There's been a flurry of activity recently at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, and a few new music shows have been booked for later this year. This weekend is a two-night helping of girl-power rock with Melissa Etheridge, Friday and Saturday night, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $57-$102.

On Tuesday, August 12, a trio of 1990s bands will be in town to take thirtysomethings back to their beer-soaked college days (which almost makes me obligated to go). Live, Blues Traveler, and Collective Soul bring the rock beginning at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $49.75. Hey, that's only $16 a band - I paid more than that in a night of binge drinking back in these bands' heydaze.

On Wednesday, August 20, the young 'uns will be invading Lowell when 2007 American Idol winner Jordin Sparks headlines a show that includes an opening set by Jesse McCartney (formerly of the boy band Dream Street). Show is at 7:30 p.m. Tix are $39.50 and $49.50, and they go on sale tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.

On Saturday, September 13, veteran folkie John Prine will bring his memorable tales to town in what is sure to be an oustanding show. That show starts at 8 p.m., and tix are $41.50 - $56.50.

Finally, on Friday, November 21, the Dark Star Orchestra will recreate the Grateful Dead experience once again, and with Bob Weir's closest stop being in Mansfield next month, this might be your best local Dead fix for a while. Tickets are $30.50 - $35.50, and they go on sale next Monday, July 21, at 10 a.m.

Someone's trying to give the Lowell Summer Music Series a run for their money, so take advantage of the friendly competition!

Holy crap! Has it been a week since my last post? Sorry 'bout that - got food poisoning after being out of town for a week. What a whirlwind. Good thing I'm back to my old self again, just in time for a kickass weekend of music in beautiful downtown Lowell!

It's week four of the Lowell Summer Music Series, and there are four straight nights of music under the stars planned for those of us willing to take it all in. Call it a little something to whet our music appetites for next weekend's Folk Festival. Whatever the case, there's everything from bluegrass to reggae to blues on tap this weekend, starting tonight with a set by Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet, featuring everyone's favorite banjo player, Bela Fleck. But it's a lot more than a banjo affair (although there are two of them in the band). Filling out the band are cellist Ben Sollee and fiddler Casey Driessen. Together, these guys play something akin to chamber music for high-brow bluegrass fans. That's the best I can figure, at least. Show starts at 7:30. Tix are $21 in advance and $25 at the gate.

Tomorrow night (July 18), Bob Marley's former backup band The Wailers will be in town, bringing the reggae sounds that they helped make famous. From their beginnings in Jamaica back in the late 1960s to their more recent collaborations with artists like Sting and Carlos Santana, these guys have sold over 250 million records. I guess you could say they're kind of a big deal. Show starts at 7:30. Tix are $21 in advance and $25 at the gate.

On Saturday night, July 19, R&B legend Jimmie Vaughan will bring his retro blues to Lowell, and who could forget the hits from Vaughan's heyday with the Fabulous Thunderbirds? Admit it - you wanted to be as cool as that lead singer in the beret on the "Wrap It Up" video...with or without the 'stache. Vaughan will be with blues singer Lou Ann Barton, and opening the night will be a set by gospel/bluegrass/country up-and-comers Ollabelle. Show starts at 7:30. Tix are $21 in advance and $25 at the gate.

Finally, on Sunday night, July 20, bluegrass Dobro legend Jerry Douglas will be ripping sounds from his steel-stringed beast at Boarding House Park along with his backup band from Nashville. His show starts at 7:30. Tix are $16 in advance and $20 at the gate. Douglas has lent his trademark slide sound to more than 1,500 albums, and he's also a key player in Union Station, the backup band for Alison Krauss. In true Southern fashion, Douglas is a likable, down-to-earth guy, as I discovered in my interview with him for this week's Lowell Sun Nightlife article.

Read full story »

Well, it's week 3 of the Lowell Summer Music Series, and the ladies are taking over. On Saturday night, July 12, three-time Grammy winner Lucinda Williams brings her country-tinged R&B sound to Boarding House Park. Although she's been around for almost 30 years, Williams has a less-than-prolific track record, releasing only 8 albums in that span. It was her 1998 album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road that put her on the map, and her three albums since have all been well-received critically. She'll most likely premiere some new songs this weekend from her next album, due later this year. I saw her 7 or 8 years ago in Memphis (the Essence tour) at an outdoor festival, and the music was perfect for the setting. No doubt that will be the case on Saturday as well. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the gate.

First up, though, is an evening with Emily Saliers and Amy Ray, also known as the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls, on Friday night, July 11. After taking things in a new direction on their last album, Despite Our Differences, courtesy of production maestro Mitchell Froom, Ray and Saliers inexplicably found themselves dumped by their brand new label Hollywood Records, even though it was only the first album in their five-album contract (gotta' love those major labels!). It doesn't sound like it phased our fearless heroines too badly, though, as they funded their new album, due in early 2009, themselves. For this week's Lowell Sun Nightlife article, I had the pleasure of interviewing Saliers about what's going on in the Indigo world.

Read full story »

Wow - I'm actually glad that I'm down in Florida this week, so I don't have to decide which shows I'm going to see in town. As if there isn't enough going on already this weekend, Martha Wainwright is going to be at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport on Friday night, July 11. To those not hip to this future starlet, she is the sister of Rufus Wainwright (one of my favorite performers), which means she's the daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle, both amazing performers in their own right.

Martha is a singer/songwriter, more known for her live performances than her recordings, and with a voice that elicits chills. Her new album, I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too, is getting great reviews, and the Firehouse's intimate setting is the perfect venue for her show. I've never seen her solo, but I've had the chance to see her with bro Rufus, and their live version of his beautiful song "One Man Guy" was breathtaking.

If you're within 20 miles of Newburyport on Friday night, drop in and see Martha Wainwright live. It'll be a beautiful thing. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $25.

Well, the ladies may be owning the stage at Boarding House Park this weekend, but bookending the Lowell Summer Music Series will be performances from two music legends up at Hampton Beach Casino. On Thursday, July 10, the Godfather of Funk himself, George Clinton, will be tearing it up with Parliament Funkadelic in the Casino Ballroom. The two times I've seen this outfit were non-stop parties, with one ten-minute funk epic following another and barely a second to breathe in between. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $27.

On Sunday, July 13, legendary Beach Boy Brian Wilson will be back in town, hopefully bringing some of his infamous summer sounds with him. This show is being billed as "an intimate evening with," which, given Wilson's personal history, sounds a little threatening, but let's just hope it means a night of warm, smile-inducing tuneage. That show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $80 (Gold), $50 (Reserved), and $35 (General Admission).

Summer music is in full swing, as evidenced by the slew of concert series that have been popping up lately. One of the latest is Manchester, New Hampshire's "Thursday Night Live" Summer Concert Series, which will be held every Thursday night (duh!) in July at 7 p.m. at Veterans Park downtown. Even better, these shows are all FREE!

The Palace Festival Orchestra, led by conductor Robert C. Babb, kick things off this Thursday, July 10, while bluegrass/blues/country quartet Ollabelle bring their unique combination of traditional sounds to the stage on July 17. I saw these guys at the Newport Folk Festival several years back, and I was thoroughly impressed, mainly with their haunting harmonies.

The fun continues on July 24 with Martha’s Vineyard jam band Entrain, and rounding things out will be Latin rock renegades deSol. I’ve seen these guys several times, and they always bring a rump-shaking party.

If the Lowell Summer Music Series just isn’t giving you enough, then hit Manchester on Thursday nights this month to fill in the gaps. Any of these bands are worth the trip up.

Speaking of Manch Vegas, the Great White North's original prog rock power trio, Rush, will be at the Verizon Wireless Arena this Friday night, July 11, bringing a slew of classic rock hits to a venue sure to be packed with pony-tailed dudes and their music-nerd friends (or reluctant significant others). I saw Geddy and co. - for the first time, I'm ashamed to say - at the Garden in Boston five years ago, and all I can say is I would probably be up in Manchester this weekend if I wasn't out of town for business.

So if the Indigo Girls in Lowell ain't your cup of tea (and if you're interested in Rush, they most certainly aren't), then head up to Manchester and relive the days of your youth, when you had more than enough time to study every awe-inspiring lyric and sci-fi themed album cover you could get your hands on.

Daryl Hall plays Boarding House Park tonight, July 3, and to all you music snobs out there - before you start snickering about Hall & Oates and they're quintessential 80s sound, I'd like to give you a little background. The duo were together for years exploring things like Simon & Garfunkel singer/songwriter fare, organic soul, and even some light funk before finding that magical Top 40 sound that made them the most famous duo in music history (look it up), and now the butt of countless jokes the world over.

Researching their history to prepare for my interview with Hall, I not only discovered some hidden gems in the Hall & Oates library, but I also re-discovered some of their hits that I'd hastily tossed aside over the years simply because I thought I was above them (and because of Oates's 'stache). The truth is, there's some great songwriting underneath that electronic 80s sheen.

And Mr. Hall has brought things full circle with a new monthly live webcast called Live from Daryl's House, which strips down those hits and lesser known gems from the 70s and 80s and presents them in an acoustic fashion, recorded live in any one of Hall's houses, which he buys and restores himself (I think he owns like the oldest house in Maine or something). The guy also calls some of his old music pals, like Nick Lowe, and even some up-and-comers, to join him, which has yielded some pretty impressive results.

All this and more is in the article I wrote for this week's Lowell Sun, and included here is my full interview with Hall. I'm actually excited about seeing the guy tonight, not to mention an opening set by local soul queen Jen Kearney and her Lost Onion. Join me if you like to think you have an open mind for music.

Read full story »

Ah, the wonderful Fifth of July. That day after the Fourth, when you’re all fireworked up and ready to see a great live show…or at least buy some tickets to one later in the year. It turns out those of us in the Merrimack Valley will have the chance to do both this Saturday.

Read full story »

Okay, I know the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston isn’t exactly in the neighborhood, but based on the shows I’ve enjoyed there, the Courtyard outdoor performance space in the center of the museum is to smaller outdoor venues what Boarding House Park is to larger outdoor venues – more intimate, better organized, and an all around better time…which makes it worth detailing this season's MFA Concerts in the Courtyard.

Read full story »

Well, I didn't make it to Richard Thompson on Saturday night - I was out at Tanglewood watching the live broadcast of Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion (featuring great bluegrass and gospel music by the Del McCoury Band!) - but I hear the performance was one for the record books, and that Madame Nature had mercy on everyone. Unfortunately, the lawn dwellers at Tanglewood with their high-falutin' picnic spreads weren't so lucky.

So here we are at week two, and Daryl Hall is going to be bringing his blue-eyed soul to town on Thursday night, July 3, to start the holiday weekend off right. For those of you who don't know it, Hall has a new webcast called Live from Daryl's House, and it is actually a pretty cool setup. He plays acoustic arrangements of his hits (and some lesser-known gems) and also teams up with up-and-comers so's to reach out to the young 'uns. It's good stuff, and I'm pretty excited about seeing him live. I did an artist spotlight on Hall for this week's Lowell Sun, and I'll post that interview right here on Thursday. In the meantime, pick up a ticket for Thursday's show if you don't already have plans.

On Saturday night, July 5, New York jam band Assembly of Dust will be dropping their "hick funk" (their words, not mine) on unsuspecting Lowellians. AOD were formed in 2002 after Reid Genauer left Vermont-based Strangefolk and hooked up with some funk and jazz cats in upstate NY.

It's a great summer of music in Lowell thanks to the Summer Music Series. So go see some shows before the summer goes.

www.lowellsummermusic.org

Jo Lily has a unique vocal style that falls somewhere between Tom Waits and Howlin' Wolf. A former member of Boston party band Duke & The Drivers, Lily and his guitarist pal Bobby Keyes put together a supergroup of Boston musicians two years ago and called themselves The Mystix. Combining elements of country, rock, and R&B, the Mystix sound will get your toes tapping and your mouth grinning, with Lily's trademark howl front and center. This Saturday, June 28, the Mystix will invade the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, N.H.

For this week's Lowell Sun Nightlife article, I interviewed Lily about the band, its origins, and its bright future.

Read full story »

With his acoustic guitar and gravelly voice, Frank Morey is like Lowell's version of Tom Waits. He's a busy guy this summer, touring all over the Northeast and even sailing across the pond to play some dates in Europe. It would appear that the only chance to see him in Lowell for the rest of the summer (unless something unexpected pops up) will be this Friday night, June 27, at the Worthen House. Start time is around 9 p.m., so head over and take advantage of the opportunity.

Great outdoor venues are synonymous with summer music, but even more satisfying than spreading out on a blanket to hear your favorite band - to some people, at least - is boarding a cruise ship to do it. This Saturday night, June 28, the Newburyport Blues Cruise will be setting sail at 7 p.m. with Boston's First Lady of the Blues, Shirley Lewis, along with her backup band The Experience. The ship will cruise up the Merrimack River and give patrons the chance to see the city's historic waterfront and skyline, as well as the surrounding islands.

The organizers claim that their cruises "are extremely smooth, stable and gentle with no wave action that sea-going charter boats encounter." They provide chips, salsa and a cash bar. The rain date is Sunday, July 13. For more deets and to order tickets, check out the Newburyport Blues Cruise web site at http://newburyportbluescruise.com.

Well, folks - it's that time of year again. This Saturday night, June 28, the Lowell Summer Music Series is kicking off yet another impressive season - they're 19th, to be exact. That dynamic duo John Marciano and Peter Aucella at the Lowell National Historical Park just keep outdoing themselves. They're kicking things off right this year with British folk legend Richard Thompson (isn't he a Sir yet?), who will bring his stellar songwriting, unique vocal style, and awe-inspiring guitar chops to Boarding House Park for what could easily be the best performance of the whole season.

I put together the cover story for the Steppin' Out section of this Thursday's Lowell Sun, which focuses on the Series, and my preparation for that story included the opportunity to interview the future Sir Richard Thompson. In an effort to whet everyone's Summer Music Series appetites, I thought I would print that interview for you here. Enjoy.

Read full story »

Unless you’re agoraphobic, a vampire, or a heroin addict, you know that the Lowell Folk Festival is a big deal for the Mill City. Showcasing more ethnic musical styles than a satellite radio scan, the LFF brings people from all over the world, not only to participate in but also to enjoy the festival. Three days, six stages of music, and a crapload of ethnic foods – this is the Festival I can’t help but count down to. One look at the schedule and you, too, will marvel at the diversity of the artists.

Read full story »

In their home town of Seattle, The Starlings have been delivering quality country/folk sounds for seven years. Band founders Joy Mills and Tom Parker are in Gloucester this summer helping out a friend, and we get to benefit from the trip with performances by the husband-and-wife duo all over New England through late August. One of these gigs will be at the Java Room in Chelmsford this Friday night, June 20, beginning at 8 p.m.

For this week's Lowell Sun Nightlife article, I had the chance to interview lead singer Mills about the band's origins, their latest album, and their first trip to the Northeast.

Read full story »

As the Stone Church in Newmarket, N.H., prepares for some benefit shows to keep its doors open, another New Hampshire institution – the Tupelo Music Hall – has just announced that it’s moving to a bigger and better space in late Summer 2009.

Per a message from owner Scott Hayward, the Tupelo will remain in the Derry, N.H., area but will move to a state-of-the-art facility that provides bigger shows with table seating, better parking than the current park-on-the-street-and-walk-if-you-get-here-less-than-20-minutes-before-the-show setup, and a better climate control system.

As you can probably deduce on your own, a bigger venue means even bigger names than the already-impressive roster at the current space. Hayward also promises a 20,000-square foot retail shop and an equal amount of office space at the new venue, which will be on Crystal Ave. in the area of T-Bones/McDonald’s.

Southern New Hampshire residents rejoice. If you weren’t already impressed with the Tupelo, you damn sure will be come 18 months from now.

Before you’ve convinced yourself that MySpace has made finding talented new artists impossible, check out who’s coming to our neighborhood this weekend. Melodic pop rocker Brendan James was born and raised in Derry, New Hampshire, but relocated to Manhattan a few years ago and has been on an upward trajectory ever since.

His debut album, The Day is Brave, was just released this month. It was produced by Mikal Blue, who recently hit platinum status with another debut album he produced - Colbie Caillat’s Coco. James is a pianist by nature, and his powerful vocal style fits perfectly with his songs about the pain of lost love, the horror of war, and growing up in New Hampshire. James will be at the Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry on Thursday, June 19, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Meanwhile, out on the coast, Newburyport’s Firehouse Center for the Arts will host ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro for two shows this weekend. Famous for his YouTube video featuring a cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (see below), Shimabukuro has been wowing audiences on the islands for the last ten years. But after he plugged in and began using effects pedals to push the limits of his instrument, Jake found himself more in the limelight, even earning the nickname “the Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele.” His lightning-fast fingers are on display once again on his latest album, My Life.

Jake Shimabukuro will be at the Firehouse on Sunday, June 22, at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are $22 for members and $25 for non-members.

The 8th Annual African Festival is coming to Lowell this Saturday, June 21, at the Sampas Pavilion on Pawtucket Blvd., across from Heritage Farm Ice Cream. As it has in the past, the 2008 festival promises a full day of food, cultural activities, and most important (to me, at least), great African music.

Read full story »

Since it re-opened in 2004, the Stone Church in Newmarket, N.H., has established itself as a prime intimate venue to see live music from all over the map - jazz, blues, folk, jam, and indie rock artists from New England and elsewhere. Unfortunately, the hefty amount of cash spent to polish the venue before it re-opened four years ago is now coming back to haunt partners Chris Hislop, Paul Nessel and John Pasquale.

Read full story »

As half of the Lowell duo Los Wunder Twins del Rap with D-Tension, Effect has been bombing the Mill City and beyond with clever hip hop for the last couple of years. With his latest solo album, Fine Tuned Tantrum – due for release on July 1 – the man formerly known as Chris Butler is poised to hit the big time, not surprisingly with help from his pal D-Tension, who produced and co-wrote the album.

Read full story »

He may live in New Hampshire, but Mighty Sam McClain was born in the South and raised on the gospel sounds of his mom's church. Sixty-five years later, those roots still shine through in his music, a combination of gospel, blues and old-school soul. Mighty Sam is just one of many acts booked for the Manchester Jazz & Blues Festival this weekend outside the Palace Theater in Manchester, N.H.

Here's the full line-up:

Friday, June 13
Freese Brothers, 5:15-6:30 p.m.
Fat City Band, 7-8 p.m.
Mighty Sam McClain, 8:30-10 p.m.

Saturday, June 14
Deric Dyer, 4:30-6 p.m.
Rico Barr Jump 'n Jive Review, 6:30-8 p.m.
Danny Klein's Full House, 8:30-10 p.m.

For this week's Lowell Sun Nightlife article, I had the pleasure of interviewing the God-fearing and belly-laughing McClain about his upbringing, his hard times on the streets of Nashville and New Orleans, and his subsequent success following a relocation to New England.

Read full story »

The last time I saw 90s shoegazer cult faves Swervedriver was in 1993, at the peak of their creative and commercial success. Opening for another practically unknown band at the time, Smashing Pumpkins, Swervedriver came on and delivered an aural assault that was almost impossible to top. Having been on hiatus for the last decade or so, could they possibly deliver something as hypnotic as the show I witnessed at the Omni New Daisy club in Memphis all those years ago?

Read full story »

Don White is the clown prince of folk. Whether in song or in banter between songs, he tells humorous stories of American life that involve his wife, his kids, his dog, or any combination thereof. A perfect sense of timing is crucial in the limited space he inhabits, and White always hits the mark, making him all the more appealing in a hushed auditorium environment. His latest venture is Memoirs of a C Student, a 264-page collection of 12 short stories that follow a similar thread as his memorable acoustic folk songs.

This Saturday, June 14, White is playing a special Father’s Day show at the Union Hall Coffeehouse in Carlisle. The fun starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $18. I highly recommend seeing him in concert if you enjoy creative and humorous singer/songwriters.

In the biggest transformation since Michael Jackson, the Jackson/Appleton/Middlesex section of Lowell, aka the JAM, will get more than just a new coat of paint over the next several years. If recent Lowell transplants have their way, the new Hamilton Canal district (another word for JAM) will be a wonderful "told you so" card to play for their friends who bought in Reading or Waltham back when they bought in Lowell for the reasonable price and potential opportunity

Hell, the locals are already celebrating. The JAMBRAree, taking place this Saturday, June 14, in the area of town in question, promises an "opportunity for residents, businesses and artists to come together in the spirit of cooperation and change." Even better, there will be art, food and some great music on hand to keep things interesting.

The event kicks off at noon, with live music from Lowell soul queen Jen Kearney (a solo show...apparently, she lost her Onions), followed by Boston singer/songwriter Tim Mann, a Latin percussion group, a Cambodian percussion group, and Lowell High Idol Marcella Cruz.

Things really open up...literally...at 5 p.m., when the Early Garage rooftop opens and hometown Zoograss boys Hot Day at the Zoo tear up their washboards at the event after-party. It's sure to be a big day for this soon-to-be-hotspot in town.

Okay, for a lot of people, this might be old news, but for those of you not in the know, this could be a life-altering post…or at least a music-altering one. That may sound a bit extreme, but seriously – if you’re not careful, you will quickly become addicted to Pandora. It’s that simple.

Pandora is a music service. But don’t roll your eyes yet. This is a next generation Internet music service…one that knows what you want to hear, and plays it for you. It’s the PERFECT way to listen to new music you’ve never heard …continuously and without commercials. It’s almost like having your own custom-made radio station – wait, it IS having your own custom-made radio station.

Read full story »

Ask any folkie in the Boston area if they know who Ellis Paul is, and chances are you’ll get more than a “yes” – you’ll probably get a story about how influential Paul has been for them and how much they sincerely love his music. When it comes to singer/songwriters, the guy is top of the heap. This Saturday, June 7, Paul will be closing out the 2007-2008 season at the New Moon Coffeehouse in Haverhill. For this week’s Lowell Sun Nightlife article, I had a chance to chat with the local legend about his new children’s album, his key role in the resurgence of singer/songwriters in the early 90s, and his folk music legacy.

Read full story »

Vermont-based blues/rock/jam sensations Grace Potter & The Nocturnals have been rocking New Englanders for several years now, but something tells me that the intimate barroom shows are over. Since the release of last year’s album This is Somewhere, Grace and the boys have seen their songs pop up on television shows like Grey’s Anatomy and One Tree Hill, plus they made the evening and morning talk show circuit last fall and toured with Gov't Mule.

The lid is sure to blow wide open this summer as they make the festival circuit, also opening for the Dave Matthews Band on a few dates and the Black Crowes on several others. The attention and success are warranted, as Potter is an immensely talented musician. Her pounding on the Hammond B-3 and licks on her flying V-neck guitar are always a joy to watch. She’s cute, too, which never hurts.

Your last chance for a while to see the band headline in New England will be this weekend. They’re playing the Palace Theater in Manchester on Friday, June 6, and way up at the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon on Saturday, June 7. See them while you can still brag about knowing them before 50 million other people do.

Effect is one-half of Lowell rap outfit Los Wunder Twins Del Rap. Dropping great rhymes that are equal parts urban slang and hipster pop culture disses, Los Wunder Twins are as talented in concocting their sonic playground as they are in writing the lyrics that populate it.

Effect treads similar ground on his new solo album, Fine Tuned Tantrum, due to hit stores July 1. A full CD review by yours truly is due right here sometime soon, but in the meantime, pay a visit to Effect’s CD release party this Saturday night, June 7, at the Old Court in Lowell. The party starts at 9 p.m., and tix are $5. Skittish-Voluptuous and the Mores are also on the bill.

Word.

The stage show was impressive, and the music was solid, but someone blundered big time booking Duran Duran at the Agannis Arena on Wednesday night. Capacity is 7,000, and my estimation is that the venue was probably at 2/3 capacity (at best). Let’s just say there were a lot of empty red seats…but we got a free upgrade, so I pretended not to notice.

Read full story »

Chris McDermott was born and raised 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia, and he’s never been able to shake the Philly soul sound he grew up with in the 60s. You can hear it in his latest album, Radio Ghosts. It’s a melting pot of sounds that McDermott has explored over his 25+ years as a top notch guitarist, including stints with blues greats like Eddie Kirkland. Hell, he even recruited former James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield to drop some funky nasty rhythms on Radio Ghosts. And it’s that Philly soul sound that connects the dots.

Next Saturday, June 7, McDermott will play the first ever full-scale live music show at the Outlook Restaurant in Westford. In case you’re not sure where that place is, think Nashoba Valley Ski Mountain. The Outlook is in the ski lodge. The cool part about next Saturday is there won’t be a bunch of people clomping around while Chris is playing, there won’t be a hunk of melted snow in the doorways, and the view will probably be pretty spectacular.

For this week’s Lowell Sun Nightlife story, I interviewed McDermott about his education at Berklee, his years on the road, and his latest album.

Read full story »