7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10
$10
Doors & Varsity Bar at 6
United by a love of music from the '20s and '30s, Southern Illinois native Amy Kucharik and longtime resident Robert Russell have jammed together on various stages in the region and are delighted to be performing together again with the help of Chris DiBiase on bass. Robert and Amy will each play a set featuring original tunes and blues standards, and will then be joined by Chris for a trio finale.
Kerrville New Folk winning songwriter and performer, Amy energizes swing dance, folk festival and listening room audiences alike. Drawing form blues, folk and vaudeville traditions and with a street-smart stagecraft honed in the subways of Boston, Amy transports her audience to a place both timeless and familiar – and innovative. She performs as a one-woman band with ukulele, tenor guitar, food percussion, mouth trumpet and harmonica. Combining poignant lyrics and a danceable swing, Amy’s music has drawn comparisons to Maria Muldaur, Lake Street Dive and Anais Mitchell.
Robert fell in love with acoustic and Mississippi blues as a teen in North Carolina, where he was exposed to the southeastern or Piedmont tradition of blues. He’s a professional musician who has been on the road with Dennis Stroughmatt and Zydeco band Creole Stomp for more than 17 years.
The evening of great music starts at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, on the Balcony stage.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at at Eventbrite.com (see link below). Tickets are not available in advance at the venue but can be purchased on the night of the show when doors and the Varsity Bar open at 6.
The Varsity is at 418 S. Illinois Ave. in downtown Carbondale. For more information, go to www.thevarsitycenter.org.
The Jewels with Union County Sal, Joe Palermo and Tawl Paul
7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19
$15
Doors and Varsity Bar at 6
Carbondale favorite The Jewls return to the Varsity for a night of jazz with Union County Sal, Joe Palermo and special guest Tawl Paul. The event has been three years in the making, with many detours, and the musicians are excited to be back on the balcony stage.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance at Eventbrite (see link) at the door on the night of the show when the doors and Varsity Bar open at 6.