An American holiday will be filled with American music on Friday. The Morris Bluegrass Festival will take place on the Fourth of July from noon to 7 p.m. at South Farms in Morris.
This year's festival features performances by Grammy Award nominees The Special Consensus, International Bluegrass Music Association Showcase band Rock Hearts, up-and-coming The New Grown-Ups from Boston, local favorites The Zolla Boys, Sperry Creek and Guy Wolff, as well as the host band Wires and Wood.
The Special Consensus is led by banjo player Greg Cahill, recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association and inducted into the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America Hall of Greats. The band also includes Dan Eubanks on bass, Greg Blake on guitar and Michael Prewitt on mandolin. The band has received eight awards from IBMA as well two Grammy nominations, for “Scratch Gravel Road” in 2012 and “Rivers and Roads” in 2018.
Rock Hearts is based in southern New England, but its music is active on national radio. The band has shared the stage with notable acts such as Del McCoury, Dale Ann Bradley, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Jonathan Edwards, Danny Paisley, The Gibson Brothers, Dan Tyminski, the Seldom Scene and Larry Sparks. The band consists of founding member and banjo player Joe Deetz, guitaris/vocalist Alex MacLeod, mandolin player Billy Thibodeau, bassist Rick Brodsky and fiddler Austin Scelzo.
The New Grown-Ups are a Boson-based octet that gives a modern twist on American roots music.
The Zolla Boys, brothers Ben and Sam Zolla, perform at festivals throughout New England, and have been featured on the Emerging Artist Stage at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival.
Local band Sperry Creek grew out of backyard jam sessions during the COVID pandemic. The Connecticut band features bassist Scott Freemantle, guitarist Marilyn Toback-Reveley, fiddler Bill Reveley, mandolin player Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe and banjo player Dan O’Keefe.
Banjo player Guy Wolff is an award-winning clawhammer player and a pottery artist based in Bantam.
Wires and Wood, based in Bantam, has a distinctive "Newgrass" sound. The group's lineup features Brian White on guitar, Will Doemland on mandolin, Matt Lauretano on banjo, Don Lieber on upright bass and Nick Zacchio on dobro.
The musically inclined are welcome to bring instruments; picking areas will be available to make music.
Tickets are $40 for adults, $20 for ages 16 years and under, and free for kids 5 and under.
The rain date will be Saturday. The festival doesn’t allow pets, tents, outside food or beverage, coolers or weapons.
Yacht Lobsters coming to Norfolk
Grab your captain’s hat: Yacht Lobsters will perform Saturday at Norfolk’s Infinity Hall.
The New York-based band performs the soft rock sounds of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band’s setlist recreates songs by Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates, Toto and others, complete with a full horn section and improvisational moments.
Doors open at 7 p.m.; the show is at 8. Infinity Hall is at 20 Greenwoods Road West, Norfolk. For tickets or information, visit infinityhall.com.
Jazz in the garden in Torrington
Torrington Historical Society's Summer Concert Series will begin July 19 with a jazz performance by the Peter McEachern Quintet.
McEachern’s quintet will perform original music from his soon-to-be released album, “Streamin’.” In addition to McEachern, the quintet features Noah Preminger on saxophone, Zwelakhe-Duma Belle Le Pere on bass, Michael Sarin on percussion and Andrew Wilcox on piano.
Admission is $10 per person. Patrons are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets and refreshments.
Torrington Historical Society is at 192 Main St., Torrington. Rain location will be Five Points Arts, 855 University Drive, Torrington. For information, visit torringtonhistoricalsociety.org.
This week in rock
On this day in 1985, "Back to the Future," starring Michael J. Fox, was released in theaters. In the film, Fox plays guitar, performing the song "Johnny B. Goode" at a school dance, and the scene insinuates his character introduces rock and roll to the masses in 1955.
The movie's theme song was "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News, which became a No. 1 pop hit. Lewis had a cameo as a teacher in the film.
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