Sunday, February 14 2010

Note: Welcome Reception – Friday 5:00pm

The Boston Bluegrass Union (BBU) is proud to present the 25th annual Joe Val Bluegrass Festival. This beloved winter tradition boasts a full weekend of top-notch bluegrass entertainment, including performances by some of the best national and regional bands, over forty master classes and workshops, the BBU’s acclaimed Academy for Kids, directed slow jams, a thriving vendor floor with a great array of bluegrass-related merchandise, round-the-clock picking, and more.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of venerable Boston-based roots music record label Rounder Records – a milestone that will be celebrated on Saturday night with a special evening program featuring Rounder artists. All this without having to brave the elements or leave the cozy confines of the Sheraton Framingham!

Full details on the festival, including late breaking news and links to online ticket purchase at www.bbu.org/jvhome.htm

"A Date With Love" - Susan Campbell's DATING JESUS and benefit concert by Gale Gardiner.

Susan Campbell will be here to read and sign her book, Dating Jesus. She is an award-winning columnist at the Hartford Courant. In January, her book, “Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl,” came out from Beacon Press. Copies of the book in paperback will be available. "While it may be true that Jesus loves all of us, Susan Campbell is clearly His favorite. Her writing cuts to the quick and slices to the bone, thereby cleaning and healing old wounds for every woman who's struggled to find acceptance within, and without, conventional religion." — Regina Barreca, author of "Babes in Boyland"

Joining us for a musical presentation will be GALE GARDINER - performing songs from her CD "Timeless Love" which  journeys through faith, family & romance with 18 mostly live originals from gospel blues, contemporary folk, old timey, Celtic to world, with mysterious beauty & synergy amidst songs, singer & instruments (4 piano, 6 autoharp & 8 guitar). www.cdbaby.com/cd/galebgardiner2

All proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to support St. Vincent's School Music Program in Haiti (A mission of St. James's Church) to help teach kids with disabilities to play instruments to earn a living.

“In Love With Paris!” - The Rebecca Parris Trio

In 2009 the Regent became the new venue for this 25-year Valentine’s Day Boston tradition—a memorable, romantic evening of impeccable live vocal jazz from a beloved icon of the genre. Fans of Parris know there is no better translator of America’s favorite love songs, and have followed her lead to warmth on the most romantic day on the calendar—year after year. And, since Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, a special matinee performance has been added for 2010.

Parris has performed all over the world with her own groups, as well as with some of jazz's greatest legends, including Count Basie, Joe Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Terry Gibbs, David "Fathead" Newman, Red Mitchell, Buster Cooper, Nat Pierce, and many others.

Reserved seats are $18, $23 and $28. For tickets, directions, or more information call 781-646-4849 or visit www.regenttheatre.com. The Regent Theatre is MBTA and wheelchair accessible with free parking across the street.

According to San Francisco’s KABC radio theater critic, Jerry Friedman, “This revue features some of the best songs from the best Broadway shows, all sung by some of the most talented performers working today singing many of the hit songs that they have sung on Broadway.”

100 Years of Broadway recreates the greatest moments from the finest shows of the century featuring the actual stars of shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, CATS, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Jekyll & Hyde. These amazing performers light up the stage with songs from the hit shows in which they starred. Neil Berg presents brilliantly revived arrangements of Broadway classics as well as thrilling numbers from Broadway’s newest hit shows.

The New England Conservatory’s 31st annual Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Jubilee will celebrate the light of the spirit and the warmth of love in two weekend performances.

Under the direction of preeminent ministers of music, the 100-voice NEC Millennium Gospel Choir, along with the NEC Community Gospel Choir, the NEC Youth Gospel Choir, New England Gospel Ensemble, the Mystic Chorale, the Mt. Olive Kingdom Builders' Praise Team and Sanctuary Choir, Joyful Voices of Inspiration, St. Paul Cathedral Ensemble, Confirmation, Angelic Voices of Praise and Re-Union Choirs and St. Paul AME Young Adult Network Choir will raise their voices to praise God in selections drawn from the deepest rural traditions to the youngest urban expressions.

Tickets to Gospel Jubilee are $10, $5 for seniors and students and may be purchased at the Jordan Hall Box Office, 617-585-1260. For further information, check the NEC Website at: www.necmusic.edu or call the NEC Concert Line at 617-585-1122.

A different caller each dance. No experience necessary. Singles & groups welcome. Free snacks & beverages at the break. Dress is casual.

Adults $5; Children $3, maximum $12 per family. FREE for students with ID.

Web page: www.westford.com/pca Contact email: WestfordBarnDance@hotmail.com

With rotating hosts:

1st Sunday guitarist Steve Berke

2nd Sunday pianist Molly Flannery

3rd Sunday guitarist Michael Chasse

4th Sunday vocalist Wendy Nottonson

Format: The house band plays from 4-5 while guests arrive and participants sign up. Full menu available! From 5-7 is the jam. The host is in charge of personnel on stage. The first 15 people to sign up are guaranteed a spot, so it's good to arrive early. Participants are welcome & encouraged to bring charts! Newcomers and listeners are always welcome!

Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14:

4pm Beth Colegrove, Danielle Doyle and Hayley Reardon http://www.myspace.com/bethcolegrove http://www.danielledoylemusic.com/ http://www.myspace.com/hayleyreardonmusic

5:15pm The Bella Birds http://www.thebellabirds.com/

6pm John Shade http://www.davegodowsky.com/

6:45pm The Party Favors http://neilcleary.com/

7:30pm Carsie Blanton http://www.carsieblanton.com/

8:15pm Catherine MacLellan, Jacqueline Francis, Margaret Glaspy and Lady Lamb The Beekeeper http://www.catherinemaclellan.com/ http://www.myspace.com/lapetitejack http://www.myspace.com/margaretglaspy http://www.myspace.com/ladylambthebeekeeper

9:45pm Zack Hickman and Barnstar http://www.myspace.com/zackhickman

This is an event for storytellers and performers and anyone who would like to see Massachusetts connected by story. Taking our words to the people! Love in haste, recount at leisure. Bring us stories from your adventures with Eros.

* 10 stories of love hosted by Laura Packer and Ian Thal - LauraPacker.com

* 5th in a series of 9 massmouth story slams in 2009-2010

* $5-$7 cover Free to Cambridge residents with a story. * Ten 5 minutes stories on a theme

* Prizes for stories

* Improv games & more!

* Sunday afternoons - Stories start @ 4:15 sharp. Next Open Story Slam: Sunday March 21: - Hosted by: Kevin Brooks

Special Valentine's Day dinner show

It's Valentine's Day and someone we love will be our feature this week. Cynthia French is a writer, performer and organizer. She has been performing poetry for 8 years throughout the country and overseas, and has won multiple awards and grants for her work. She is currently working on her first book-length creative nonfiction project.

French is the Slam Master for SlamMN!, the poetry slam in Minneapolis, MN and was the event coordinator for the 2002 National Poetry Slam - the largest poetry event in Minnesota history. She was the 2006 Minnesota Individual Poetry Slam Champion. She teaches writing and performance workshops to students of all ages, and has been bringing poetry slam to college campuses for the past six years. She would like to spend her life traveling, writing, and teaching people that poetry isn't scary.

In the Starlight Jams, participants can play on any tune at any time after the opening house band set. The host band will call tunes, keys or tempos. Players: be prepared to read and solo on an unfamiliar jazz chart with facility.

With rotating host bandleaders: John Funkhouser, Joe Simon, Phill Argyris, Joe Raia.

Robbie Printzhas has performed at the best comedy clubs across the nation, as well as numerous colleges and corporate events. His performance is a reminder of childhood wonders and adulthood absurdities; delivered with high energy and a fast pace that keeps audiences laughing from start to finish.

Paul Keenan is best described as a 12-year-old boy trapped within a 6'4" adult frame. He has emerged as one of the brightest up and coming comics from a talent rich Boston comedy scene. Crowds can't help but be drawn in by his All-American looks and child like charm as he shares his bizarre and sometimes twisted thoughts and observations.

Stacy Yannetty will win you over with an energetic delivery of observations, characters and stories about life, her travels and marriage with a sense of honesty and irony that is truly entertaining. The need to express herself and connect with an audience comes through with vivacious energy that makes for an great show. Her influences go back to vaudeville where she discovered the art of the business that is show.