The Name Droppers to Play New Haven Friday

New Haven will be alive with music Friday, October 4^th from 8 to 11pm when “The Name Droppers” roll into the Regal Beagle, 17 Whitney Ave, New Haven.

The band consists of: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Drummer Bobby T. Torello, Grammy Award Winning Bassist Scott Spray (Johnny Winter Band), Charlie Karp’s protégée Rafe Klein on Guitar, and Keyboard Powerhouse Ron Rifkin.

 They will be playing some of their originals and standards for this great evening of Rock and Roll with a little bit of blue eyed soul. 

The Name Droppers have been recording at Horizon Music Studio with 2016 New England Music Awards Producer of the Year, Vic Steffens, and their record will be released early 2020. 

For more info, check them out on the web at: https://www.charliekarp.com/ or visit them on Facebook- @bridgeportblues www.facebook.com/Bridgeport-Blues

Great Gatsby Gala on Tap

SHELTON - The Valley United Way is pleased to announce the date for its upcoming winter fundraiser. The 4^th Annual Great Gatsby Gala to benefit Valley Food Insecurity takes place Saturday, January 20, at the Villa Bianca in Seymour, beginning at 5:30pm.

 

The exciting and elegant event is based upon The Great Gatsby, the epic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel that follows a cast of characters living in the fictional town of West Egg on prosperous Long Island in the summer of 1922. Guests at the gala can dress in 1920s attire and there will be a costume contest for the best-dressed individuals.

 

A sumptuous dinner includes starters such as fried calamari, crab-stuffed mushrooms, pastry puffs with spinach, as well as main courses and side dishes including mouth-watering carving stations of salmon, beef, chicken and potatoes, pastas, and salads.  A beautiful Venetian dessert table tops off the meal.  Bottles of wine will be provided at each table and a cash bar will be open throughout the evening.

 

The Rob Zappulla 13-Piece Big Band will perform 20s-to-50s-era music as well as popular songs through the 50s. Zappulla was the featured vocalist for eight years in the famed Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, led by the late Buddy Morrow.

 

In addition, there will be a live and silent auction, door prizes and valet parking. Professional dancer Kristen Prall, owner of the studio Art in Motion, will perform as well as provide dance instruction.

 

Tickets are $90 per person and can be purchased online at valleyunitedway.org. For more information or to order tickets by phone, call 203-926-9478.

 

The Valley United Way is a leading philanthropic organization serving the towns of Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. Their mission is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community through philanthropy, volunteerism and collaboration.

 

(This is a press release from Valley United Way) 

Valley Baroque/Operatic Rock Duo “Demkovic” Prepare for National Album Release

Shelton native Suzanne Vick and Seymour resident Richard Demko have been busy in the studio lately putting the finishing touches on their debut album that is scheduled to be released on Tuesday March 7, 2017.

 

The Duo calls themselves “Demkovic”, and their music is classified as Baroque Operatic Rock.  What exactly is Baroque Operatic Rock?  Primary songwriter Richard Demko gives us an idea of what to expect. 

 

"Our style is hard to explain, but to give you an example it’s a mix between Evanescence, Tori Amos, Faith no More and Living Color," said Demko. "It also encompasses vocal elements similar to hip-hop on the chorus parts, and powerful, dynamic, flowing, melodies on the verses.  You really have to hear it to get the full scope of what this project exactly is.” 

 

The album will be available on HMG Recordings nation wide on virtually every major online retailer, and in select brick and mortar stores.  Demko states, “We are extremely excited to be able to have such a huge platform to share our music.”  

The duo has been also busy assembling a live band and preparing for their CD release party.  The band consists of powerhouse players from all over the state.  Joining them on stage will be RVP Studio Guitar instructor and former G-Soul shredder Marc Amendola, Bassist Steve Wovkanech form the band Fast Ricky, Rhythm Guitarist Dale Grenier from Evil Twin, and Seymour Business Owner Matt Christiani on Drums.

 

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to have such an amazing, talented group of musicians to help deliver our music live," Demko added.

The CD Release Party will be on April 1, 2017 at Café 9- 250 State Street, New Haven CT.  Doors open at 9:00, show starts at 9:30.  Tickets are $10.00 at the door, or available in advance by logging on to cafenine.com.  New Haven artist Nick Depuy and fellow HMG Recording artists Chemical Z will be joining them on the bill.  

 

For more information visit Demkovic on the web at www.demkovic.com or on social media @demkovicmusic

(This is a press release from Richard Demko)

Folk rock band to perform in Seymour

SEYMOUR - The Kenn Morr Band will perform downtown from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 17 as part of the Seymour Culture and Arts Commission's Summer Concert Series.

The band will play on the corners of First and Bank Streets.
There will be no rain date for this concert.
Please bring your own chairs.
Parking is available on surrounding streets, but do not park in the First Street plaza parking lot as shop owners will have your car towed.

For more information call Kim, 203-888-7880.

Seymour students present winter concert

Bungay Elementary School chorus performs in a winter concert at Seymour Middle School. / Contributed photo

SEYMOUR - Bungay Elementary students in third, fourth, and fifth grade performed wonderfully in the winter concert Jan. 29 at Seymour Middle School. 
The beginning band and concert band played beautifully from Hot Cross Buns to Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture.
The third, fourth, and fifth-grade choruses delighted the audience with amazing melodies and stunning harmonies. 
The audience was delighted during the finale as all students sang "America." 
Music teacher Joanna Dunne and the students certainly impressed the families. A wonderful night was had by all.

This information is taken from a press release from Bungay Elementary School.

Music is key at Ansonia High

Maria Tangredi, music teacher at Ansonia High School, says in a release today that the band "recently received a drum set from the organization Horns for Kids, which gives refurbished instruments to deserving schools after a short application process."
She also reports that the school's annual spring Pops Concert featuring the band and chorus will be held at 7 p.m. May 30 at AHS, 20 Pulaski Highway. Admission is $4.
The band will march with the school's dance team at the Memorial Day parade May 27, she said. "We will debut our new banner, thanks to the hard work of two of our band parents.We also received additional band uniforms to accommodate the changing sizes of our members with a $12,600 grant from the Katharine Matthies Foundation."

On a side note, the AHS band is near to my heart, since both of my children enjoyed being a part of it when they were in high school.
Marching in the Memorial Day parade, though tiring, was always a fun day for them.
I urge people to attend the concert and show support, and wish "Miss T," as she is called, all the best as she continues to develop the music program at AHS.