Menu
Robinson show to conclude 2019 Summer Music Festival
Blues great Tad Robinson, who “places near the top of the list of the finest living singers of soul blues” (Downbeat magazine), appears in a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church, concluding the 15th season of the Greencastle Summer Music Festival.
The concert will give the audience a special sneak preview of songs from Robinson’s seventh album, the Sept. 13 Severn Records release “Real Street,” in a program of music that draws from the roots music traditions of blues and soul.
Robinson will be joined by his longtime band members Paul Holdman on guitar, David Murray on acoustic and electric bass and drummer Jeff Chapin.
Intermission refreshments will be provided by Bridges Craft Pizza & Wine Bar, one of the Festival’s business supporters, which also include the Inn at DePauw, Greenburg Accounting and Hillside Farms.
The festival also receives income from an endowment through the Putnam County Community Foundation, and was awarded a grant from the Putnam County Visitors and Convention Bureau.
This season-finale event has been underwritten by a gift from Stu Fabe and Marla Helton. The festival’s main source of income is gifts such as these to its annual fund from individuals and businesses.
“Stu and Marla have been our biggest financial supporters for many years, and Stu in particular has been a great leader in establishing the Festival’s financial health,” said founding artistic director Eric Edberg, the cellist and workshop leader who recently retired from DePauw to pursue new professional projects. “We set a goal of $15,000 for this summer, and called it ‘15 for 15’ in celebration of our 15th season. Our previous record was about $13,000, separate from our endowment income. So far this year, we have received well over $16,000 in donations large and small.
“It’s a new record and a testament to the way people have embraced both the artistry of our performers and building community with the performing arts, what we call ‘friends making music for friends.’”
From his New York City roots and his Indiana and Chicago musical upbringing, Severn Records recording artist Tad Robinson has caught the attention of the music world with his eight Blues Music Award nominations (the Grammys of blues music) and his rich catalog of blues and soul recordings. He’s a veteran of countless national and international tours, including performances at many of the most important international blues festivals.
With harmonica chops schooled by blues greats Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Junior Wells, James Cotton, among many, and vocals that compare to Otis Redding, Syl Johnson, Al Green and Teddy Pendergrass, Tad ranks as one of the most unique and talented members of the soul and blues communities.
Mojo magazine has written, “Robinson sings with a range and smoothness of delivery that are exquisitely evocative,” while David Lindquist of the Indianapolis Star has called him “a velvet-voiced collection of cool.”
The Greencastle Summer Music Festival will return in May 2020 for its 16th season.