Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn

Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 7:30pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn, “the king and queen of the banjo” (Paste Magazine), have a musical partnership like no other. Béla Fleck is a fifteen-time Grammy Award winner who has taken the instrument across multiple genres, and Abigail Washburn a singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjo player who re-radicalized it by combining it with Far East culture and sounds. The two met at a square dance, began collaborating musically and eventually fell in love. Over the years, they played together most visibly in the Sparrow Quartet alongside Ben Sollee and Casey Driessen and informally at a pickin’ party here, a benefit there, or occasionally popping up in each other’s solo shows. Fans of tradition-tweaking acoustic fare eagerly anticipated that Béla & Abigail would begin making music together as a duo.

Fleck has the virtuosic, jazz-to-classical ingenuity of an iconic instrumentalist and composer with bluegrass roots. His collaborations range from his ground-breaking standard-setting ensemble Béla Fleck and the Flecktones to a staggeringly broad array of musical experiments. From writing concertos for full symphony orchestra, exploring the banjo’s African roots, to jazz duos with Chick Corea, many tout that Béla Fleck is the world’s premier banjo player. Washburn has the earthy sophistication of a postmodern, old-time singer-songwriter who has drawn critical acclaim for her solo albums. She has done fascinating work in folk musical diplomacy in China, presented an original theatrical production, and has contributed to singular side groups Uncle Earl and The Wu-Force. In addition to being named a TED Fellow in 2012, Abigail was recently named the first US-China Fellow at Vanderbilt University, in addition to Carolina Performing Arts/Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s DisTil Fellow for 2018-2020.

On stage, Fleck & Washburn will perform pieces from their Grammy-winning self-titled debut as well as their new record, Echo in the Valley (Rounder 2017). With one eye on using the banjo to showcase America’s rich heritage and the other pulling the noble instrument from its most familiar arena into new and unique realms, Bela & Abigail meet in the mean, head-on, to present music that feels wildly innovative and familiar at the same time. Whether at home, on stage or on record, their deep bond, combined with the way their distinct musical personalities and banjo styles interact, makes theirs a picking partnership unlike any other on the planet.

Dervish

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 7:30pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Kleinhans Music Hall is pleased to present Dervish coming to the Mary Seaton Room on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are on sale now to the public and start at $35.  Music lovers can enjoy a 10% discount on the purchase of 4 or more tickets using code GROOVES at checkout.

Dervish are long-established as one of the biggest names in Irish music internationally. They’re renowned for live performances, which match dazzling sets of tunes with stunning interpretations of traditional songs.  Their studio and live albums – 13 to date – make up one of the outstanding catalogues in Irish music.

In 2019 Dervish received a prestigious lifetime achievement award from the BBC, a fitting tribute to the band after over 30 years of recording and performing all over the world. Described by the BBC as “an icon of Irish music”, the band have played at festivals from Rio de janeiro to Glastonbury.

They accompanied the Irish President on state visits to Latvia and Lithuania and Prime Minister of Ireland on a trade mission to China as Cultural Ambassadors taking time out to play an impromptu session on the Great Wall of China. Dervish have a line-up which includes some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians, fronted by one of the country’s best-known singers, Cathy Jordan.

All six members of Dervish are steeped in the musical traditions of counties Sligo and Leitrim in north-west Ireland. It’s an area which matches Atlantic coastline with storied mountains and rural landscapes, which has inspired a host of musicians, artists and writers.

Red Baraat

Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 7pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Kleinhans Music Hall is pleased to present Red Baraat coming to the Mary Seaton Room on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are on sale now to the public and start at $37.  Music lovers can enjoy a 10% discount on the purchase of 4 or more tickets using code GROOVES at checkout.

Red Baraat is a pioneering band from Brooklyn, New York. Conceived by dhol player Sunny Jain, the group has drawn worldwide praise for its singular sound, a merging of hard driving North Indian bhangra with elements of hip-hop, jazz and raw punk energy. Created with no less a purposeful agenda than manifesting joy and unity in all people, Red Baraat’s spirit is worn brightly on its sweaty and hard-worked sleeve.

Justin Adams & Mauro Durante

Friday, February 16, 2024 at 7:30pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Justin Adams, guitarist, producer and composer, has been a creator of wonders with Robert Plant in the Sensational Space Shifters. His production on landmark albums by Tinariwen and Rachid Taha highlights his feel for North African groove, while his award-winning collaborations with Juldeh Camara linked griot tradition with raw blues spirit. His work with artists such as Jah Wobble and Sinead O’Connor was infused with the spirit of post-punk London, while his solo guitar album Ribbons was cited by Songlines magazine among the top 50 albums of the past decade.

This new collaboration with Mauro Durante stems from a concert led by Ludovico Einaudi, the legendary Notte de Taranta in Puglia, where the two first played together, recognizing kindred spirits in the trance rhythms of Taranta which transcend “melancholia” or the blues. Mauro Durante toured the world for many years with Ludovico Einaudi playing violin and frame drums. He is one of the leading players in the pizzica style of Southern Italy and leads Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, who have played great festivals all over the world. Last year they were featured in their own concert at the BBC Proms (where Justin Adams guested with them) and they won Best Group in the Songlines Music Awards.

Cherish the Ladies

Friday, December 1, 2023 at 8pm at Kleinhans

About Cherish the Ladies
“It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do,” says The Boston Globe of Cherish The Ladies, Grammy Award nominated Irish-American supergroup that formed in 1985 to celebrate the rise of extraordinary women in what had been a male-dominated Celtic music scene. Cherish The Ladies has shared timeless Irish traditions and good cheer with audiences worldwide for decades. They’ve brought their signature blend of virtuosic instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, and stunning step dancing to the White House, the Olympics, and to PBS with their television special, An Irish Homecoming, which received an Emmy Award. The Washington Post praises the “astonishing array of virtuosity” that Cherish The Ladies bring to the stage on a regular basis. Their latest album, Heart of the Home, embraces the gift of music passed down from generations. “It was the greatest gift they could give us,” says bandleader Joanie Madden. “We’re carrying on the music of our fathers.” As their reputation and admiration from both fans and critics alike continues to grow, Cherish The Ladies blazes forward into another decade of music making.

Under the leadership  of All-Ireland flute and whistle champion Joanie Madden, named by The Irish Voice Newspaper as one of the Top 25 most influential Irish Americans of the past quarter century, these ladies create an evening that includes a spectacular blend of virtuoso instrumental talents, beautiful vocals, captivating arrangements, and stunning step dancing. Their continued success as one of the top Celtic groups in the world is due to the ensemble’s ability to take the best of Irish traditional music and dance and put it forth in an immensely entertaining show.

The  New  York  Times  calls   their   music   “passionate,   tender,   and   rambunctious,”   and  the Washington  Post praises  their  “astonishing   array   of   virtuosity.”   They’ve   won recognition as the BBC’s Best Musical Group of the Year and named Top North American Celtic Group at the Irish Music Awards and not to mention having a street named after them in the Bronx! They’ve collaborated with such musicians as The Boston Pops, The Clancy Brothers, the Chieftains, Vince Gill, Nanci Griffith, Pete Seeger, Don Henley,  Arlo Guthrie and Maura O’Connell as well as being the featured soloist with over 280 nights of symphony orchestras.

The level of artistic, historic, and purely enticing entertainment is unlike any in its genre. As their reputation and admiration from both fans and critics alike continue to grow, Cherish The Ladies blazes forward into another decade of music-making.

Allman Betts Family Revival

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 8pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Kleinhans Music Hall is proud to present the Allman Betts Family Revival featuring Devon Allman, Duane Betts, The Allman Betts Band, Tal Wilkenfeld, Larry McCray, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Alex Orbison, Jimmy Hall, Jackie Greene, Ally Venable, Anders Osborne & Sierra Hull on Wednesday, November 29th.  The show will feature two massive sets highlighting the music of Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts. Tickets are on sale now!

The Allman Family Revival initially began as a one-off concert in 2017 at The Fillmore in San Francisco to celebrate the late Gregg Allman’s life on what would have been his 70th birthday. Now in it’s 7th year it has since expanded into a full US tour.

This year the tour is excited to announce the official rebranding of the Allman Family Revival to the Allman Betts Family Revival. Devon Allman (son of Gregg) and Duane Betts (son of Dickey) have hand picked an array of guests who will perform two sets – one featuring songs by Gregg Allman and one featuring songs by Dickey Betts. Fans will enjoy listening to the hits along with the deep cuts from their legendary Allman Brother’s catalogue performed by Anders Osborne, Luther Dickinson & Cody Dickenson (North Mississippi Allstars), Jimmy Hall (Jeff Beck, Wet Willie), Jackie Greene, Larry McCray, Orbi Orbison, Ally Venable, Devon Allman, Duane Betts, and The Allman Betts Band featuring Tal Wilkenfeld on Bass (Jeff Beck).

The tour will also welcome back The Brotherhood of Light for the otherworldly visuals Allman Brothers fans experienced at the height of their career.  The Allman Betts Family Revival promises nearly three action-packed hours that will leave fans with the musical experience of a lifetime.

Caña Dulce y Caña Brava

Friday, October 20, 2023 at 7:30pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Caña Dulce y Caña Brava offers a performance which exhibits the music, poetry, dance and traditional attire of Veracruz, Mexico, interpreted by artists who are beneficiaries of the jarocho culture and noteworthy performers with years of experience on both national and international stages. The group stands out as an artistic project that highlights feminine poetry and voices. Creating an experience that connects the spectator with distinct emotions, one is taken on voyage through multiple rhythms, accompanied by traditional string instruments such as the harp and the jarana, percussion and zapateado, poetic improvisation in rhyme and the projection of visual effects. Offering an assortment of colors, textures and images to diverse and multi-generational audiences, the ensemble is defined by an original aesthetic concept that unites the traditional with the vanguard in a contemporary stage proposal.

Since its formation in 2007, the group has carried the seal of feminine strength and beauty within the traditionally masculine world of Mexican son.

The sounds of the strings interweave with the poetic messages written from a woman’s perspective, creating a facet not before seen within this musical genre.

The zapateado (percussive dance) on the tarima (wooden platform) accentuates the beat, while the band’s colorful wardrobe embellishes their musicality. Appealing instrumental landscapes include the captivating vibrations of the horse jaw, the profound and mystical harmonies of the harp, the percussive atmosphere created by the jarana, the robust rhythm of the guitarra grande, and the renaissance-sounding bowed instruments created ex profeso for the group, resurrecting extinct baroque instrumentation.

About Global Grooves

The Global Grooves music series, aims to bridge cultures and ignite a shared passion for music.  Through captivating performances which highlight a variety of cultures, it celebrates the rich tapestry of musical traditions from around the world, fostering cross-cultural understanding, appreciation, and unity among the beautifully diverse community of WNY. Kleinhans’ commitment to artistic excellence and cultural exploration drove them to curate a concert experience that transcends boundaries and enriches the human spirit.

Choir! Choir! Choir!

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 7:30pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Choir! Choir! Choir! is a Toronto-based singing group led by creative directors Nobu Adilman and Daveed Goldman. The duo takes a non-traditional approach; there are no auditions, and the audience is the choir! Show up and they’ll teach you an original arrangement to a song you LOVE.

Founded in 2011, Choir! Choir! Choir! has amassed a dedicated and passionate community of singers and a thriving international fan base on YouTube amassing millions of views on some of their videos.

The group has performed with renowned artists such as Patti Smith, David Byrne, Rick Astley, Tegan and Sara, and Rufus Wainwright, and onstage at New York’s Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall with the likes of Debbie Harry and The Flaming Lips. They’ve created content for NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar with Hamilton’s Brandon Victor Dixon. And they they’ve performed at the MET in New York for New York Pride and hosted their own float in Toronto Pride. They remembered Canadian music hero, Gord Downie, by performing Grace Too with the surviving members of the Tragically Hip to 10,000 fans in Toronto.

Choir! Choir! Choir! exists to celebrate music and push the boundaries between practice and performance, artist and audience, offering therapeutic benefits with the ultimate side effect: a powerful community.

Marcia Ball and Tinsley Ellis

Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 8pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Tinsley Ellis and Marcia Ball are excited to present an intimate evening of their music and memories called Acoustic Songs and Stories. They will each play a set of their own songs.  Tinsley, an elder statesman of the Blues world, will perform many of his most popular songs from his twenty albums, plus some delta blues and classics on his National Steel and Martin acoustic guitars.  Marcia, a five-time Grammy nominee, will play the piano and sing her often raucous and sometimes touching original songs full of the characters and places that shaped her.  They will weave the music together with stories from their years on stage and on the road.  Finally, they will come together as a duo to close the night playing songs together and swapping tales of their travels and travails. 

Martin Sexton

Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 8pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Kleinhans Music Hall is pleased to welcome Martin Sexton, a beloved singer-songwriter who blends blues, rock, pop, and folk into a soulful musical experience.

In 2020 American singer-songwriter Martin Sexton extends touring in support of his ninth studio release Mixtape of the Open Road. The Wall Street Journal and CMT premiered tracks from the album that since garnered much critical acclaim. “Outstanding taste in songwriting as well as a soul-marinated voice.” -Rollingstone

Syracuse native Sexton got his start singing in the streets and subways of Boston in the early 90’s. Still fiercely independent and headlining venues from The Fillmore to Carnegie Hall, he has influenced a generation of contemporary artists. His songs have appeared in television series such as Scrubs, Parenthood, Masters of Sex and in numerous films, though it’s his incendiary live show, honest lyrics, and vocal prowess that keep fans coming back for more.

Walter Trout

Sunday, September 18, 2022 at 7:00pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

WALTER TROUT has been nothing short of prolific over the course of his seven decades on this Earth.  He’s set to release his 29th solo album over a career that has spanned the globe, and delivered notoriety as one of the great purveyors of the blues and blues rock.  Trout’s history is equal parts thriller, romance, suspense and horror. There are musical fireworks, critical acclaim and fists-aloft triumph, offset by wilderness years, brushes with the jaws of narcotic oblivion, and the survival of an organ transplant few come back from.  From 1973, when he left his New Jersey home headed to Los Angeles, he has followed a road that afforded him an opportunity to just play, sharing the stage as a sideman with Jesse Ed Davis, Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, Lowell Fulson, Joe Tex, and of course the great John Mayall (following a three-year tenure in Canned Heat).  

When Trout walked away from the Bluesbreakers, he embarked on a solo career that has yielded a catalogue that has established a deep legacy in the world of Blues, Americana, and the realm of revered singer-songwriters. While many would slow down as they approach their 70th birthday, Trout continues to deliver inspired recordings, performances, and a voice that articulates relevant ideology and insights in to The World that inspires his deep perspective. There’s no autopilot emanating from Walter Trout, but a true a sense of growing momentum, elements of surprise, and repertoire that continues to be more compelling with each new creation. 

Herbie Hancock

Friday, June 17, 2022 at 8pm at Kleinhan’s Music Hall

Herbie Hancock, the legendary pianist and composer, performs at Kleinhans Music Hall for an unmissable one-night-only performance on Friday, June 17th! A true icon of modern music, 2013 Kennedy Center Honoree Herbie Hancock has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice. With a celebrated career spanning six decades and 14 Grammy Awards, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe.  This evening’s performance will feature the Herbie Hancock Quintet including Herbie Hancock on keyboard, Terrance Blanchard on trumpet, James Genus on bass, Lionel Loueke on guitar and Justin Tyson on drums.

This icon of acoustic and electronic jazz, funk, R&B, and rock is a joy to watch on stage. In performances, he seems to have as much fun as his audiences, getting lost in the music and good vibes. To spend an evening with Mr. Hancock is to experience dynamic music-making at the hands of a virtuosic performer.

The David Bromberg Quintet

Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 7:30pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

For Americana godfather David Bromberg, it all began with the blues. His incredible journey spans five-and-a-half decades, and includes – but is not limited to – adventures with Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jerry Garcia, the Grateful Dead, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Rait and music and life lessons from seminal blues guitarist Reverend Gary Davis, who claimed the young Bromberg as a son.

A musician’s musician, Bromberg’s mastery of several stringed instruments (guitar, fiddle, Dobro, mandolin), and multiple styles is legendary, leading Dr. John to declare him an American icon.  In producing John Hartford’s hugely influential Aereo-Plain LP, Bromberg even co-invented a genre: Newgrass.

Add in a period of self-imposed exile from his passion (1980-2002), during which he became a renowned violin expert, and Wilmington, Delaware’s cultural ambassador; top that off with a triumphant return to music-making, and you have an amazing tale leading back to one place: the blues.

The David Bromberg Quintet eventually emerged, settling into its current lineup of Mark Cosgrove (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Nate Grower (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals), Josh Kanusky (drums, vocals), and newest member, Suavek Zaniesienko (bass, vocals).  Joining David’s core band are keyboardist extraordinaire Dan Walker on piano, organ and accordion, a stellar horn section of Bromberg regulars like Birch Johnson (trombone), Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet), Matt Koza (tenor sax) and Bob Stewart (tuba) with Larry Campbell on mandolin and pedal steel.

The new album, Big Road, gives Bromberg fans the most intimate portrait to date of David and the band, musically and visually. Featuring twelve new tracks, five hi-def performance videos and a mini-documentary detailing the album’s creation.  We think you’ll agree that this intimate performance with the David Bromberg Quintet is a trip worth taking.

Kathy Mattea and Suzy Bogguss

Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 7:30pm at Kleinhans Music Hall

Kleinhans Music Hall welcomes the long-awaited collaboration between Grammy-nominated Kathy Mattea and Suzy Bogguss with Together At Last! 

These two country and folk legends have finally joined forces to share their celebrated music and personal chemistry on stage for the entire performance, swapping songs, singing harmony, and playing guitar on each other’s biggest hits.  Never content to rest on their past achievements, the pair brings new material to these shows, along with two careers worth of humorous and heart-warming stories.

Kathy Mattea and Suzy Bogguss have each carved out careers in popular music with country chart hits spanning two decades.  Suzy’s “Outbound Plane”, “Aces”, and “Someday Soon” are among the many songs beloved by country music fans around the world, as are “Where’ve You Been?”, “455 Rocket”, and “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” from Kathy’s deep well of material. Friends since their early days in Nashville, they had only found a few opportunities to collaborate musically, notably with “Teach Your Children”, their Grammy-nominated track from 1994’s “Red, Hot + Country” compilation. They have “threatened” for years, and their many fans have clamored for this pairing.

Fans will not want to miss this one-night only event where Kathy & Suzy are Together At Last!