NORWICH – There’s entertainment aplenty on tap for what’s become over the years one of the city’s most popular evenings for musical entertainment – the night before Thanksgiving – with a trio of local bands performing live at the Blarney Stone Pub, Beadle’s Lounge and the Norwich Elks Lodge.
Local favorite Tumbleweed Highway, featuring Nate Gross, Patrick Strain, Brian O’Connell, Nick Andrews and Keith Radke, will take the stage at 9:30 p.m. at the Blarney Stone, not only for a night’s performance, but the group’s debut CD release party. Earlier this month, the band released its first album, “Where Do We Go From Here,” which will be available for sale throughout tonight’s show.
The band, known for its unique brand of Americana, features an eclectic mix of Telecaster twang, acoustic guitars, screaming B3 organ, accordion, bass guitar, drums and pedal steel. The group recently returned to the area from an east coast tour that band members said was extremely successful.
Just down the street at Beadle’s Lounge, the blues and classic rock sounds of The Killer B’s, featuring Bruce Beadle on guitar, Bill Beadle on bass guitar and Bob Tousignant on drums (not to mention a certain Evening Sun reporter, also on guitar). The B’s show will kick off sometime between 9 and 9:30 p.m., said Bruce Beadle, who typically takes the stage on Thanksgiving eve at brother Gary Beadle’s lounge.
“We love to see the people that live outside the area and come back home for Thanksgiving make their way down and it’s really a great time for us,” he added. “It’s just a great night for live music.”
At the Norwich Elks Lodge, it’s the return of Razzor, the popular hard-hitting rock quartet, whose members recently returned from a brief hiatus with new drummer Mike Grover entering the fold. Rounding out the band, which performs a wide variety of hard rock – from Led Zeppelin to Metallica – brothers Dicky and Keith Carpenter, on lead vocals and bass guitar respectively, and guitarist Claude Steele. The group will take the stage at 9 p.m., according to Keith Carpenter, who added the show is open to those 18 and above with ID, and those attending do not have to be members of the Elks Lodge.
“We’re just glad to be back on stage,” stated Carpenter. “Music is life and we will always continue to do what people know us best for. In the words of the legendary Gene Simmons (of KISS fame), ‘we are nothing without our fans.’”
Blarney Stone Pub owner Sarah Woods said the night before Thanksgiving is widely recognized for its live entertainment and she should know, as she and husband Mike Woods recently celebrated their fifth year in business at the downtown pub. The evening typically draws a large, enthusiastic crowd, she added, especially with so many people returning to the area to visit with family and friends on Thanksgiving.
“We’re really looking forward to it, especially with the five year anniversary, and it’s just a great time to get together with friends, some of which we only see this time of year,” said Woods of tonight’s show. “Great music and great friends make for a great time.”
For more information on Tumbleweed Highway visit tumbleweedhighway.com. For information on the Blarney Stone Pub or Razzor – or additional info on Tumbleweed Highway – go to Facebook.com and search the site’s browser.