Tune In, Turn On
By Doug Deutsch
Boogie on the Boardwalk: The 2024 Season for Tony Mart Presents Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk, kicks off Wednesday, June 26 at 7 p.m. with a bona fide star in the roots-blues music scene, Victor Wainwright and the Train.
Wainwright – also known as the “Piano From Savannah” – is a 2019 Grammy nominee (Best Contemporary Blues Album) who tours regularly, both as Victor Wainwright and the Train (with horn section) and with a scaled-down, smaller ensemble, Victor Wainwright and Friends (the latter who played to a packed house at Lizzie Rose Music Room last July; we were there).
“The Train and I are busy writing our next record and enjoying the road,” said Wainwright via email recently. “We’re full steam ahead with a brand new sound, dishing up first-class service with our fan favorites, while teasing out new material and monitoring the gauges. So far, the feedback and reaction has been through the roof!”
Wainwright, who plays a Hammond B-3 organ and sings lead in the Train, is also a producer on his Wild Roots label. In the Train, Wainwright is joined by guitarist Pat Harrington, bassist Terrance “Sweet Pea” Grayson, drummer Billy Dean, and horn players Doug Woolverton and Mark Earley.
“We’re honored to be invited back to the ‘World’s Playground’ to perform on the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk,” said Wainwright. “We’ve visited and performed multiple times in Atlantic City, with each visit more exciting than the last. The views of the water, and the company of families enjoying the beautiful day together with us is surreal.”
In addition to Victor Wainwright and the Train, this season’s Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk schedule includes the Devon Allman Project (Aug. 7), Greg Allman’s son currently on the road with Duane Betts (late Dickey Betts’ son) for their King Crawler Tour; and guitarist-vocalist Samantha Fish (Aug. 28), who combines memorable guitar licks with a commanding stage presence, making her one of today’s biggest roots-rock attractions.
Both Fish and Allman are managed by Rueben Williams, one of the best in the biz. P.S. This Friday, May 31, join Tony Mart shows promoters Carmen and Nancy Marotta for the Mardi Gras on the Boardwalk and Somers Point Beach Concert Series Kick-Off Party at Josie Kelly’s in Somers Point, with a performance by the Tony Mart All-Stars starting at 8:30 p.m. This event, like all the aforementioned concerts, is free to the public. Info: tonymart.com.
Tune-Ups: Check out Rockabilly Uprising this Saturday, June 1, at the Village Greene in Historic Smithville, “a music-themed event with two live bands, Dr. Void and the Death Machines, and The Atomic Bats, with free admission and free parking. Music starts at 1 p.m.,” event promoter Mike Spagnola told us.
Info: www.theoriginalunderground.com.
Jersey Shore rock fans are certainly excited about the just-announced Jane’s Addiction/Love & Rockets double bill at Hard Rock Casino’s Etess Arena Sept. 7. Perry Farrell still fronts longtime L.A. alt-rock band Jane’s Addiction, whose biggest hits “Jane Says” and “Been Caught Stealing,” still resonate four decades after forming in 1985. Love & Rockets, formed by former Bauhaus members Daniel Ash and David J, had a cool dance-rock hit “So Alive” in 1989, and, like Jane’s Addiction, split up, then reunited.
Tickets/info:
casino.hardrock.com/atlantic-city/event-calendar
Good Time Tricycle, the folks that present AC Beer & Music Festival, are behind Camp North to Shore and Beach Bonfire at Chicken Bone Beach in AC, part of the N2S week-long series of events Saturday, June 22.
“Get ready to turn up the heat for a stellar soiree under the twinkling stars, where fiery performances, heart-pounding beats courtesy of top-notch deejays, mind-bending art installations, and surprises galore await you,” states their press materials. Jon Henderson and crew definitely know how to throw a quality event so this should be fun. Tickets/info: universe.com/events/camp-north-2-shore-beach-bonfire-tickets-NHS6Q0.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug also hàs experience writing for the one time shore-based weekly publication, Whoot! He also was a team member with Chip Braymes Advertising. Doug loves bicycling and aspires to bring the Blues to Atlantic City. He can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com and www.facebook.com/dougdeutschpublicity.
