Three rising artists from the Rochester area bring their unique musical style to the Opera House for a debut performance. Lipp, English and Robertson fuse traditional Appalachian old-time music, classic bluegrass, and the blues into a new sound of the next generation. Aaron Lipp grew up in a musical family. He began playing piano at age four and he was surrounded by all types of music from a very young age. From folk and bluegrass to rock and blues, these early years were the foundation of a long musical journey. In 2006, he joined Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, a local Rochester Original Roots Reggae and Dub band. Giant Panda toured constantly all over the country logging nearly half a million miles on the road. Through these years on the road and with little time at home, Aaron dove heavily into Old Time and Bluegrass music, learning the traditional practices of clawhammer banjo, bottleneck slide guitar, dobro, flatpicking guitar, blues harp, old time fiddle and upright bass. He later toured with internationally renowned pedal-steel funk/soul guitarist Robert Randolph & The Family Band, sharing the stage with Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, Anders Osbourne, The Slide Brothers, and more, as well as performing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, and the Kelly and Michael show. Since winter 2013, he has been the frontman and principal songwriter of the local group The Cabin Killers who have performed at many regional venues and festivals. He also spends time working on several Bluegrass and Old Time musical projects with members of The Henrie Brothers. He can be found playing regionally with these bands as well as The Campbell Brothers, Axis Armada, Richie Stearns & Rosie Newton, South Hill Cider String Band, and The Prickers, just to name a few. Hearing Ric Robertson for the first time, you’ll be forgiven if John Prine is the first name that comes to ming. Robertson’s voice has the same soft southern burr as Prine’s, the same Zen acceptance of humanity’s failings, and, most importantly, the same sense of playfulness in the music. There’s a bit of Willie Nelson in there too, not just from all the smoke in the air, but from the colliding elements of jazz, funk and country. He’s relentlessly creative, the musician’s musician, as evidenced by the fact that he’s continuously in demand as a touring bandmate, playing with everyone from Rhiannon Giddens to The Wood Brothers. Chris “Hollywood” English is deeply rooted in music as he comes from a family full of musicians. He has an extensive musical background and attended The School of the Performing Arts in Rochester. His musical upbringing, schooling and time spent playing on the road have shaped him into a musician who is not only a crowd-pleaser, but into someone that’s known and respected among his peers. Throughout his career, he has shared the stage with Charlie Hunter, moe., Bobby Blue Bland, Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Soulive, Robert Randolph, The Word and AudioInFlux, to name a few. English plays drums with an intense rhythmic accuracy and skill that every drummer strives for, but few can deliver. His talent on the drums in concert with his incredibly powerful and soulful vocals contributes to any venture he takes on, aiding in creating a complete and euphonious musical experience for an audience.
$5-$13
