Etta James News

The following acts are performing at City Winery Chicago (1200 W. Randolph St) throughout the month. All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8:00 p.m., unless noted.  Tickets can be purchased by calling 312-733-WINE (9463) or by visiting www.citywinery.com/chicago.

A spectacular new live collection recorded last year in North America and Europe during the legendary rock 'n' roller's first world tour in nearly two decades, Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul's SOULFIRE LIVE! is available now via Little Steven Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records and UMe. The 3CD collection includes 24-tracks released digitally in April alongside an exclusive third disc highlighted by superstar guest performances recorded throughout the trek, including Bruce Springsteen, Richie Sambora, Peter Wolf, and Jerry Miller (of Moby Grape).

Black Ensemble Theater is adding two additional weeks to the run of Rick Stone the Blues Man written and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor. Rick Stone the Blues Man will be performed at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, now through September 9, 2018.

Smuin launches its 25th anniversary season with Dance Series 01, a fall program that expands the boundaries of contemporary ballet, pays tribute to Smuin's founder, and celebrates the company's quarter century mark. Acclaimed dancemaker Trey McIntyre returns to Smuin with Blue Until June, a thrilling tribute to Etta James. Continuing Smuin's long-time dedication to fostering new talent within the company is a trio of groundbreaking works first developed in Smuin's Choreography Showcase: Merely Players by Smuin dancer Nicole Haskins, Echo (formerly titled Reflection) by Smuin dancer Ben Needham-Wood, and Sinfonietta by former Smuin dancer Rex Wheeler. Dance Series 01 will also include two works by founder Michael Smuin: Schubert Scherzo, an effervescent dance set to Schubert's sprightly C-Major Symphony, and Eternal Idol, a romantic pas de deux inspired by Auguste Rodin sculptures. Dance Series 01 will be presented September 21-22 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek and September 28-October 6 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. For subscriptions and further information the public may call (415) 912-1899. Single tickets ($25-$81) are available by calling the individual venues or by visiting www.smuinballet.org. (This program will also be presented in February 2019 in Mountain View and Carmel.)

La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts & Mccoy Rigby Entertainment in association with T&D Productions, LLC present Mary Bridget Davies, Broadway's original 'Janis' starring in her Tony nominated performance A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox, musical direction by Brent Crayon, and created, written & directed by Randy Johnson. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will preview on Friday, September 14, 2018 (with a press opening on Saturday, September 15 at 8pm) and runs through Sunday, October 7, 2018 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

The Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical A Night with Janis Joplin rocks Saroyan Theatre on Thursday, October 25th at 7:30 PM. The Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical, A Night with Janis Joplin is a musical journey celebrating Janis Joplin and the genesis of her musical genius through encounters with her seminal musical influences - Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith. After each encounter, we hear an explosive Joplin song incorporating those who inspired her into what became her legendary rock & roll style.

Black Ensemble Theater continues its 2018 Season (Movers and Shakers) with Rick Stone the Blues Man written and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor. Rick Stone the Blues Man will be performed at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, July 14 - August 26, 2018. 

Smuin launches its 25th anniversary season with Dance Series 01, a fall program that pushes the boundaries of contemporary ballet. Acclaimed dancemaker Trey McIntyre returns with his fourth collaboration with Smuin in Blue Until June, a sultry dance set to the heart-wrenching vocals of legend Etta James.

Tony Award-nominated singer MARY BRIDGET DAVIES' journey began in her hometown of Cleveland, OH in 2001 when she first started singing in local bands, and she hasn't slowed down since.

The Bickford Theatre at the Morris Museum presents The Antoinette Montague Experience in concert on Thursday, July 26, as part of the popular Summer JazzFest, which combines food trucks and music for a fun summer evening. Antoinette Montague is an award-winning jazz and blues singer who performs all over the world, but has never forgotten her New Jersey roots. Joining Ms. Montague will be Ken Peplowski on sax and clarinet, “King” Solomon Hicks on guitar, Brandon McCune on piano, Melissa Slocum on bass, Bobby Sanabria on drums, and tap dancer AC Lincoln. The food truck picnic begins at 5:30 p.m. and the concert at 7:30 p.m.

Second season Voice finalist Kim Yarbrough comes to Palm Desert on Sunday, July 15th for her one-women tribute to singer Etta James with 'Me And Ms. Peaches. She will be joined by a live band for the show in the Arthur Newman Theater at the Joslyn Center at 73750 Catalina Way in Palm Desert. Her performance is part of the 9th season of the Cabaret On Sundays Summer Series presented by Les Michaels. Showtime is 2 pm for this one performance only and tickets are $15 cash only at the box office that opens at 1 PM.

Cynthia Erivo rose to fame with her star-making performance as Celie in the hit Broadway revival of The Color Purple, earning Tony, Grammy and Emmy Awards all in the same year! Backed by a five-piece band, Erivo will sing Broadway and pop songs from shows and artists including The Color Purple, The Wiz, Annie Lennox, Etta James, The Beatles, Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande and more!

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Pedro Capó, Grammy nominee Darrell Scott and more. The following shows go on sale to the public on Thursday, June 28 at noon. All tickets will be available at citywinery.com/chicago.

Navy Pier is paying homage to Chicago's longstanding history of soul music with the inaugural Chi-Soul Fest, a free, four-day music festival, kicking off on Wednesday, June 27. Jammed-packed with talented intergenerational artists, the festival honors and celebrates Black Music Appreciation Month and pays musical tributes to the city's soulful roots, with a nod to the genre's past, present and future.

Free For All, one of the capital's cherished annual traditions, will return this summer to Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC), offering two weeks of free performances of the Company's 2016 production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul, whose hit production of Camelot has extended through July 8 due to popular demand, the production will run at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St NW) from August 21-September 2, providing more than 12,000 people the chance to see the play free of charge.

Throughout the upcoming 2018-2019 season, the Carnegie Hall Citywide concert series will bring more than thirty free performances by top classical, jazz, world, and popular music artists to seventeen different venues across New York City. Presented in partnership with local community organizations, Carnegie Hall Citywide showcases outstanding mainstage artists and rising stars across a wide variety of genres, tapping into the pulse of the city and bringing people together to share in the joy of music. Formerly known as Carnegie Hall's Neighborhood Concerts, the newly-named series builds on Carnegie Hall's tradition of bringing free performances to New York City neighborhoods for more than forty years.

Presented by State Auto Insurance Companies, a Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, July 28, at 7pm, to memorialize the three visionaries responsible for the historic Lincoln Theatre's rescue, renovation, and 2009 reopening-Michael B. Coleman, Bill Conner, and Larry James.

Tony Award-nominated singer MARY BRIDGET DAVIES' journey began in her hometown of Cleveland, OH in 2001 when she first started singing in local bands, and she hasn't slowed down since.

Virginia's Signature Theatre opens its air-conditioned doors once again for the annual Sizzlin' Summer Nights Series. Two and a half weeks of live music and performances by Signature favorites and DC area stars. The cabaret series runs July 19 through August 4, with a different performance every night.

Dawsondancesf and Richard Howell have announced their newest collaboration will take place August 24-25 at the YBCA Theater in San Francisco. Borrowing from the title of Howell's just-released jazz album, Coming of Age-MANGAKU, the program will feature the world premiere of MANGAKU, a work for nine dancers with live musical accompaniment from Howell and guest artists. Rounding out the program is Floating in Mid Air, dawsondancesf and Howell's last collaboration, which received its premiere at San Francisco's Bayview Opera House earlier this year. Tickets, $25 - $65, will go on sale June 1 at dawsondancesf.org.