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THE CROOKED JADES
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The highly acclaimed bluegrass ensemble, The Crooked Jades, will grace the stage at Monterey United Methodist Church on Saturday, August 31st as part of the Otter Opry concert series. The band creates unique sounds by exploring the roots of rural Americana, pushing boundaries and blurring categories with their fiery, soulful performances. As described in Bluegrass Unlimited: “Chords in unexpected places, out of this world harmonies, and some of the most powerfully-arranged material I’ve ever encountered.”
The Crooked Jades are known for their rare and obscure repertoire, beautiful original compositions, inspired arrangements and eclectic, often vintage instrumentation. Band members include Jeff Kazor (vocals/guitar/ukulele), Megan Adie (bass), Lisa Berman (vocals/slide guitar/banjo/harmonium), Emily Mann (fiddle) and Erik Pearson (vocals/banjos/ukulele/harmonium/slide guitar). The Crooked Jades began with band leader/founder Jeff Kazor's vision to revive the dark and hypnotic sounds of pre-radio music, and they are on a mission to reimagine old-world music for a modern age.
Renowned for their captivating performances and innovative approach to traditional bluegrass, The Crooked Jades have garnered widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike. They perform with a thrilling energy that has audiences on their feet dancing and critics comparing them to everyone from The New Lost City Ramblers and The Pogues to Gillian Welch, Nick Cave and Tom Waits. The event includes a delicious beef stroganoff dinner at 5:30pm ($12.50 before August 24th, $17.50 at the door). Online ticket sales will end at noon the day of the performance.
7pm.
$35/show (CBA members $30; 15 and under free); $12.50-17.50/pre-show dinner.
Online ticket sales will end at noon on the day of the performance.
We will observe all County COVID restrictions.
FRANK SOLIVAN & CHRIS LUQUETTE DUO
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Otter Opry is bringing another awesome bluegrass program to Monterey United Methodist Church on Wednesday, October 9th: the Frank Solivan & Chris Luquette Duo. Individually, these two extraordinary musicians have compelling stories. Frank grew up near Modesto, California. His grandmother on his father's side played mandolin and fiddle, and his father played the banjo, guitar, bass, and mandolin. His mother's side of the family included classical violin and cello players. Frank fell in love with bluegrass music at an early age and formed his first band, Generation Gap, in the late 1980s. After his service in the US Navy, he decided to form his own band, Dirty Kitchen -- a reference to the gourmet meals he prepares for friends and family.
Frank holds Chris in high esteem. "In the 11 years Chris has been playing with me, I’ve seen him grow into a wonderful man," he says. "Chris is an inspiration, and I feel like I’m a better musician and human because of his contributions, on and off stage. We’ve traveled the world and made some of the best music of my life together."
With his roots in the Seattle music scene, Chris Luquette seamlessly switches from jazz to rock to bluegrass. His acoustic guitar playing really stands out, but this multi-instrumentalist is equally at home playing mandolin, drums, bass, electric guitar, banjo, and Greek bouzouki. Chris toured with Dirty Kitchen for 11 years; he was also a founding member of Seattle-based Northern Departure and has found himself sitting in with Jerry Douglas, Emmylou Harris, Rob Ickes, and many others. So come on out and listen to this remarkable duo in what is guaranteed to be a brilliant performance. The event includes a delicious dinner at 5:30pm ($12.50 before October 5th, $17.50 at the door). Online ticket sales will end at noon the day of the performance.
7pm.
$35/show (CBA members $30; 15 and under free); $12.50-17.50/pre-show dinner.
Online ticket sales will end at noon on the day of the performance.
We will observe all County COVID restrictions.
CALIFORNIA BLUEGRASS REUNION
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Having brought the house down at their first two Otter Opry performances, the California Bluegrass Reunion will be back on Tuesday, November 19th at the United Methodist Church to do it again. This star-studded band is highlighted by the outrageous double fiddling of Brandon Godman and Chad Manning and features an abundance of original instrumentals from mandolinist John Reischman and banjo player Bill Evans. Anchoring the rhythm section is Jim Nunally on guitar and vocals and Sharon Gilchrist on bass. The show will open with a four-song set by Nell & Jim, featuring Jim Nunally on vocals, guitar and banjo, with Nell Robinson on vocals and miniflute; this amazing duo delivers tight harmonies and original genre-bending music that will get the evening off to a sizzling start.
Back to California Bluegrass Reunion: Brandon Godman got his literal “bluegrass roots” growing up in Kentucky and honed them in as a professional touring musician in Nashville; he performs regularly as the fiddler for Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands, and with other local groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Grammy Award-winning John Reischman is a foundational mandolinist, composer, bandleader and musical educator in bluegrass and North American roots and folk music. Bill Evans – winner of the 2022 Steve Martin “Excellence in Banjo” Award – occupies a unique niche in the music world, celebrated for his varied bluegrass banjo styles as well as his innovative original compositions. Jim Nunally is a musician, composer, record producer and teacher – all in addition to being one of the finest guitar players in the world. Chad Manning is a bluegrass, old-time and swing fiddler who has performed with more famous bands than you can count. Sharon Gilchrist has long made her home in the American acoustic music scene, performing on concert and festival stages all over North America.
These musicians have made music in various combinations for decades, but this all-star performance is an incredible opportunity to see and hear them together. To describe the show as a once-in-a-lifetime (actually, thrice-in-a-lifetime) opportunity is no exaggeration. The event includes a delicious dinner at 5:30pm ($12.50 before November 17th, $17.50 at the door). Online sales will end at noon the day of the performance.
7pm.
$40/show (CBA members $35; 15 and under free); $12.50-17.50/pre-show dinner.
Online ticket sales will end at noon on the day of the performance.
We will observe all County COVID restrictions.
LONESOME ACE STRINGBAND
WITH OTTER OPRY
AT MONTEREY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Otter Opry has something extra special in store for the Monterey bluegrass community on Wednesday, March 5th at the United Methodist Church: The Lonesome Ace Stringband, an old-time band with bluegrass chops that plays some righteous folk and country music. There's a depth of groove and sense of space not often heard in bluegrass today, a level of instrumental interplay and vocal blend uncommon in old-time, and an on-stage rapport that is truly delightful.
Instrumentation alone instantly sets this band’s sound apart. Consisting of just fiddle (John Showman), clawhammer banjo (Chris Coole), and upright bass (Max Heineman), the band moves freely between having a sound so powerful that it doesn't seem like it should be coming from a trio, to a gentle tone that draws the listener in and refreshes the ear. What’s more, all three are compelling lead singers, and when their voices come together, the power of the resulting harmonies is unshakable.
The band has toured internationally, been engaged by some of the largest festivals in North America and Europe, and recorded five albums. Bluegrass Unlimited described the fourth album — "Modern Old-Time Sounds for the Bluegrass and Folksong Jamboree," which showcased the band's musical range — as "unorthodox enough to be brilliant." And that’s exactly the kind of musical excitement you can look forward to at this show. The event includes a delicious dinner at 5:30pm ($10 before March 1st, $15 at the door).
7pm.
$25/show (CBA members $20; 15 and under free); $12.50-17.50/pre-show dinner.
Online ticket sales will end at noon on the day of the performance.
We will observe all County COVID restrictions.
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