A summer of fun for 2009 Lowell Summer Music Series
Boardinghouse Park will once again be the place to be this summer to catch national acts right in the city of Lowell. The lineup has been released and it promises another summer full of good vibes and terrific music.
So get ready to drop off towels and blankets to the Boardinghouse Park lawn the day of the show to ensure great seats to see some reputable acts in the music industry. Take a look of just what Lowell has to offer during the summer months.
Jun 27 Los Lobos—The three time Grammy Award winning band combines traditional American rock music with some of its Mexican Roots. Their major label debut How Will the Wolves Survive was voted one of the 500 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine. Los Lobos (or The Wolves in Spanish) are also known as Ritchie Valen’s backup band in the major motion picture La Bamba. Also has roots to the city of Lowell, their newest release The Town and the City is named for a Jack Kerouac novel.
Jul 10 Los Lonely Boys—The threesome play music they call “Texican Rock n’ Roll” which has a mix of rock, blues, soul, country, and tejano stylings. Best known for their single “Heaven,” which was played all over the country and was a huge radio success, climbing to #16 on Billboard’s Top 100 charts. The Texas band won a Grammy in 2005 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group.
Jul 11 Ani DiFranco—From the very onset of her career, DiFranco has bucked the music industry like a true rebel, a punk rocker stuck in a folkie’s body. Eliminating record labels from the very onset, DiFranco has gone on to record many great albums and put on an amazing energetic live performance of her earnest, brash, and passionate clashing of folk and indie rock that can only be described as “anti-folk.”
Jul 17 Michael Franti and Spearhead—Rapper Michael Franti collaborated with bandmates in 1994 to create a band who combines Franti’s poetry to an afro-funk backdrop to create a very definitive sound all their own. Raising a lot of noise on the festival circuit over the years, Franti and Spearhead have gained a large following through word of mouth support. A group largely focused on social justice and peace, Franti has played three different events for President Obama.
Jul 18 Aimee Mann—Singer-Songwriter Aimee Mann has been an influence on the Pop/Rock and Adult Alternative landscapes for over 20 years since her Post-New Wave group ‘Til Tuesday. Mann had a big hit with the 1995 track “That’s Just What You Are,” which got major airtime due to its placement on the popular show Melrose Place. She received critical acclaim in 2006 for her concept album Forgotten Arm, where she was able to use her bittersweet and melancholy moods to tell the story of the return home from Vietnam of a drug-addicted boxer. She is currently in support of her album @#%&*! Smilers, which was released in January.
Jul 30 Joan Baez—The folk legend will be gracing the Boardinghouse Park stage and bringing with her songs and stories from an illustrious 50 year career of constructing beautiful folk and country songs and also making a different politically. With such songs such as “Diamonds & Rust,” “Love Song to a Stranger,” and “Wagoner’s Lad” in addition to her renditions of many influential songs of the past half-century, Baez has been an influence on many of today’s great folk and country singers.
Jul 31 Blues Traveler—Behind John Popper’s unique voice and harmonica skills, the quartet from New York has seen great success for almost twenty years creating great music in the rock genre, often branching and jamming out their songs to creative and improvinizational masterpieces. The band saw their best success with their album Four which had such hits like “Run Around” and “Hook.” The band is currently touring in support of their 2008 release North Hollywood Shootout.
Aug 21 Eileen Ivers and Immigrant Soul– Often referred to as the “Jimi Hendrix of Violin,” Ivers and her band Immigrant Soul have performed the Lowell Folk Festival for many years where she brings her violin under many effects that have only been seen on Stratocasters and Les Pauls. It is frantic, furious, and energetic folk music that one can hand bang as easily as Irish step dance to.
Aug 22 Livingston Taylor—Boston’s own Taylor has kept quite busy on the concert circuit due to his warm and welcoming demeanor as well as his light, tender, and mellow folk sounds. Younger brother to James, Livingstone has had moderate success over a 30 year career, must notably his top single “I Will Be In Love With You.”
Aug 29 Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters—Queens born Ronnie Earl will bring his scorching hot blues licks to the Mill City to heat up the August months. B.B. King, one of the blues greats, says of Earl “He is one of the most serious blues guitarists you can find today. He makes me proud.”
Sep 4 Hot Tuna—An acoustic foursome using members of Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna plays standard rock and blues songs. Starting out as an opening act for the aforementioned Jefferson Airplane as a way for Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen to try out new ideas, the band has evolved into its own machine for the once psychedelic rockers to try their softer and bluesier side.
Sep 5 Tom Rush—Born in Portsmouth, NH in the early ‘40’s, Rush is a singer-songwriter specializing in the country and Americana genres. Credited by Rolling Stone magazine as ushering in the “Era of the Singer-Songwriter,” rush has recorded and performed for over 40 years, and is currently supporting his newest 2009 release What I Know.
Sep 18 Gaelic Storm—The Summer season winds down with the Irish sounds of the Gaelic Storm. The Santa Monica, CA based celtic fusion group brings their exuberant and free-wheeling vibes to the early fall season in Lowell, a perfect time for a pint at the Dubliner after your first week of classes.
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