This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Arts & Entertainment

Local Band Vortex to Open the Show at Downright Music

This Week in the Arts (Feb. 10-16): A roundup of events around Canton in art, music, theater, film, dance, comedy and more.

Consider the Source and Downright's Own Vortex to Play Concert

On Saturday night at 8 p.m., continues its in-store concert series with the return of New York City's fusion-jam band Consider the Source

Frequest visitors to Collinsville thanks to the store's tighknit community and network, CtS last appeared in town this summer as part of the annual Downright Community Unity Festival. While that show featured an elaborate laser light show under a huge tent, this weekend's show will take place in the more intimate setting of Downright's recently renovated performance space. 

Opening the show is one of Downright's own house bands, Vortex. Band members are Andrew Decker on bass guitar and other instruments, Jeffrey Howard on guitar and Jeff Kozlowski on drums. Planned to begin fairly promptly at 8 p.m., the set includes an improvisational selection of jazz, rock and a fusion of music styles. 

Find out what's happening in Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Call (860) 693-6530 for reservations, as space is limited. Tickets are $10, and the event is designed for an all-ages audience. 

Roaring Brook Concert Series 

Thwarted by the historic snowstorm that pounded Canton and the region at the end of October,  was forced to postpone a performance by Joseph FireCrow, "Cheyenne Flute Man." The make-up date is this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For more information and to order tickets, visit http://roaringbrookconcerts.org/ or call (860) 693-0263.

Two Receptions at Gallery on the Green 

This weekend, Canton's celebrates two new exhibitions with opening receptions. 
On Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m., a reception will be held introducing paintings, murals and specialty tile art by Bob Gingras, a painter, musician and retired gemologist based in Bristol. Read his artist's statement here.


"Next: Emerging Talent," an annual show featuring the work of high school seniors from around the region who excel in art, opens this Sunday with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. Along with Canton High School, participating schools include: Avon's Avon Old Farms School and Avon High School; Bristol's St. Paul Catholic High School; Burlington's Lewis S. Mills High School; Farmington's Miss Porter's School and Farmington High School; Simsbury's Ethel Walker School and Simsbury High School; West Hartford's Northwest Catholic; and Winsted's Northwest Regional High School. 
Visit the gallery's Web site for more information on the gallery. 

Flatbread Company

The hosts a weekly Benefit Night on Tuesdays from 5 to 9 p.m. with a generous portion of pizza sales going to the cause, and this week it's arts-related. Benefiting the "Canton Parents for Music" fund, the award-winning Canton High School Jazz Combo will be performing.

And on Thursday, Feb. 16, Torrington's The Frantic Blue will entertain Flatbread diners from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with folk, blues and rock.

Dish 'n Dat 

Mike and Keir from the Slacker's Union play tonight at 8 p.m. presenting an acoustic-style version of their cover and party rock music. 

Wednesday night, local musician Victor Cowles performs at 7 p.m.

Rice Fields

Paul the Shoreline Guy, who played last weekend at the Fireplace, performs at Asian restaurant and lounge this Saturday at 7 p.m. 

Crown & Hammer Restaurant & Pub

Crowd-favorites Bipolar Jukebox return to the Crown & Hammer tonight, Friday, for a night of jazz-infused original music along with covers that showcase the band members' unique musicianship and style. Collinsville-based singer-songwriter Andre Balazs, the band's leader, plays a regular gig at the pub on the second Friday of each month.

Perhaps because they are preparing to release their second LP, Museum of Sorts, later this year, Andre has been inviting his full band to join him on the Crown's intimate stage. For this outing, Andre, who plays keyboards and sings lead vocals, is joined by David Shuman on bass guitar, Dennis Fancher on guitar and backup vocals and Charlie Dye on the drums. 

On Saturday night at 9:30 p.m., Brandt Taylor performs his bluesy original songwriting on guitar and vocals. Brandt hails from Danielson, Conn., an historic district of the town of Killingly in the state's Northeast corner. 

The Crown is still taking reservations for Valentine's Day this Tuesday evening, when they will be serving a four-course prix fixe dinner complete with French wine pairings for $65 per couple. The regular dinner menu and pub menu will also be available that evening. 

Trivia Night, starting at 9 p.m. each Thursday night at the pub, has proven to be a popular night, bringing together neighbors and friends for a little friendly competition. Prizes go to the winning team.

Fireplace Cafe

Local singer songwriter-guitarist Bill Benson, known around town in part for the Collinsville-inspired video for his song "Porch Time" as well as performances at the Collinsville Farmers Market, will be playing originals and familiar cover songs at the Fireplace Cafe on River Street this Saturday night from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Free Weekly Events

Collinsville's busy  holds a popular Open Mic Night each Friday night at 6 p.m. hosted alternately by Eric Paradine and Con "Coyote" Doty, both familiar to music fans around town and the region.

At , members of jazz band Swing 39 play as a trio on Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m., and return as a duo Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. On Saturdays pianist John Lomartra from Cromwell entertains from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Acoustic Open Mic Night, hosted by singer-songwriter "GrimFacts" Ed Hoyer, Jr., continues each Tuesday at the Fireplace in Collinsville starting at 8:30 p.m., attracting a regular crew of musicians from around the local region.

Asian restaurant Rice Fields has resumed their weekly Karaoke Nights on Fridays from around 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. in the lounge.

The  hosts weekly Karaoke Nights on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. They are open to all interested singers, trained and amateur alike.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?