{"id":41400,"date":"2023-07-20T11:17:05","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T15:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=41400"},"modified":"2023-07-20T11:17:06","modified_gmt":"2023-07-20T15:17:06","slug":"on-stage-andy-summers-is-more-than-just-a-legendary-guitar-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=41400","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Andy Summers is more than just a legendary guitar player"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

Andy Summers<\/p><\/div>\n

Andy Summers is most known for his work as the guitarist of the British band The Police. Summers\u2019 innovative guitar playing created a new paradigm for guitarists in this period and has been widely imitated ever since.<\/p>\n

Prior to the Police, he played with various bands in the London scene including the Soft Machine, Kevin Coyne, and also Kevin Ayers.\u00a0As the lead guitarist for The Police, Summers played a crucial role in defining the band’s sound with his unique blend of rock, reggae, and jazz influences.<\/p>\n

Post Police, Summers has made 14 solo records, collaborated with many other musicians and toured the world as a solo artist. In addition, he has composed film scores, written books, had photo gallery exhibitions of his photography, spent time as a lecturer and published books of his incredible photography.<\/p>\n

This summer, Summers embarked on a project that features his work as an author, photographer. He is touring the U.S. with his show, \u201cThe Cracked Lens + A Missing String.\u201d The show is billed as, \u201cA fantastic evening with a brilliant practitioner of the guitar, camera and written words.\u201d<\/p>\n

On July 6, Summers will bring his show to the Colonial Theatre (227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, thecolonialtheatre.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a definite inspiration for the tour,\u201d said Summers, during a recent phone interview from his home in Los Angeles. \u201cThe main thing \u2013 I finally brought my music and my photography together. With my photography, I\u2019ve done five books and more than 50 exhibitions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Summers\u00a0has been a favorite of music fans for his unique talent since entering the music scene in the late 1960s. Since picking up a guitar at the age of 13, Summers has made his mark as an essential component of\u00a0The Police, as a\u00a0solo artist, and as a\u00a0writer,\u00a0photographer, composer, and producer.<\/p>\n

During his Police years, Summers\u2019 guitar was heard and imitated worldwide, making an indelible impression on guitar and guitarists everywhere. The group dominated the 80s music scene with several number one singles including \u201cEvery Breath You Take,\u201d \u201cRoxanne,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t Stand So Close to Me,\u201d \u201cEvery Little Thing She Does Is Magic,\u201d \u201cInvisible Sun\u201d and \u201cMessage in a Bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apart from the band\u2019s multi-million selling records Summers received two Grammys for Best Rock Instrumental Performance and was also voted the number one guitarist for five years by Guitar Player Magazine, and then entered the Guitar Player Hall of Fame.\u00a0The Police were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.<\/p>\n

Many years ago, Summers also established himself as a writer and photographer with a number of books,\u00a0essays\u00a0and several\u00a0photography collections. His works include\u00a0\u201cThrob,\u201d \u201cLight Strings,\u201d \u201cDesirer Walks the Street,\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll Be Watching You: Inside the Police\u201d and\u00a0\u201cA Certain Strangeness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with these published editions, he has held acclaimed exhibitions across the world. In 2019, the Pavilion Populaire Montpellier France staged a three-month retrospective, \u201cA Certain\u00a0Strangeness,\u201d\u00a0which broke all attendance\u00a0records and was later transferred to the Bonnafanten\u00a0Museum Maastricht in The Netherlands for a further six months. Summers completed this run with his multi-media\u00a0solo concert at the Metropolitan Museum of Art In New York June 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout three or four years ago, prior to the pandemic, I was experimenting in my studio,\u201d said Summers, whose first band experience was with Zoot Money\u2019s Big Roll Band in London in the mid-1960s.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat sort of kicked into this. In 2019, I did a show dedicated to popular photographers \u2013 \u2018A Certain Strangeness,\u2019 which had 20 minutes of improv instrumental music.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat led to this project. It\u2019s a continuation of my solo project. I project a lot of sequences of photographs on a big screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to pull a full set of photos \u2013 having them move and morph into each other. The music is solo \u2013 just me. I have sequencers that I play. They are beautiful electronic pieces \u2013 very seductive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have all kinds of music worked out to play with the sequences. I do a whole Brazilian section. There is also some hardcore Police material.”<\/p>\n

Summers was quick to note that this is nothing new \u2013 that in the 1920s, a live organist performed in theaters along with silent movie.<\/p>\n

\u201cI first got into photography when I was young,\u201d said Summers, who celebrated his 80th birthday on last New Year\u2019s Eve.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike anyone who had a camera, I was just taking pictures of things that caught my eye. The real seed came when I was 15 or 16 when I saw an art house film.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy black-and-white photos were very influential to my teenage mindset with guitar playing. I got a really good camera \u2013 a Nikon SE. Then, I moved up to a Leica.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, Summers\u2019 American audience will get to see and hear what he has been up to recently.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe show is pretty much all improv,\u201d said Summers. \u201cWe do a new video of \u2018Roxanne.\u2019 The show is totally immersive \u2013 a whole other atmosphere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Andy Summers — https:\/\/youtu.be\/phhGMLgLuiI<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Colonial Theatre on July 26 will start at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $29.50, $39.50, $49.50 and $75.<\/p>\n

A trio of country music legends will be in the area on July 20 when the Bristol Riverside Theatre (120 Radcliffe Street<\/p>\n

Bristol, www.brtstage.org<\/a>) presents another edition of its \u201cWilliam Penn Bank Summer Music Fest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The show on July 20 will be the \u201cRoots & Boots Tour\u201d featuring Aaron Tippin, Collin Raye and Sammy Kershaw at Bristol Township\u2019s outdoor amphitheater (2501 Bath Road, Bristol).<\/p>\n

Tippin, Raye and Kershaw are teaming up to present an evening filled with stories and songs as they get back to the roots of their music. The three musicians have amassed almost 70 combined Top 40 hit singles. Some of Tippin\u2019s songs are \u201cYou\u2019ve Got to Stand for Something,\u201d \u201cThere Ain\u2019t Nothin\u2019 Wrong with the Radio,\u201d and \u201cKiss This.\u201d Raye is known for \u201cLove Me,\u201d \u201cIn This Life,\u201d and \u201cThat\u2019s My Story.\u201d Kershaw\u2019s hits include \u201cQueen of My Double Wide Trailer,\u201d \u201cShe Don\u2019t Know She\u2019s Beautiful,\u201d and \u201cThird Rate Romance.\u201d
\nWhen Aaron Tippin is around, there a good chance that there is something in the air. It could be the sweet sounds of Tippin\u2019s voice singing his classic country songs or it could be Tippin piloting an aircraft in the sky above.<\/p>\n

As a musician, Tippin has released more than a dozen albums along with three Number One singles (U.S.\u00a0Billboard\u00a0Hot Country Songs) \u2013 \u201cThere Ain\u2019t Nothin\u2019 Wrong with the Radio\u201d (1992), \u201cThat\u2019s as Close as I\u2019ll Get to Loving You\u201d (1995) and \u201cKiss This\u201d (2000).<\/p>\n

As a pilot, Tippin is an instrument rated commercial pilot with single and multi-engine ratings. He also has private pilot privileges for rotorcraft-helicopter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a corporate pilot,\u201d said Tippin, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Greenville, South Carolina. \u201cWith music, I was a hobby player \u2013 pickin\u2019 and grinnin.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, the energy crunch ran me out of aviation. I quit flying. I moved home and drove bulldozers and dump trucks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a banjo player and I played a little guitar \u2013 enough to be bad at it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI realized I wasn\u2019t going to be an airline pilot and started doing shows on the weekends. I started a country band. Music became lucrative \u2013 about half my salary.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was playing country shows locally. I never thought it would go any further.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then came a catalyst.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first wife threw me out \u2013 rightfully so,\u201d said Tippin. \u201cI got divorced in 1982. I worked around town for a while and then decided to move to Nashville to see if I was any good.\u201d<\/p>\n

While trying to get noticed in Nashville, Tippin had to look elsewhere to support himself.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was living in Russellville, which is about an hour outside Nashville,\u201d said Tippin. \u201cI worked as a mill mechanic on the third shift \u2013 11 p.m. until 6 a.m.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d drive back to Nashville for my writing job. I\u2019d write songs until 1 p.m., go home, take a nap, have a few sandwiches and then head back to my job at the mill.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tippin eventually became a staff writer at Acuff-Rose. He competed on\u00a0\u201cYou Can Be a Star,\u201d a televised talent show on the former TNN (The Nashville Network). This led to him earning a song publishing contract in 1987. During this time, he wrote songs for\u00a0The Kingsmen,\u00a0David Ball,\u00a0Mark Collie, and\u00a0Charley Pride.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking at Acuff-Rose was a real breakthrough for me,\u201d said Tippin. \u201cI got to be rubbing shoulders with really great songwriters like Donny Keys and Buddy Brock.<\/p>\n

“When I first came to town, I thought I’d be a singer. It took a while. I was already 31 when I got signed to a record deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tippin first signed with RCA Records in 1990. With RCA, he recorded five studio albums and a Greatest Hits package. Tippin switched to\u00a0Lyric Street Records\u00a0in 1998, where he recorded four more studio albums, including a compilation of\u00a0Christmas music.<\/p>\n

After leaving Lyric Street in 2006, he founded a personal label known as Nippit Records, on which he issued the compilation album\u00a0\u201cNow & Then.\u201d A concept album,\u00a0\u201cIn Overdrive,\u201d was released in 2009. Then, Tippin signed to Country Crossing Records in 2008.<\/p>\n

Other than family and religion, music and aviation are the two big \u201cloves\u201d in Tippin\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

Tippin\u2019s association with aviation goes back way more than his time with musical instruments.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did my first solo when I was 16,\u201d said Tippin. \u201cI have a lot of multi-instrument ratings and I\u2019m qualified as a flight instructor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time I flew a plane was with my dad in a DC-3. He stacked up logbooks on the seat until it was high enough that I could reach the wheel. I was four years old at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, Tippin is more selective with his live performances and more laid back with recorded output.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no new album in the future,\u201d said Tippin. \u201cAnd I\u2019m not doing 200 shows a year anymore. I want to get back to aviation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Aaron Tippin — https:\/\/youtu.be\/Z_s-Qk07KxA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The concert in Bristol on July 20 will start at 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $60 and there is free parking.<\/p>\n

This weekend, David\u00a0Wilcox will be heading north from North Carolina to perform for another year at the Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts (9 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr,<\/a>\u00a0brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com<\/a>) with a show on July 22.<\/p>\n

He is no stranger to the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve played there many times \u2013 at least 20,\u201d said Wilcox, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Asheville, North Carolina. \u201cI\u2019ve been playing the event since the early 1990s.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilcox\u2019 show will have something new at Saturday\u2019s show \u2013 new songs from a soon-to-be-released album.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Good Friends\u201d is set for an August 18 release on his own label, Fresh Baked Records. Wilcox will then follow with a Spotify-exclusive release on September 1. The extended edition \u2013 \u201cMy Good Friends — The Guided Tour\u201d \u2013 will commentary tracks for each new song.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilcox actually has just recorded a lot of new tracks.<\/p>\n

When \u201cThe View From the Edge\u201d was released in 2018, it was his first album release since \u201cblaze\u201d in 2014.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have now two new albums that are done,\u201d said Wilcox. \u201cOne is coming out soon and the other will be out early next year. Both were recorded at the same time, but it\u2019s been sporadic. In the past, when you recorded in a studio, it was a matter of you gotta get it done. It could get very expensive with studio time.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, it\u2019s easier with home studios \u2013 but I sort of miss that urgency. In my home studio, I use ProTools. And I have really good microphones. Some are 30 or 40 years old.<\/p>\n

\u201cI looked at my songs that I\u2019d written since the last album and had more than 60 \u2013 and I kept writing. The pandemic has been a great time to write songs.\u00a0I have about 50 songs recorded \u2013 because I had so much time.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018My Good Friends\u2019 has 10 songs and singles are already being released. There will be 12 on the later one, which doesn\u2019t have a title yet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith \u2018My Good Friends,\u2019 the title comes from a song about how lucky I\u2019ve been with knowing when to get out of a bad situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new album is focused on how songs fit together \u2013 what they do to each other. It\u2019s like putting a painting in a frame.<\/p>\n

\u201cSongs contradict each other. Some songs that I wrote about the way I\u2019m making peace with the fact that my road days are numbered. I look at how a forest works \u2013 a big oak falls, a canopy opens and there is an acorn waiting. My music will come to an end one day \u2013 maybe 5-10 years and I\u2019ll be done. But for now, the new songs are thriving.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother new song is \u2018This Is How It Ends\u2019 — a lover gets betrayed. The two songs are right next to each other on the record. Five or 10 years from now, I\u2019ll still do the sweet gigs but slogging through the Midwest on a five-week tour isn\u2019t going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilcox\u2019 songs are more than autobiographical.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe songs I write are about what I want to happen to me,\u201d said Wilcox. \u201cWith the new songs, there are things I hadn\u2019t said. There is an apology to my estranged brother. That\u2019s a fascinating song \u2013 very heartfelt and very simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than three decades into his career, Wilcox\u00a0continues to push himself, just as he always has.\u00a0Wilcox, by so many measures, is a quintessential folk singer, telling stories full of heart, humor, and hope, substance, searching, and style. His innate sense of adventure and authenticity is why critics and colleagues, alike, have always praised not just his artistry, but his humanity, as well.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the result of a man giving himself over in gratitude and service to something bigger than himself. After an early 80s move to Warren Wilson College in North Carolina,\u00a0Wilcox\u00a0started playing guitar and writing songs, processing his own inner workings and accessing his own inner wisdom.<\/p>\n

In 1987, within a couple of years of graduating,\u00a0Wilcox\u00a0had released his first independent album,\u00a0\u201cThe Nightshift Watchman.\u201d A year later, he won the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Award and, in 1989, he signed with A&M Records, selling more than 100,000 copies of his A&M debut,\u00a0\u201cHow Did You Find Me Here.\u201d<\/p>\n

From Wilcox\u2019 view, life is a great adventure, instead of a series of tragedies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always knew that music had access to my heart,\u201d said Wilcox. \u201cI figured that if I had access to my heart, it would help me in my life. I\u2019m using music just as a way to know my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for David\u00a0Wilcox\u00a0—\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/-Y7ng-Uz1qg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on July 22, which has The Nields as the opening act, will start at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $15.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts are Trout Fishing in America on July 23, John Gorka on July 29, Livingston Taylor on August 5, Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience on August 12, Susan Werner on August 19, Dar Williams on August 26, Carsie Blanton & Marielle Kraft on September and Jon McLaughlin on September 8.<\/p>\n

King Of Prussia\u2019s live outdoor music series\u00a0Concerts Under the Stars\u00a0(Upper Merion Township Building Park, West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, concertsunderthestarskop.com<\/a>) returned to Upper Merion Township Building Park for its 37th season back in May. The summer-long concerts will include live music for all ages, a beer garden featuring local craft brews and cocktails and local food truck options. Events will take place from 7-10 p.m. on select weeknights and 6-9 p.m. on select Sundays.<\/p>\n

Concerts Under the Stars\u00a0will be co-presented by\u00a0Upper Merion Township\u00a0and\u00a0Rising Sun Presents\u00a0\u2013 the event producers at venues including\u00a0Ardmore Music Hall,\u00a0Underground Arts,\u00a0MilkBoy Philly and\u00a0118 North.<\/p>\n

Upcoming shows in the 2023 Concerts Under the Stars series are Lisa Loeb on July 22, Tommy Conwell & The House Rockers with Soraia on July 28, Don McCloskey and Hoots & Hellmouth on August 5, Donna the Buffalo on August 12, Start Making Sense (Talking Heads tribute), Al Stewart & The Empty Pockets on August 26, Splintered Sunlight (Grateful Dead Tribute) on September 2, and Easy Star All\u2010Stars on September 16.<\/p>\n

On July 21, American alt-pop singer-songwriter\u00a0Yueku<\/a> will be the opening act for Wldlfe on the \u201cThe Wldlfe – Live On Tour Pt. Ii\u201d at The Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia,www.thefillmorephilly.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Christian Koo \u2013 aka artist, songwriter, and producer Yueku \u2013 burst on the scene in 2021 with his debut EP \u201cCatch Me If You Can.\u201d
\nRecently, Yueku announced that his sophomore EP, \u201cLittle Less Noise,\u201d will be released on July 28, 2023.<\/p>\n

Yueku shared on social media, \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since my last release, and I am grateful for anyone who\u2019s been listening. Very excited for you to hear these songs that I had a hell of a time making with good people.\u201d
\nFrom the EP, he released the second single, \u201cOne Sided,\u201d as a follow-up to \u201cParadise,\u201d which was released earlier this year.<\/p>\n

On \u201cOne Sided,\u201d Yueku teamed up with Nashville-based singer-songwriter\u00a0Abby Holliday<\/a>\u00a0on the track which was co-written by the pair.<\/p>\n

According to Yueku, \u201c\u2018One Sided\u2019 is about being in a relationship where you\u2019re putting in all the effort to make it work. Yet with your efforts, you still have the disappointing realization the other person simply doesn\u2019t care the same way you do.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbby and I had the idea of comparing it to the writing of a novel — specifically around the idea of \u201ccliffhanger\u201d endings or stories that make you want more even when you know there\u2019s nothing more coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cParadise\u201d was written by Koo and Jake LeMond. It was produced by Hunter West and Yueku.
\nYueku said of the song, \u201cIt\u2019s a simple love song for someone who makes my time here much easier. When life is overwhelming, daunting and bleak, this person makes things feel like a taste of paradise. The track expresses some uncertainty about the afterlife and the religious ideas that can surround it, but with the core message that the time spent together here in the present is enough \u2018heaven\u2019 for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recently, Yueku wrote an essay, \u201cWhere Do I Look?,\u201d as a part of Atwood Magazine\u2019s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It is a reflection on AAPI representation (and lack thereof) in the entertainment industry, and how that has impacted his musical journey and personal life.<\/p>\n

Here is Yueku\u2019s essay.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy name\u2019s Christian Koo. I\u2019m an Asian American making music under the moniker Yueku, a play off my middle name and my last name. My father is from Hong Kong, and my mother is from Bangkok, Thailand. My parents came to the U.S. to start a family, and that\u2019s where I was born.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was growing up in school, I got on well with a lot of my classmates. I enjoyed a lot of my classes and formed lasting friendships. However, from the start it was hard not to notice that I had very few classmates that looked like I did. Straight hair, almond-shaped eyes and tan skin were qualities I noticed about myself that I rarely saw in others at my school.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I got older, I experienced some racially driven bullying from older students. Nothing violent or wildly abhorrent but comments that were definitely racially charged that made walking down the halls feel less secure than I\u2019d like.<\/p>\n

\u201cJump to 2020 when Covid-19 was at its peak. I faced multiple racist encounters simply walking down the street, or at my workplace from customers. People would tell me I looked like Bruce Lee, or ask me to teach them karate, or ask if I\u2019d accept American currency, or tell me to go back where I \u201ccame from.\u201d It sucked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll my life, I\u2019ve had a lot of issues with how Asian people are portrayed in Western media, or not portrayed at all. I would say up until fairly recently, Hollywood has portrayed us as weak, nerdy, cheap, easy to pick on. Just generally disrespectful. People think they can get away with saying or doing awful things to us because we\u2019ll look away or are unable to defend ourselves. Forget fiction for a second. Even when awful, violent crime is committed on an Asian person in the U.S., most of the time you have to do some digging to even hear about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up and seeing how Asian people were portrayed in film and TV was troubling. As a child, I quickly gravitated to music because the Asian stereotypes weren\u2019t as widespread in that space. But it wasn\u2019t that things were better in the music industry. There simply weren\u2019t that many famous Asian artists in the U.S. In a messed-up way, the lack of representation actually meant there was less racism to encounter.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is much more accessible nowadays and it\u2019s much easier to find more and more artists who are Asian, or Asian American. Keshi, Beabadoobe, Speed, RUSSEL! and Elise Go are a few examples that I love. It\u2019s cool to be able to list that many, whereas 10 to 15 years ago, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d have been able to. I wouldn\u2019t say being Asian American fuels why I make music. It is forever a part of who I am and something that can never leave me.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I quit making music tomorrow, I would still be Asian American. What I will say is that making music as an Asian American has always felt important to me because representation is imperative, especially for younger audiences. It\u2019s always been an adjacent goal of mine as a musician to challenge the stereotype that Western culture has portrayed for some time.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up, I wish I had more artists that looked like me to look up to. If I can be that for someone out there, that\u2019s huge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Yueku \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/dwNO4o6qh50<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The all-ages show on July 21, which features Yueku, Wldlfe and Poolboy, will start at 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $18.<\/p>\n

This weekend is your final opportunity to see \u201cMoulin Rouge! The Musical,\u201d which is being presented by Kimmel Cultural Campus (250 South Broad Street, Philadelphia,\u202fwww.kimmelculturalcampus.org<\/a>) and The Shubert Organization.<\/p>\n

The show, which is making its Philadelphia debut, is running now through\u00a0July 23 at the Academy of Music.<\/p>\n

The lively musical takes place in a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur, and glory. It is a world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment.<\/p>\n

Part of the 2022-23 Broadway series,\u00a0this larger-than-life musical tells the story of star-crossed lovers who fall in love at the\u00a0Moulin\u00a0Rouge, a place where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows while relishing the electrifying entertainment.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Moulin\u00a0Rouge of Paris is a dazzling and spectacular universe, the symbol of the Parisian way of celebrating since 1889. Starting life as a popular cabaret and dance hall, the venue became an iconic music hall in the Roaring Twenties and then a theatre where numerous famous French and international artists stepped out into the limelight.<\/p>\n

Audience members can dive into the world of celebrating truth, beauty, freedom, and most importantly, love, as this musical-remix extravaganza comes to life in front of their eyes.\u00a0\u201cMoulin\u00a0Rouge! The Musical\u201d\u00a0is more than just a musical, it\u2019s a state of mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoulin\u00a0Rouge! The Musical\u201d is set in the\u00a0Montmartre Quarter\u00a0of Paris, France, during the\u00a0Belle Epoque\u00a0at the turn of the 20th century. The musical relates the story of Christian, a young composer, who falls in love with cabaret actress Satine, who is the star of the\u00a0Moulin Rouge. Similar to the film, the musical’s score weaves together original songs with popular music, including songs that have been written in the 17 years since the film\u2019s premier.<\/p>\n

Christian is hailed as one of the greatest songwriters ever. This is his journey from beginning to end and there is a lot of music. The original movie used music of the times. This show uses music of our times.<\/p>\n

Some of the songs featured in this version are \u201cWhat\u2019s Love Got to Do with It,\u201d \u201cWe Belong,\u201d \u201cSympathy for the Devil,\u201d \u201cI Wanna Dance (with Somebody Who Loves Me),\u201d \u201cEvery Breath You Take\u201d and \u201cI Will Always Love You.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cMoulin Rouge! The Musical\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/kRYamIZWK-M<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoulin\u00a0Rouge! The Musical\u201d\u00a0is running now through July 23 at the Academy of Music.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices start at $20.<\/p>\n

This month\u2019s edition of the Candlelight Comedy Club is scheduled for July 20 at 7:30 p.m. Billy Garan will headline tonight\u2019s show. Joe Pontillo and Tony Parlante will be the opening acts.<\/p>\n

Garan has been seen doing comedy on NBC, ABC, Showtime, and A&E. His career as an actor has covered a wide range of appearances from ABC\u2019s \u201cPhenom\u201d and \u201cAmerica\u2019s Funniest People,\u201d NBC\u2019s \u201cSaved by the Bell\u201d and \u201cCalifornia Dreams,\u201d as well as Showtime\u2019s \u201cSherman Oaks.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2017, \u201cIn Honor of Jack,\u201d written and starring both Garan and Bill Rutkoski was an official selection in the Manhattan Film Festival as well as the NYC Indie Film Festival.<\/p>\n

Garan began his career performing stand-up at Catch a Rising Star in NYC. He expanded his career by joining a comedy troupe called Funny Business which toured hundreds of colleges throughout the country. Garan\u2019s huge list of impressions is demonstrated in his Hollywood High routine where he plays all the characters in a classroom of celebrity students, ranging from Truman Capote to Sylvester Stallone. He not only does the voices with superb accuracy, but also the mannerisms.<\/p>\n

\u200bGaran\u2019s high energy and machine gun style delivery have defined him as a unique talent, having made him a valuable opening act for Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and even Michael Buble\u0301 as well as many other musical acts. He has produced, written, and performed numerous radio commercials and has been seen doing comedy on NBC, Showtime, and A&E.<\/p>\n

Pontillo has been seen on AXS TV\u2019s \u201cGotham Comedy Live\u201d and MTV\u2019s \u201cIn the Middle of the Night\u201d \u2013 and he has been heard on Sirius XM.<\/p>\n

In 2018, Pontillo released his first special on Amazon \u201cDelete Your Account\u201d and his second special, \u201cNo One Asked For This,\u201d will be released soon.<\/p>\n

Parlante has a unique take on being a \u201cbaby boomer.\u201d He shares his life with audiences all over the Philadelphia\/South Jersey area. He has appeared in comedy clubs in the U.S. and Europe as well as fundraisers in all types of venues. He works strictly clean and is a member of the Christian Comedy Association.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $30 for the 7:30 p.m. show.<\/p>\n

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays now through August 27, the Candlelight Dinner Theater will be presenting its latest offering of the 2022-2023 \u2013 The Sound of Music.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show stars Sophie Jones as Maria Rainer and Paul McElwee as Captain Georg von Trapp.<\/p>\n

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org<\/a>) will present \u201cBroadway on High Street\u201d on July 20, Six One Five Collective on July 21 and The Johnny Folsom 4 on July 22.<\/p>\n

Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com<\/a>) is a prime destination to hear folk, jazz and blues music every Thursday through Sunday.<\/p>\n

The \u201cThursday Night Jazz Jam\u201d and the \u201cSunday Blues Brunch & Jam\u201d are regular features on Jamey\u2019s calendar while Friday and Saturday night shows feature national and regional acts.<\/p>\n

The \u201cSunday Blues Brunch & Jam\u201d is scheduled for every Sunday from noon-3 p.m. with the host band\u2019s set from noon-1 p.m. followed by an open mic from 1-3 p.m.<\/p>\n

The first, third, fourth and fifth Sunday sessions are hosted by the Philly Blues Kings while the hosts for second Sunday sessions are the Girke-Davis Project.<\/p>\n

The main events will be Billy the Kid and the Regulators on July 21 and The Porkroll Project on July 22.<\/p>\n

Billy the Kid and the Regulators earned a spot in the 2008 International Blues Competition in Memphis by winning the Appalachian Blues Challenge for the West Virginia Blues Society.<\/p>\n

Billy has appeared with and opened for acts such as Koko Taylor, Ana Popovic, James Cotton, Jimmie Vaughan, Rory Block, Savoy Brown, Blind Boys of Alabama, Tommy Castro and Shemeka Copeland.<\/p>\n

The Porkroll Project is hard rocking, five-piece blues band from the Delaware Valley that plays a high energy blend of fresh covers and originals. The music is blues, but it\u2019s done \u201cPorkroll\u201d style — little bit of grease, good dose of funk, whole lotta drive and grind. Add some dangerous lead guitar and harmonica, powerful organ, and rippin’ piano, and you have a recipe for a night where anything can happen.<\/p>\n

The band has a collective experience that runs deep and wide, having played together in various other projects for over ten years. They are well seasoned veterans of events such as the Philadelphia Jam on the River, the Annual Chameleon Club Blues Festival, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Riverfront Blues Festival, the Billtown Blues Festival, the Paoli Blues Festival and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.<\/p>\n

The Porkroll Project includes Neil \u201cPorkroll\u201d Taylor, Paul Matecki, Ed Young, Andy Haley and Buddy Cleveland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Andy Summers is most known for his work as the guitarist of the British band The Police. Summers\u2019 innovative guitar playing created a new paradigm for guitarists in this period and has been widely imitated ever since. Prior to the Police, he played with various bands in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[14320,6518,14319],"class_list":["post-41400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-andy-summers","tag-featured","tag-roots-boots-tour"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41400"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41401,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41400\/revisions\/41401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}