1st Friday For Folk Music
This month’s installment of the popular ALL-AGES coffeehouse-style acoustic showcase features Atlanta-based blues artist Veronika Jackson, who made a name for herself in the ‘70s as one of the only African American folk musicians in her part of Florida. Adept at the Piedmont picking style of Delta blues, she has performed for decades in the U.S. and Europe. Also on the bill are singer/songwriter Jonah Sage, whose debut album is filled with personal laments and heartfelt guitar ballads, and the well-liked local slide guitar and mouth harp duo of Amburgey & Hanson, who have recently reunited to offer their own take on early rural and swing blues, as well as originals in a similar vein. Admission to this smoke and alcohol free show is a suggested donation of $2, which goes to the Savannah Folk Music Society. Fri., 7:30 pm, Wesley Monumental united Methodist Church (429 Abercorn St.) - ALL-AGES.
The John Cowan Band
Here’s another stellar booking at this low-key, intimate listening room about 20 minutes from downtown. Bassist Cowan possesses one of the finest voices in today’s bluegrass world, and his band of “all-stars,” includes such critically acclaimed and award winning luminaries as guitarist Jeff Autry, mandolinist Wayne Benson, fiddle player Shad Cobb and banjoist Noam Pikelny. This will be an evening of beautiful, beautiful music in a respectful setting. As of press time, less than 25 advance tickets remained available, so charge one will you can at 748-1930! Fri., 8 pm, Randy Wood’s Concert Hall (1304 E. Hwy 80, Bloomingdale) - ALL-AGES.
The Tybee Island Music Fest
This annual gathering finds a variety of established shag, rock and soul artists converging on 2 locations in this relatively sedate beach community for a weekend of fun, food, drinks and dancing. Friday night is a limited-capacity indoor show by The Classic Rock All-Stars, featuring the frontmen/vocalists from Iron Butterfly, Sugarloaf, Blues Image, Rare Earth and Cannibal & The Headhunters. Saturday, the party moves outdoors, and runs from 3 till 9 pm. That lineup includes the CRA, plus shag and soul legends Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs, Clarence “Strokin’” Carter, and Cuba Gooding (Sr.) & The Main Ingredient. For advance tickets, visit www.tybeemusicfest.com. Fri., 8 pm (Memorial Park) + Sat., 3 pm, North Beach Parking Lot.
Jeff & Vida
It was only a few weeks back that this terrific Americana duo played this funky Caribbean eatery only a short walk from the ocean. Formed in New Orleans but now based in Nashville, they’re known for bittersweet vocal harmonies and nimble-fingered interplay between Vida Wakeman’s acoustic guitar and Jeff Burke’s banjo, and mandolin. With a working knowledge of plenty of traditional mountain music and Old-Time bluegrass, plus a hankerin’ for the clever wordplay and aw-shucks demeanor of classic C & W, they put on a great show that’s most impressive to fans of Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings or Kelly Willis. Catch ‘em now for free before they begin their annual tour of the U.K.! Sun., 6 pm, North Beach Grill (ALL-AGES).
BlackwÜrm
One of the best bands in Savannah you’ve never heard (or herd of, for that matter), this fuzzed-out, relentless prog-rock-cum-space-rock powerhouse features some of the more talented and idiosyncratic players on the local art music, jazz, blues and rock scenes. Multi-instrumentalist Ricardo Ochoa (perhaps best known for his stints in ARTillery Punch, and The Richard Leo Johnson Trio) puts down his violin and viola to concentrate on a variety of vintage analog synths and keyboards, not to mention an updated version of the fabled electronic instrument the Theremin.
The rhythm section of bassist Mike Walker (of GAM and Bottles & Cans), and drummer Josh Safer (of GAM and The Viguba Trio) are locked in tight on these instrumental odysseys that blend the sci-fi thrust of proto-metal (think Hawkwind and Voivod) with the repetitive, droning bliss of such electronic rock pioneers as Kraftwerk and CAN. This rare local show is being described as a multimedia experience, with local video artists and sculptors creating customized 2 and 3-dimensional art to pules and follow along with the group’s alpha wave jamming Mon., 10 pm, The Jinx.
