Flagpole Radio Cafe

The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission is pleased to announce that acclaimed singer, songwriter, and raconteur Christine Lavin will lead a knitting circle one hour before the March 19^th edition of The Flagpole Radio Café.  The knitting circle will take place in the Alexandria Room on the second floor of the Edmond Town Hall and begin at 6pm.  Participation is free and open to anyone with a ticket to the subsequent performance.

            Tickets are now on sale at flagpoleproductions.org . The show begins at 7pm at the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT.  Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $15 for students and senior citizens.  If further information is needed, please contact us at info@flagpoleproductions.org .

            Producer Barbara Gaines noted, “We’re delighted to have Christine Lavin at The Flagpole Radio Café and are looking forward to the knitting circle with much anticipation. I hope seasoned knitters take their current project and novices grab a skein of wool and join us for the fun.”

            Christine Lavin is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist living in New York.  She has recorded 20 solo albums, the most recent being Cold Pizza For Breakfast on Yellow Tail Records.  She has also produced nine compilation CDs showcasing the work of dozens of songwriters whose work she loves.  One of these recordings, the food-themed One Meat Ball, includes a 96-page cookbook that Christine edited.  For four years she hosted Slipped Disks on XM satellite radio, playing CDs slipped to her backstage by compatriots, and is the occasional guest host for the City Folk Sunday Breakfast Show on WFUV-FM at Fordham University.

             Ms. Lavin also writes freelance for various publications (including The Washington Post, the St. Petersburg Times, Performing Songwriter, and Delta Sky magazine).  Her song “Amoeba Hop” has been turned into a science/music book by illustrator Betsy Franco Feeney and received the stamp of approval from The International Society of Protistologists, and a “Best Book Award” from the American Association for The Advancement of Science.

            The book The Pluto Files:  The Rise And Fall Of America’s Favorite Planet, written by Neil deGrasse Tyson, head of the Hayden Planetarium in NYC, includes the complete lyrics to Christine’s song “Planet X,” which details Pluto’s history and planetary status debate in rhyme. The book is published by W.W. Norton (and Christine got a “D” in Astronomy in college).

            Christine performs concerts all over the United States, Canada, and points beyond such as Australia, Germany and Israel.   A distinctive hallmark of her concerts is her hosting knitting circles backstage prior to each show.   Her latest book project, Cold Pizza for Breakfast:  A Mem-Wha?  is available in paperback, Kindle, iPad, and audio book formats.  Just One Angel, her latest compilation project (22 artists, 22 Christmas/Hanukah/Solstice/New Year’s songs), was just released in time for the 2010 holiday season.

The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission is pleased to announce that acclaimed jazz-folk duo Bethany and Rufus will be the guest artists for the February 5^th edition of The Flagpole Radio Café.  Tickets are now on sale at flagpoleproductions.org .  The show begins at 7pm at the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT.  Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $15 for students and senior citizens.  If further information is needed, please contact us at info@flagpoleproductions.org .

            Bethany & Rufus are a cello and voice duo that push the boundaries of American roots music far into unexpected territories, sliding seamlessly between groove, world, blues, and traditional folk music – and when Bethany Yarrow and Rufus Cappadocia join forces on stage they spark a fire-in-the-belly, soul-stirring experience of American roots music that lingers long after the concert ends .

            As the daughter of folk legend Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Bethany Yarrow absorbed much of this music through osmosis in her early childhood, but it’s her tour-de-force stage presence, mesmerizing voice and deep knowledge of the material that allows her to turn these songs inside out and find their less explored, enchanted underside. Rufus Cappadocia is renowned for his cross cultural collaborations, taking the cello into previously unexplored realms. Cappadocia has collaborated with a wide spectrum of world music artists, and through his work with West African, Haitian Vodou and Arabic Music his unique musical voice traces the lineage of American music back to its root sources.

            In January 2007 Bethany & Rufus released their debut record “900 Miles” on Hyena Records. The press was universally positive.  For the duo, it was a great triumph for them and for the genre of folk music. “It was so rewarding to get folk music out of the box of the usual expectation of voice and strummed guitar and turn a whole other kind of audience on to these old songs,” says Rufus. “It was like putting American folk music back into the context of the folkloric traditions of the world.”

Executive Producer Martin Blanco remarked, “Peter Yarrow had such fun performing in our show last May, that he encouraged his daughter Bethany and her partner Rufus to perform at our show.  Once we heard Bethany’s sultry voice coupled with Rufus’ infectious cello, we knew we had to bring them to Newtown.  Their music is as beautiful as it is fiery; I can only hope the Fire Marshall doesn’t have issue with their appearance.”

Hear them again on WPKN during Chris Teskey’s show, Wednesday, December 8th, at 7:30. (FM 89.5 on the radio or click here to listen on-line)

The Roger Ball Quintet will be the guest artist for the December 4th edition of The Flagpole Radio Café. Roger Ball is a resident of Newtown who may be remembered as a founding member of the acclaimed jazz funk ensemble the Average White Band. Tickets are now on sale at www.flagpoleproductions.org . The show begins at 7pm at the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT. Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $15 for students and senior citizens. If further information is needed, please contact us at info@flagpoleproductions.org .

Executive Producer Martin Blanco remarked, “I remember listening to the Average White Band in my youth. Not only were they an integral part of the popular music landscape of the time, but their music helped introduce jazz to a generation of listeners. Roger Ball is a great saxophone player and yet another accomplished artist who resides in Newtown. We are excited to have his ensemble perform in our show and help us celebrate the holiday season.”

Roger Ball has been playing jazz and funk to international audiences for over thirty years. In addition to playing the saxophone, Mr. Ball is a keyboardist, composer and arranger. The Roger Ball Quintet comprises his excellent alto sax, John Fumasoli on trombone, Nick Bariluk on piano, Henry Lugo on bass, and Thierry Arpino on drums, performing an exciting mix of jazz in a funk vein, jazz standards and original songs.

While studying architecture at the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee, he met Malcolm “Molly” Duncan and Alan Gorrie. The three of them relocated to London and later joined forces in 1971 with Onnie McIntyre, Hamish Stuart and Robbie McIntosh to form the highly acclaimed and much beloved Average White Band.

These six Scots were an unlikely group to be successful playing American-styled funk, but went on to be nominated for three Grammy Awards in the Rhythm & Blues category. Mr. Ball was the principal composer of “Pick up the Pieces” which topped the US Billboard charts in February of 1975, as did “Cut the Cake” that same year. “Pick up the Pieces” has since been covered by many musicians and used in television programs, films and commercials. He went on to co-write a total of forty-three songs for the Average White Band, many of which have been sampled and used by musicians including the Beastie Boys, TLC, Too Short, Ice Cube and Arrested Development. This past summer, he and “Molly” Duncan, also known as The Dundee Horns, reunited for a performance in his home country of Scotland.

Before forming Average White Band, Mr. Ball was a session musician in London, arranging and playing for Badfinger, Kiki Dee and Elton John, Mama Cass, Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music and many others. He has performed on stage with Chaka Khan and Marvin Gaye. As an arranger with Average White Band, he wrote and played with the incomparable Brecker Brothers, Michael and Randy Brecker.

Roger Ball’s roots in jazz extend back to his teenage years, playing in traditional jazz bands. In 1995 he released his first solo album, Street Struttin’ and, in 2005, his second CD, Childsplay. This past summer, he and “Molly” Duncan, also known as The Dundee Horns, reunited for a performance in his home country of Scotland. He lives here in Newtown with his wife and son.

Hear him again on WPKN during Chris Teskey’s show, Wednesday, November 10th, at 7:30. (FM 89.5 on the radio or click here to listen on-line)

The Newtown Cultural Arts Commission is pleased to announce that Grammy Award-winning Tom Chapin will be the guest artist for the November 6th edition of The Flagpole Radio Café. Tickets are now on sale at www.flagpoleproductions.org . The show begins at 7pm at the Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT. Ticket prices are $18 for adults, $15 for students and senior citizens. If further information is needed, please contact us at info@flagpoleproductions.org .

Executive Producer Martin Blanco remarked, “We are delighted to have such an accomplished musician and songwriter on our show. In addition to his superb musicianship, Mr. Chapin is a terrific actor and storyteller. His artistic sensibilities are a great compliment to our brand of music and comedy and I know that our audience will enjoy his performance. We are anticipating a full house at the Edmond Town Hall this November 6.”

Tom Chapin’s music spans multiple styles and generations. For more than thirty years and through twenty-one recordings, Mr. Chapin has entertained, amused and enlightened audiences of all ages with life-affirming original songs told in a sophisticated array of musical styles. His remarkable musicianship, great songwriting and personal warmth shine through whether he’s performing in a concert hall, an outdoor festival, a school, in front of a symphony orchestra or in an intimate coffeehouse.

Tom Chapin’s adult concerts and recordings are sparked by strong, intelligent songwriting with clear, engaging vocals and the intricate, melodic guitar work that has become his trademark. His most recent recording Broadsides, a collaboration with John Forster, was released this month.

The New York Times calls Tom Chapin “one of the great personalities in contemporary folk music.” He says: “Mine is not a traditional music, but it comes from a tradition. My musical heroes are people like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie who wrote and sang real songs for real people; for everyone, old, young, and in between.”

Tom Chapin is also a beloved narrator of children’s books on tape. Three of his narrations won Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Album for Children: Mama Don’t Allow in 2001, There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly in 2002, and The Train They Call the City of New Orleans in 2004.

His varied career has taken him to Broadway as lead in the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes, off-Broadway as musical director of both Cotton Patch Gospel and Harry Chapin: Lies & Legends and on television as host of Make A Wish on ABC, and as host of the documentary series National Geographic Explorer. He has contributed satiric topical songs to National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, poking fun at social and scientific trends in the news. He also has a cameo role in Jonathan Demme’s 2004 remake of The Manchurian Candidate.

In addition, Tom Chapin works tirelessly on behalf of many charitable organizations. He is on the Board of Directors of WhyHunger, a hunger organization founded in 1975 by Tom’s late brother, singer/songwriter/humanitarian Harry Chapin. He is active in environmental causes as well as in working to get music and the arts back in schools.