly voice and songwriting. LISTEN

August 9 DAVID BROMBERG: Bromberg’s live show remains as unique as ever. As the NY Times noted “He has such control of his audience that he can, at one moment, hold it in his hand with a tender, touching yet funny anecdotal song, and then set it romping and stomping with a raucous bit of raunch. He is electrifying.” He is also impossible to classify: As one critic perceptively wrote, “David Bromberg fits no pigeonholes. He is part of everything contemporarily musical. He is a product of blues, country, jazz, folk, and classical music. From his early success as a guitar virtuoso, Mr. Bromberg has developed into a brilliant entertainer.” LISTEN

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September 6 JONATHAN EDWARDS: Warm as summer sunshine, real as the truth, intimate as a long overdue visit between old friends – such is a Jonathan Edwards concert. Four decades into a stellar career of uncompromising musical integrity, the man simply delivers, night after night – songs of passion, songs of insight, songs of humor, all rendered in that pure and powerful tenor which, like fine wine, has only grown sweeter with age. This is one veteran performer who is neither grizzled nor nostalgic. These days Jonathan Edwards, a vital and relevant artist in today’s folk and Americana scenes, is much more likely to be found looking forward rather than back. Still, the journey that has brought him to towns and theaters all over the globe – perhaps one near you tonight – is well worth revisiting. An artist who measures his success by his ability to attract and take good care of an audience for four decades, Jonathan maintains that it is the feedback he receives after his shows that keeps him going. “Sometimes, in our darker moments, we imagine our music not finding receptive ears, unable to reach open hearts. So it is really gratifying to hear [someone say], ‘Your stuff has meant a lot to me over the years.’” On the verge of his fifth decade in the music business, Jonathan Edwards shows no sign of turning into a “Sit Down Rock and Roll Man.” Upcoming plans include new markets, new audiences, new songs, and a new studio recording. As this barefoot troubadour prepares for the next stage of his journey, you are more than welcome to join him for an evening or two as he continues to make good on that promise he made all the way back in 1971: “Sunshine, come on back another day – I promise you I’ll still be singing.” LISTEN

November 21 ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY: For nearly 25 years, Acoustic Alchemy has pushed the limits of the acoustic guitar’s potential by embracing a spectrum of musical styles ranging from straight-ahead jazz to folk to rock to world music and beyond. In the two and a half decades since their earliest recordings – despite a tragic setback in the late 1990s and the inherent challenges of the 21st century music industry – the group has assembled and sustained a vast and loyal following that stretches well beyond their U.K. origins.LISTEN

December 6 ELLIS PAUL: Ellis Paul is a critically-acclaimed singer, songwriter, poet, and troubadour originally hailing from a potato farming family in northern Maine. He is the recipient of thirteen Boston Music Awards, second only to multi-platinum act, Aerosmith. Over the course of fifteen years, Ellis Paul has built a vast catalog of music which weds striking poetic imagery and philosophical introspection with hook-laden melodies. LISTEN

OUR NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHEDULE

2013

Mar 8 Comedy Night (Steve Bjork, Mitch Stinson & Chris Cameron)

Mar 9 James McMurtry (Rock/Country)

Mar 15 Jefferson Starship SOLD OUT

Mar 16 Rusted Root SOLD OUT

Mar 22 Judy Collins SOLD OUT

Mar 23 Jon Butcher SOLD OUT

Mar 24 Stick Men (Rock)

Mar 28 Brendon James (Pop)

Mar 29 Beatlejuice (Beatles Tribute)

Mar 30 Denny Laine & the Cryers (Rock)