Submitted by The Buttonwood Tree
(June 27, 2024) — The following programs and events will take place at The Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main Street in Middletown, during the month of July, 2024.
Wednesday, July 3, 2024: Spoken Word Showcase of Local Writer Sasha Reagan. Performance begins at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $10. Sasha Reagan is a full time student at Middlesex Community College studying Psychology. As someone who has grown up in the Middletown School District, she considers herself partial to the city of Middletown. “When I’m not ensuring my spot on the Dean’s List is not at risk, I am writing or hanging out with loved ones.”
Sasha is one of four siblings and the daughter of a Pastor and a Nurse. She attends Shiloh Christian Church in Middletown. Church and family seem to be an important part of who she is. Sasha has been traveling around the world since she was little. “My family adopted my brothers from Ethiopia before I turned 7. As a chaotic bunch, my parents took us all over the world, and continue to do so. From Dubai, to Israel, to Rome and Haiti, I love how artistic the world is.”
Saturday, July 6, 2024: Bluegrass Group Simon Brogie and The XLTs. Show begins at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $15. Simon Brogie and The XLTs is a New England-based bluegrass band with rich harmonies, locomotive drive and a groove so deep, you’ll fall in! The XLTs is a group of all ages and backgrounds who all have the same goal: make good music that moves people. They pull influences from all corners of American music, but their heart lies with traditional Bluegrass and Country music.
Friday, July 12, 2024: Jazz Guitarist Peter Janson. Show begins at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $20. Janson lives in Boston and has been forging his path as an independent solo guitarist since 1999. Building what he considers a meaningful life, Peter’s music events are an important part of that – he performs concerts, and tours regularly, founded his own Eastern Woods Music label, gives guitar workshops, and he directs jazz ensembles and private guitar lessons at the University of Massachusetts Boston. There aren’t many jazz guitarists today focusing exclusively on solo guitar, but for Janson playing solo jazz guitar is both his passion and love – he is inspired by the solo guitar works of players like Pat Metheny, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Wolfgang Muthspiel, as well as jazz legends such as Joe Pass, Earl Klugh, and Jim Hall.
His music has been placed in video games, commercials, and news documentaries, has charted on Billboard for eleven weeks in the top ten (as a session guitarist), and he has a growing base of fans from 137 countries. His latest recording, “Getting To Here,” is in rotation on more than seventy-five radio stations globally, as well as on streaming formats.Admission link: https://bit.ly/494qrfj
Thursday, July 18, 2024: Detroit-Based musician Matthew Daher, who will be presenting an interactive workshop for those who are interested in expanding their skillset with Ableton Live. The workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission for this portion of the evening is $12.
At 8:30 p.m. Daher will perform music from his album “The Wisdom to Know the Difference, Volume 1.” Admission for the concert portion of the evening is $12.
In the workshop portion of the evening, Daher will break down drum triggering techniques using contact microphone drum triggers, Ableton Live, and aptrigga3 sampler plugins. The workshop will provide an introduction to building sonic textures generated from impulses on the drums and cymbals and balancing predictability and randomization in compositional process.
In the performance portion of the evening, Daher will perform compositions the project’s debut full length album “The Wisdom to Know the Difference Volume I”.
The Wisdom to Know the Difference is Matthew Daher’s electroacoustic solo project exploring the limits and possibilities of control and agency on both a sonic and spiritual level. Using Ableton Live, contact mic drum triggers, and samplers, Daher processes acoustic drums and vocals, blends them with lush textures, and triggers other sonic events from the drumkit at varying degrees of randomness.
Friday, July 19, 2024: Multi-Instrumental Singer-Songwriter Mike Borgia. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $15.
Influenced by the likes of Chris Whitley, Howlin’ Wolf, and Chris Cornell, Borgia has crafted a signature style that has received high praise. His uniqueness stems from his history in post hardcore and metal and the discovery of what he is today. Defiant of labels or the desire to fit in is what adds to his appeal and stand out quality.
Friday, July 26, 2024: 71st-Generation Kora-Master Madou Sidiki Diabaté and Salif Bamakora. Show begins at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $35
Salif Bamakora, aka Gordon Hellegers, has been playing Kora for more than twenty years, and has been a primary student of Madou Sidiki Diabaté for more than fifteen years. Salif is deeply versed in the traditional repertoire, histories, and cultural practices of Mande Djeliya and has become a skilled and experienced performer in concerts around the world. As a foundational member of the world music group SIMRIT and a periodic collaborator with Estas Tonne, Bamakora continues to explore the growing edges of contemporary Kora music, from original composition to spontaneous improvisation concerts.
