Featured Bands will include The Uptown Band, The Groovemasters, and Blitz Dynette.
A portion of this year’s proceeds will benefit The Greater Governor Mifflin League Community Days.
After a year hiatus due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, “Bandapalooza” is BACK! On Friday June 4th, 2021, the Shillington-based Uptown Band will be presenting its annual “Bandapalooza” at the Truck N’ Brew Concert Series at Willow Glen Park, 94 Park Avenue, Sinking Spring PA to celebrate the group’s 15th Anniversary. The Uptown Band will again be joined by The Groovemasters featuring Bennie Sims and Cliff Starkey, and new to the event this year, Blitz Dynette.
Since the band’s inception during the Berks Jazz Fest 2006, The Uptown Band has become one of the busiest bands in the Northeast. With the release of their debut original CD “Waiting for Her” and sophomore release “Heart, Soul, Body, & Mind”, they have grown beyond their regional roots and have become known nationally and internationally. TV-wise, they have performed twice on NBC New York’s Late Night talk show “All Night With Joey Reynolds”. In addition to having their own listing on Pandora Radio, the group’s songs can be heard on the national cable system Music Choice and DMX Satellite Radio. New Music Weekly nominated them for “BEST NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY GROUP” at their annual awards show in 2016. Stirring up an explosive, melodic and grooving mix of Jazz, Funk, Rock, and Pop, The Uptown Band has headlined hundreds of shows and numerous charitable functions.
In many ways, The Uptown Band and The Groovemasters are tightly knit at the seams. Besides being the leader and visionary of The Groovemasters, Bennie Sims serves as both The Uptown Band and its leader, Erich Cawalla’s original music producer. Along with Cliff Starkey, they have performed for numerous celebrities including President Bill Clinton, Dizzy Gillespie, The Temptations, Al Jarreau, Tower of Power, and Tavares to name a few. Their talents have been showcased nationally on “Good Morning America’, “The Emeril Live Show” (where Cliff served as the house piano player for 9 years and appeared on the Rachael Ray Show in 2016), and on a 2002 PBS Special called “Love, Rhythm, & Soul” featuring Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, and The Spinners. Sims was the musical director for The Three Degrees. Both continue to perform nationally and internationally with these and many other artists. Sims has also written and performed with Smooth Jazz Legends Pieces of a Dream. The Groovemasters will be performing as part of the return of the Berks Jazz Fest Kickoff for their 29th straight year at the Peanut Bar on Friday, August 13th.
The Uptown Band and Groovemasters are excited to perform with the unique soul band Blitz Dynette, who is led by Uptown Band guitarist/vocalist Forrest Brown and fronted by the extremely talented Amy Simpson. Formed in 1990, the 8-piece group featuring a slick horn section has released 4 full-length albums that have taken them all over the country including California, Las Vegas, Florida, Maine, and everywhere in between. After a hiatus of about 10 years, the band reformed in 2012 at and continues to perform at select venues throughout Pennsylvania.
This year, there will also be a special Uptown Band 15th Anniversary custom guitar designed by Dave Lewis to be raffled off. Proceeds will benefit the Greater Governor League Community Days, in which The Uptown Band’s leader, Erich Cawalla, serves as President.
Tickets are $25.00 per person and are available ahead of time on www.theuptownband.com or at the door. All tickets are general admission and guests can sit at tables provided by Truck N’ Brew or can bring their own chairs and blankets. Food and drink is available from Truck N’ Brew all night long. Doors open at 5:00 and the event runs from 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with Erich Cawalla, call (610) 781-8312
or e-mail [email protected].
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