A few days ago, a thick manila envelope landed on my desk, filled with top secret stuff. It’s one of the wonderful privileges of being on the inside track at the Cascade Theatre, getting the scoop on the upcoming season before its released to the public. And one of the wonderful privileges of reading the Mistress of the Mix is getting that scoop before most everybody else.
So let’s rip open that envelope together, shall we, and see what delights the 2015-16 Cascade Theatre performance season has in store for us?
This would probably be a good time to remind you that if you become an annual member of the Cascade Theatre (a tax deductible contribution of $50 or more), that you’ll get to purchase tickets to the season before they go on sale to the general public. Sometimes shows sell out completely before non-members get a shot, so it’s not a bad idea. Especially if you’re a fan of Dwight Yoakam.
Dwight Yoakam – August 20th
Dwight Yoakam
Yes, you heard me right! Dwight Yoakam is finally coming to the Cascade Theatre, and I’ve been waiting for over a decade for this!
But I’m getting ahead of myself. There’s more country coming to the Cascade this year, lots of it! How about if we start right at the top, with the season opener July 10th, when another country legend, Clint Black, returns to the Cascade. Just five days later, Lyle Lovett and his Large Band will also be returning to the Cascade Theatre stage as well. Later in the season, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy Marty Stuart, Vince Gill with the Time Jumpers, an acoustic evening with Wynonna Judd and friends and a performance from the country/pop crossover legends Little River Band. I’ve loved them all these years, and never knew until now that they’re from Australia (the things you find out when you get an advance copy of the Cascade Theatre season catalog)!
Pink Martini – December 13th
Another show I’m super excited about is the return of Chris Isaak. He’ll roll into town August 19th. Last time he wore a 25 pound mirrored disco ball suit as he put on one of the most stellar, high energy performances the Cascade has ever had the privilege of hosting. He’s just not gorgeous and talented, he’s also super funny and personable. The last time he was here, we had a lengthy conversation that touched upon a mutual friend he dated in high school (and Chris, if you’re reading this, she’s single!) and buying family cemetery plots.
The Return of Chris Isaak and Pink Martini
Remember a few years ago when I started yammering on about Pink Martini? There were so many people who stopped me on the street to ask me about this band they’d never heard of, to get an idea of what they were like. I told people, “Just go. Trust me. They’re amazing. They’re like nothing you’ve ever seen.” The first time they performed at the Cascade, my daughter and I ended up on stage with the band for their encore, which was a dream come true. By the end of the evening the second time they performed at the theatre, the entire audience was involved in a 900 person long conga line. Months later, strangers were still coming up to me in the grocery store telling me that Pink Martini was their favorite show of all time. So maybe you don’t want to miss their 3rd appearance (a holiday show in December) this year. Especially if you like conga lines.
Sleeper Hits of the Season
There’s a few other shows coming to the Cascade in this next season that you might not recognize right off the bat. But I need you to trust me on this, just like Pink Martini: These are going to be some of the best shows of the season!
Watkins Family Hour – August 16th
On August 16th, the Watkins Family Hour takes to the stage. Pretty sure it’ll last longer than an hour. Never heard of these guys? I think maybe you have. Remember Nickel Creek? Two thirds of Nickel Creek is the brother-sister team of Sara & Sean Watkins. They’ve got their own side project going on with the Watkins Family Hour, featuring an ever-evolving group of musicians that join them on stage, making each performance unique and fascinating. Oh….and Fiona Apple is in the group as well. Yeah, Fiona freaking Apple! Don’t miss this show if you’re a fan of bluegrass, folk, or alternative rock. It’s gonna be awesome, and I’m betting on some great surprises.
Lake Street Dive – October 30th
A few years ago, Dave Kepon from Sports LTD told me that the one band he really really really wished he could see at the Cascade Theatre was a band I’d never heard of, Lake Street Dive. I checked them out on YouTube, and realized that just a few weeks prior, my teenage daughter had downloaded a few of their songs on iTunes and had been playing them in the car on the way to school, and I was totally grooving to it too. My point of view is that if a band can appeal to a bunch of semi-hip 40-somethings as much as it does a high school student, there’s something special about these guys. And I really really really like them. I’m even giving them a few extra spots on today’s Spotify playlist, because they’re so awesome. The ticket price is decent because they’re still an up & coming band, but this is the show Dave, Sophia and I have been waiting for, and I want to see you there!
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – November 1st
There’s another group of musicians coming to the theatre this Fall that you may not realize you’re probably familiar with already, another show you just can’t miss. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. Sharon Jones is a funk-soul goddess who seems like she just stepped out of 1975. She’s electrifying. She’s tremendous. And she’s backed up by the Dap-Kings. Know who they are? Yes you do, but I might need to help connect the dots for you.
You’re familiar with the song Uptown Funk, right? You know, that song that gets played 4 or 5 times every single day on every single pop commercial station in the world? That song is sung by Bruno Mars, but was the brainchild of producer/DJ Mark Ronson, who also plays guitar on the song. Mark Ronson has long been associated with the Dap-Kings, and tapped them to back up Amy Winehouse for her hits “Rehab,” “Back to Black” and “Valerie.”
In my world, this is enough to get me to go see the Dap-Kings. But if you don’t want to take my word for it, how about Rufus Wainwright or They Might Be Giants? Or Phish, Michael Buble, David Byrne & Muse? This gang has recorded with all of these wide ranging artists because they’re that awesome. And of course, the Dap-Kings were involved with Uptown Funk. If you like that kind of thing (I do).
And More Awesomeness!
What else is on the list of 2015-16 awesomeness? The Average White Band, Joan Armatrading, Jonny Lang, ‘Keb Mo’, Charlie Musselwhite & the North Mississippi Allstars and Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts round out the rest of the touring musicians for the next season, and the ever-popular spring musical will be, I predict, one of the best ever. Mary Poppins! There’s a number of film, comedy, acrobat, dance and opera events, including MOMIX and Colin & Brad, those wacky guys from Whose Line Is It Anyway!!
Those guys from Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Catalogs should be arriving in your mailbox within the next day or two, and members will be able to get tickets to all of the season shows almost immediately. If you don’t receive the catalog and you’re not a member, consider getting thyself down to the Cascade Theatre box office immediately and get yourself hooked up. Take a listen to a bunch of the music coming soon to the Cascade Theatre in today’s Spotify Playlist, and check out the entire season lineup below!
Cascade Theatre 2015-16 Performance Series Calendar
July 10 Clint Black
July 15 Lyle Lovett & His Large Band
Aug 16 Watkins Family Hour
Aug 19 Chris Isaak
Aug 20 Dwight Yoakam
Aug 28 Jim Belushi & the Sacred Hearts
Sep 18 Marty Stuart
Sep 30 Average White Band
Oct 02 The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill
Oct 03 Manhattan Short Film Festival
Oct 14 MOMIX
Oct 18 SF Opera: Show Boat
Oct 22 Joan Armatrading
Oct 30 Lake Street Dive
Nov 01 Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Nov 07 Jonny Lang
Nov 27 Cascade Christmas (through Dec 4)
Dec 13 Pink Martini Holiday Show
Dec 18 Celtic Christmas
Jan 16 Annie Sing-A-Long
Jan 17 SF Opera: Susannah
Jan 22 Colin & Brad: Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Jan 28 Cirque Ziva Acrobats
Feb 19 Wynonna Judd & Friends Acoustic
Feb 20 Charlie Musselwhite & North Mississippi Allstars
Feb 25 Little River Band
Mar 10 Keb’ Mo’
Mar 12 Piano Artists
Mar 15 TAO: Seventeen Samurai
Mar 20 SF Opera: Cinderella
Apr 15-24 Mary Poppins
May 22 SF Opera: Norma
Valerie Ing-Miller has been the Northern California Program Coordinator for Jefferson Public Radio in Redding for nine years and can often be found serving as Mistress of Ceremonies at the Cascade Theatre. For her, ultimate satisfaction comes from a perfect segue. She’s the mother of a teenage daughter and a 7-year-old West Highland Terrier, and can’t imagine life without them or music. Valerie wakes up with a song in her head, she sings in the shower and at the top of her lungs in the car.
A News Cafe, founded in Shasta County by Redding, CA journalist Doni Greenberg, is the place for people craving local Northern California news, commentary, food, arts and entertainment. Views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of anewscafe.com.
