The Belleville Roots Music Concert Series presents Grammy nominated guitarist, singer and songwriter, Bill Kirchen and his band, Too Much Fun, in a Honky Tonk Holiday Concert and Dance on Friday, December 9th at 8 PM, at the Belleville Stage, 300 High Street, Newburyport. Bill Kirchen named “A Titan of the Telecaster” by Guitar Player magazine” celebrates an American musical tradition where rock ‘n roll and country music draws upon its origins in blues and bluegrass, Western swing from Texas and California Honky Tonk.The holiday concert and dance will celebrate this plus a few tales from the road, where Bill has had the good fortune to cross paths and guitars with some very colorful and interesting characters.
In conjunction with the show, a guitar workshop with Bill Kirchen will be offered by Whole Music on Saturday, December 10th from 1-3 PM, at Whole Music, 21 Water Street, Amesbury, MA. This workshop is open to guitar players of all ages and will be especially interesting for roots-oriented guitarists. Don’t miss this unique Workshop and the chance to meet Bill Kirchen, a national treasure.
Bill Kirchen is one of the fortunate few who can step onto any stage, play those trademark licks that drove his seminal Commander Cody classic, “Hot Rod Lincoln” into the Top Ten, and elicit instant recognition for a career that has spanned over 40 years and includes guitar work with Nick Lowe, Emmy Lou Harris, Doug Sahm, Elvis Costello and many more. Bill Kirchen’s current CD, “Word to the Wise” on Proper American, features duets with many of these artists he has worked with, including Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Maria Maldaur and Dan Hicks. Learn more about Bill Kirchen at his website: www.billkirchen.com
TICKETS: Tickets to the concert dance are $20 ($25 day of show) and $10 for children 12 and under. Tickets to the workshop are $30. A special Show and Workshop Package is offered for $40, a saving of $10.
Advance tickets are available at; Belleville Congregational Church Office, 300 High Street, Tues, Thurs and Friday 9 AM to 1 PM; Belleville Thrift Shop, Wed and Sat. 9-noon; Whole Music, (978) 462-9020 or email: info@wholemusic.com; Dyno Records, 1 Middle Street, Newburyport and online at www.bellevillechurch.org/concerts or www.mktix.com/bc. If available, tickets will be sold at the door the day of the event. Special package price for Concert and Workshop is $40. Workshop only is $30. Call (978)462-9020 to register. Workshop tickets are available at the Belleville office, Whole Music and online at www.mktix.com/bc and by calling.
ABOUT BELLEVILLE ROOTS: This is the third show in the second season of the Belleville Roots Concert Series. This season, the von Trapp Children, Country Rain and Della Mae have performed and brought quality music and hhundreds of guests to Belleville. Upcoming concerts: 2/17 Mardi Gras Concert and Dance with Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys; 3/15 Green Week Event with Traditional Irish Group Teada; 4/21 An Evening with Carrie Newcomer.
Belleville Congregational Church has long standing roots in the Newburyport community as a gathering place and supporter of local service organizations. The Belleville Roots Music Series, founded in December of December, 2010, has two important missions: First, the series brings a variety of high quality Roots Music Concerts to the Newburyport area for all to enjoy. The series celebrates music ranging from a cappella to zydeco and includes a diverse range of blues, bluegrass, Cajun, Celtic, country, folk, gospel, Irish, jazz and world music. The second mission of the Roots Music Series is to raise funds to restore and maintain the historic 1867 Belleville Meeting House and adjacent Fiske Chapel complex . The objective is that the Meeting House and adjacent complex will continue to serve as a gathering place for many generations to come.
ABOUT WHOLE MUSIC: Whole Music provides quality music instruction and development to students of ages and ability levels. Our approach to music education is based on the philosophy that all of us possess innate musical talent that can be developed with the right, holistic approach. We offer private lessons, semi-private lessons, group classes and jamming workshops-Jamshops-six days a week at Whole Music’s locations in Byfield and Amesbury, MA. Formerly known as Pine Island Music, Whole Music is co-owned and operated by Mimi Sparrow and Creative Director E.J. Ouellette, an experienced multi-instrumental professional musician with a long standing reputation for inspiring confidence and success in his students. Ouellette is a voting member of the Recording Academy (Grammys). For more information about our services, please visit; www.wholemusic.com and join the online community at: www.facebook.com/WholeMusicStudios.
For more information, visit: www.bellvillechurch.org/concerts. Join the Belleville Roots mailing list and stay informed about upcoming concerts by sending an email to: bellevilleconcerts@gmail.com.
