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Gaye Adegbalola and Roddy Barnes: Neo-classic blues at WTA’s Gateway

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gaye_roddy_bwds smWhat: Gaye Adegbalola and Roddy Barnes
When: Saturday, March 8 at 8:00pm
Where: 329 W. Main St., Waynesboro, Va
Tickets: $10 (in advance)  |  $12 (at the door)

Gaye Adegbalola embraces and redefines the classic style of the great blues divas of the 1920s and 30s – those often fiercely independent “wild women” who were unashamed to lay their souls bare and unafraid to give advice. Adegbalola invokes the spirit and addresses the lyrics & improvisational techniques of these classic blues women and brings history to life.

Adegbalola’s partner on this project, accompanist Roddy Barnes, is classically trained and can play any genre, but excels in the old-timey sound that works best with this music. Experience the dynamic and compelling performance of Adegbalola and Barnes as they conjure up another era and put on one hell of a show.  “Hot as a New York Cabaret!” This performance is coming to WTA’s Gateway stage on Saturday, March 8.  The performance begins at 8:00 pm at 329 W. main street in downtown Waynesboro, Va.

Gaye Adegbalola, Blues Music Award winner (formerly called the W. C. Handy Award) and a founding member of Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women, plays guitar, harmonica and is a composer. She has recorded 10 CDs on Alligator Records and has toured widely throughout the U.S. and internationally.  Gaye has also released four CDs on her own Hot Toddy Music label: “Neo-Classic Blues” with Roddy Barnes, “Blues Gone Black” by Blue Mama Black Son (Gaye & her son Juno), “Gaye Without Shame” and her Children’s Blues CD: “Blues in All Flavors.” Of note, Gaye and Roddy toured Ghana and Togo in West Africa in April, 2008.  A former Virginia State Teacher of the Year, Gaye is also in demand for workshops, lectures and motivational public speaking. A longtime activist, she is presently involved with issues of diversity and is committed to the struggle for GLBT rights.

Roddy Barnes, a blues/jazz performer and composer, has delighted audiences at the Gateway numerous times. Trained as a classical pianist, he made the transition to blues and jazz during study in France and graduate work in jazz at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.  He then moved to New Orleans where he absorbed the roots of American music and then relocated to Austin, Texas, joining one of the most exciting music scenes in the USA.  Now living in Virginia, Barnes has released six of his own albums through Monkfish, CandyJack, and Hey Boo Productions. He has been featured on a variety of radio programs, and has performed in several countries. Blues Blast Magazine gave one of the best summaries of Barnes talents.  It said, “Barnes demonstrates that he is a multi-layered talent indeed, someone from whom one desires to hear more: an able songwriter whose songs are often laced with ironic wit; an expressive vocalist with a strong, clear tenor; and a masterful piano player who can romp with the boogie and play the blues.”

Advance tickets for the Gaye Adebbalola and Roddy Barnes performance are $10 and are available online at www.wtagateway.com or by calling the box office(540-943-9999).  Remaining tickets will be available at the door on the evening of the performances for $12. Doors will open at 7:30 pm.  The March 8thperformance will start at 8:00 pm at WTA’s Gateway at 329 W. Main St. Downtown Waynesboro.

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