HUNTINGTON – The Huntington Summer Music Series kicks off this Thursday, July 12, 5:30 to 8 p.m. with the annual picnic and a concert by the Misty Blues Band of Williamstown in the Gazebo on the town common, 20 Russell Road in Huntington.
The Misty Blues blues band will open the Huntington Summer Music Series this Thursday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the Huntington town common. (Photo from MistyBluesBand on FB)
Misty Blues founder and lead singer, Gina Coleman, entered the music scene in the early 90’s as the lead singer of the folk/rock group Cole-Connection. After playing a gospel singer in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of A Raisin In The Sun, she was steered down the path of blues. Guitarist Jason Webster and bassist Bill Patriquin from Cole-Connection were on board and thus began Misty Blues.
Misty Blues pays homage to the older blues made popular by the bold and brassy women of its time, while still paying respect to classic male artists of the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. The band hasn’t completely abandoned their musical roots; they frequently perform classic rock and folk tunes infused with a healthy dose of the blues. Over the years, Misty Blues has produced five albums, Electric Juke Joint features classic blues renditions, Roadhouse Revival is a danceable twist on traditional gospel music, Between The Stacks their completely original album with Charles Neville on sax, With All Due Respect which pays homage to some of the earliest blues music ever written, and Dark & Saucy their latest original project which is a interplay of sassy musings with more introspective renderings.
The core members are Gina Coleman, Jason Webster, Bill Patriquin, Jeff Dudziak, Benny Kohn, Aaron Dean and Rob Tatten. The band has been fortunate enough to perform with some great musicians in the Berkshires and beyond including Charles Neville, of the legendary Neville Brothers, Matt Berger, and Dave Vittone.
Other upcoming performances in the Huntington Summer Music Series include:
July 19 – Jack Waldheim, Originals and cover-tune mashups
July 26 – Moonshine Holler, Folk/Old-Time/Americana
Aug 2 – Bruce Mandel, Americana/Folksinger
Aug 9 – Terry A La Berry, Children’s Entertainer
Aug 16 – 91 South, Hits from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s
Aug 23 – Jake Manzi, Singer-Songwriter
This Thursday only, the annual picnic will offer a hamburger or hot dog, popcorn, lemonade and cake for a $1 donation. Baked goods are on sale every week, provided by local non-profit groups. The concert series is free, sponsored by the Huntington Community Events Committee and the Huntington Cultural Center. Bring a lawn chair, but no pets please. All performances will be moved inside Stanton Hall in case of rain.
