{"id":24763,"date":"2019-07-25T08:54:02","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T12:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=24763"},"modified":"2019-07-25T08:56:03","modified_gmt":"2019-07-25T12:56:03","slug":"on-stage-albert-castiglia-was-born-under-a-good-sign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=24763","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Albert Castiglia was born under a good sign"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span lang=\"EN\"><strong>By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, <\/span><em><span lang=\"EN\">Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9898\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/castiglia-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9898\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9898\" src=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/castiglia-3-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9898\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Albert Castiglia<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Over the next few days, Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org\/\">http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) is presenting a series of shows that will please a wide variety of music tastes \u2013 blues, western swing, classic rock tribute, singer\/songwriter and indie pop.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">It starts on July 25 with modern bluesman Albert Castiglia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cBorn Under a Bad Sign\u201d is one of bluesman Albert King\u2019s most famous songs \u2013 a blues classic that was written by a pair of Stax Records artists\u2026R&amp;B singer William Bell and bandleader Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. &amp; the M.G.\u2019s).<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Castiglia, on the other hand, was \u201cBorn Under A Good Sign.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Castiglia was born on August 12, 1969 when the planets were getting in cosmic alignment to welcome the hundreds of thousands of music fans who had already begun their journey to New York State to attend \u201cWoodstock Music &amp; Art Fair: An Aquarian Exposition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">A lot of blues acts performed live during those three historic days including the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Johnny Winter, Keef Hartley Band, and Canned Heat along with blues-influenced rock bands such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Mountain, Ten Years After and Blood, Sweat &amp; Tears.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Castiglia, who is a guitarist, singer and songwriter, got involved in the blues two decades after Woodstock.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cEric Clapton got me into the blues in the beginning,\u201d said Castiglia, during a recent phone interview from his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cI listened to a lot of blues on record. I was fascinated but these were blues songs that were covers. I wanted to find the versions that were the originals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cThen I bought Muddy Waters\u2019 \u2018Hard Again.\u2019 That was the record that really changed it. I was hearing Muddy for the first time on cassette. To me, the songs are what matter &#8212; even without production. Music is still really powerful. It\u2019s all about the song and the message.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cIt\u2019s because of the old stuff that I\u2019m doing this now. The great thing about the blues is that you never stop learning.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Castiglia joined the Miami Blues Authority in 1990 and was named the \u201cBest Blues Guitarist in Miami\u201d by the Miami New Times in 1997. Discovered singing by Junior Wells in 1996, Castiglia joined his touring band and worked as Wells\u2019 lead guitarist until the blues legend\u2019s death in 1998.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Castiglia\u2019s first solo album, \u201cBurn,\u201d was self-released in 2004 and followed in 2006 by \u201cThe Bittersweet Sessions,\u201d which was also self-released. He then released four albums on BluesLeaf Records &#8212; \u201cA Stone\u2019s Throw,\u201d These Are the Days,\u201d \u201cKeepin On,\u201d and \u201cLiving the Dream.\u201d Next was a series of four LPs on Ruf Records \u2013 \u201cSolid Ground,\u201d \u201cBlues Caravan 2014,\u201d \u201cBig Dog,\u201d and \u201cUp All Night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Castiglia\u2019s 11th and most recent album is \u201cMasterpiece,\u201d which was released by Gulf Coast Records on May 24, 2019. The album was co-produced by longtime friend and colleague Mike Zito, and released on Zito\u2019s own label, Gulf Coast Records.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cI recorded the album in Mike Zito\u2019s studio in Nederland, Texas,\u201d said Castiglia. \u201cIt was very special to be there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cMike played bass and drums and I played guitar and sang. It was mostly analog. A lot was done live with Mike on drums and me. I think it has a live feeling. The only thing we overdubbed was the bass.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cIt was inspired by events of the previous year. I got connected with a daughter I never knew I had \u2013 a daughter and two grandkids.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">When Castiglia\u2019s daughter found him, she provided him with an instant family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">According to Castiglia, \u201cPrior to my daughter finding me, my entire adult life felt incomplete. I never knew why I felt that way. I could never put my finger on it. Then when I discovered my daughter, my heart was suddenly overflowing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cMy daughter finding me and opening up my world to an additional family, including two grandchildren, brought out the deepest material I\u2019ve ever created.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Family relationships have always fueled blues lyrics and Castiglia is keeping the tradition alive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cMy job as a musician is to keep the groove alive and relevant,\u201d said Castiglia. \u201cThat\u2019s why I do it. That\u2019s why my contemporaries do it. I do it because I love it. It\u2019s the reason I live and I exist. It\u2019s the reason that I play this music for a living.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Video link for Albert Castiglia \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/PUWApybHQ9U\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/PUWApybHQ9U<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The show at Kennett Flash will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Every year, it seems the entertainment world adds a few new \u201cHot Clubs.\u201d The constantly growing list includes the Hot Club of Detroit, Hot Club Philly, Hot Club of San Francisco and even Hot Club de Paris.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Fortunately, these \u201cHot Clubs\u201d are not strip clubs with scantily clad dancers but rather a collection of unrelated swing jazz bands that have been influenced by gypsy guitar master Django Reinhardt and his band Le Quintet du\u00a0Hot\u00a0Club\u00a0de France.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9899\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/cowtown.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9899\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9899\" src=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/cowtown-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9899\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hot Club of Cowtown<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">One of the most interesting Hot Club bands in America is headed to Chester County this week. On July 26, Kennett Flash will host a concert by Hot Club of Cowtown. The band\u2019s music, which features three-part harmonies, is a blend of western swing music and hot gypsy jazz music.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Hot Club of Cowtown is a multiple Ameripolitan Music Award winner, inductee of the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame, and was awarded Best Music Group by True West Magazine in 2012. The band has appeared on NPR\u2019s Mountain Stage, World Caf\u00e9, and All Things Considered, as well as Sirius Radio and BBC Live.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Whit Smith, the band\u2019s dexterous guitarist, embodies the spirit of early jazz players like Charlie Christian in both his vintage gear and his high-flying fretwork. Upright bass player\u00a0Jake Erwin\u00a0is a rhythm powerhouse who keeps the beat with determination and gusto, slapping that bass like it owes him money.\u00a0Elana James\u00a0rounds out the trio with sweet, inviting vocals and the astounding fiddle playing that leaves audiences reeling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cWhit and I met in 1994 and have been making music together ever since,\u201d said James, during a previous phone interview. \u201cOur first record \u2018Swinging Stampede\u2019 came out a few years later.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cWe\u2019ve been making music for more than 20 years. I\u2019m proud of that because there aren\u2019t many bands that stay together that long &#8212; except ones that have had Number One hits like the Rolling Stones.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cWe chose our name because Whit was really into Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli and that was the music we began playing. And, Cowtown was a reference to our other influences with western swing music.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">From 1998-2005, the Hot Club of Cowtown recorded five albums that were released on the California-based HighTone Records label. In 2005, the group disbanded. The trio came back together in 2008 and has been going strong ever since.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cWe were on HighTone and they wanted an album a year,\u201d said James. \u201cAnd, they wanted a lot of originals because they owned part of the publishing. Eventually, we realized that this band isn\u2019t a part of that culture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Once reunited, the band began performing and recording in a style that was a lively blend of gypsy jazz and western swing. Since re-forming, the Hot Club of Cowtown has released three albums that have found a good balance between classics and originals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cThere aren\u2019t many bands touring with our kind of music,\u201d said James. \u201cWe think of it as 1930s punk rock. What makes this band unique is the live show aspect of it. We have a lot of fun when we play. Audiences see this and they have a lot of fun too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The Hot Club of Cowtown just finished making its 11th album &#8212; a new collection of original compositions along with a few inspired standards. The album, which is titled \u201cWild Kingdom,\u201d will be released on September 13, 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Video link for Hot Club of Cowtown \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/I2hsYWJ1YB8\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/I2hsYWJ1YB8<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The show at Kennett Flash will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Other upcoming shows at Kennett Flash are \u201cCHICAGO 9 \u2013 A Tribute to Chicago\u201d on July 27 and \u201cNew Summer Sounds Music Series\u201d featuring Felicia Berrier, Off-Color and CHVNCE on July 30.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9900\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/felicia-berrier.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9900\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9900\" src=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/felicia-berrier-350x233.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9900\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Felicia Berrier<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Felicia Berrier is a 16-year-old singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and performer from Kennett Square. She is a student at PA Leadership Charter School (PALCS), where she attends the Center for Performing and Fine Arts (CPFA) and the University Scholars Program (USP). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Berrier has been actively writing music since 2016 and released her first single \u201cFigure It Out\u201d in May 2017. Four of her songs can be found on digital music retailers such as iTunes and Spotify, and an additional 10 can be found on her CD.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">She has received a lot of her production, vocal, and songwriting coaching from the MMVS Music Career Mastermind Program. The young singer gets inspiration from musicians such as Taylor Swift, Adele, and Sia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Video link for Felicia Berrier &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/AOw2zYBkOA4\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/AOw2zYBkOA4<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The show on July 30 will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Kennett Flash will also present a show on July 31 in conjunction with Anson B. Nixon Park Summer Concert Series.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The free concert on Wednesday night, which features South African singer\/songwriter Andrew Lipke, will start at 7 p.m. in Anson B. Nixon Park.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Concerts are rain or shine events and are only canceled in the event of severe weather. Dinner is available for purchase from Verbena BYOB with desserts offered by La Michoacana Homemade Ice Cream\u00a0and Sweet Magnolia Bakery.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9901\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/joachim.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9901\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9901\" src=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/joachim-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9901\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nathalie Joachim<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">On July 25, the Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-571-9590, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.delart.org\/\">www.delart.org<\/a>) will present the latest installment of its \u201cPerformance Series\u201d \u2013 \u201cFanm d\u2019Ayiti\u201d by Nathalie Joachim with the Spektral Quartet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cFanm d\u2019Ayiti\u201d\u00a0(Women of Haiti) is an evening-length work for voice, flute, string quartet and electronics\u00a0developed by composer\/performer Nathalie Joachim.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Commissioned by St. Paul Chamber Orchestra\u2019s Liquid Music Series,\u00a0\u201cFanm d\u2019Ayiti\u201d\u00a0is a celebration of some of Haiti\u2019s most iconic yet under-recognized female artists, as well as an exploration of Joachim\u2019s Haitian heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The project features original songs incorporating the recorded voices of Joachim\u2019s grandmother and the girls\u2019 choir of her family\u2019s home farming village of Dantan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Additionally, it features new arrangements of songs by some of the greatest female voices in Haitian history.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The multi-media performance also incorporates recorded interviews with these artists about their lives &#8212; how they fought for social justice and uplifted the people of Haiti.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Developed in a two-year Liquid Music Virtual Residency, \u201cFanm d\u2019Ayiti\u201d\u00a0premiered in March 2018 with members of SPCO in St. Paul, Minnesota, and will be presented in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 season with\u00a0Spektral Quartet.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Joachim is a Brooklyn-born Haitian American flutist, composer and vocalist whose music is a fusion of classical music, electronic programming, hip-hop, and soulful R&amp;B vocals. She is co-artistic director and\u00a0flutist of the four-time Grammy winning contemporary chamber ensemble\u00a0Eighth Blackbird, and co-founder of the critically acclaimed urban art pop duo,\u00a0Flutronix.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Joachim is a graduate of The Juilliard School, and was the first person to successfully complete the conservatory\u2019s MAP, Pre-College, and College Division programs. Upon graduation, she was granted the first ever Juilliard InterArts Award for independently producing and presenting exceptional interdisciplinary arts performances involving music, dance, theater and technology while pursuing her degree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">She continued her graduate degree studies at The New School, where her focus was audio production and sound design. Joachim has been described as \u201can edgy multi-genre performance artist who has long been pushing boundaries with her flute.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Spektral Quartet is a string quartet based in Chicago featuring Clara Lyon (violin), Maeve Feinberg (violin), Doyle Armbrust (viola) and Russell Rolen (cello). It is the ensemble-in-residence at the University of Chicago&#8217;s Department of Music, where it has served since 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The four-piece ensemble actively pursues a vivid conversation between exhilarating works of the traditional canon and those written more recently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Spektral Quartet is known for creating seamless connections across centuries &#8212; drawing in the listener with charismatic deliveries, interactive concert formats, an up-close atmosphere, and bold, inquisitive programming.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Video link for Fanm D\u2019Ayiti &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/KkFoaw9fiS8\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/KkFoaw9fiS8<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The performance at the Delaware Art Museum will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults, and $25 for youth and college students.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9902\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kraft.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9902\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9902\" src=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/kraft-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9902\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Marielle Kraft<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Marielle Kraft just finished making her debut studio-produced EP, \u201cThe Deep End.\u201d She released the EP on July 12 and is celebrating with a \u201cRecord Release Show\u201d on July 26 at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldcafelive.com\/\">www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The indie-pop songwriter, who is based just outside of Philadelphia in northern Delaware, has displayed craftsmanship beyond her years, drawing inspiration from artists like Julia Michaels and Maggie Rogers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Kraft&#8217;s vivid lyrics and catchy melodies have led to over 500,000 streams and nearly 17K monthly listeners on Spotify in addition to getting licensed to 14 major TV networks including MTV, Netflix, A&amp;E, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Kraft was crowned champion at the 2018 Mid-Atlantic Singer-Songwriter Competition and delivered a TEDx Talk on honesty in songwriting at the Firefly Music Festival the following June. Kraft previously released a live EP, \u201cThe Gibraltar Sessions,\u201d in 2016 \u2013 a collection of stripped-back, acoustic-driven about love, longing, and identity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cI made the new EP at three different studios,\u201d said Kraft, during a phone interview last week from her home in the Trolley Square neighborhood in Wilmington.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cI wanted to work with different producers. \u201cI played guitar and sang on all the sessions and I wanted to work with different producers. We used session musicians when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cI worked with Joe Boldizar and we cut the song \u2018Toothbrush\u2019 at a studio in Philly called Retro City.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The track \u2018Out of River\u2019 was recorded in Nashville with Cameron Rocht and the song \u2018Test Drive\u2019 was done with Tyco Costantino at his studio in Haddonfield, New Jersey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Unlike many singer\/songwriters, Kraft didn\u2019t develop her craft during childhood days.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cI wasn\u2019t raised in a musical household,\u201d said Kraft, who grew up in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cI didn\u2019t really get into music until late in high school. A lot of my friends in high school were musical and they taught me chords. Then, I got a guitar for my 16th birthday \u2013 and I still use that guitar.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cIn college, I was majoring in English and education at the University of Delaware. So, I started songwriting. I started focusing on song structure and good lyrics. I played out at a couple campus events.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">After graduating from UD, Kraft, who played varsity lacrosse in high school and club lacrosse in college, got a job in the field of her studies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cIn 2017, I went to Maryland and started teaching sixth grade in the LaPlata School District. I was also coaching every day \u2013 middle school basketball in the winter and high school lacrosse in the spring.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cIn June 2018 at the end of the school year, I decided to step away from teaching and focus on music. My first single, \u2018How Far You Feel,\u2019 came out in August 2017.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cHow Far You Feel,\u201d an indie-pop single dealing with the dichotomy of physical vs. emotional distance in relationships, collected more than 350,000 streams across platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Kraft\u2019s single, \u201cTest Drive,\u201d which was released in August 2018, reached 25K streams in just two weeks. In February 2019, Kraft released a new pop single \u201cToothbrush&#8221; on all platforms, coupled with a brilliantly creative lyric video comprised of 50 fans singing along to her lyrics using custom Marielle Kraft toothbrushes.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Her live shows are a seamless narrative that captivates the audience through the natural ebbs and flows of life\u2019s journey through love. This weekend, her fans will get to hear the new material in an up-close-and-personal setting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Video link for Marielle Kraft \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/WRflxAZMmU8\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/WRflxAZMmU8<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live, which has Chris Paterno and Brianna Nelson as openers, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Other upcoming shows at the venue are Vanessa Collier on July 25, and Clever Girls on July 31.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9903\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/blondie-at-xponential.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9903\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9903\" src=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/blondie-at-xponential-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9903\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blondie<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The 2019 XPoNential Music Festival at Wiggins Park (Harbour Boulevard, Camden, New Jersey, <a href=\"http:\/\/xpnfest.org\/\">http:\/\/xpnfest.org<\/a>) is scheduled for this weekend \u2013 July 26-28.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The line-up for July 26 features Hozier, Japanese Breakfast, Killiam Shakespeare, Bettye Lavette, Rayland Baxter, Nilufer Yanya, Christone \u201cKingfish\u201d Ingram and Foxtrot &amp; The Get Go.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Acts slated to perform on July 27 are Elvis Costello, St.\u00a0 the Broken Bones, Blondie, The McCrary Sisters, the Wood Brothers, J.S. Ondara, Low Cut Connie, Caroline Rose, Sister Sparrow &amp; the Dirty Birds, Y La Bamba, Ali Awan and The Vaughns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The schedule for July 28 includes Amy Ray Band, Sean Ardoin, Guster, Ruston Kelly, Kathleen Edwards, Gregory Alan Isakoff, Lucy Dacus, The War &amp; Treaty, Dave Hause and the Mermaid, Zeek Burse and RFA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Now through August 25, Cirque du Soleil will be performing its new show \u201cAmaluna\u201d under the Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) which has been erected on the grounds of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Road, Oaks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cirquedusoleil.com\/usa\/oaks\/amaluna\/buy-tickets\">https:\/\/www.cirquedusoleil.com\/usa\/oaks\/amaluna\/buy-tickets<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_9904\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/cirque-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9904\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-9904\" src=\"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/cirque-2-350x197.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"197\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-9904\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Amaluna<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cAmaluna\u201d is a celebration of women created and directed by Tony Award winning stage artist Diana Paulus. The production invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Inspired by Greek and Norse mythology, Mozart\u2019s \u201cThe Magic Flute,\u201d and Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cThe Tempest,\u201d this large-scale Big Top show features a cast comprised mostly of female artists including a 100 per cent female band, which is a first for Cirque du Soleil.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The story takes place on an island governed by goddesses. During a storm, a group of men are washed up on shore. The queen&#8217;s daughter falls for one of the young men, and the trials of their love are the basis of the show&#8217;s main narrative through-line.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u201cAmaluna\u201d has many acts associated with circus performances such as \u201cUnicycle,\u201d \u201cTeeterboard,\u201d \u201cAerial Straps,\u201d \u201cChinese Pole,\u201d and \u201cJuggling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Other acts feature genres usually associated with women such as ballet in \u201cPeacock Dance,\u201d gymnastics in \u201cUneven Bars,\u201d water ballet in \u201cCerceau and Waterbowl,\u201d and a combination of gymnastics and ballet in \u201cBanquine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The cast of \u201cAmaluna\u201d features 48 artists. An additional 67 employees travel with the show to serve the functions of artistic management, customer service, tour services and technicians for the show and the site setup.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">As always, this Cirque du Soleil production exceeds fans\u2019 expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Video link for \u201cAmaluna\u201d \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/B7OE-50wsOk\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/B7OE-50wsOk<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Performances of Cirque du Soleil\u2019s \u201cAmaluna\u201d will be presented from July 24-August 25 under the Grand Chapiteau in Oaks. Ticket prices start at $54.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a>) will host Open Mic\u00a0 Night on July 25 and Affinity Colabs Story &amp; Poetry Slam on July 28.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ardmoremusic.com\/\">www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will have Breakwater and UGO on July 26, Raekwon on July 27 and Stick Men on July 30.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.keswicktheatre.com\/\">www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) will present Jessie\u2019s Girl on July 25.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The Grand Opera House <\/span><span lang=\"EN\">(818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, <\/span><span lang=\"EN\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thegrandwilmington.org\/\">www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/a>) is hosting Doktor Kaboom on July 25.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The Locks at Sona (4417 Main Street, Manayunk, 484- 273-0481, <a href=\"http:\/\/sonapub.com\/\">sonapub.com<\/a>) will host Crystal Bowersox with special guest Kelly Hoppenjans on July 25 and \u201cThe Beautiful Lie Tour\u201d featuring Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison on July 31.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">\u00a0The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org\/\">www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>) is presenting the classic hit musical \u201cSouth Pacific\u201d now through August 25. Tickets, which include a full buffet dinner, are $63.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Over the next few days, Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org) is presenting a series of shows that will please a wide variety of music tastes \u2013 blues, western swing, classic rock tribute, singer\/songwriter and indie pop. It starts on July 25 with modern bluesman Albert [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,5166,1],"tags":[9015,9019,9020,3912,8505,9016,9018,9017],"class_list":["post-24763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-d-arts-entertainment","category-uncategorized","tag-albert-castiglia","tag-amaluna","tag-blondie","tag-featured","tag-felicia-berrier","tag-hot-club-of-cowtown","tag-marielle-kraft","tag-nathalie-joachim"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24763","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24763"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24763\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24764,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24763\/revisions\/24764"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}