Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out to play Sanibel Feb. 4
The International Bluegrass Music Association’s most-awarded Male Vocalist of the Year, Russell Moore, is at the top of the game. As the frontman of one of the most prolific bands in bluegrass history; Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out are celebrating over a quarter-century as one of the genre’s most celebrated modern day bluegrass groups. The band has in its time garnered over 50 industry accolades since their 1991 formation—including the title of IBMA’s Vocal Group of the Year seven consecutive years. Moore’s journey to success has been a long one. From his childhood Texas home in Pasadena, country music was everywhere—but it was bluegrass that spoke to Moore’s soul. “Bluegrass was accessible,” Moore recalls, “The bands, the musicians—they were so approachable… you could just be around them. That was intriguing to me.” It didn’t take long for Moore to join the regional scene, and by his early 20s he had teamed up with other local musicians to create Southern Connection, relocating to Asheville, North Carolina in the process. Later he would join Bluegrass Hall of Famer Doyle Lawson and his band Quicksilver, where he found himself at the forefront of mainstream bluegrass music. Still, the desire to craft his own sound compelled him and, along with Mike Hartgrove and Ray Deaton, he formed IIIrd Tyme Out in May 1991. Since
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then, the band has released over 17 recordings and has been a regular feature on Billboard’s Top Selling Bluegrass Albums and has gone on to inspire a whole generation of young pickers and singers. The group is currently gearing up for a one-night only appearance at BIG ARTS on Sanibel. Get ready to jam with the high-energy, innovative sounds of one of bluegrass’ most influential groups in decades Feb. 4 at 8 pm. Visit www.bigarts.org or call 239-3950900 for tickets and to learn more about BIG ARTS.
Louis and Ella runs Feb. 17 - 28 at the BIG ARTS Strauss Theater
Louis and Ella!, a brand new “jazzical” experience, reunites “The Architect of Jazz” Louis Armstrong and “The First Lady of Song” Ella Fitzgerald for a magical engagement at BIG ARTS Strauss Theater from Feb. 17 until Feb. 28. The production, written by Trent Armand Kendall and composed by David Snyder, is a story about redemption and salutations for two larger than life musical icons. Joining them in Heaven, the two have one final jam session to help their souls to finally cross over while bringing down the house with some of the biggest hits of their storied careers and timeless classics from the great American songbook. Angels and saints join them to celebrate their extraordinary lives through the power of music. Louis Armstrong is played by show creator Trent Armand Kendall, an award-winning Broadway veteran known for his roles in The Color Purple, Into the Woods, and star of Picture Incomplete, while Ella Fitzgerald is brought to life by NaTasha Yvette Williams, fellow Broadway veteran famous for her roles in A Night with Janis Joplin, The Color Purple, and London’s Gone with the Wind. Their intimate chemistry and honest interactions drive the drama of the production and push an evening already overflowing
with inspiration and jubilance to new heights. Audiences have called Louis and Ella! an “absolute toe-tapping, humalong and clap your hands delight!” Come and be part of the experience as we pay tribute to two musical titans, and just in time for Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th birthday. Visit www.bigarts.org or call 239395-0900 to buy tickets and learn more about BIG ARTS.
HAPPENINGS Arts & Entertainment MAGAZINE