An Evening Of Woodstock In Newtown

“An Evening of Woodstock in Newtown,” featuring prominent musicians who live in Woodstock, N.Y., will benefit listener-supported radio station WPKN-FM (89.5) on Thursday, June 14, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street in Newtown. Doors open at 7 pm, with showtime of 7:30 pm.

Heading the concert will be Professor Louie & the Crowmatix, featuring founding member of The Band Garth Hudson on keyboards, saxophones and accordion.

Professor Louis is Aaron Hurwitz, the versatile musician, singer and songwriter who served as co-producer of the last three albums by The Band, the legendary group that first came to prominence supporting Bob Dylan. He also performed as a duo with the late Rich Danko, the bass player for The Band, and has produced, recorded and toured with other acts.

The Cromatix features bass player Mike Dunn, singer-songwriter Marie Spinosa, drummer Gary Burke (Joe Jackson’s drummer), and jazz guitarist Mike DeMicco. The group’s most recent release is Over the Edge, on Litchfield-based Breeze Hill Records.

Jim Weider and the Honky Tonk Gurus will also be featured. Mr Weider replaced guitarist Robbie Robertson in The Band as lead guitarist.

Guitarist Jim Weider is considered a musician’s musician, having performed with Bob Dylan, Doctor John, Hot Tuna, Paul Butterfield, Mavis Staples, Keith Richards, and Elvis Presley’s guitarist, Scotty Moore.

The Honky Tonk Gurus include Randy Ciarlante on drums, Malcom Gold on bass and Jeremy Baum on keyboards, all veteran musicians who have performed with a similarly all-star group of musicians.

Also on the night’s bill will be internationally-known singer-songwriter Tom Pacheco, and the evening’s very special guest star will be the legendary British rocker Graham Parker, who also lives in Woodstock.

Tom Pacheco’s songs have been recorded by Jefferson Starship, Richie Havens, and Rick Danko, among others. Pacheco began his career with the Ragamuffins, a group supported the legendary Jimi Hendrix many times. He performed in the United States for many years before heading to Ireland for a six-week tour that stretched into a ten-year run in Europe.

Mr Pacheco returned to the United States and settled in Woodstock, where he recorded with various members of The Band. Rick Danko’s posthumously released album, Times Like These, featured two songs by Mr Pacheco.

Graham Parker emerged from the London pub-rock scene in the early 1970s with his band, The Rumour, while going onto critical success as a singer-songwriter and performer. He has continued to record and perform over the years and most recently completed a book of short stories before returning to the studio. His most recent album release, The Ultimate Graham Parker Collection, features 14 of his most prominent hits.

Tickets are $20 per person and are available at Newtown General Store, 43 Main Street in Newtown; in Bethel at Disc & Dat, 107 Greenwood Avenue; in Branford at Exile on Main Street, 267 East Main Street; in Brookfield, at Gerosa Records, 246 Federal Road, and at Trash American Style, 12 Mill Plain Road; in Hamden at Exile on Main Street, 50 Skiff Street; in New Haven at Group W Bench, 1171 Chapel Street; in Westport at Sally’s Place, 190 Main Street; and Woodbury at New Morning Natural Foods, Middle Quarter Mall, Route 6/Main Street South. For more information, call WPKN at 203-331-9756.