Friday, August 24, 2018

This Weekend at The Buttonwood Tree: The Bluegrass Characters Pay Tribute to Stacy Phillips, Workshop and Gypsy Jazz by Django's Reserve

It was a sad day when the world lost Stacy Phillips, a beloved musician, teacher, friend and so much more to so many people around CT and beyond. A Grammy-winning dobro player, Stacy charmed many at The Buttonwood Tree over the years with his many bands, the latest of which was with "His Bluegrass Characters. Tonight, AUGUST 24th, his Characters will go on without him - physically that is, we trust he will be there in spirit, and certainly in our hearts.

It was 1995, Stacy Phillips and Paul Howard were in the middle of a song, and a fire broke out at the original location of The Buttonwood Tree (TBT) on Rapallo Avenue, formerly Ibis Books. After two years of homelessness, TBT found a new home in the former Arriwani Hotel. A beautiful space with 13' high ceilings, exposed brick and floor to ceiling windows lining Main and Liberty Streets, it's an oasis of light, creativity and loving community spirit. And the first to welcome people to that space, two years later, in 1997 - were Stacy and Paul. They started playing at the exact place in their song where they had stopped. It was a heartwarming moment, and no doubt a happier one than we'll experience tonight. Though sadly missed, he touched so many people's lives with laughter, love and harmony. Tonight we'll revel in that, we'll hear his contributions in the songs and we'll uplift his legacy through the spirited and lively music of The Bluegrass Characters.

Reservations are strongly suggested for this 8 pm show. Seats are $15. Refreshments are available. Plenty of FREE PARKING behind It's Only Natural market, just next door to TBT. Call (860) 347-4957 or go online to guarantee your seat for this special event.

Friday, August 24
8-10pm
$15 Reserve your seat online

The Bluegrass Characters deliver straight-ahead traditional mountain-style Bluegrass with soaring vocals and hard-driving instrumentals, following the recipe laid down by Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers, and other pioneers of the genre. Longtime veterans of the New England Bluegrass music scene Phil Zimmerman (mandolin), Andy Bromage (guitar), Rick Brodsky (bass), and Pete Kelly (banjo) form the core of The Bluegrass Characters. Their performances have featured guest appearances by leading Bluegrass musicians like Tony Trischka, Andy Statman, Chris Brashear, Betsy Rome, Sofia Chiarandini, Joe Lemeris, and Korey Brodsky.

The Bluegrass Characters were assembled in 2007 by the legendary Grammy-winning fiddler and Dobroist Stacy Phillips, and led by him until his untimely death in 2018. They continue to champion Stacy’s mission of bringing authentic Bluegrass music to Northern urban audiences.

The Bluegrass Characters Sizzle

Stacy Phillips and Paul Howard

On most Saturday mornings, TBT is honored to host Annaita Gandhy's

Aligned with Source:
Personal Development Workshop & Guided Meditation

August 25
10:30 am - 12:00 pm

$10 suggested donation (Give what you can, ALL are welcome)

This Weeks Topic: In Divine Order

Another in the Spiritual Laws subtle series, we will talk about order and time. What exactly is it, and how do we flow with it?

Explore simple concepts of living in awareness that: open you up to the wonders of life; discover who you are; let go of fear and all that keeps you stuck. You create your reality and as co-creator of this world, find out how you can bring to it and you, peace, harmony, health and abundance. Each session ends in a powerful guided meditation.

Saturday, August 25
8-10pm

$15 - Reserve your seats

Django’s Reserve is an acoustic jazz trio featuring guitarists playing "Gypsy Jazz" with European-style Selmer-Maccaferri guitars. Their repertoire consists of jazz standards popularized by Django Reinhardt in the 30s & 40s, as well as contemporary music ranging from video game themes to arrangements from other genres.