On Stage: Yngwie Malmstein returns for live show at the Keswick

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

After being forced off the road for more than a year-and-a-half by the pandemic, Yngwie Malmstein has started to tour again and will headline a show at the Keswick Theatre (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com) on November 18.

The Swedish guitar ace is now touring in support of his new album, “Parabellum,” which was released on July 23, 2021.

“I was on a world tour in March 2020,” said Malmsteen, during a recent phone interview from his home in Miami Beach.

“I was in Mexico and my agent called and said we had to push the tour back two weeks. Then, it was two months. The joke was on us.”

Just because he wasn’t able to tour meant that Malmsteen was going to slow down.

“I started recording,” said Malmsteen. “I had 100 ideas and I picked the best of it. I’m very blessed. I have my own studio – a real recording studio. My home is a colonial mansion, and we built the studio here in 1995 in the servants’ quarters.

“The studio has a big control room. I have a big two-inch tape machine, tape console and compressors. I do also use ProTools. It’s analog in a way and then goes into ProTools.

“Having my own studio, I can go in only when I’m inspired. If you have to pay to rent studio time, you can’t wait for inspiration.”

Without the pressure of a structured schedule, Malmsteen is free to work how and when he wants.

“The way I like to write is to allow it to happen naturally,” said Malmsteen, who moved to Miami Beach from Stockholm in 1982.

“I work on it and then I refine it. It’s never really a system. I decided not to go in the studio until I was inspired.”

Malmsteen has been feeling inspired and making albums since 1984 when he released his debut album, “Rising Force,” on Polydor Records. Since then, he has released 23 studio albums and four live albums.

“I have no influences,” said Malmsteen. “I started playing 50 years ago. When I was seven years old, I was playing the blues.

“Even as a kid, I was playing 12-14 hours a day. I liked baroque classical music. I would also play compositions by Bach, Vivaldi and Paganini.”
On the other hand, Malmsteen with a huge catalog of music continues to be an influence and inspiration for several generations of electric guitarists.

“When you have this many albums – ‘Parabellum’ is my 27th – it’s hard to make a set list,” said Malmsteen.

“It’s very hard. I make a set list before the show and then when I hit the stage, I play different songs.”

Video link for Yngwie Malmstein – https://youtu.be/kv2xm7pfZAo.

The show at the Keswick Theatre on November 18 will start at 8 p.m.

Tickets prices range from $29-$49.

On November 19, the Keswick will host a twin-bill featuring two of today’s top young blues guitarists — Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Ally Venable.

Many blues guitarists have been playing for decades. Ingram’s guitar playing gives listeners the impression that he too has been at it for decades. In reality, he is barely two decades old. He was born in Mississippi in January 1999 and has been exposed to the blues since he was a toddler.

Ingram is now touring in support of his new Alligator Records album, “662.” The tour — “Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Presents 662: Juke Joint Live,” will take the 22-year-old guitarist, vocalist and songwriter across the U.S. and Europe beginning July 2021 and going into February 2022.

On November 16, tastemaker UK magazine MOJO released its influential Best Blues Albums Of 2021 list and three Alligator Records artists were selected. Ingram’s “662” topped the list at #1. West Coast bluesman Chris Cain’s “Raisin’ Cain” followed at #3, and Texas’ Carolyn Wonderland’s label debut, “Tempting Fate,” earned the #7 position.
The full list was chosen by noted blues writer Tony Russell, and appears in MOJO #338, dated January 2022. This is the first appearance on MOJO’s list for Cain and Wonderland. Ingram’s debut, “Kingfish,” was named the #1 Best Blues Album of 2019.

With Alligator Records still in the midst of its 50th anniversary celebration, label founder and president Bruce Iglauer said, “I’m very proud of these Alligator artists getting the international recognition they so richly deserve. These days we need the healing power of the blues more than ever, and these wonderful bluesmen and women have delivered that healing power on their albums.”

“662,” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues chart, is the next chapter in the still-unfolding story of the Clarksdale, Mississippi native. Ingram describes “662” (the number is northern Mississippi’s telephone area code) as “a presentation of my life in and away from the Delta.” The album overflows with hard-hitting original songs, jaw-dropping guitar work and deep, soul-possessed vocals. Ingram recently won the 2021 Living Blues Award for Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar).

He also won two 2021 Blues Music Awards (for Guitarist Of The Year and Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year) in addition to the five he won last year. In February 2021, Ingram guest hosted Spotify’s popular “In The Name Of The Blues” playlist, which featured him talking about and sharing some of his favorite songs.

“662” was co-written and produced by Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge. It features 13 songs displaying many sides of Ingram’s dynamic personality, as well as his one-of-a-kind guitar and vocal skills.

“I actually recorded ‘662’ during the pandemic,” said Ingram. “We spent a full week at Ocean Way Studio in Nashville, which was the same studio I used for my first album. We had writing sessions on Zoom from May through September and then went in the studio two weeks later.

“It went pretty smooth. I learned a lot from making my first record. It helped having Tom produce both of my albums. He knows how to pull things out of me.

“The new album shows my growth. It was two years since my first record, and I had a lot of things happen in my life. My mom passed away. Then there was COVID.

“I wanted to make a personal record. I wanted to show a different side. People know me for edgy and hardness, but I also have a soul and R&B vibe.

“We had 20 songs going into the studio and recorded them all. We used 13 and we’ll use the other songs later.”

Ingram grew up with the blues.

“I come from Clarksdale, Mississippi – the Mecca of blues,” said Ingram.

“I remember seeing the PBS documentary on Muddy Waters when I was pretty young. And I lived next door to a blues band. I was exposed to the blues a lot as a young child.

“I actually started as a bass player. My first paid gig playing bass was with the All Night Long Blues Band. I was 11 at the time.”

It didn’t take long for Ingram to switch from bass to lead guitar.

“I was playing bass, but I always wanted to play guitar,” said Ingram. “But, when I was young, my fingers were too big for guitar.

“When I was 14-15, I played guitar for a local band. I just wanted to do something different. I wanted to put my own thing together. I wanted to play guitar. Playing guitar was original.

“I started with a cheap Sears & Roebuck guitar. An Epiphone 335 was my first real guitar.  I got it for Christmas when I was in middle school.”

Ingram explained the origin of his nickname.

“My mentor from the Delta Museum gave kids nicknames,” said Ingram. “He called me Kingfish. He said Kingfish who was a character on the ‘Amos ‘n’Andy Show.’

“My biggest influences were Albert King, Little Milton, B.B. King, Son House, Freddie King and Skip James. I was also influenced by Ernie Isley, Jimi Hendrix, Prince and George Benson.

“Even though I was influenced by Jimi and Prince, I never had an actual intent to merge rock and blues. I just want to experiment and see what I come up with. I just like to create stuff.”

Ingram is known for making his guitar sing.

“Making the guitar sing – that’s when playing with substance comes into play,” said Ingram. “I love playing originals. I’m still writing when I’m on the road.

“On tour, it’s a three-piece – bass, drums and me. Both of the other guys in the band are from Mississippi. Bassist Paul Rogers is from Tupelo and drummer Chris Black is from Shelby.”

Video link for Christone “Kingfish” Ingram — https://youtu.be/VQha23zpf5k.

Ally Venable, a native of Kilgore, Texas, is another 22-year-old who has made a name as a young guitarist with a feel for the blues.

Venable is a talented guitar player, singer, and songwriter. She is the 2014, 2015 ETX Music Awards female guitar player of the year, and she and her band were the ETX Music Awards blues band of the year in 2015 and 2016.

Venable was just 14 when she released her debut EP, “Wise Man” in 2013. Next was the album, “Puppet Show,” which debuted at No. 7 in the Billboard Blues Albums Chart. Her second album, “No Glass Shoes,” finished at number 16 in the RMR Electric Blues Charts for 2016.

Her 2019 “Texas Honey” album impressed veteran producer Jim Gaines enough that he signed on to produce her most recent album “Heart of Fire.” The album is an 11-song collection of mostly original material – the lone exception being Bill Wither’s “Use Me.”

Now, the Texas blues ace is touring behind “Heart of Fire,” which was released earlier this year on Ruf Records.

Venable sang in church when she was a kid, started performing country music after hearing Miranda Lambert, and turned to the blues once she discovered Stevie Ray Vaughan.

“I discovered who Stevie Ray Vaughan was and I discovered blues guitar,” said Venable, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from Reading.

“That’s what got me into playing guitar. I discovered him and then started discovering other blues artists like Buddy Guy. I was 12 when I started playing guitar and I’m 22 now. When I discovered Stevie Ray Vaughan and Buddy Guy, it changed everything.”

Venable has gotten better and more polished with every album and her work on “Heart of Fire” keeps the pattern going.

In just 10 years, Venable has gone from an impressionable guitar novice to an accomplished veteran – from a kid learning about Buddy Guy to a top-flight player opening for Guy and performing with him onstage. The most impressive thing about this is that it’s just the start.

Video link for Ally Venable — https://youtu.be/u0T5iu1Eijw.

The show at the Keswick Theatre on November 19 will start at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $29.50, $39.50 and $49.50.

Another upcoming show at the Keswick is Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on November 20.

A few years ago, Hawaii native Jake Shimabukuro released his “best of” live collection album — “Live in Japan” – and visited Chester County for a concert at the Colonial Theatre.

Now, the ukulele master is returning to the area for another show when the Colonial Theatre (227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville,

presents “Jake Shimabukuro – Christmas In Hawaii.”

Ukulele master and jolly ambassador of aloha, Shimabukuro will bring joy to the world this upcoming 2021 Holiday Season by delivering a special gift for all with the debut of his highly anticipated holiday show.

With only four strings, Shimabukuro is a humble master whose mission is to connect and inspire people. Just recently, he was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as a Member for the National Council on the Arts. Whether one on one or in front of an audience of thousands, he shares a deep emotional connection with the listener that is open, magical and transcendent.

Shimabukuro’s genuine love for people, the spirit of Holidays and his beloved home of Hawaii are at the forefront of “Jake Shimabukuro – Christmas In Hawaii.” It will be a warm welcome of merriment and wonder for the season.

In addition to his signature show favorites, this special show will draw on a vibrant catalog of holiday classics such as “We Three Kings,” “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer,” “O Holy Night,” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

Along with his band, guitarist Dave Preston, bassist Jackson Waldoff and his Special Guests, singer-songwriter, Thunderstorm Artis on vocals and first-call percussionist, Taku Hirano, Shimabukuro will spread good cheer to all with his world-renowned live show in a fun take on the holidays sure to keep spirits bright.

Shimabukuro is also touring in support of his new album, “Jake & Friends,” which was just released in November 2021. It includes recording sessions with artists such as Willie Nelson, Bette Midler, Jack Johnson, Michael McDonald, Vince Gill & Amy Grant and Ziggy Marley.

“We’re back touring again,” said Shimabukuro, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from a tour stop in Morristown, New Jersey.

“It feels great to be playing before a live audience again. We did some livestreams and some events for non-profits I’m associated with but nothing compares to performing for a live audience.

“We started the new album prior ot COVID-19. We finished more than 10 tracks before the pandemic shutdown. The tracks with Ziggy Marley, Jon Anderson and Jimmy Buffett, we had to do via the internet because of the lockdown. The rest were done in different studios around the country.

“We started the project four years ago and the first track I did was with Willie Nelson. He has a place in Maui, so we recorded ‘Stardust’ there. Then, Michael McDonald and I worked on the track ‘Go Now.’ I was doing a lot of recording on tour, so I had my band with me for a lot of these sessions.”

Shimaburuko had little trouble assembling the all-star cast of collaborators.

“A lot of them were people I worked with in the past,” said Shimaburuko. “Bette Midler brought me with her to England to perform for Queen Elizabeth in 2012

“I worked with Ziggy on his ‘Love Is My Religion’ album. I had sat in with Vince Gill in Nashville. Ray Benson and I worked together in the past and he co-produced this album.

“We just recorded live. The only one with a lot of overdubbing was the Kenny Loggins track. Kenny and I did guitar and ukulele in L.A. and then we brought in other musicians.

“When it came to selecting the songs, I wanted to just put the ball in their court and see what they were comfortable with. I learned so much doing this album.”

Shimabukuro is a ukulele virtuoso and composer whose music focuses on his complex and ultra-fast finger work. His music is an impressive blend of jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, classical, folk, and flamenco.
Shimabukuro has written numerous original compositions, including the entire soundtracks to two Japanese films — “Hula Girls” in 2007 and the Japanese remake of “Sideways” in 2009.

Shimabukuro began his music career in the mid-1990’s, performing at local coffee shops as a sideman with his first band, Pure Heart. His solo career began in 2002 when he signed with Epic Records, becoming the first ukulele player to sign with Sony Music.

In the years since the YouTube clip of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” aired, Shimabukuro has collaborated with an array of artists that include Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffett, Bette Midler, Cyndi Lauper, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, Dave Koz, Michael McDonald, Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Tommy Emmanuel, and Lyle Lovett.

He sold out world-class venues, played at Bonnaroo, SXSW, the Playboy Jazz Festival, Fuji Rock Festival, the influential TED conference, and even performed for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool, England.

“My early influences were Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix,” said Shimabukuro. “Some of my songs have a jam band/Jerry Garcia feel. Some are more eclectic with a Jeff Beck approach. Some are more aggressive.

“It’s a different side of the ukulele. I played it for some people, and they said — this is a ukulele?  It’s not a guitar but it definitely doesn’t sound like the old traditional ukulele.”

Video link for Jake Shimabukuo – https://youtu.be/NjjoddDJJeY.

The show at the Colonial will start at 8 p.m.

Tickets prices are: Gold Circle: $55; Front Orchestra: $42.50; Front Balcony: $42.50; Back Orchestra: $37.50; and Rear Balcony: $29.50.

Never underestimate the power of pie – especially fresh-baked cherry pie. Just ask fans of the original “Twin Peaks” series.

Pies play a role in the hot musical “Waitress,” which the The Playhouse on Rodney Square (1007 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.thegrandwilmington.org/venues/the-playhouse) is presenting now through November 21.

In an ironic twist, the last scheduled production at The Playhouse was “The Play That Goes Wrong,” which was scheduled to open on March 12, 2020, and we all know what happened that week.

“Waitress” is a musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson. The musical is based on the 2007 film of the same name, written by Adrienne Shelly who was murdered three months prior to the premiere. In November 2006, Shelly was found dead in her Greenwich Village work studio apartment. Police arrested a construction worker who confessed to killing Shelly and making it look as if she had committed suicide.

The musical “Waitress” is nowhere nearly as grim as the story of its author. It tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a waitress in an unhappy marriage to her husband Earl. When Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant, she begins an affair with her gynecologist Dr. Jim Pomatter. Looking for ways out she sees a pie contest and its grand prize as her chance.

The original production of “Waitress” premiered at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts in August 2015, with direction by Diane Paulus and choreography by Chase Brock. It starred Jessie Mueller, Drew Gehling and Joe Tippett as Jenna, Jim and Earl, respectively. It made its Broadway debut at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in April 2016. A U.S. national tour began on October 20, 2017.

Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, this irresistible new hit features original music and lyrics by five-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles (“Brave,” “Love Song”), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (“I Am Sam”) and direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (“Pippin,’ “Finding Neverland”).

Jenna, an unhappy waitress and expert pie maker, is stuck in a small town and loveless marriage. She is also faced with an unexpected pregnancy that may end her dreams of opening up her own pie shop. As fate would have it, she enters a baking contest in a nearby county and meets a handsome new doctor. With the help of a quirky crew of fellow waitresses and loyal customers, Jenna makes use of a secret ingredient she’s been missing all along and that’s courage.

Jisel Soleil Ayon will don an apron and bake across the country as Jenna in the national tour of “Waitress,” while Gabriella Marzetta plays Dawn and Brian Lundy plays Ogie.

Dawn is a friendly waitress but is also very shy. After a while, she tries an online dating service where she gets introduced to Ogie. They start dating and eventually get married.

“I saw one of the first previews of ‘Waitress’ on Broadway in 2016,” said Marzetta, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from a tour stop in Easton, Pennsylvania. “I thought Dawn was my dream role. I also liked the show because I grew up listening to Sara Bareilles.

“I definitely identify with Dawn – her quirks and her shyness. We’re alike in a lot of ways. She is a very relatable character – especially for people my age.”

Marzetta was very shy as a child and spent most of her elementary school and middle school days holed up in her house teaching

herself songs on the piano and guitar and creating intricate stories on The Sims or playing Barbies.

The first time she stepped into the spotlight was when she first sang in front of a crowd at age 10. It started with her father persuading her into auditioning for the school talent show by buying her the Daphne (Ala Scooby Doo) Barbie Doll.

“My dad bought me that Barbie and that’s what started it all,” said Marzetta. “I went to a performing arts high school (The Chicago Academy for the Arts) and then studied music theater in college.

“I attended The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University as a BFA in Musical Theatre before transferring to CAP21 in New York. I made that move because I knew I needed to be in New York.”

Marzetta graduated from CAP21 in 2016 and started her first nation tour with “Waitress” in 2019. COVID-19 shut down the tour in early 2020 in Wisconsin. Now, it has come back to life.

“We opened on October 5 in Bloomington, Indiana,” said Marzetta. “We’ll be out with this tour until June 12, 2022.”

Video link for “Waitress” — https://youtu.be/zNyhdPrD3A4.

“Waitress” will run from now through November 21 at The Playhouse on Rodney Square. Ticket prices range from $48-$107.

There is a “Storm Warning” for Wilmington, Delaware on November 18 – but it has nothing to do with weather patterns.

On November 18, the Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, www.thegrandwilmington.org) will host Storm Large, a talented singer who has built a strong solo career and is frequently the vocalist for Pink Martini.

Storm Large is more than just a singer. She is a musician, actor, playwright, and author. She shot to national prominence in 2006 as a finalist on the CBS show “Rock Star: Supernova.”

Her music career dates back to the early 2000s when she sang with The Balls, a band from Portland, Oregon.

Later in in San Francisco, Large formed the bands Flower SF, Storm and Her Dirty Mouth, and Storm, Inc. Storm also performed with Michael Cavaseno as the duo Storm and Michael or Storm and Friends. Storm, Inc. featured Shaunna Hall of 4 Non Blondes and P-Funk fame as a rhythm guitarist.

On January 12, 2012, Large published a memoir titled, “Crazy Enough.” It is an expansion on her cabaret show produced by Portland Center Stage. The book, published by Free Press, is an account of her growing up with a mother with psychological issues, her stint as a competitive rower, and her eventual successes.

Large, a modern-day Renaissance woman, found a variety of ways to stay active during the COVID-19 shutdown.

“I recorded an audio book of ‘Crazy Love’ and started working on another,” said Large, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from her home in San Francisco.

“I drove across the country several times to see family. Nothing like a calendar of deadlines and signposts into the future. It was a time for existential questions and asking – what are we doing?”

Large, whose birth name is actually Storm Large, was born in a suburb of Boston.

“I grew up im Massachusetts and then moved to the West Coast,” said Large. “I still have a lot of family in the East –including some relatives in the Ambler/Blue Bell area.”

After Pink Martini vocalist China Forbes underwent vocal cord surgery, Large toured with the band from July 4 through December 16, 2011 as a temporary replacement. She then joined the band on 2013 album, “Get Happy,” and as co-lead singer on the follow-up world tour. She continues to perform worldwide with the group.

“I can sing in a lot of styles,” said Large. “I can also sing in 17 languages. But I can’t speak 17 languages.”

Large will display some of those styles and languages in her current show.

“For the show in Wilmington, it’s a piano duo with me on ukulele and James Beaton,” said Large. “It will be an intimate ‘welcome back’ show.

“We’re getting closer to Christmas, so I always try to do some pop music that I decide is a Christmas story. I always associate Christmas with feelings – like Christmas means finding hope in a hopeless place. With my shows, I think – what am I going to leave people with?

“There are songs that get people involved – like ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ and ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart.’ It’s fun to get people to sing along.

“Pat Benatar’s ‘We Belong’ is another song that always gets people singing along. With my shows, I want everybody to feel welcome and excited.

“The pandemic has been tough. Let’s not pretend that shit’s not happening. It’s been two years. It’s time to shake the shit off and have a good time.”

One thing Large hasn’t done during the shutdown is work in the studio.

“I haven’t recorded anything new yet,” said Large. “I’m going to do some recording over the next few months. I’m going to have some musicians I want to collaborate with.

“I have a lot of new originals along with some covers I want to do. And I want to make a Christmas album.”

Video link for Storm Large – https://youtu.be/rlwvLR4feNI.

The show on November 18 at The Baby Grand will start at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $30.

Other upcoming shows at The Grand are Justin Willman on November 18, Abba Mania on November 19 and Yolanda Adams on November 20 – all at Copeland Hall.

A little more than two years ago, Bucks County native Allen Tate did a solo show at the now defunct Boot and Saddle in Philadelphia.

Now, Tate is returning to the area as a member of the Brooklyn-based band San Fermin.

San Fermin is a music collective, led by composer and songwriter Ellis Ludwig-Leone – an artist known for combining indie rock, pop, and classical influences into lush compositions.

The band has released four albums – “San Fermin” in 2013, “Jackrabbit” in 2015, “Belong” in 2017 and a double-album called “The Cormorant I & II” in March 202.

San Fermin, which always has featured a nucleus of Ludwig-Leone and Tate, will headline a show on November 18 at City Winery (990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, citywinery.com/philadelphia).

“The band is just four members for this tour,” said Ludwig-Leone, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “It’s our “Voices AcousticTour.”

“I’m on grand piano and we have three instrumentalists who sing – Claire Wellin on violin, Aki Ishiguro on guitar and Allen on guitar. It’s acoustic and we really get to play the songs in a different way.

“It’s a one-off project. There are 14 shows total, and we’ve played 10 so far. We usually have a big lineup with brass. This is more intimate and personal. We’ve got a bunch of new music we’re trying out featuring songwriting and heavy lyrics.

“This tour was scheduled for 2020 and got moved several times. We’re playing songs from the whole catalog and trying some new ones.”

San Fermin is an American baroque pop band, started by Brooklyn-based composer and songwriter Ellis Ludwig-Leone.

“Allen and I have been working together the longest,” said Ludwig-Leone. “We’ve been writing together since we were 15. We met at a summer program at Berklee College in Boston. We put the first album out in September 2013.”

The band has always avoided becoming stagnant.

“This acoustic tour is total new challenge,” said Ludwig-Leone. “Because it’s acoustic, we had to re-learn a lot of our catalogue. These are really different versions of these songs. Some old ones done in a new way – big brass to intimate and fun – and some new ones. And we’re talking a lot more with the audience.”

Video link for San Fermin – https://youtu.be/7XE2TYlSgOA.

The show at City Winery on November 18 will start at 8 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $26-$36.

On November 19, City Winery will present a show by the Quebe Sisters.

Making harmonious music is a natural thing for siblings. There usually is a high level of harmony – onstage and offstage.

Three siblings who get along great onstage and offstage are the Quebe Sisters, who will headline a show Friday night at City Winery.

The Quebe Sisters are a fiddle-centric Western swing group from Texas. The band features a trio of sisters — Grace, Sophia and Hulda Quebe. Formed in 2002, the band performs fiddle music — Western and traditional Texas style — along with Western swing and vintage country.

“Our last album was our self-titled album in 2019,” said Hulda Quebe, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “It was a starting over – a new phase for the band. Then came 2020 and the pandemic.

“We started working again back in July. The pandemic gave us an appreciation of what we wanted.

“Before the pandemic, we worried about ticket sales. After the pandemic, we didn’t worry about it.

“We did some outdoor shows and some socially-distanced shows. We just went out and played and enjoyed the audiences.”

They haven’t returned to recording yet.

“We haven’t gotten back in the studio, but we are working on some arrangements,” said Hulda Quebe.

“For our next record, we would like to go to a studio in Austin –Texas Treefort Studio. It’s where we recorded our last album. It has the most incredible collection of vintage gear.

“That studio has the sound we want. We did everything live – usually in just a few takes. We didn’t record analog. We wanted to but our engineer suggested not to.”

The sisters are pointing toward a return to Treefort sometime soon.

“The good thing about being at home is that we’ve been working on writing,” said Hulda Quebe. “I bought a guitar and started teaching myself. Hopefully, we’ll be adding different instruments just working on our songs.

“We’ve had the good fortune of working with Duffy Jackson. He blew the doors off for us. With him, we’ve been diving into the art of swing – learning how to be a swing band. We want to carry on his vision of getting people to understand swing bands.”

When the Quebes (rhymes with “maybe”) take the stage, the triple-threat fiddle champions play and sing in multi-part close harmony. The trio’s vocal and instrumental performances are authentic all-Americana.

“My sisters and I started playing music for fun,” said Hulda Quebe. “We grew up in Krum, Texas. We never thought we’d play music professionally as fiddlers. We just played little Suzuki violins. It was fun.

“Then, our teacher encouraged us to enter a fiddle contest. We ended up quitting playing violin and stared fiddling. We started taking lessons and our teachers saw the potential. That’s when we started competing in fiddle contests.”

When Hulda, Sophia and Grace were ages 7, 10 and 12 in 1998, they attended their first local fiddle competition in nearby Denton, and decided fiddling was what they wanted to do. The sisters earned solo and group accolades early on — winning state and national championships in their respective age groups in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

“Our teachers were Sherry McKenzie and her husband Joey McKenzie, who was a professional fiddler,” said Quebe, the youngest of the three.

“They gave us music to listen to — western, jazz and country. The three of us would sit in the same room and take lessons together. We’d all learn the same kind of material and we kept progressing at the same level. We learned about chords and arranging. Soon, we were playing gigs.

“Since then, we tour all the time. Tours range from a week to a month or more. We’ve been coming to Pennsylvania for a long time. Some of our earliest shows were in Pennsylvania. We love touring. It’s been great to see so much and to meet so many wonderful people along the way.”

Video link for the Quebe Sisters — https://youtu.be/QANZnAKDvc8.

Tickets are $20 and $25.

Other upcoming shows at City Winery are After 7 on November 19, Los Lobos on November 20 and 21, Jon McLaughlin on November 22, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah on November 23, and Peter Bradley Adams on November 24.

If a band has been playing together tightly for more than a decade and hasn’t racked up impressive album sales and become a national act, frustration usually sets in followed by dissension and eventually dissolution.

Such is not the case with the Maryland-based quartet Sweet Leda, which features vocalist Julie Cymek, bassist Jaime Horrigan, drummer Don Boyette, and guitarist Omar El Dieahy.

Sweet Leda, who will be headlining a show at Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com), has been making hard-driving rock and soul music for almost a decade-and-a-half. They have a huge fan base in the Mid-Atlantic region and they’re fine with just that.

“We’ve been together for a good 14 years,” said Cymek, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from her home in Pasadena, Maryland.

“When we first formed the band, we thought we’d be a national band – that it would be a full-time job. Then, I realized that that wasn’t our goal. We do our own booking. We’re in control of songs and songwriting. We’re in a great place. We get to do it our way. We just want to play music and make people happy.”

At her day job, Cymek works on math textbooks. Her office is the home she shares with bandmate Jaime Horrigan. It also is the epicenter of Sweet Leda’s world.

“I met Jaime about 20 years ago,” said Cymek. “He was in a band. I loved that band and went to all their shows. Very soon after we started dating, we started making music together. Prior to that, my singing had just been a capella, in choirs at school and an occasional karaoke.”

Cymek discovered her voice as a rock vocalist and Sweet Leda started to take shape.

“We found Omar El Dieahy who is a very talented – and unique – guitarist,” said Cymek. “Then we found our drummer Don Boyette, who was with us for 14 years but just left because of COVID and having a day job.

“We tried a few different drummers. It was a revolving door. We finally found our drummer – the drummer we needed – Laura Cerulli. She is also in Mama’s Black Sheep. She’s been filling in on drums and adding vocal harmonies.”

Mama’s Black Sheep is the soulful collaboration of singer-songwriters Ashland Miller (guitar/vocals) and Laura Cerulli (drums/vocals).

The Baltimore-based duo has released four well received CDs and a fully illustrated kids book based on the title track of their Holiday recording, “The Sheep Save Christmas.”

“Our band has a very specific groove and Laura fit right in,” said Cymek. “Omar and Don are a little more rocking. Jaime and I are more into funk and soul. The sounds don’t fight each other – they lean into each other.”

Sweet Leda released its debut album, “Need the Music,” in 2011 and followed with “Let It In” in 2015.

“‘Let It In’ was recorded and engineered at WrightWay in Baltimore by IRKO, who has worked with Jay-Z and Pitbull,” said Cymek. “We recorded it to tape — all together in one room – and mixed it analog. Working with IRKO, we were confident we could nail the tracking live. Now, we’re in the last stages of finishing a new EP.”

Sweet Leda may not be recognized nationally but the band has been collecting accolades at the regional level for years.

The band’s list of achievements includes five Tri State Indie Music Awards and being named Best Emerging Artist DC/Baltimore in The Deli Magazine’s reader’s poll in 2011.

“We also wrote the end-credit title track for the feature film, ‘Lovely Molly,’ by Ed Sanchez, who worked on the ‘Blair Witch Project,’” said Cymek. “We took the song, which was an old Irish folk tune, and had to record it in a very creepy version.”

When asked to describe Sweet Leda’s music, Cymek replied, “It’s rock and soul.”

It’s also music that makes people happy.

Video link for Sweet Leda – https://youtu.be/cpVPZuuwIl0.

The show at Jamey’s on November 19 will start at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $25.

Another show at Jamey’s this weekend will be Boris Garcia on November 20.

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) will host Raymond the Amish Comic on November 19 and “The Legendary Kennett Flash Open Mic Night with Guest Host Clark Cummins” on November 21.

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389, www.ardmoremusic.com) will have the Del McCoury Band on November 18, Boombox ft. Backbeat Brass on November 19, Tommy Conwell on November 20, The Immediate Family on November 21 and Splintered Sunlight on November 24.

The Living Room (35 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, https://thelivingroomat35east.com) will present Laura Mann Band and Matt Sevier on November 19 and NRBQ on November 20.

118 North (118 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, www.118northwayne.com) will host Zach Person on November 19, Eric Gales on November 20, Michael Braunfeld on November 21 and Chestnut Grove on November 24.

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) will host Paula Poundstone on November 18, Max Swan on November 19, Joe Conklin on November 20, Tommy Castro on November 21, and Kategory 5 on November 24.