Narrows Center for the Arts to host acclaimed acts, local favorites

FALL RIVER — Narrows Center for the Arts continues to bring high-quality music and art to the SouthCoast area, hosting a unique gallery show and diverse lineup of concerts in October, from nationally acclaimed acts to local favorites:

Entrain

• Saturday, Oct. 1

• Epic in sound and kaleidoscopic in vision, the eclectic Martha's Vineyard-based six piece Entrain has been thrilling critics and fans alike since its inception. Formed and led by drummer Tom Major in 1993 while on hiatus from touring with rock legend Bo Diddley, Entrain has been blessed with a list of top tier musicians over the years.

Vanilla Fudge

• Thursday, Oct. 6

• To be an influence on the likes of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Van Halen certainly secures a place in rock ’n roll history for the legendary Vanilla Fudge. Since the summer of 1967, Vanilla Fudge were architects of a new musical style that included psychedelic, rock, soul music and gospel. They were and are masters of reinterpreting other artist’s hit songs, and their effect on the soon to explode late 60’s heavy metal scene was undeniable.

Ruthie Foster

• Friday, Oct. 7

• The small rural town of Gause, Texas, had no chance of keeping the vocal powerhouse known as Ruthie Foster to itself. Described by Rolling Stone as “pure magic to watch and hear,” her vocal talent was elevated in worship services at her community church. Drawing influence from legendary acts like Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin, Foster developed a unique sound unable to be contained within a single genre.

Mark Erelli

• Saturday, Oct. 8

• “All the things that brought me comfort, they just seem tired and worn, what always used to work ain’t working anymore,” sings award-winning, Massachusetts-based singer/songwriter Mark Erelli, a few songs into his newest release “Blindsided.” It’s a realization that has washed over many of us, like headlights sweeping across the bedroom ceiling on a sleepless night. But for a songwriter, such an appraisal is a call to action.

Sundog Organ Trio and Putnam Murdock

• Friday, Oct. 14

• Sundog Organ Trio combines traditional instrumentation (organ, guitar, drums) with contemporary songwriting and a healthy appetite for improvisation, melody & groove. Putnam Murdock got his start as a professional musician with the Colorado rock and roll band Chief Broom. With Murdock as front man, the group achieved a slot on the 1997 H.O.R.D.E tour, appeared in festivals at Red Rocks Amphitheater and sold out venues throughout the western US. After graduating with a songwriting degree from Berklee School in Music in 2002, Murdock launched a solo career and has since traveled across the country performing with artists such as Martin Sexton, Taj Mahal, Ben Taylor, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Kaki King.

Vanessa Collier

• Saturday, Oct. 15

• As a master musician and multi-instrumentalist, Vanessa Collier weaves funk, soul, rock, and blues into every powerful performance and she is downright impressive. With soulful vocals, searing saxophone, and witty songwriting, Vanessa is blazing a trail, racking up an impressive arsenal of honors, and has already singled herself out as an artist of distinction and one we would all do well to watch.

Michael Schenker's 50th anniversary tour

• Wednesday, Oct. 19

• Michael Schenker Group is a legendary name. After two phenomenal records under the guise of Michael Schenker Fest, a true guitar hero is returning to his roots. By forming Michael Schenker Group back in 1979, Michael Schenker laid the foundations for one of hard rock’s most glorious solo careers. And while nobody expected anything less from a former guitarist for Scorpions and UFO, it’s close to impossible to mention everything Michael has built over the past 50 years, or the countless people he influenced or played with.

Leo Kottke

• Friday, Oct. 21

• Leo Kottke was one of the most influential acoustic guitarists to emerge in the 1960s, bringing a unique sound and virtuosic flourishes to the instrument. Although he has also recorded as a singer/songwriter, it's the propulsive fingerstyle playing of his solo instrumental work that has cemented his reputation as a true innovator.

Paula Poundstone

• Saturday, Oct. 22

• Paula Poundstone is a humorist, author and comedian known for her clever, observational humor and spontaneous wit. When she isn't collecting hotel soaps while on tour or panel-ing on NPR's #1 show, “Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!,” Paula hosts the popular Starburns Audio podcast, “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone.” Nobody is a comedy field guide to life complete with taste tests, cats of the weeks and leading experts in everything from beekeeping to ping pong to prosopagnosia.

GA-20

• Friday, Oct. 28

• GA-20 was formed by friends Pat Faherty and Matthew Stubbs in Boston in 2018. The project was born out of their mutual love of heavy traditional Blues, R&B, and Rock & Roll of the late 50s and early 60s. Faherty and Stubbs bonded over legendary artists like Lazy Lester, J.B. Lenoir, Earl Hooker, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush and Junior Wells. Joined by drummer Tim Carman in 2019, GA-20 is a trio of 2 guitars, vocals and drums.

Paul Bielatowicz’s 'Nosferatu' Live — Halloween Spooktacular!

• Saturday, Oct. 29

• The 1922 silent horror movie “Nosferatu” has been terrifying audiences for 100 years. Join in on Halloween weekend for a Spooktacular live performance of a new rock soundtrack that breathes new life into the undead classic. Paul Bielatowicz (Carl Palmer, ELP, Neal Morse) has put together an all-star band for this very special event.

Art gallery exhibition: 'Three of a Kind'

• Through Nov. 5

• Three artists who use a welding torch to create works of art. Each one has a different purpose, but all come out the same. They create art from metal in different ways. Musical instruments, statues, and hammered metal. A collection of found objects to untouched metal molded into art. Each artist is in a world of their own, but as they say, “All roads lead to Rome,” so here they are. “Three of a Kind.”

The Narrows Center for the Arts, located at 16 Anawan St., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit narrowscenter.org.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: October lineup announced at Narrows Center in Fall River