Melissa Etheridge, Ani DiFranco & More Set for Connecticut Public Television's Infinity Hall Live Series

Catch the waves of refreshing melodies, driving grooves, and spirited vocals ideal for summertime as Infinity Hall Live, the award-winning national music series produced by Connecticut Public Television (CPTV), kicks off its fifth anniversary season in July with some of today's most intriguing established and emerging artists: Rhiannon Giddens, Galactic, Joss Stone, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, Ani DiFranco, and Melissa Etheridge. Infinity Hall Live Season 5 airs nationally on public television beginning July 2016 - check local listings or http://ihlive.org/watch-local-pbs-station/ for broadcast times. ihlive.org will also stream the series weekly beginning Friday, July 8 through Friday, August 26.

All of this season's eight 60-minute episodes were filmed at one of the following Infinity Hall Live venues in Connecticut: the brand new state-of-the-art Infinity Hall Hartford, the 1883 jewel box, Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, or the Warner Theatre in Torrington.

Infinity Hall Live makes the music the focus with pure and passionate performances by serious artists. The Infinity Hall venues allow the artists to create a very personal environment where every move, and every note can be taken in by the viewer. All the series' guest artists deliver honest interviews off stage to draw television audiences even closer.

Dean Orton, CPTV COO explains, "Infinity Hall Live's Season 5 presents some of today's most thought-provoking and innovative artists--newer bands audiences will want to know and more established artists they will get to know even better. The series prides itself on intimate sets and powerful stories that heighten the bond between the artist and fans. This has been a key element of our success with the Infinity Hall Live series."

Infinity Hall Live Season 5 episode descriptions:

Rhiannon Giddens (episode 501) - ONLINE STREAMING ON JULY 8
Rhiannon Giddens' triumphant performance is fiercely loyal to her roots. During this passionately intelligent concert her bare-footed elegance and fearless banjo and fiddle playing are surpassed only by her vocal prowess. For the IHL audience Giddens offer the fervor of a spiritual on "Waterboy", the yips of a field holler on "Duncan and Jimmy" and a Gaelic-style hootenanny on "Mouth Music". Folk duo Birds of Chicago add to the harmony on "Lost on the River" from The New Basement Tapes project.

Galactic (episode 502) - ONLINE STREAMING ON JULY 15
The seminal New Orleans band Galactic draws inspiration from the cultural flavors of their city streets and their local orbit of southern soul, funk, blues, rock and brass band. From the band's traditional "second line" brass-infused show opener "Sugar Doosie" to the funky bass line and tumbling guitar on "Long Live the Borgne;" to the break in the funk for Paul Simon's "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" with guest Ryan Montbleau, the band showcases their 20-year musical evolution in an electrifying performance. Erica Falls is guest vocalist.

Joss Stone (episode 503) - ONLINE STREAMING ON JULY 22
The English singer/songwriter/actress Joss Stone beloved by fans for her free spirit as much as her lustrous vocal prowess takes the stage for an energetic performance inspired by her recent world tour. The Grammy winner's set list is as far-reaching as her vocal range, from the White Stripes' reworked "Fell in Love with a Boy" to 1970s soul smash "Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' on Me)" and her own chart topper "Right to Be Wrong."

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds (episode 504) - ONLINE STREAMING ON JULY 29
Rock and soul are the pillars that support the seven-piece collective known as Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Bird. Horn-fueled infectious grooves combined with the driving force of lead singer and songwriter Arleigh Kincheloe, make SS&TDB a force to be reckoned with. From their pop-infused single "Sugar" to the bluesy "Catch Me If You Can", to a surprising nod to Paul Simon during the spirited "Prison Cells", The Dirty Birds deliver a can't miss-show that proves why this band is on the rise.

Infinity Hall Live - GREAT PERFORMANCES Vol. 1 (episode 505) - ONLINE STREAMING AUGUST 5
Infinity Hall Live celebrates five seasons as a showcase for established and emerging artists with performances by Los Lonely Boys ("Don't Walk Away"), Tori Amos ("Hey Jupiter"), Rubblebucket ("Came Out of a Lady"), Deer Tick ("These Old Shoes"), Tedeschi Trucks Band ("Midnight in Harlem"), Joss Stone ("Super Duper Love"), Galactic ("Dollar Diva"), Dawes ("When My Time Comes"), and Ani DiFranco ("Shameless").

Ani DiFranco (506) - ONLINE STREAMING ON AUGUST 12
Ani DiFranco is as deserving of the name "Righteous Babe" as the label she founded back in 1990. This DIY folk-rock icon has been wowing audiences worldwide with her razor-sharp lyrical content, masterful percussive guitar playing and spirited vocals for more than 25 years and she brings it all on stage for her Infinity Hall Live performance. Fan favorites like "Shameless", "Both Hands" and "32 Flavors" are matched with the politically-charged "Which Side Are You On" and "Crime For Crime". This concert from DiFranco is a celebration of her fierce spirit that draws devoted fans to travel the country to see her perform and is a testament to her "righteous" position in folk history alongside Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan.

Infinity Hall Live - Covered (507) - ONLINE STREAMING ON AUGUST 19
Infinity Hall Live guests from the first five seasons cover their favorite artists including Joan Osborne's take on Al Green, Wilson Phillips covering the Mamas and Papas' "California Dreamin'," Tommy Emmanuel's cover of "Classical Gas", the Bacon Brothers' performing the Delbert McClinton classic "Givin' it Up for Your Love," Tedeschi Trucks Band's brilliant "Angel from Montgomery" and Jackie Greene's interpretation of the Grateful Dead's "Scarlet Begonias".

Melissa Etheridge (508) - ONLINE STREAMING ON AUGUST 26
That iconic voice and a wardrobe of guitars from Melissa Etheridge make for a riveting solo performance of greatest hits "Come to My Window," "I Want to Come Over," and "I'm the Only One," as well as a preview from her upcoming Stax/Volt covers album ("Rock Me Baby,") as well as "Pulse," her very emotional song of healing she had written only days before, in response to the Orlando shooting tragedy. The Grammy winner shares personal stories about her remarkable journey through life and the inspiration behind some of her most beloved songs.

Infinity Hall Live is produced by Connecticut Public Television (CPTV). Producer is Jennifer Boyd and the Co-Producers are Megan Fitzgerald and Laura Savini. The series is directed by Joe Coss and edited by Dave Allen. Infinity Hall Live is distributed nationally on public television by APT.

About Infinity Hall Live
The award-winning public television series Infinity Hall Live provides an all-access pass to engaging performances and backstage conversations with today's most intriguing musical artists. Displaying an eclectic mix of musical genres, the series offers authentic and heartfelt performances taped at Infinity Music Hall, an acoustically perfect Victorian-era concert hall in Norfolk, Connecticut, and at Infinity Hall Hartford, renowned for its beautiful design and superb acoustics. These intimate settings afford viewers a "best-seat-in-the-house" experience. Infinity Hall Live, which has aired on public television since 2011, will be launching its fifth season in summer 2016. Other artists featured in the series include Tori Amos, Buckwheat Zydeco, Shelby Lynne, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and more. In candid pre- and post-show interviews, the performers reflect on their motivations, inspirations, and unique style of songwriting and playing. For more information, exclusive videos and interviews, and additional episodes, visit ihlive.org.

About Connecticut Public Broadcasting
The Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network (CPBN) is home to CPTV, WNPR and the Learning Lab. CPTV is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming, including original documentaries, public affairs and educational programming. WNPR is an affiliate of National Public Radio, Public Radio International and American Public Media. The Learning Lab serves high school seniors through a partnership with Hartford Public Schools and the Journalism and Media Academy Magnet School. It is also home to the Institute for Advanced Media, a program that provides the men and women of our armed forces and adult learners an opportunity to learn skills necessary for the 21st century digital media workplace. For more information, visit cpbn.org.

About American Public Television
American Public Television (APT) has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation's public television stations since 1961. In 2014, APT distributed one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U. S. Among its 300 new program titles per year, APT programs include prominent documentaries, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children's series and classic movies. America's Test Kitchen from Cook's Illustrated, Rick Steves' Europe, Live From the Artists Den, Doc Martin, Nightly Business Report, Midsomer Murders, Vera, NHK Newsline, Lidia's Kitchen, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, and P. Allen Smith's Garden Home join numerous documentaries and performance programs popular with public television viewers. APT licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. Now in its 10th year, Create TV - featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming - is distributed by APT. APT also distributes WORLD, public television's premier news, Science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT's programs and services, visit APTonline.org.