Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival begins Oct. 12
Fall is festival season on Delmarva, and thousands of music fans are descending upon coastal Sussex County this week.
The 28th annual Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival was scheduled to begin Thursday, Oct. 12, and it will run through Sunday, Oct. 15, at various music spots. More than a dozen of the officially sanctioned, ticketed concerts have sold out in advance, including the opening and closing parties.
Tickets were still available Wednesday (priced from $59 to $125) for the festival's afternoon performance by classic funk act Graham Central Station. Bassist Larry Graham, formerly of Sly & the Family Stone, brings his group to the theater of Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.
The Rusty Rudder and Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach will also participate in the festival. The Cork will present the Clarence Spady Band's musical tribute to Prince at 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 ($20). The full festival schedule can be viewed at www.rehobothjazz.com.
The fifth annual True Blue Jazz mini-festival is taking place simultaneously in downtown Rehoboth — and as the name indicates, the focus is more on traditional, non-smooth jazz music.
Billed as featuring five days of music at five venues, this anniversary edition was scheduled to kick off Wednesday and continues through Sunday. Grammy-winning bassist Christian McBride and his new trio, Tip City, play a pair of concerts (priced at $60 each) at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Rehoboth's Clear Space Theatre. Get the full rundown at www.truebluejazz.org.
In downtown Ocean City, the Alibi Room has a rock 'n' roll blowout set for Saturday, Oct. 14. Gloucester, Virginia, pop-punk quartet Drop the Girl, touring in support of its "Survivor's Guilt" EP, will headline the four-act bill. Openers are Moonflower, Hometown Zeroes and Flight Club (the latter of which will play an unplugged set.) The music will kick off at 10 p.m., and admission is free.
Looking ahead in a week in Ocean City, a shindig for a good cause is scheduled for 3-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21. The Sunset Grille in West OC will present its Annual Pink Party with music by Lima Bean Riot ($10). All the cover charge money will be donated to the Atlantic General Hospital Jack Burbage Cancer Center and Peninsula Regional Medical Center Henson Cancer Institute in the name of Hope Palmer.
Also in West OC, Trader Lee's will accept donations at the door when it hosts a benefit for the Worcester County Humane Society at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17. The Johnny A. Band (featuring current Yardbirds guitarist John Antonopoulos) will headline after an opening set by K.T. Tuminello. The event is the brainchild of veteran radio personality Robin Rothschild of the Salisbury-based 94.9 WAMS FM.
Back in downtown Rehoboth, the Dogfish Head brewpub will present a free rock concert at 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14., featuring San Francisco garage rock act the Stone Foxes, now in the midst of a nationwide fall tour in support of its new "Visalia" EP.
Email Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com
This Week's Must-See List
Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz Festival through Sunday, Oct. 15
True Blue Jazz events in downtown Rehoboth through Sunday, Oct. 15
Worcester County Humane Society benefit with the Johnny A. Band at Trader Lee's in West Ocean City at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17. Donations accepted.
Drop the Girl at the Alibi Room in Ocean City at 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Free.
The Stone Foxes at Dogfish Head in Rehoboth Beach at 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Free.