Double Bill concert tonight! Chris Castle and the Womack Family Band at The Buttonwood Tree

Touring musicians are making a stop in Middletown tonight for a fun-filled Roots/Americana/Folk show filled with youthful spirit, family camaraderie high energy and lots of strings! Only $8 suggested donation. Drop by for a listen anytime from 7:30-9:30pm! Refreshments available.

Chris Castle

Somewhere in the rich, fertile musical garden tilled by Darrell Scott, Ron Sexsmith and Ryan Adams, grows an obscure bloom named Chris Castle; a tunesmith of almost scary vision, narrative acumen and hooky instinct. Writing songs is utterly programmed into his DNA. He’d write songs even if he thought he didn’t want to.

- Rick Koster (The Day – New London, CT)

The Womack Family Band

It’s rare find. A quintet of twenty somethings, gathered ’round an Ella Fitzgerald record in a dimly lit room that smells of coffee and Nag Champa incense. Each one drawing a different piece of inspiration from the sounds popping off the vinyl, and each holding a record of their own, patiently waiting their turn to hear whatever gem they happened to grab on this particular night.

So goes a usual evening at the Womack house. The rest of the group’s time is spent rehearsing, recording new material, and performing more than 150 dates per year.

The Womacks are currently recording their new EP and backing Chris Castle on his trip to Levon Helm Studios. They’ll set out on the Drenched Earth Tour again in September, promoting their latest work as well as Castle’s Of God & Man (Beneath the Sun).

http://www.womackband.com/

Buttonwood Doings

Singer-songwriter Deni Bonet comes to The Buttonwood Tree Friday February 6 to play her songs and share the stage with banjo man Curtis Eller (more about him later.) Bonet blends elements of rock, folk, country, blues, even a touch of hip-hop into her witty and accessible songs. She's recorded with Robyn Hitchcock, Sarah McLachlan, and the late Chris Whitley and appeared on stage with REM, Allan Touissaint and Warren Zevon (among others.) She plays fiddle and can really rock out when she wants to. To learn more, go to www.denibonet.com.

Curtis Eller is billed as "New York City's angriest banjo playing yodeler" and works hard to uphold his image. His songs may remind some of "protest music" from the 1960s, with influences like Phil Ochs and Dave Van Ronk. One hears touches of blues, country, folk, even reggae in his music. His website claims that he and his band (American Circus) attempts "to capture the spirit of the Hartford Circus Fire of 1944. Although there are sure to be many acts of heroism by performers and crew alike, ultimately it will prove to be the greatest disaster in circus history." Not sure if his band is coming but you can be the judge of these claims by sitting in the intimate performance space for this 7:30 p.m. show. To get a feel for Eller's music, go to www.curtiseller.com. For ticket information, call 347-4957.

Saturday night, it's more "Americana", folk and roots music, when Delusions of Adequacy returns to The Buttonwood for a 7:30 p.m. show. The quartet, composed of Mark Hoffman (guitar, banjo, harmonica, vocals), Denny Collin (bass, guitar, vocals), Cornelius (Con) Dowd (mandolin, dobro, guitar, vocals) and Jim King (guitar, vocals), is known for its fine vocal harmonies and strong musicianship.