Patrick Fitzsimmons Returns To Town Hall Theater 10/23

PATRICK Fitzsimmons has a thing for birthdays.

His fourth album was "Live: The Birthday Shows" recorded at his annual birthday parties in New Jersey. Though he's often seen as a solo act, for the birthday shows he's always backed by an ensemble of upright bass, percussion, violin, cello, and keyboard, producing a haunting, lush sound.

Fitzsimmons now lives in Burlington, and last year he brought the band and the Birthday Concert to Middlebury's Town Hall Theater, and the 200-seat hall turned out to be the perfect venue for this sensitive songwriter.

"People went nuts," says THT executive director Douglas Anderson. "Someone on our staff called it the best concert he'd ever seen, and that was the general feeling in the theater."

Last year's concert featured Fitzsimmons fifth CD, "So Beautiful So Blue". He started recording the album back in the fall of 2007, but halfway through the project he was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo treatment throughout the winter and spring of 2008. On the "good days" he was able to continue working on the CD as well as writing and recording his new song "It's Alright", inspired by this "strange and frightful twist of fate" and the outpouring of love and support from family, friends and fans wishing him well and keeping him in their thoughts and prayers.

Fitzsimmons is now in remission, and critics and fans are happy that he's back playing music again. Mark Michaelis of WGDR comments that Fitzsimmons is "one of Vermont's most gifted singer/songwriters. Patrick writes incredibly touching songs and sings beautifully. I highly recommend checking out his music."

Fitzsimmons returns to Middlebury this month for the newest Birthday Concert, backed once again by his band. He'll perform for one night only, on Friday, October 23, at 8 pm.

Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at 802 382-9222, www.townhalltheater.org, at the THT box office, or at the door (if available).

 

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