We're happy to be returning to Best Video, and we're looking forward to an evening of great jug band tunes -- please join us! Mark Crofutt will be joining us for the evening on guitar.
Parking's available in front of and behind Best Video and on Thornton Street.
After 40 years of playing together, Washboard Slim and the Bluelights has evolved into one of the country's most versatile and original of jug bands incorporating pure Americana instruments - tub bass, washboard, jug, banjo, harmonica, fiddle and slide guitar.
DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE CANCELLING TONIGHT'S SHOW (8/5/2023).
Washboard Slim & The Bluelights play an outdoor show at Best Video Film & Cultural Center on Sat., Aug. 5, starting at 5:30 PM.
There will be donation vases for the musicians and the venue. Please consider being generous in supporting musicians—opportunities to perform have been fewer the past couple of years. Suggested donation of $10.
After 40 years of playing together, Washboard Slim and the Bluelights has evolved into one of the country's most versatile and original of jug bands incorporating pure Americana instruments - tub bass, washboard, jug, banjo, harmonica, and fiddle.
Adding drums and powerful vocal harmonies, this band rocks sold-out concerts, dance halls and family shows. Playing their own compositions as well as original arrangements of traditional gospel, blues, country and early rock n’ roll, their music is by turns playful, haunted and uplifting.
Parking available behind Best Video and on Thornton Street.
In the event of rain, this show will be moved inside at the regularly scheduled time.
Milford Elks is the place to be this summer on a Wednesday night - enjoy Washboard Slim and the BlueLights outside!
Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase.
There is no rain facility.
Washboard Slim and the BlueLights are excited to be playing with Otis and the Hurricanes.
Fernando Pinto Presents:
Zydeco Dance Party - Sunday June 11th.
WASHBOARD SLiM and The BLUELIGHTS + OTIS AND THE HURRICANES
Doors 2pm - Showtime 3pm
Tickets $10. Plus Ticket processing fee
Otis and the Hurricanes - Take a bit of delta blues, mix it with the spicy New Orleans funk, shake really good with ol' rock & roll and you’ve got the recipe for rockin’ with Otis & the Hurricanes!
Come on down!
(This concert will replace the cancelled Jeffery Broussard Zydeco event.)
Come on down for the show! Two great bands >> Fernando Pinto Presents at the Cellar on Treadwell: Washboard Slim and the Bluelights PLUS The Mighty Soul Drivers. Saturday March 4 - showtime 8pm - doors open at 6pm.
Washboard Slim and the BlueLights are proud to present a concert featuring WSBL and a reunion of the Homesick John O'Leary band.
Homesick John was a legendary CT singer-songwriter, drummer and multi-instrumentalist famous for his songs like "Beat Your Head Against the Wall" and "The Running Game" (and the book by the same name) as well as his runs for president and CT governor. Shortly after arriving in New Haven in the 60's, John helped form The Morning, playing drums.
The band will include Bernie Soroko, Bobo Lavorgna, Mat Kastner - all members of the Homesick Band - and Peter Menta, who frequently played with John, with Brooks Barnett on piano.
The concert will take place Saturday evening, Jan 14, at 10selden in Woodbridge CT.
Come on over to the fair for some jug band music! And there'll will be more music, too. Check it out at https://www.haddamneckfair.com/ or the Haddam Neck Fair Facebook page.
A "slimmed down" Washboard Slim and the Blue Lights play on the deck at Best Video - Pete, Brooks, Howie, Johnny and Mat.
Of course, the show will depend on the weather. Please respect social distancing and wear a mask. You can lower it to take a drink or a bite, but please pull it back otherwise. No cover charge but there will be a musicians' tip jar.
Parking is available behind Best video and on Thornton Street.
Come join Washboard Slim and the Bluelights outdoors at the Trumbull Gazebo, 5866 Main Street! The rain date is the following Saturday. Mark Crofutt will be on guitar, and Jack Pignatello on jug. And Pete on washboard, Brooks on accordion and Johnny on fiddle.
UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE HAVING TO CANCEL THE RANDY BURNS BENEFIT AND TRIBUTE DESCRIBED BELOW - DUE TO THE VIRUS. WE'LL TRY TO RESCHEDULE IT WHEN THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL.
Randy Burns has been a force in the New Haven music scene over the years, but now Randy's being treated for neck cancer. We're bringing musicians and fans together for a benefit and tribute Saturday evening, May 30 at Best Video in Hamden. You can find out more about Randy at https://www.facebook.com/rbwrites or https://www.gofundme.com/f/pzjt3-10000. Washboard Slim and the Bluelights will be the host band. More details coming.
Anne Marie hails from New Haven, CT, where she has been a long-time favorite singer/songwriter. She comes from a family of three brothers where playing and listening to music was their greatest passion. In 1998, she released her debut album “Untried & True”, followed by “When the Love Ran Deep” in 2004, and “Seven Secrets” in 2009. Her fourth collection, “Sky Tonight” is just out.
WSBL are excited to be playing again with jug band legend Jim Kweskin with Samoa Wilson! www.jimkweskin.com
Folk icon Jim Kweskin is coming to East Rock Concert Series at Cafe Nine with stunning vocalist Samoa Wilson. She has appeared and recorded several albums. Kweskin was the founder of the Jim Kweskin Jug Band, the legendary group that started in Boston in the 1960s and played Club 47. With Fritz Richmond, Geoff and Maria Muldaur, Bob Siggins and Bruno Wolfe, the jugband successfully modernized the sounds of pre–World War II rural music.
There's an endearing sense of good humor to Kweskin's versions that makes his performances a charming delight.
Kweskin is probably best known as a singer and bandleader, but he also created one of the bedrock guitar styles of the folk revival, adapting the ragtime-blues fingerpicking of artists like Blind Boy Fuller to the more complex chords of pop and jazz. He has maintained a remarkably consistent musical vision since his jug band days, continuing to explore traditional folk and blues with the sophisticated sensibility of a jazz musician and jazz with the communal simplicity of a folk artist.
Jim continues to perform his vast repertoire of folk, blues, swing, jug band and early standards with his own brand of infectious personal interpretations. His guitar finger picking of songs like “Some of These Days" and "Exactly Like You” is recognized by his peers and fans as some of the best there is. His selection of songs is vividly evocative of his many diverse influences such as Louis Jordan, Clancy Hayes, Fats Waller, Milton Brown, Duke Ellington, Bing Crosby and Pete Seeger.
Kweskin has maintained a remarkably consistent musical vision since his jug band days, continuing to explore traditional folk and blues with the sophisticated sensibility of a jazz musician and jazz with the communal simplicity of a folk artist.
"...Still a masterful guitarist and storyteller... effortless, gently driving finger-picking style..." - Robin Denislow, The Guardian
“Mr. Kweskin’s music is a blend of blues, jug music, rhythm & blues and jazz – rag-timey stompdown party music.” - Alex Ward, New York Times
Hog River Brewing Co., 1429 Park Street, Hartford, Connecticut
C'mon down for some jug band music and brew at Hog River Brewing Company. Food truck on site. No cover.
(The entrance is on Bartholomew Ave., not on Park St.)
WS&BL presents our annual holiday bash with three CT roots music divas - Lauren Agnelli, Sandy Connolly and Jilian Grey. Join us at the Country Tavern - delicious food and a dandy dance floor.
We're coming back to Best Video for more jugabilly music, blues, rock 'n' roll, and originals. Join us! - Wine, beer, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks will be available. Check out our special guest "Diva", Mimi Lines, who will be singing a few tunes!
WASHBOARD SLIM AND THE BLUELIGHTS PRESENT OUR AMERICANA ROOTS AND BLUES "DIVA" SHOW
The Bluelights will play some rockin' blues to warm you up! WSBL won the 2008 Ct
Blues Challenge.
Dance, listen and try their fabulous five-star food!
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELLED. WATCH OUT FOR RESCHEDULING INFO.
We're happy to be back at Best Video, playing lots of great jug band music! This is an indoor show so proof of vaccination is required to enter and masks are required. The band for this show is Peter Menta (aka Washboard Slim), Howie Horn, John Pendergast, Brooks Barnett, and Mat Kastner. The cover is $15.
Take a trip back in time with WSBL and the talented multi-instrumentalist Hubby Jenkins. Sunday April 3rd - part of the East Rock Concert Series at Cafe Nine, starting at 4pm. Jenkins brings the African American historical experience back into traditional American ragtime, blues, country and the gospel of the rural South. Get your tickets: fernandopintopresents.com .
Hubby Jenkins is a talented multi-instrumentalist who has been an integral part of the Grammy award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops (2010-2014) and an active touring and recording member of the Rhiannon Giddens band, makes his solo debut performance live in-person at East Rock Concert Series.
*** Washboard Slim & The Bluelights play the Best Video Film & Cultural Center deck on Sat., Dec. 4, starting at 6:30 PM. The cover is $15. This is an indoor show so attendance is 30 max. Proof of vaccination is required to enter and masks are required.
After 40 years of playing together, Washboard Slim and the Bluelights has evolved into one of the country's most versatile and original of jug bands incorporating pure Americana instruments like tub bass, washboard, jug, banjo, harmonica, and fiddle.
Adding drums and powerful vocal harmonies, this band rocks sold-out concerts, dance halls and family shows. Playing their own compositions as well as original arrangements of traditional gospel, blues, country and early rock n’ roll, their music is by turns playful, haunted and uplifting.
The band for this show is Peter Menta (aka Washboard Slim), Howie Horn, John Pendergast, Brooks Barnett, and Mat Kastner. ***
C'mon down to Coachman Square in Woodbridge for an afternoon of jug band music fun! We'll be serving up our usual menu of hot tunes. Special guest Mark Crofutt will be joining us on guitar.
We're playing another "slimmed down" Washboard Slim and the Blue Lights show on the deck at Best Video - Pete, Brooks, Howie, Johnny and Mat. Of course, the show will depend on the weather. Please respect social distancing - masks are optional since we'll be outside. No cover charge but there will be a musicians' tip jar. Parking is available behind Best video and on Thornton Street.
