Shelter from the Storm – The Greater Beast Concert Series
PhotoCortney Rienzo
Ralph Beauchamp
Saturday, January 11th, Connecticut’s Independent Records bigger beast records & their event management and community outreach arm, All Boats Rising Entertainment, participated in the first annual shelter from wind Concerts benefit Family Commitments. Family Promise is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing family homelessness throughout Connecticut.
Last fall, Central Connecticut Families Promise worked with more than 20 families across the state experiencing housing insecurity and has been doing this work with many families across Connecticut for more than 15 years. As challenges across the state increase, including layoffs, food price inflation and more, New UK residents and Family Promise board members, Cheryl & Ed Liedke, reach out to leaders bigger beast records Featuring current CT State Troubadour Kala Farnham, New England Music Awards Independent Artist of the Year Frank Viele, and New England singer/songwriter Mainstay Lee Totten, the fundraiser was created to help families in need.
First annual concept inspired by one of Farnham’s favorite Bob Dylan songs shelter from wind The concert is a line-up of 16 regional independent singer/songwriters (one at a time in Stage 4), each playing one of their songs and a medley of songs from the incredibly huge Bob Dylan Dylan) play a song!
The doors to the entrance to Trinity New Britain opened at 6pm and people came down. The lights flickered on at 6:38 p.m., and by 6:45 p.m., when WCNI Radio’s Dot Schultz Ames approached the podium to introduce the first performers, there were the first to be assembled in the 300-capacity theater. Empty seats!
The opening song comes from Connecticut mainstay Robert Fullerton, who performs for the first time since undergoing open heart surgery 5 weeks ago. With a little scattered crowd, he performed a fitting performance of favorites from the catalogue, “Come to My Table.” The moment he plucked the last note on his guitar, the crowd of over 300 people erupted and the night officially began!
PhotoCortney Rienzo
Robert then had 3 other artists share the stage with him, attending Guilford, CT resident Laura Clapp, Tracy Walton, Tracy Walton, owner of Deck Records Studio in Litchfield, Connecticut, and Young Torrington Troubadour Adelaide Punkin. They each performed an original song and then returned to each singing a Bob Dylan classic.
Every performance is eye-catching and a crowd-pleaser. Laura Clapp’s version of “Make You Feel My Love” is absolutely stunning and I have to give 17 year old Adelaide Punkin a hat tip for such conviction and balance Earth resolves all 11 “hurricane” verses. What an incredible artist to start the night!
The second round artist was singer/songwriter Shawn Taylor, who shared a relatable personal story with the crowd before his opening song, “Balance.” They were followed by New Haven folk mainstays Anne Marie Menta, Lucas Neil and CT-based Meriden, CT-based duo Inner Groove . After their initial performance, they both chose a Bob Dylan classic. Tambourine Man by Lucas Neil, “Don’t think twice before you act.
PhotoCortney Rienzo
The next group of artists are songwriting icon Eddie Seville, Lee Totten, Halley Neal, Folk and the Americana Pillars performing duo Frank Critelli and Muddy Rivers. Their first round of original compositions emanated from the stage, keeping the crowd on the edge of their seats waiting for Bob Dylan’s song selection. Seville and the Critelli/Rivers duo both picked deeper cuts from the Dylan catalog, while Lee Totten featured A seductive version of “Subterranean Homesick Blues” rocked the stage.
Halley Neal proved to be one of the highlights of the night, leading the crowd in singing with her version of “I Will Be Released” and singing the final chorus. The night could have ended when Critelli and Rivers hit the final words of Dylan’s “Wallflower,” but there was still one round left to play. One round.
The final round proved to be worth the wait as Middletown resident Bryan Titus opened with his powerful song “Live My Fest Life,” followed by the awesome Westport singer/songwriter/songwriter Author Canyon’s latest single titled “Victorious”. Next up, Hamden resident and latest New England Music Award winner Frank Viele
PhotoCortney Rienzo
Next up was current Connecticut Troubadour Kala Farnham, who performed a beautifully poignant song titled “David,” explaining that she was interviewing a New Englander who grew up in a shelter. the veteran later wrote. The song details the story of his life, and as she sang the lyrics “With the power of numbers, we can fight together,” every ear of the attentive audience truly took notice of the power of community on full display that evening.
Now it’s time for the last four songs. 4 Bob Dylan Classics! Titus started with the most soulful version ever performed of “The Times,” followed by Canyon’s “Blowin in the Wind in the Wind in the Wind” Wind in the Wind in the Wind”. The energy level is illustrated by the moment Viele puts on the last chord.
Then, once the official show is over, bigger beast records A community-driven event that runs until midnight after the show, with “All are Welcome After Hours.” Hosted by singer/songwriters Christina Meadows and Liz Reed, many of the artists in the evening’s audience performed their songs on stage while music lovers and performers gathered Let’s celebrate the power of community and music together.
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