'Sounds of The Big Easy' Come to Poway OnStage

Sounds of the Big Easy, the latest theatrical music production from Six String Society, will be performed at Poway OnStage one-night-only Saturday, February 24, 2017 at 8:00pm. The show will feature Mr. Gregory Page, Sue Palmer, Casey Hensley, Sharifah Muhammad, The Euphoria Brass Band, Nathan James, The Bayou Brothers and others.

"Produced by Kenneth Rexrode of Six String Society, Emceed by Mr. Gregory Page, Sounds of the Big Easy rides the musical confluences that make up the improvisational, exploratory, revelatory musical traditions of New Orleans" says Michael Rennie, President and CEO of Poway OnStage. "This performance mixes music, theater and multi-media elements with a diverse group of talented musicians to bring the music of the Mississippi Delta to our stage."

"Sounds of the Big Easy is an innovative musical production that mixes a touch of storytelling and a little bit of theatre with some of the best Southern Californian musicians. Each of our shows," continues Kenneth Rexrode of Six String Society, "tells a different story. The delightful Mr. Gregory Page invites us on to his front porch where he'll hold court and tell the stories that will guide us through the evening. He will be joined by Leonard Patton, Peter Sprague, the Bayou Brothers and their Zydeco sound, Casey Hensley, and the Euphoria Brass band and like every Six String Society show, there will be a few surprises and unannounced special guests. In the grand finale, all of the musicians will come together in a dynamic collaborative performance. Sounds of the Big Easy promises to be filled with laughter and plenty of memorable moments."

Artists
Mr. Gregory Page

Mr. Gregory Page was born April 28th, 1963 in North London to his Irish mother Moyra Page. Moyra Page was the lead singer in the all girl pop group "The Beat-Chics" that opened for "The Beatles" in Spain, August 1965. In 1988 Gregory Page started his career in a folk/punk-rock band called the "Rugburns" with his friend Steve Poltz. Page had admired the songwriting of John Doe and his Los Angeles punk band, X. In 1996 Page was able to hand John Doe a demo tape of his orginal songs. Doe offered to produce some recordings for Page, and they went into the studio and recorded an album that, to this day has yet to be released. Page has opened shows for Bob Dylan, Jason Mraz, Judy Collins and Leon Russell. He has worked with Jason Mraz, John Doe, Jewel, John C. Reilly and Tom Brosseau.

Sue Palmer, widely known internationally as the Queen of Boogie Woogie, has been a staple of San Diego's jazz and blues scene for over 30 years. Best known for her 10 year beehive wearing stint with the late Blues Diva Candye Kane, she has been making her mark in the last decade with her high energy band, the Motel Swing Orchestra. Sue has garnered many awards locally and internationally, including having a day named after her in San Diego 2008, by then mayor Toni Atkins (March 25th), and winning the International Blues challenge (IBC), in Memphis, for Best Self Produced CD.

Casey Hensley has grown up in the entertainment industry. She has been acting and singing on stage and on television since the age of five. Now, at 25 years old, Casey is fronting her eponymously named The Casey Hensley Band. The band consists of world class musicians including Kid Ramos, Anthony Contreras, Steve Wilcox and Debbie Davies. Hensley collaborates with Laura Chavez who is best known for her career co-producing / touring the world with The Candye Kane Band. Hensley has also performed with Candye Kane and recorded on her last record "Coming Out Swinging." Hensley has shared the stage with Laura Chavez, Debbie Davies, Kid Ramos, Junior Watson, Sue Palmer, Jonny Viau, Gregory Page, Greg Douglas (Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame Recipient w/ Steve Miller Band, Writer Of "Jungle Love"), Tommy Castro, and many more.

The Euphoria Brass Band EBB was created in 2011 by two New Orleans transplants, Ron Bocian and David Bandrowski, and local jazz radio DJ, Drew Miller. They quickly assembled a top notch, hard-hitting horn section: Steve Ebner (trumpet), April West (trombone), David Jackson (tenor sax), JP Balmat (baritone & alto sax, clarinet) and Wayne Rice (sousaphone). Euphoria Brass Band is proud to have been nominated 5 years in a row for various San Diego Music Awards since their inception in 2011. They have worked with Trombone Shorty, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Cowboy Mouth, Rebirth Brass Band, Funky Meters and Big Sam's Funky Nation.

Nathan James is a well-known and respected roots and blues guitarist from Oceanside California. During 2017 alone, he has toured Spain, Russia, Estonia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Canada and Argentina, performing his original music. Nathan plays his own style of roots music on his signature hand made washboard guitars. In 2013 he was a featured guitarist on the Grammy nominated live recording 'A Tribute to Little Walter' playing behind Charlie Musselwhite, Billy Boy Arnold, James Harman, Sugar Ray Norcia and Mark Hummel.

Sharifah Muhammad "It's been said you can tell a lot about a person from the company they keep. When asking friends, fans, and fellow musicians about Sharifah Muhammad it became abundantly clear in two questions or less: that she was born into this world to sing. One of her friends, San Diego vocalist Missy Andersen, says she knew immediately. 'As soon as Sharifah opened her mouth,' Missy said. 'I was blown away. And as great as her voice is... she's super humble.' Sue Palmer, Southern California's reigning Queen of Boogie Woogie, says she learned of Sharifah and her gifts through her mother, Deejha Marie Pope, who sings in Palmer's band. 'I've known Sharifah since she was about nine years old.' Palmer said. 'And she just got better and better. She is really coming into her own now and it's a pleasure to watch and hear!'- San Diego Troubadour, T.E. Mattox

The Bayou Brothers started in 1995 with a shared love of Cajun and Zydeco music by founder John Chambers, on accordion and keyboards, and Ric Lee, laying down Zydeco and Cajun dance grooves on the drums. Throughout the last 15 years, they have been playing their music at festivals and concerts venues all over the southwest and are well known for their rowdy shows, bluesy Zydeco that drives the band and fans Zydeco dance crazy! Adding to the Bayou Brothers sound is sax and percussionist Thom Pod.

Artists subject to change.
Check PowayOnStage.org for most up-to-date lineup

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