The Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center presents John McEuen and The Circle Band on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
John McEuen
Co-founder of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, McEuen has dazzled audiences with his banjo picking since the 1960s. McEuen has assembled a unique cast for a special night to share the music and memories of the landmark Will the Circle Be Unbroken platinum album and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s incredible career. His multi-media show with archival photographs, film, photos, narrative and music of early NGDB reveals their incredible journey – interwoven with Dirt Band favorites, hot bluegrass and rare early NGDB music.
Accompanying McEuen is Les Thompson, an original NGDB founding member on bass/vocals/ bouzouki, John Cable, who also toured Russia as NGDB member on guitar/vocals, and Matt Cartsonis, John’s 25-year music partner, on vocals, mandola and guitar. A unique part of the show covers NGDB’s historic 1977 Russia trip and what happened behind the Iron Curtain as the first American band to tour there. Tickets are $45 in advance.
Lew Del Gatto
Leroy Jones
The Davis Art Center presents the Lew Del Gatto Quartet featuring trumpeter Leroy Jones, from New Orleans on Friday, Feb. 10 as the first concert of the Jazzy Nights Concert Series. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the performance begins at 7:30 p.m.
Lew Del Gatto has been a dynamic figure in the New York music scene for over thirty years. His versatility and knowledgeable comprehension of musical art-form was the basis for a stellar career. He has been involved with jingles, films, Broadway, television and jazz. Lew has also been busy in the film industry, and is on numerous recordings for such artists as Harry Connick, Jr, Paul Simon, and Billy Joel. Lew’s live appearances are impressive.
Leroy Jones has established himself as one of New Orleans most sought after trumpeters, blowing through 6-hour gigs on Bourbon Street. He founded the legendary Fairview Baptist Brass Band and Hurricane Brass Band, which helped spearhead the revival of the brass band scene in New Orleans. As Jones played in and around New Orleans, he caught the ear of fellow New Orleans musician Harry Connick Jr. Jones was invited by Harry Connick Jr. to join his orchestra. Jones went on to tour with Connick for more than 17 years.
Local bassist Don Mopsick and drummer Tony Vigilante will also perform that night. Tickets are $45 in advance.
The Mersey Beatles
The Vinyl Vibes series continues in February with two unique performances by The Mersey Beatles.
This Liverpool-based Beatles Tribute Band was the resident band for over a decade at the world famous Cavern Club, where The Beatles got their start. These childhood friends have played in 20 countries, selling out shows worldwide.
Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m., the “Cavern Club Concert” will pay homage to the Beatles early works. That concert will be held in the Grand Atrium.
On Friday, Feb. 17, the show moves to Sidney’s Rooftop Sculpture Garden. Friday’s “Apple Records Rooftop Concert” will recreate the famous Apple Music Rooftop Concert and pay tribute to the Beatles’ later works. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
The Davis Art Center welcomes back some of chamber music’s most vibrant players from across the country for two stellar evenings of incredible music this February. On Feb. 23, the American Virtuosi Dinner and Concert will occur at The Luminary Hotel & Co., and Feb. 25, the American Virtuosi will perform a concert at The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.
The American Virtuosi Gala at the Luminary Hotel & Silver King Ocean Brasserie runs 5 – 9 p.m. with tickets for two at $225, and tickets for four at $400. American Virtuosi is an incredible performance by some of the most celebrated virtuoso musicians in the genre coming together in Fort Myers, and it invites audiences to take part in an unforgettable intimate evening of delicious dining followed by breathtaking live classical music. Ticket purchase includes a multi-course fine dining experience at the Silver King Ocean Brasserie restaurant located at the Luminary Hotel and a special chamber music performance in the Workshop Culinary Theatre. Luminary Hotel is located at 2200 Edwards Drive in the downtown River District.
On Feb. 25, American Virtuosi extends its performance to the Grand Atrium of the Davis Art Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. chamber concert at the art center with tickets at $45. The world’s leading chamber musicians will join executive director and violist Jim Griffith, descending on downtown Fort Myers for another extraordinary performance, gathering returning favorite artists and new world-class musicians together to the intimate stage for an evening of breathtaking artistry.
Gunhild Carling
The Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center presents internet sensation, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Gunhild Carling on Friday, Feb. 24 as the next concert of the Jazzy Nights Concert Series. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 in advance, Table of 4, $225, and Table of 8, $450, Jazzy Nights series tickets are also available.
Sweden’s ‘Queen of Swing’ Gunhild Carling- an internationally acclaimed superstar whose show is a can’t-miss event. Gunhild features great jazz standards from the Speakeasy and Big Band Eras, and traditional New Orleans jazz on an amazing assortment of instruments including trumpet, trombone, harmonica, oboe, harp, flute, piano, banjo, guitar, double bass, ukulele and even bagpipes. She sometimes plays three trumpets at once, sings, and breaks out into tap dancing!
An unbelievable powerhouse, Carling has toured around Europe since a very early age together with her family and has performed all over the world, with over 50 million views on Youtube, Facebook and other platforms. Gunhild’s showmanship really shines through her charming Billie Holiday-esque singing voice which masterfully transports to another era with an endless repertoire of old favorites. Carling was also featured as a singer and multi-instrumentalist in several of Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox’s adaptations of pop songs, which include a jazz swing version of Rick Astley’s “Never Going to Give You Up”, a 1920s jazz swing version of “Material Girl”, a jazz cover of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy”, and a 1920s hot jazz cover of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”.
The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District. For more information and tickets to any of these events, visit www.sbdac.com or call 239-333-1933.
