Just Announced @ BSL - 6.22.11

::Just Announced::

Walter Trout Friday August 26, 2011 @ 8:00 PM Walter Trout's 20th album is called Common Ground, but for the visionary roots singer, songwriter and guitarist that's more than a title. It's where Trout's compelling music resides — in a territory that unites the worlds of blues, rock and pure sonic adventurism, where inspiration and technique meet to create a unique, soulful language. In a sense, the title also describes Trout's personal geography. Although he lives in California, he spends much of his life on the road bridging the U.S and Europe, where he's so well-known and respected that the United Kingdom's BBC Radio One placed the Stratocaster master at number six on their list of the Top 20 guitarists of all time. Legendary BBC disc jockey, Bob Harris, in his book "The Whispering Years" calls Trout: "The world's greatest rock guitarist." (p. 186) Tickets - $25, $35

Monroeville Saturday July 16, 2011 @ 8:00 PM Monroeville is an exciting new acoustic band with a combined experience of almost 80 years of playing and singing. Individually they have been nominated for Grammy awards, won prestigious competitions, founded bands, and have been highly influential to their following and peers. Collectively, in their few months since forming, they have appeared on the Today Show, started a record label, gathered a solid fan base, and established themselves as a powerful new act in the business. The group consists of six young men from the East Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina areas. “I am having an amazing time working with Monroeville. These guys are so talented and musically mature beyond their age. They are pushing the boundaries of the acoustic music genre." - David Hall – GRAMMY® Award-winning Engineer Tickets - $12, $22

Armed Forces Comedy Tour feat. Mark Riccadonna, Carole Montgomery & Kevin Downey Jr. Saturday August 27, 2011 @ 8:00 PM These three amazing comedians fly all around the world making our troops, our hero's laugh and get a taste of home. Mark Riccadonna is like the Johnny Cash song but global. He has played everywhere in the country and thanks to Armed Forces Entertainment around the world several times entertaining our troops. Mark has the charisma and is a gifted storyteller who can transform a crowd into an audience. The minute Mark gets on stage, you’ll laugh and feel like you've known him forever. Mark is a native of Youngstown, Ohio and has been in several films, on the stages of Broadway and works as a voice over artist. With over 25 years of performing experience, Carole Montgomery is a veteran of the standup scene nationwide. Too many TV credits to list but include: Showtime, Oprah, MTV and Lifetime. The National Mom is on the move! Comedian Kevin Downey, Jr. is turning heads everywhere. His explosive comedy style keeps audiences coming back to see him every chance they get. He can be heard on The Bob and Tom Show, Sirius and XM Satellite radio. He’s been on Comedy Central, What Not to Wear, and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy where he got a much needed haircut. Kevin appears at the Comedy Stop in Las Vegas at least four times per year. He has an ever-growing fan base that comes to see him again and again. Kevin Downey, Jr. writes a column called, “Drinking on $11 a Night”, which can be read in Bachelor Pad Magazine, GC magazine, at usedwigs.com anddrinkingon11.com. Kevin’s song, “Secret Garden of Dirty Little Whores, (who think they’re better than me)”, can be heard on college and traditional radio stations throughout the country. Tickets - $20, $30

Steve D'Agostino Singin' & Swingin' The Great American Songbook Saturday September 10, 2011 @ 8:00 PM Steve D'Agostino has been performing the songs from the "Great American Songbook" for 20 years. His journey to a commitment of "expression" through the music and lyrics made popular in the United States and around the world by vocalist such as Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash took root a long time ago. At the age of 8, Steve responded enthusiastically to the opportunity of attending weekly guitar lessons. Playing the guitar and listening to classic vocal performances of standard tunes with his dad at a young age provided Steve with the essential experience and exposure that began to mold his understanding of melody, harmony and rhythm. At the age of 14, while attending St. Joseph's high school in Trumbull, Steve began to study guitar with Tony Purrone and Sal Salvador at the University of Bridgeport. During his course of study with these university professors, Steve secured a position playing guitar with the University of Bridgeport Big Band under the direction on Gary Riggerio. In the early 80's, Steve started playing guitar and singing "live" with his first band "Finesse". The band experienced quite a following and established themselves as a successful GB (general business) group in Connecticut performing an average of 100 engagements a year. As Steve continued to evolve, his voice began to be an essential skill that his band began to rely on. As a result of his vocal development, in the the late 80's, Steve began to dedicate himself more on the development of his singing skills. Today, Steve's 20 plus years of experience are evident with every performance as he tenderly delivers melodies on ballads or relaxes the placement of a lyric on any "medium" to "up-tempo" swing tune. This vocal artistry has taken Steve from "coast to coast" and through the dedication of he and his live band, Steve has become "the standard" of this genre of music on the local scene. Steve continues to honor and maintain the tradition of the Great American Songbook today by humbly interpreting the timeless music and lyrics of Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. Every time he stands in front of an audience, his interpretations of these great american songs reminds his audience about the skill and importance of the "art and craft" of songwriting and public performance. Tickets - $25, $35