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Midge Ure performs at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club on June 5, 2018.
Every song by Midge Ure feels like a daring, romantic undertaking of epic proportions, and particularly so when performed live. His recent visit to the DC area was no exception, as Midge enthralled with a set of songs drawn from his solo career and his time as frontman for UK quartet Ultravox.
Midge Ure (Photo courtesy Erika Tooker)
On June 8, Midge Ure will release Orchestrated, his latest album, in the United States. Orchestrated features orchestral versions of his well-known solo hits as well as favorite selections from Ultravox, including “If I Was,” “Fragile,” “Dancing with Tears in My Eyes,” “Vienna,” and “Reap the Wild Wind.”
Midge will perform some of those songs with his touring band at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club in a show with Paul Young on Tuesday, June 5. Several days ago, I had the pleasure of chatting with Midge about the show and his future projects.
Midge Ure and Paul Young will team up for a show at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club (Photo courtesy Erika Tooker)
There was something remarkable about UK pop music in the ’80s, and two of the most remarkable authors of that era’s sophisticated British pop music have teamed up for a joint tour in June. Midge Ure and Paul Young take their joint Soundtrack of Your Life Tour to Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club on Tuesday, June 5. You can win tickets to go with Parklife DC.
The Shirelles (Photo courtesy Beverly Lee)
The Shirelles had a string of great hits in the ’60s as one of America’s leading girl groups, yielding such classics as “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “Tonight’s the Night.”
Today, original Shirelle Beverly Lee leads a trio that captures the forlorn soul and uplifting doo-wop harmonies. The Shirelles are visiting Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club tomorrow for a Salute to the Troops on Veterans Day!
Capture the magic of the Shirelles with Beverly Lee as they perform “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” in 1964 via YouTube:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_cRHw8PAPA]
As a reader of Parklife DC, you can use a 50% off code when buying your ticket. Simply enter code VETBBJ in the “Promo Code” box when you are on the ticket purchasing page.
As an added bonus, the Shirelles are bringing another trio along with them — the legendary Leonard, Coleman, and Blunt, formerly of The Temptations, The Platters and The Drifters. DC native sons Glenn Leonard, Joe Coleman, and Joe Blunt have served as lead singers in those iconic vocal groups, crooning songs like “Every Ready Love” by The Temptations, “Only You” by The Platters, and “Under the Boardwalk” by The Drifters.
Tickets are available online (and don’t forget the 50% off discount code VETBBJ)!
Shirelles
w/ Leonard, Coleman & Blunt
Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club
Friday, Nov. 11
Doors @6pm
$45-$55
All ages
Morris Day performs with The Time at Bethesda Blues and Jazz on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
The always stylish Morris Day removed a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and dabbed his forehead. More than halfway through a show under intense lights, the singer and band leader of The Time began reacting to the heat.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Morris said from the stage of Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club on Friday night. “Morris Day is breaking out into a sweat on stage.
“But that’s not the case!” he countered. “Morris Day is like a fine bottle of champagne. When you take a bottle of champagne out of the refrigerator, what does it do? It undergoes condensation! So like that champagne, I’m condensating!”
The irrepressible master of funk Morris Day returns to the DC metro area this weekend with his band The Time to perform two shows at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club on Friday, Oct. 14!
Morris will always be remembered for his long friendship and association with Prince, which culminated in their collaboration on the movie Purple Rain. Morris Day and The Time scored two hits with their contributions to Purple Rain — Jungle Love and The Bird.
Watch the music video for “Jungle Love” with scenes from Purple Rain by Morris Day and The Time on YouTube:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2FPQvwhSDY]
The hard-touring Mr. Day and his band are sure to delight and to dance up a storm at Bethesda Blues and Jazz on Friday. Come early or come late, but don’t miss one of the two shows Morris is serving up.
Buy tickets for the 7pm show online, or buy tickets for the 10pm show!
Morris Day and the Time
Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club
Friday, Oct. 14
Shows @7pm and @10pm
$75
All ages
Midge Ure (Photo courtesy Erika Tooker)
Midge Ure may have famously sang, “This means nothing to me” in the Ultravox song “Vienna,” but don’t be fooled. The influential musician and humanitarian invests quite a lot of himself in his music and his causes, touring the world and arranging endeavors like Live Aid, Band Aid, and Live 8 concert festivals. After being away from the United States for a very long time, Midge has been returning regularly in recent years, performing material from his solo albums, from Ultravox, and from other projects.
Midge’s next US tour starts on Sept. 30 in Amityville, NY, and ends Oct. 15 in Atlanta. (Find tickets for Midge’s shows via Songkick.)
On this tour, Midge performs in the DC area on Oct. 4 at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club — the same venue he visited when he was last here in early 2015. Joining Midge in a three-piece band are drummer BC Taylor and keyboard player Tony Solis, both of whom will also play other instruments for this “Live and Electric” tour.
Parklife DC was honored to catch up with Midge to ask him about the tour and his other current projects as well as the future of Ultravox and meaning in a world without David Bowie.
Midge Ure (Photo courtesy Erika Tooker)
In September, Midge Ure returns to the United States after about a year and a half away. The last time this great Scot toured our country, he did so completely solo, equipped with only an acoustic guitar. The resulting Fragile Troubadour Tour was empowering and engrossing.
Well, Midge’s tour this time promises to be electrifying, as he is embarking on a US tour with a full band for the first time since his turn in the Retro Futura Tour in 2014. Joining Midge are drummer BC Taylor and keyboard player Tony Solis, both of whom will also play other instruments for this “Live and Electric” tour.
On this tour, Midge will perform solo material, including songs from his 2014 album Fragile, as well as music from his synthpop bands Ultravox and Visage. Midge played some Ultravox and Visage songs last time as well, but this time he’ll play electric guitar and synthesizer to deliver that New Romantic music in its full glory.
Midge also has been recording new music, such as “Touching Hearts and Skies,” which he contributed to the soundtrack of the movie Eddie the Eagle. Listen to “Touching Hearts and Skies” by Midge Ure on YouTube:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaMaKVy5_FY]
Locally, Midge will visit the DC metro area to perform at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club on Tuesday, Oct. 4! He was phenomenal when he was there in 2015. (Read our full review here!) I had the pleasure of chatting with Midge in the past, and I know of no other musician with as much integrity, character, charm, and genuine consideration for others. On top of that, Midge simply makes fantastic music! (Read our Parklife DC interview with Midge Ure from 2015.) Don’t miss your chance to see him when he’s in town.
As an added incentive to go, Richard Lloyd, guitarist extraordinaire and founding member of the seminal band Television, is opening for Midge. Tickets are available online.
Midge Ure
w/ Richard Lloyd
Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club
Tuesday, Oct. 4
Show @8pm
$25
All ages
Molly Ringwald sings at Bethesda Blues & Jazz on Thursday, July 28, 2016. (Photo by Mickey McCarter)
Dave Damiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra welcomed a very special guest to its residency at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club on Thursday –- the irrepressible Molly Ringwald, Gen-X “it girl” and all around charming woman.
Singing jazz and big band standards, Dave and Molly along with The No Vacancy Orchestra, which included some players from our local Airmen of Note, entertained an attentive crowd. Dave kicked things off with early songs like “Nice ‘n’ Easy” by Frank Sinatra, looking and sounding every bit an old-fashioned crooner. (Waxing nostalgic for things “old-fashioned” during a performance of a song of the same name, Dave offered up the suggestion of drinking an Old-Fashioned. Not a bad idea, sir!) Dave captures Sinatra’s “tough but tender” persona well.
Molly Ringwald (Photo courtesy KMP Artists)
Forever in our hearts as a young lady struggling with high school romance thanks to John Hughes, Ms. Molly Ringwald has turned her attention to singing jazz recently. And she’s coming to DC metro to sing jazz at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club tomorrow night, Thursday July 28.
Molly started singing jazz at a young age, thanks to the influence of her jazz musician father. But she released her debut jazz album, Except Sometimes, in 2013 via Concord Records (which included a tribute to the late Mr. Hughes). Tomorrow, she’s performing a tribute to Nat “King” Cole and his daughter Natalie Cole (particularly timely as Ms. Cole passed away only recently). For her tribute, Molly will join Dave Damiani and the No Vacancy Orchestra, along with two of Natalie Cole’s bandmates, including world-renowned trumpeter Bijon Watson.
As a reader of Parklife DC, you can attend Molly Ringwald’s show tomorrow at half-price! Consult the flyer below and buy your ticket online at this link with the code: BBJMOLLY.
Molly Ringwald
Accompanied by Dave Damiani & No Vacancy Orchestra
Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club
Bethesda, Md.
Thursday, July 28
Show @8pm
$35/$40
Half Price w/ Code!
All ages