Good Morning Gloucester

September At Rockport Music brings guitarist Sharon Isbin, Joan Osborne and much more

This September, Rockport Music presents classical guitarist Sharon Isbin, singer-songwriter Joan Osborne, folk singer Melanie and the Celtic ensemble Cantrip, as well as National Theatre presentations and the Manhattan Short Films.

New concerts to the 2014-15 Season since the original announcement include:

Saturday, October 18, 8 PM:       Marcus Roberts Trio
Sunday, October 19, 5 PM:          John Hiatt Solo
Saturday, March 14, 8 PM:           Leo Kottke

On Saturday, September 6 at 7 pm, classical guitarist Sharon Isbin performs a concert including the Massachusetts’ premiere of her documentary Sharon Isbin: Troubadour.  A three-time Grammy Award winner, she has released more than 25 recordings covering a wide range of styles, genres and composers. She’s played with more than 170 orchestras over the world, has commissioned more concerti than any guitarist in the modern era, and has won numerous awards and accolades, including being the first guitarist to win the renowned Munich Competition.  Isbin’s music has ranged from Baroque to Spanish/Latin to crossover jazz to contemporary new music. Her documentary includes guest appearances from a wide array of luminaries including Michelle Obama, Joan Baez, Steve Vai, Stanley Jordan, Garrison Keillor, Mark O’Connor, Martina Navratilova and many more.  The evening includes an Artist Meet and Greet Reception following the concert. Tickets: $28-$46

On Friday, September 5 at 8 pm, the Scottish folk trio Cantrip perform at the Shalin Liu Performance Center. Expertly balancing tradition and innovation, the band—Jon Bews (vocals, fiddle), Dan Houghton (vocals, pipes, flutes), and Eric McDonald (vocals, guitar, mandolin)—infuses a modern sensibility to beloved Scottish folk tunes as well as their own compositions.  Originally a quartet, the band quickly gained a following in Scotland and signed with the well-respected Foot Stompin’ record label, for which they released their 2001 debut, Silver.  Their next two self-released records (Boneshaker in 2005 and Piping the Fish in 2008) further cemented their place among today’s premier traditional folk acts. The band has just finished its fourth album and their performance at the Shalin Liu is the CD Release Party.  Tickets: $20-$25

On Thursday, September 25 at 8 pm, singer-songwriter Joan Osborne will perform songs from her latest release Love and Hate, which combines her folk and jazz influences with her tremendous songwriting.  Rolling Stone magazine reviewed the new CD stating that “there’s a substance and depth here that is not easily achieved, and I think Osborne is getting more interesting with time.”  Well-known for her 1995 breakout album Relish with her hit song “One of Us,” Osborne was catapulted into super stardom with seven Grammy nominations.  In recent years, Osborne has worked in the world of blues and R&B, from which her love of singing began. In 2002 she cemented her reputation as a top tier soul singer with the acclaimed documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown and a tour with legendary Motown band The Funk Brothers. Earning a 2013 Grammy nomination, Bring It on Home was her first album composed entirely of covers in that genre, featuring songs by Muddy Waters, Ray Charles, Nina Simone and Otis Redding. Tickets: $39-$58

Folk singer Melanie performs for the first time at the Shalin Liu Performance Center on Saturday, September 27 at 8 pm.  A singer-songwriter known for her surprise starring role at Woodstock and her subsequent #1 hit “Brand New Key,” Melanie has remained an iconic voice for that generation.   Melanie was just 22 when she got her big break, being invited to perform at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Before that, the Queens native had been playing in relative obscurity in the Greenwich Village folk circuit. It wasn’t until after Woodstock, when she wrote and recorded a tribute to the festival and its attendees called “Lay Down” (Candles in the Rain)” that her star truly began to rise, the single hitting #6 on the pop charts. So began a string of hit singles and albums including “What Have They Done to My Song, Ma?” As the 70’s rolled along, Melanie continued to write and record, releasing a steady stream of albums throughout the years, retaining a cult audience enamored by her whimsical songwriting style and powerful emotive voice. Her most recent effort, 2013’s Ever Since You Never Heard of Me, was produced by her son, Beau Jarred.  Tickets: $28-$46

HD BROADCASTS

On Thursday, September 4 at 7 pm, the National Theatre production of Medea is broadcast on the big screen, starring Helen McCrory (The Last of the Haussmans) in the title role of Euripides’ powerful tragedy.  In a new version by Ben Power, directed by Carrie Cracknell, Medea is a wife and a mother. After her husband leaves her and their two sons, Medea faces banishment and separation from her children and sets out on a path of revenge.  Tickets: $22 Adults/ $15 Students & Seniors/ $5 Youth

On Tuesday, September 16 at 7 pm, the fastest-selling production in the Young Vic’s history, Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece A Streetcar Named Desire will be broadcast from London by National Theatre Live. With Gillian Anderson (The X-Files, The Fall) as Blanche DuBois, Ben Foster (Lone Survivor, Kill Your Darlings) as Stanley and Vanessa Kirby (BBC’s Great Expectations, Three Sisters at the Young Vic) as Stella.  Tickets: $22 Adults/ $15 Students & Seniors/ $5 Youth

The Manhattan Short Film Festival returns for the third year at the Shalin Liu Performance Center with showings on:

Sunday, September 28 at 3 pm
Thursday, October 2 7 PM
Sunday, October 5, 3 & 7 PM

The Manhattan Short Film Festival is a unique experience, allowing audience members to vote for the winner. The festival takes place in 250 cities across 6 continents and includes screening venues in all 50 states of the United States, the first film festival ever to do so. Tickets: $9.75/ $7 Students & Seniors

The summer is coming to an end, don’t forget the remaining August performances: 

Thursday, August 28 at 8 PM
Friday, August 29 at 8 PM
Paula Cole
Tickets: $49-$68

Saturday, August 30 at 3 & 8 PM
Capitol Steps
Tickets: $45-$78

Rockport Music presents classical, jazz, folk, world and pop concerts throughout the year.  Tickets are available through our website www.rockportmusic.org, the Box Office at 978-546-7391 or visiting 35 Main Street, Rockport, MA.  The Box Office is open Monday-Friday, 10 am-4 pm.