The Music Room at J.R. HOOKS is now featuring:
THE AMERICANA MUSIC SERIES presented by ArtsaRound
The Americana Music Series features a variety of styles of music that includes jazz and blues, folk, Appalachian, and Irish/Celtic and other traditional forms. The shows are held in a space that is connected to, but acoustically separate from, the main dining area of JR Hooks Cafe. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy a meal in the Music Room or in the restaurant. When the lights go down, the focus will be on the music, but food and drink service will always be available during the show.
FOR INFO, TICKETS & DINNER RESERVATIONS CALL 740-412-5281 or email americanamusicseries@gmail.com
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Saturday, February 5, 2011
Death By Banjo
 The 2011 Americana Music Series continues in downtown Circleville on Saturday evening, February 5, with acoustic group Death By Banjo. They will perform in the Music Room in the rear of JR Hooks Café, located at 115 Watt Street. The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the music will begin at 8:00 pm. Advance tickets are available now for $5, and any seating still available the day of the show can be purchased at the door for $8. Dinner reservations for seating between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 pm in the Music Room can also be made. Shows may sell out, so please call (740) 412-5281, or email americanamusicseries@gmail.com to purchase advance tickets or make dining reservations for any of the upcoming performances.
As the name implies, "Death by Banjo" is bluegrass and beyond. On fire with creativity, "Death by Banjo" is a conflagration of musical styles fueled by intense, driving 5-string banjo. From the songs of Robert Johnson to the Newgrass Revival, from Roy Acuff to BB King, from Bill Monroe to The Band, banjo, fiddle, harmonica, dobro, guitar and bass combine and combust to create some of the hottest acoustic music to be heard in central Ohio.
All four members of "Death by Banjo" are veterans of the Columbus, Ohio music scene. Individually, they have recorded for major record labels, toured nationally and internationally, won awards for their musicianship and opened for major artists. They have played blues, swing, jazz, rock, country, old time, Irish, folk, classical and, of course, bluegrass. Together, they share a passion for sincere, earthy music and the ability to create it with energy, joy and enthusiasm.
Tom Zinser, guitar and vocals, is the heart of the band. His rock solid guitar playing and beautifully smooth, clear voice have been heard on Columbia records, the Billboard charts and with the bands "The Wild Life", "Owen B.", "The Pleasant Mountain Boys" and, most recently, with the duo "Travelin' Tom and Dr. Paul".
Paul Brown, banjo, fiddle and vocals, provides the driving banjo that gives "Death by Banjo" its unique sound. A two-time Ohio State Champion bluegrass banjo player and award winning fiddler, he is also known for playing in "The Pleasant Mountain Boys", "Travelin' Tom and Dr. Paul" and "One Riot One Ranger".
Pete Remenyi, harmonica and dobro, provides the bluesy soul of the band with excellent playing based on his broad knowledge of musical stylings and soulful approach to the music. Pete has played with "The Red Mountain String Band", "The Deltones", "One Riot One Ranger", “Five Guys Named Moe”, and currently, with "The Subterreaneans".
Sid Omasta, bass, anchors the sound as one of the best upright bass players you will hear anywhere. His background in old time ("The Timbre Wolves"), Irish ("Stark Raven") and jazz (various jazz orchestras and combos) give him a unique perspective and a fresh, innovative approach to bluegrass.
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Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Raineys
 The 2011 Americana Music Series continues in downtown Circleville on Saturday evening, February 19, with Ashville family group The Raineys. They will perform in the Music Room in the rear of JR Hooks Café, located at 115 Watt Street. The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the music will begin at 8:00 pm. Advance tickets are available now for $5, and any seating still available the day of the show can be purchased at the door for $8. Dinner reservations for seating between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 pm in the Music Room can also be made. Shows may sell out, so please call (740) 412-5281, or email americanamusicseries@gmail.com to purchase advance tickets or make dining reservations for any of the upcoming performances.
The Raineys are a family that enjoys music and playing together. Their easy going, off beat style makes for an entertaining evening, performing a wide range of tunes from the folk and pop worlds. The Raineys diverse catalog includes music from such artists as Neil Young, Harry Chapin and Jethro Tull to more modern tunes from groups like REM and The Decemberists. They have performed at The Circleville Pumpkin Show, The Earth Gathering in Chillicothe and have been the featured artist at The Columbus Folk Music Society's Coffee House Series.
Dave Rainey (acoustic guitar, vocals) has been involved with music most of his life and also plays bass in the jazz group Sweet Sixteen. Jenny Rainey (piano, vocals), provides the driving rhythm that keeps the band together. She is also the standout vocal talent in the Raineys, bringing her powerful yet sensitive style to great songs. Jenny is a junior at The Ohio State University. Megan Rainey (flute, accordion, piano, vocals) is a musician far beyond her years. A senior at Teays Valley High School, she began playing with her father at the age of 12 and brings a dexterity and understanding of music that gives the group a fresh, unique sound. Megan will be studying piano performance at The Ohio State University in the fall.
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Saturday, March 5, 2011
Teeny Tucker
 The 2011 Americana Music Series continues in downtown Circleville on Saturday evening, March 5, with internationally acclaimed blues vocalist Teeny Tucker. She will perform with her band in the Music Room in the rear of JR Hooks Café, located at 115 Watt Street. The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the music will begin at 8:00 pm. Advance tickets are available now for $10, and any seating still available the day of the show can be purchased at the door for $12. Dinner reservations for seating between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 pm in the Music Room can also be made. Shows may sell out, so please call (740) 412-5281, or email americanamusicseries@gmail.com to purchase advance tickets or make dining reservations for any of the upcoming performances.
Teeny Tucker is one of the brightest stars in the blues genre, and has been gaining an international reputation as a dynamic performer on stage as well as a recording artist with three highly acclaimed CDs to date. Her career will no doubt receive a major boost with her appearance on the PBS national television music series “Sun Studio Sessions” that aired during the month of January earlier this year.
Teeny Tucker’s professional singing career began when she caught the attention of a German Blues promoter and manager who had promoted the European tours for her famous father, the renowned blues-singer-pianist-composer Tommy Tucker, who wrote and first recorded “High Heel Sneakers,” a pop-classic that’s been performed by Elvis, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones. Since then, her musical journey has seen Teeny perform at many of the major Blues Festivals in the US, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and Italy. She has been invited to appear on the same bill with great blues artists such as BB King, KoKo Taylor, Etta James, Buddy Guy, The Holmes Brothers, Robert Cray, Keb Mo, Kenny Neal, Bobby Rush, John Mayall, and many others.
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Saturday, March 19, 2011
Yankee Celtic Consort
 The 2011 Americana Music Series continues in downtown Circleville on Saturday evening, March 19, with outstanding Irish/Celtic group Yankee Celtic Consort. They will perform in the Music Room in the rear of JR Hooks Café, located at 115 Watt Street. The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the music will begin at 8:00 pm. Advance tickets are available now for $8, and any seating still available the day of the show can be purchased at the door for $10. Dinner reservations for seating between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 pm in the Music Room can also be made. Shows may sell out, so please call (740) 412-5281, or email americanamusicseries@gmail.com to purchase advance tickets or make dining reservations for any of the upcoming performances.
Yankee Celtic Consort's principal members, Doug Rudy (mandolin, fiddle, tenor banjo, guitar) and Phil Franck (fiddle, 5-string banjo, bazouki, tin whistle) hail from Central Ohio and have forged a 20-year-long musical friendship dating back to high school and the Ohio State University School of Music. They played bluegrass music together in the Fish House Band for many years before starting the Consort.
Phil also played in The Irish Brigade, where he met Patrick Mogan (tin whistle, bodhran, guitar), who brings his own brand of color and ethnicity to the band through his singing and playing. John Sherman (guitar)has performed widely both as a solo Celtic guitarist and with various bands. John’s outstanding Celtic style provides a gorgeous foundation to the music.
The Consort cut its teeth at local nightclubs where they have performed for many years. They were featured guest artists of the Lancaster Chorale in 1995. The group shines especially bright in festival settings, like the Westerville Arts Festival, the Huron Irish Festival, the Springfield Summer Artist Series and the Dublin Irish Festival. Yankee Celtic Consort's music has been described as joyous, sentimental, stately, raucous, mournful...and always enjoyable. For more information on the band, visit their website at www.yankeeceltic.com.
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Saturday, April 2, 2011
Jim Hurst
 The 2011 Americana Music Series continues in downtown Circleville on Saturday evening, April 2, with guitarist/singer Jim Hurst. He will perform in the Music Room in the rear of JR Hooks Café, located at 115 Watt Street. The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the music will begin at 8:00 pm. Advance tickets are available now for $10, and any seating still available the day of the show can be purchased at the door for $12. Dinner reservations for seating between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 pm in the Music Room can also be made. Shows may sell out, so please call (740) 412-5281, or email americanamusicseries@gmail.com to purchase advance tickets or make dining reservations for any of the upcoming performances.
Jim Hurst is a multi- award winning guitarist in Bluegrass, as well as other acoustic music genres. He is known throughout the Nashville, Tennessee area as one of the best in the business. His talents of singing, multi-instrumentalist abilities and well-rounded stylings have garnered him support positions and recording sessions with some of the best artists, including Trisha Yearwood, Sara Evans, Holly Dunn,
Claire Lynch, Travis Tritt, John Cowan, Mark Schatz, Tim O'Brien and more.
Jim is more and more becoming known as an artist in his own right, recording and releasing his first CD "Open Window in 1998. Teaming up with duet partner, award winning bassist Missy Raines, they recorded and released two CDs. 2002 saw the release of Jim's second solo CD, "Second Son" to rave reviews and Bluegrass chart action. Jim's most recent recording "A Box of Chocolates", is the newest CD from his creative musical mind. Always looking for the new inspiration, he is currently working of his next recording.
Jim has a multi-faceted approach to music and performance. His singing, guitar work, songwriting and live performances can entertain with calm sincerity as well as high-energy and magician-like accomplishment.
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Saturday, April 16, 2011
Dwight Lenox
 The 2011 Americana Music Series continues in downtown Circleville on Saturday evening, April 16, with Jazz vocalist Dwight Lenox. He will be accompanied by his trio of outstanding musicians in the Music Room in the rear of JR Hooks Café, located at 115 Watt Street. The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the music will begin at 8:00 pm. Advance tickets are available now for $8, and any seating still available the day of the show can be purchased at the door for $10. Dinner reservations for seating between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 pm in the Music Room can also be made. Shows may sell out, so please call (740) 412-5281, or email americanamusicseries@gmail.com to purchase advance tickets or make dining reservations for any of the upcoming performances.
Vocalist Dwight Lenox’s rich tenor voice and dynamic presence has captivated audiences around the country for more than 20 years. Growing up in New York, Dwight honed his talent in the church choir. He went on to study musical styles as diverse as country and rock 'n' roll, but his gospel roots, combined with such childhood influences as Nancy Wilson, Nat King Cole and Sarah Vaughn, made jazz a natural showcase for his talent. From blues to ballads and jazz to swing, Dwight shines. His impeccable instincts and mellow sound have garnered the attention of some of the finest musicians in the industry. He's performed with Sammy Tucker and renowned organist Hank Marr. He's been showcased alongside the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Bobbie Humphrys, Ramsey Lewis and Herbie Mann. As featured vocalist with the 17-piece Columbus Jazz Orchestra, he's shared the stage with Harold Jones and Carmen Bradford. He is one of only two singers to perform with the Ohio State Marching Band, and his rendition of "Georgia On My Mind" is on the bands new compact disc. Dwight's fluid style lends itself to a vast repertoire and his raw abilities are uniquely evidenced in his performance of original music. For more information, visit his website at www.dwightlenox.com.
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Saturday, May 7, 2011
ShoeFly
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Saturday, May 28, 2011
Vinegar Hill
 The 2011 Americana Music Series concludes in downtown Circleville on Saturday evening, May 28, with the entertaining Irish/Celtic group Vinegar Hill. They will perform in the Music Room in the rear of JR Hooks Café, located at 115 Watt Street. The doors will open at 6:00 pm, and the music will begin at 8:00 pm. Advance tickets are available now for $8, and any seating still available the day of the show can be purchased at the door for $10. Dinner reservations for seating between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 pm in the Music Room can also be made. Shows may sell out, so please call (740) 412-5281, or email americanamusicseries@gmail.com to purchase advance tickets or make dining reservations for any of the upcoming performances.
Vinegar Hill is a Columbus, Ohio based Irish Pub band whose signature harmonies and hard driving jigs and reels give a fresh sound to traditional pub favorites, as well as a sprinkling of originals drawn from Celtic roots music. They have toured throughout the Midwest, playing in Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Louisville, and of course at many pubs and Irish organizations in their home town of Columbus, as well as many smaller towns and festivals across Ohio.
Vinegar Hill consists of Elizabeth Blickenstaff(fiddle), who is truly gifted and has played in Chamber Groups, countless weddings and events; Ted Mueller(Guitar),,who was devoted to American folk & protest music before discovering Dominic Behan rebel tunes; Barb Cunningham(Vocals/Penny Whistle) who has been involved in choral music since childhood, and is a member of St. Cecilia Choir, Bell Choir and Contemporary Group; Michael Cunningham(Guitar/Vocals), who’s love for Celtic music and all things Irish has inspired him to create many of the group’s original compositions; Steve Cunningham(Bass), who has formed and played with many local Rock and Country bands since 1963, and Chip Stalter(Vocals/Bodhran), who has long been involved in choral music and is a member of the St. John Neumann Choir in Sunbury, Ohio.
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