Tues. May 29: Mile Twelve- is a fresh, hard driving young band beautifully walking the line between original and traditional bluegrass. Since their formation in the fall of 2014, Mile Twelve has quickly been on the rise. The band has performed extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. Winner of the 2017 Momentum Award by the International Bluegrass Music Association. miletwelvebluegrass.com.  Rain venue: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Underwritten thanks to the Wadsworth Russell Lewis Trust Fund

Tues. June 5: Marcia Ball –For over 30 years this “mighty musical force,” (Blues in Britain) has been “the Queen of Gulf Coast party music…good-time boogie and blues. …oozes southern atmosphere that carries you straight to the bayou. …infectious rhythmic patterns of the Crescent City run through her music like a rich vein of gold. A triumph. (Time Out Chicago). www.marciaball.com.  Rain venue: East Ridge Middle School (ERMS)Underwritten in part by the law firm of Cohen & Wolf P.C.

Tues. June 12: The Bumper Jacksons -This band paints America’s story from the streets of New Orleans to Appalachian hollers. Unafraid to scrap together new sounds from forgotten 78’s, they elegantly balance paying homage to the traditions while fashioning their own unique, playful style. Honored multiple times as the Mid-Atlantic’s “Artist of the Year” & “Best Traditional Band” at the Washington Area Music Awards. www.bumperjacksons.com  Rain Venue: ERMS

Underwritten  through the generosity of  Sam Hur of Ridgefield Cleaners

 

Tues. June 19: The Black Lillies- This renowned band of roots-rockers are armed with songs that blur the boundaries between folk, soul, red dirt country, blues and rock. The Black Lillies have enthralled audiences at festivals including Bonnaroo Music + Arts, New Orleans Jazz Fest, MerleFest, and  CMA Fest & Fan Fair. Vanity Fair notes, the group “continues to cross generations and musical genres – country, folk, blues and a touch of the Dead, for good measure.” www.Blacklillies.com  Rain Venue: The Ridgefield Playhouse  Underwritten through the generosity of Tom & Marlene Gerhar

 

Thurs. June 21:  The Fairfield Counts – Take your annual trip down Nostalgia Lane while you listen to the big band hits of the 30s and 40s: Glen Miller, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Duke and more. www.FairfieldCounts.com. Rain Venue: ERMS                            Underwritten through the generosity of The Ridgefield Thrift Shop

 

 

Tues. June 26: Low Down Brass Band  With a blistering array of horns, funktacious drums and a powerful sousaphone, the Chicago-based brass set has perfected a gritty and dynamic sound through the genres of hip-hop, soul, ska and rock.  Sounding at various points like a New Orleans trad band, a funkified Tower of Power-style outfit and a Chicago-esque horn-rock group. “Not exactly Slipknot, but not exactly John Philip Sousa either. What it is, exactly, is AWESOME!” – Chicago Sun Times. www.lowdownbrassband.com.  Rain venue: The Ridgefield Playhouse.                                                                                                   Underwritten through the generosity of Jon & Allison StockeL

Thurs. June 28: Paul des Lauriers Band– These Montreal-based, Canadian Blues veterans blend rock with straight-ahead blues in a way that echoes the vibe of the great power trios from the 60’s and 70’s. Crowned Entertainer of the Year for the second year in a row at the 21st annual Maple Blues Awards held on January 15th 2018 in Toronto, Canada; in 2017, they also won the Maple Blues Awards for Electric Act of the Year, Bassist of the Year (Greg Morency) and Drummer of the Year (Sam Harrisson). https://www.pauldeslauriersband.com. Rain Venue: Ridgefield Playhouse                                                                                         Underwritten through the generosity of the Anna Maria & Stephen Kellen Foundation

 

Tues. July 3: Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards –Cutting her teeth as a sideman in Boston’s roots music scene, (Band of Horses, Pete Seeger, Rose Cousins and Uncle Earl).  Now as a frontwoman and bandleader – she & the Dance Cards are based in the lyrical rituals of folk music but explore new territories of rhythm and sonics. It is also pop music, born from the roots tradition but now traveling the roads of 70s California.  www.lauracortese.net.  Rain venue: Ridgefield Playhouse Theatre

Thurs. July 5: Eileen Ivers -The pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today.  She is Grammy awarded, Emmy nominated, an original Musical Star of Riverdance, as well as being Nine Time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion. She has performed with more than 40 orchestras worldwide, most recently the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in April. CHIRP is thrilled to have her back with her band. www.eileenivers.com.  Rain Venue: Ridgefield Playhouse.   Underwritten through the generosity of Allan Purkiss of Purkiss Capital Advisors, LLC

 

Tues. July 10: Las Cafeteras – L.A. Times described the band as “uniquely Angeleno mishmash of punk, hip-hop, beat music, cumbia and rock … live, they’re magnetic.”. The group creates a vibrant musical fusion. Their Afro-Mexican beats, rhythms, and rhymes deliver inspiring lyrics that document stories of a community seeking love and justice in the concrete jungle of Los Angeles. Using traditional Son Jarocho instruments like the jarana, requinto, quijada (donkey jawbone) and tarima (a wooden platform), Las Cafeteras sing in English, Spanish, and Spanglish.  www.lascafeteras.com. Rain Venue: Ridgefield Playhouse                                                                       Underwritten through the generosity of the John Katz Family Foundation

 

Thurs. July 12: The Birds of Chicago. – Allison Russell’s clarion voice wraps around the broken, country-soul croon of J.T. Nero. It delivers echoes of mountain gospel, doo wop and classic soul with back porch instrumentation. The band draws heavily on the gospel tradition and the music  feels like a new, secular gospel of sorts. For Birds of Chicago, every word counts. Every note counts. No gold-dusting, no filler. Back by demand for a third consecutive year.  http://www.birdsofchicago.com.  Rain venue: Ridgefield Playhouse  Underwritten through the generosity of The Leir Foundation.

 

Tues. July 17: The Revelers – A Southwest Louisiana supergroup … a tonic of swamp-pop, Cajun, country, blues, and zydeco. Among the sextet are founding members of the Red Stick Ramblers and The Pine Leaf Boys. And with Chris Miller on the saxophone his fiery tone and homage to the swamp pop masters is the “glue” in the Revelers unstoppable sound. Fun, Fun, Fun!   www.Revelersband.com  Rain Venue: The Ridgefield Playhouse               Underwritten in part by Fairfield County Bank

 

Thurs. July 19: Molly Tuttle Band – IBMA “Guitar Player of the Year” in 2017, as well as nominee for three other IBMA awards that year; 2016 IBMA Momentum Award winner, this young bluegrass player has no where to go but up! She began performing on stage when she was 11, Since then, she’s appeared on A Prairie Home Companion and at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, won first place in the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Competition at Merlefest,. She has already received more than two million YouTube views.  http://www.mollytuttlemusic.com Rain Venue: ERMS                        Underwritten in part through the continuing generosity of Bob & Loire Leavitt

 

Tues. July 24: Dustbowl Revival – The bands “upbeat, old-school, All- American sonic safaris exemplify everything shows should be: hot, spontaneous, engaging …and a pleasure to hear.” L.A. Weekly.  Awarded best live band in L.A. with tuba, washboard, accordion, fiddle, mandolin, trumpet and guitar joyously pumping out early 20th century standards and original tunes.  http://www.DustbowlRevival.com. Rain Venue: ERMS                                                                                                       Underwritten through the generosity of the 3 B’s Foundation

Thurs. July 26: Hot Club of Cowtown – Back by popular demand for Elana James’ 13th year performing at CHIRP, Hot Club’s 11th, this trio, Elana, Jake Erwin and Whit Smith, possesses “an arsenal full of technique and joy.” (Jon Caramanica, NY Times). Called “the world’s most amazing Western Swing Band” (London, Sunday Times), they are three incredible virtuosos on fiddle, bass and guitar.  http://www.hotclubofcowtown.com.               Rain Venue ERMS                                         Underwritten through the generosity of the Family of Alex HeckerT

 

Tues. July 31: Jamie McLean Band – “McLean and company ooze drops of southern roots rock, blues, R&B, funk and soul out of every note… the rock & roll swagger of the Rolling Stones combined with the songwriting prowess of Ryan Adams.” – Jambase.  This is their first CHIRP performance after opening several times at Ridgefield Playhouse for notables such as Greg Allman, Aaron Neville and Trombone Shorty. http://www.jamiemcleanband.com Rain Venue: Ridgefield Playhouse                        Underwritten in part by the Anna-Maria & Stephen Kellen Foundation

Thurs. Aug. 2: The Steel Wheels -This 4 piece string band plays a strong brew of original soulful mountain music that springs in part from their shared Mennonite heritage.  Based in the Blue Ridge Mountains, with strong commitments to their roots and environs, often huddled around a single mike, they marry old time musical traditions with their own innovative sound.  The result = MAGIC.   http://www.thesteelwheels.com  Rain Venue: ERMS

Tues. Aug. 7: Radio Free Honduras – Back for a second visit after a knockout performance in 2017, Radio Free Honduras is a diverse collective of Chicago musicians, all united under one goal-to promote the music of Charlie Baran, once a major Honduran musician, but as a refugee in America, by day, a school maintenance man.  With lively percussion, eclectic instrumentation and rich harmonies this band “is great Latino music.” (Toledo Blade) http://www.RadioFreeHonduras.com.  Rain Venue: ERMS                                                                                                                         Underwritten through the generosity of Ridgefield’s Hamlet Hub

Thurs. Aug. 9: Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers – “A hot mama blues singer” (Sing Out !) with a soulful voice who has been a Boston Music Award Winner “Blues Act of the Year” 2012 as well as winning the Boston Blues Challenge Competition in 2015,2014,2012 and 2010.   She has been called “one of the most dynamic, talented and exciting roots rocking blues women on the scene” by Living Blues Magazine.   www.erinharpe.com  Rain venue: Ridgefield Playhouse.                                                                                                           Underwritten through the generosity of Chris Pike of Ridgefield Music

 

Tues. Aug. 14: David Myles – A consummate performer, Canadian Myles sounds like a “cross between James Taylor and Michal Buble” (Elmore Magazine). He leaps easily from rock to jazz, Latin music and hip-hop to purely country croons.  He’s a master of many genres and a Juno Award Winner. http://www.DavidMyles.com   Rain venue: Ridgefield Playhouse                                     Underwritten through the generosity of The Ridgefield Thrift Shop

 

Special Added Event:  WEDS. AUG 15; ELIZA GILKYSON, 7PM IN BALLARD PARK

Eliza Gilkyson is a 2-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and activist who has become one of the most respected musicians in Folk, Roots and Americana circles. She has appeared on NPR, Austin City Limits, Mountain Stage, etown, Sirius/XM, Air America Radio and has toured worldwide as a solo artist and in support of Richard Thompson, Patty Griffin, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Dan Fogelberg.
Her songs have been covered by Joan Baez, Bob Geldof, Tom Rush and Rosanne Cash and have appeared in films, PBS specials and on prime-time TV. She has been inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame and recognized with countless Austin Music and Folk Alliance awards. Eliza’s music has always offered a vivid reflection of the times we live in, full of joys and sorrows, each song a window into a life of struggle and triumph in a world she feels is “poised on the edge of moral, economic and environmental bankruptcy.”

 

Thurs. Aug. 16: Della Mae – IBMA’s Emerging Artists of the Year in 2013, GRAMMY Nominees in 2014 for their debut album on Rounder Records, named among Rolling Stone’s “10 bands to watch for in 2015.” “Never failing to deliver punch, soul and emotion in equal measure … rootsy, prayerful, spiritual almost – a statement of purpose and direction” (Pop Matters)  http://www.Dellamae.com  Rain venue: ERMS                                                                                                                                     Underwritten through the generosity of William Leventon

Tues. Aug 21: Janiva Magness – 2017 Grammy nominee, B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, 7x Blues Music Award winner, 26x nominee, and 2015 Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year,  Janiva is on tour promoting her album, Love Is an Army, a brilliantly crafted bridge between the past and present, blending the echoes of classic soul and Americana music with themes of love and the very contemporary sound of protest. http://www.janivamagness.com. Rain venue: ACT Theatre.                                                                                     Underwritten through the generosity of Gary & Susie Singer

 

 

Thurs. Aug. 23:  James Maddock A rock & roll lifer, James Maddock has been carving his unique path since the 1980s, when the British-born singer/songwriter kicked off his career with a raw, soulful voice; a storyteller’s sense of narrative; and the ability to blur the lines between folk, classic pop, and rock. Rain Venue: ACT Theatre.                             Underwritten by Barbara Manners and Naomi Stern

 

 

 

 

Tues. Aug. 28:  Los Texmaniacs – 2010 Grammy Award winners, this famed conjunto band incorporates elements from R&R and jazz with Tejano Music.  Led by Max Baca their concerts burst with energy. Max has led 4 tours to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other war torn areas, appeared on Leno, Letterman, O’Brient and been featured in multiple PBS documentaries.  http://www.texmaniacs.com. Rain Venue: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church                                                                                     Underwritten by Naomi Stern

 

 

 

Thurs. Aug. 30: C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band – “Heir to the Zydeco throne.” (Billboard Magazine). Back by huge popular demand for his 9th consecutive year at CHIRP. Come prepared to dance and to have lots of fun!.   www.officialcjchenier.com  Rain Venue: ERMS

Underwritten in part by the Ridgefield Rotary Club.