Tad Robinson set to headline Sunday's Crown St. Music Fest

Monday, August 26, 2013
Tad Robinson sings the blues Sunday.

As it has every Labor Day weekend for the past nine years, the Greencastle music scene will now shift to the South Side of the city when the 10th annual Crown Street Music Fest hits the stage on Sunday, Sept. 1.

Five blues and/or jazz acts -- all anchored by local musical talent -- will perform from 1-7 p.m. on the outdoor stage of the Family Youth Community Development Program (FYCDP) Center (across from the Ridpath School parking lot) at 605 Crown St.

Headlining the annual music festival will be Greencastle's own Tad Robinson, acknowledged as one of the best soul blues singers on the planet. He returns to the Crown Street stage after a one-year absence from the event.

Joining Robinson on the Crown Street bill will be the familiar faces of the Randy Salman Quartet, Blues Side Up (fronted by Steve St. Pierre and Jonathan January), the jazz ensemble Convergence led by Harry Maginity and Crown Street Music Fest newcomer Mary Michael.

The annual music festival is the primary fundraiser for the community center, which has provided tutoring and a variety of special programming for youth, senior citizens and families since it opened through the generosity of DePauw University.

Adult tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at gate. Admission for students (with ID) and senior citizens is half price. Children age 10 and under are admitted free.

For tickets, persons may call Charles Miles at 653-9503.

Headliner Robinson, who has been nominated for seven Blues Awards since 2005, is a Severen Records recording artist known for enthusiastic performances whether he's on the international stage in the heart of Europe or in the friendly confines of The Swizzle Stick in Greencastle.

With a vocal style that "owes obvious debt to vintage-era Al Green and other soul sophisticates," Robinson is renown for making his blues harp sing "with the rough-hewn exuberance of a postwar Chicago juker," as music critics have noted.

While the popular Robinson is the headliner who will perform last on the day, Michael will kick off the music fest at 1 p.m.

She will be followed on the hour by the group Convergence at 2, the Randy Salman Quartet at 3 and Blues Side Up at 4.

Robinson is due to take the stage at approximately 5 p.m. and will perform for 90 minutes or more until the show's end.

Steve St. Pierre rocks out at last year's show.

Greencastle native Mary Michael, now living in Chicago, grew up locally and was introduced to the music world by her father Steve Michael.

Eleven years later, Mary has cultivated her own unique style of "sunshine soul," honing in on jazz, blues and soul, while blending in the rock and folk influences she found in her community as a child.

The jazz ensemble Convergence, meanwhile, improvises over classic and pop standards, incorporating a measure of blues, bossa, bop and ballads in the mix.

Harry and Sue Maginity formed Convergence 12 years ago. Harry plays upright and electric bass, while Sue is a vocalist.

Fronting the Randy Salman Quartet is, of course, Salman, a professor in the DePauw University School of Music and an accomplished performer of both jazz and classical music

Having worked professionally with the Indianapolis Symphony, David Baker, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson and many others, Salman has recorded with the Winds of Indiana, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Eastman Jazz Trio, Condition Blue, Steve Allee, Al Cobine, Wanda Stafford, Sandi Patty among others.

Meanwhile, Blues Side Up leader St. Pierre got his start as a blues and rock guitarist in the 1970s in Champaign, Ill., Chicago and Milwaukee.

Besides his blues work with Blues Side Up, his versatility carries him into country and rock as lead guitarist for Phillip Steven & Open Road and War Radio.

St. Pierre recently took part in the Little Walter Tube Amps Endorsees Jam in Nashville that also featured artists such as Vince Gill, Paul Franklin, Dann Huff and Brent Mason.

Providing the food for Sunday's event will be Steve Gaebes and Chief's BBQ with Jackie Miller of Bert and Betty's offering her "famous brownies and toll house cookies" for dessert, event organizer Bill Richards noted.

A beer and wine garden will be available on site. The fundraiser will also include a silent auction and raffles.

In the event of bad weather or rain -- which did occur the last two years -- Sunday's alternate location will be the Inn at DePauw.

Parking will be available in the Ridpath School lot.

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  • Excellant!!!

    -- Posted by macvrod on Mon, Aug 26, 2013, at 7:33 AM
  • Spelling!

    -- Posted by Lookout on Mon, Aug 26, 2013, at 8:38 AM
  • Support a good cause and come on out for a great day of music and friendship. It's always a good time!

    -- Posted by louisvilleslugger on Mon, Aug 26, 2013, at 9:50 AM
  • Can't wait -- always a good time!!

    -- Posted by foxtrotter on Mon, Aug 26, 2013, at 12:52 PM
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