Check Out Downtown’s Summer Concert Series

From Mayor Finch:

Downtown Thursdays Lineup Set; Summer Concert Series Expands to 13 Weeks

Put on your dancing shoes and make your way to McLevy Green for the 2012 edition of Downtown Thursdays–back for a third year, expanded to 13 weeks. The concert series, organized by the City of Bridgeport and the Downtown Special Services District, begins June 7 and runs through Aug. 30, providing 13 weeks of great music from rock to reggae, funk to soul.

“Downtown Thursdays offers free, family friendly live entertainment in an historic setting, with plenty of great restaurants within walking distance,” said Mayor Bill Finch. “During the last two years, the summer concert series has brought excitement and activity to our thriving downtown neighborhood. I’m looking forward to being a part of this year’s installment of Downtown Thursdays which offers an eclectic mix of performers that represents Bridgeport’s diverse population.”

The concert series runs every Thursday evening from June 7 to August 30 starting at 5:30 p.m. The shows are family friendly and admission is free. Drinks and snacks will be sold each week on the Green by a local downtown restaurant.

“The DSSD is excited to partner with Mayor Finch and the City to stage the Downtown Thursdays Concert Series. Downtown Thursdays will bring an incredible variety of music to McLevy Green and will highlight the Park City’s burgeoning music scene. DSSD encourages you to bring the entire family to enjoy a show and stay to visit the many restaurants in downtown. We look forward to seeing you this summer,” said Michael Moore, Downtown Special Services District Executive Director.

The 13-week Downtown Thursdays series kicks off on June 7 with performances by local favorites The Stepkids and Echo & Drake.

The Stepkids is futuristic electro soul recorded on a reel-to-reel. The Stepkids combine soaring harmonies sung by three singer/songwriters with Kandinsky-esque visuals that make for enigmatic live performances. The trio, brought up together as teenagers on the East Coast jazz and R&B circuit, went on as individuals to share stages with Lauren Hill and 50 Cent, tour internationally with indie punk band Zox, score movies and commercials, and produce solo albums. But it was an interest in creating an aesthetic identity that supersedes the conventional pop notions of stardom and self-importance which ultimately drew them together.

Echo & Drake is an acclaimed indie/alternative rock band from Hartford, Connecticut. This seasoned quartet draws upon the best of American and British indie-rock, giving a nod to early Radiohead, Doves, The Cure, Bloc Party, Snow Patrol, Phoenix, The National, Fleet Foxes, and Death Cab for Cutie. At the end of 2011, their highly anticipated debut album, “Sundrenched Elsewhere,” was dubbed the #1 Connecticut Album of 2011 by America’s oldest continuously running newspaper, The Hartford Courant.

The full lineup:

June 7 – Echo & Drake + The Stepkids

June 14 – I Anbassa

June 21 – Pocket Full of Soul

June 28 – Ken Coulson + Mike Cusato Band

July 5 – Jazz Guild of Fairfield County

July 12 – Rick Reyes Band

July 19 – Girls on Bikes + Hard Water

July 26 – Connecticut Free Shakespeare presents Romeo & Juliet

August 2 – Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble

August 9 – Country Night w/Yippee Coyote + Tracy DeLucia

August 16 – Forever Motown

August 23 – Blues Night w/Tom Forst + Dan Stevens

August 30 – Mikata

For more information about Downtown Thursdays log on to www.downtownthursdays.com, follow Downtown Thursdays on Twitter @downtownthurs and ‘Like’ Downtown Thursdays on Facebook.

In case of inclement weather, concerts will be cancelled. Check the Downtown Thursdays Facebook page and Twitter, or listen to WICC 600AM for cancellation announcements.

Downtown Thursdays band bios follow:

June 14

I Anbassa

I Anbassa delivers high energy, all original Roots Reggae grounded in traditional island music and laced with rock, funk, nyabinghi, and afro-beat. Bringing forward a fresh, new and infectious sound, they explode on stage with irresistible hooks and bubbling rhythms that instantly get the crowd grooving and singing along. Based in Southern Connecticut, I Anbassa has played with Stephen Marley, the Mighty Diamonds, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Lettuce, Deep Banana Blackout, and international Reggae act, Mutti Lewis.

June 21

Pocket Full of Soul

Pocket Full of Soul is a tribute to funk, soul and R&B music. Started by Gene Zwicharowski, the band is influenced by the mighty Tower of Power and other great bands from that time period. Their show will take you back in time as you enjoy that funky groove of all your favorites by such great artists you can’t help but “get on up” and dance as we take you to “bump city.”

June 28

Ken Coulson

What do you get when you cross a folk writer with a funk band? Ken Coulson and Gatsby’s Green Light is a divinely exploratory musical experience with intelligent and engaging song writing. Ken Coulson leads the band with danceable grooves and sounds likened to Paul Simon and Dave Matthews Band.

The Mike Cusato Band

The Mike Cusato Band is an exciting new addition to the New England and New York rock music scene. MCB formed in 2010 when a local Southern Connecticut original songwriters music group that Mike was a part of–the Thursday Night Music Club–inspired him to expand his solo acoustic act to a full band. Mike recruited the talents of Bill DeFazio on bass and Erik Mayville on drums, each of whom had considerable experience in alternative rock. A self-titled EP followed in 2011, as did a number of shows in a variety of venues, from the Alphabet Lounge in NYC to downtown Stamford for their Bandapalooza festival.

July 5

Jazz Guild of Fairfield County

Having performed throughout his childhood years as a competitive dancer, Gene Leone Jr. set out to make his mark in the music world on his 13th birthday. In 2004, at the age of 14, he and another local boy started a band and were soon playing at local parties and events. By high school, they added several more members, eventually naming the band, ‘The Hip Six.’ The teens’ interpretations of old standards and Jazz improvisations were considered refreshing by their mature audiences and a novelty that was sought after by many venues. In 2007, with the assistance of his father, Gene created the Varsity-Coed Jazz Guild of Fairfield County. This organization was created for the purpose of integrating all proficient students from around the area into a forum where they could “come and play” jazz with the band. The group now has over 200 musicians ranging in age from 13 to 26 years old participating.

July 19

Girls on Bikes

Girls On Bikes is a Fairfield area, five-piece band whose members range in age from 16 to 18. Started in 2010, the group is exploring different sub-genres of classic rock and blues. Influenced by such music icons as Led Zeppelin, the Yardbirds, the Zombies, and Wolfmother and Parlor Mob, you can expect Girls On Bikes to find their bearings and pleasure your ears with far out sounds in the near future.

Hard Water

Sometimes the inexperience of youth produces something new, fresh and exciting. Without the years of exposure to the same old stuff we get a new approach and an almost innocent jubilation of music. Hard Water is just this type of band. The band members James Buckwell, (bass, vocals) Ian Sherwood, (guitar) and Julian Sherwood, (drums, vocals) have been playing together for three years and are 16, 15, and 14, respectively. Although young, they are seasoned professionals who have played in all sorts of venues. They recently were the featured homegrown artist of the week on WCCC-106.9FM and were featured twice on The River-105.9FM podcast along with interviews and airplay on WWUH-91.3FM. They have recently recorded four songs at Sherstudios in Southington and are currently writing and recording new material for a full album.

July 26

Connecticut Free Shakespeare

Downtown Thursdays is very excited to host Connecticut Free Shakespeare’s presentation of William Shakespeare’s love story for the ages “Romeo & Juliet” directed by Ellen Lieberman.

CT Free Shakespeare (CFS) proudly presents “Romeo & Juliet” at McLevy Green in Downtown Bridgeport five nights beginning Wednesday, July 25 through Sunday, July 29. All shows begin at 8 p.m.

Aug. 2

Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble

The Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble is one of the best Flamenco fusion groups in the United States. Established in 1994, the group features the unique talents of Val Ramos (lead Flamenco guitarist), Jose R. Ramos (Flamenco guitarist), Gonzlo Cortes (flutist), Carlos Hernandez Chavez (bassist), Ashley Jones (violinist), Jose Berrios (percussionist), and Matt Moadel (cajon player/percussionist). The ensemble often performs with Alfonso Cid, the talented Flamenco singer from Seville, Spain. The ensemble also performs with guest Flamenco dancers and other musicians from Spain and the United States. Hailed as “the best of classical Flamenco brought to modern standards” (Rootsworld.com), “a hidden treasure of the Flamenco world in the Americas … superb musicianship …” (Flamenco Connection), and “simply brilliant” (Flamenco Buzz.com) this outstanding musical group represents the best of contemporary Flamenco music, song, and dance.

Aug. 9

Yippee Coyote

Yippee Coyote is a rock ‘n’ roots band based in Redding, Connecticut that has been playing local venues for the last four years. Featuring guitars, electric violin, banjo, harmonica, and mandolin–fronted by male/female lead vocals with three-part harmonies, Yippee Coyote has a diverse sound that is all their own.

Yippee Coyote chooses unconventional tunes and blends their modern roots influences with rock ‘n’ roll. Whether they are cranking out a toe-tapper or crooning a soulful tune, Yippee Coyote captivates their audiences with their unique sound.

Tracy DeLucia

Country singer/songwriter Tracy De Lucia hails from New York’s Hudson Valley but speaks to country fans from all parts of America with her relatable lyrics and accessible vocal style. Tracy is coming off of a successful 2011 which included recording in Nashville at County Q Productions with top talent who works with country music’s best acts like George Strait and Rodney Atkins. Accolades for Tracy’s music include this from CD reviewer Marie Atwell who said “Tracy’s song “Girls Night Out” can easily be sitting on top of the country charts right now” and Hudson Valley DJ Woodman who proclaimed “That’s the best song I heard in a long time” after hearing Tracy’s song “I Need You” which placed as a finalist in the country genre in the Song of the Year International Songwriting Contest.

Aug. 16

Forever Motown

Forever Motown is a brand new 12-piece show band, a tour de force consisting of 4 lead vocalists, Kia Alexis Baird, Jolie Rocke Brown, Jerry Latimer, & Bridgeport’s own Michael Dunham. Add the 4-piece horn section, and the solid 4-man rhythm section, and you have a big stage unit, complete with costume changes and choreography. You can’t go wrong, visually and musically, with Forever Motown bringing you the great hits from the Motown era, as they interpret the songs of the Temptations, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Four Tops, and many more.

Aug. 23

The Suit & Tyree & Thurrsty

Tom Forst, known as “The Suit” is a guitarist/vocalist/songwriter who focuses on touring and recording original music. He has completed an album with Tyree, called “point of View” which can be found on iTunes. He completed his first full-length CD with Forgotten by Friday, a modern rock/new country band, and they just opened for The Marshall Tucker Band.

Dan Stevens

At the young age of sixteen, Dan Stevens’ romantic streak was ignited by his first guitar teacher in small-town central Pennsylvania who told him stories about the lives of traveling blues musicians like Mississippi John Hurt and Fred McDowell. After being inspired by Woody Guthrie’s book, “Bound for Glory,” the magnetic lure of the road captured his imagination and with a driving passion he hitchhiked and hopped freight trains guitar in hand across the United States five times, eventually covering over 100,000 miles. Musically, Dan continued to hone his guitar skills taking lessons from renowned acoustic guitarist and W.C. Handy Award winner Paul Rishell, who taught him how to play slide. Later, he was blessed to study with Greenwich Village based folk/blues icon Dave Van Ronk during the last years of Van Ronk’s storied life. His repertoire reflects the influence of his revered teachers who actually knew and performed with many of the legendary blues masters. Dan’s most recent CD, “Broke Down and Hungry” features “Sugar Ray” Norcia, of Sugar Ray & the Bluetones and Roomful of Blues, on harmonica. Original songs such as “Broke Down and Hungry,” “Driving Fool,” “Open Road” and “Ramblin'” give a sense of what is was like for him to travel 165,000 miles in three years in an ’88 Chevy van. Termed “Connecticut’s hardest working bluesman” by the New York Times in 2002, he has appeared at Long Island’s Riverhead Blues Festival, the Berlin Blues Festival in Connecticut and was the closer in the acoustic section of the Fleet Blues Festival in Albany, New York.

Aug. 30

Mikata

Mikata has been delighting audiences around the U.S., in Canada and abroad for the past 20 years. Recipient of the New Haven Arts Council Award for “outstanding contribution to the cultural life of the community,” Mikata has performed at clubs in New York City, (S.O.B.’s, Heart Break, Danceteria, Pyramid Club), at colleges and universities around the country and at concerts and festivals in the U.S., Canada and Japan. Mikata performs a full repertoire of hard-hitting Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Bolero, Cha-cha and Latin Jazz. The band is renowned for their contemporary arrangements of the great classics of Mambo and Salsa from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. This was the era when the dynamic, percussive quality of Latin music reigned supreme and Mikata brilliantly brings this element to the fore in its virtuoso performances. In addition to great Jazz soloing from the horn and rhythm sections, Mikata provides a short Salsa dance lesson during performances for those who need to brush up on their steps.