The Satch Kerans Band has been on the move, with new music and new shows.
A number of shows are planned, following on the heels of a December show the band played at Parkside Lounge in New York City.
Up next is a CD release party this Sunday, April 21, at The Rhumb Line, 40 Railroad Ave., in Gloucester, from 5-8 p.m. A music video for the single “Chantel,” which was released last month, will be unveiled at the party.
Kerans, who recently signed with Rock Garden Records, an independent Boston label, has been performing for decades.
He has another new single, “Those Lies,” recorded at Bang A Song Studio in Gloucester. The song has received airplay on SiriusXM on Little Steven’s Underground Garage show and internet radio stations world-wide. “Those lies, those lies that you lie about ... you even lie about your lies,” are among the lyrics.
Lisa Erickson, of Rock Garden Records, said the label is looking forward to future releases.
“We are excited to represent Satch Kerans and to release his fantastic and super-relevant music,” she said. “’Chantel,’ in particular, is an incredible tune that showcases Satch’s talent and reach by telling the story of an individual who chooses to reveal their true gender identity in what could have been a dangerous way for them. Fortunately, Chantel’s friends see that Chantel is still the same person they love and respect. Satch has deftly woven this story into a beautiful song. We are seeing transphobia everywhere in our world today and Satch’s telling of this tale shows the humanity of the individual and their friends.”
Keran’s music struck a chord with the label.
“Satch has a way of combining a hooky guitar riff with incredibly melodic harmonies that you can’t get out of your head,” Erickson said. “Having been a part of the Boston music scene for decades, Satch is comfortable in front of a large crowd or a small intimate setting. His music hits me where I live, in that garage pop place, that is part nostalgia and part wanna rock out with my girls.”
On Sunday, Kerans will perform with Cape Ann musicians Russ Lane on drums, Chris Shailor on bass and George Hall on lead guitar. A Rockport resident, Kerans is a teacher at Gloucester High School.
There will be two future shows at The Rhumb Line on May 26 and July 3. On June 1, the band plays at the Square Root,
2 Corinth St. in Boston, with Old Crow Follow and Modern Day Idols, and on June 29 at The Burren, 247 Elm St. in Somerville, with Hummingbird Syndicate and the Mike Younger Band out of Nashville.
For children: Free concert
To end April school vacation week Sawyer Free Library and the Cape Ann Symphony present a free, family-friendly concert featuring the story of “Katy and the Big Snow” this Friday, April 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Gloucester’s Trinity Congregational Church, 70 Middle St.
Cape Ann Symphony will present Rob Bradshaw’s multi-media orchestral piece for musicians and narrator of Virginia Lee Burton’s classic children’s story. Conducted by Maestro Yoichi Udagawa, and narrated by Gloucester native and award-winning actress Heidi Dallin, the program features an ensemble of six musicians. The program also features projections of the beloved book illustrations to accompany the narration and music.
The program is designed for children to enjoy the music and learn about the instruments that will be played.
Award-winning blues-rock
Award-winning blues-rock guitarist Coco Montoya has a tour stop on Cape Ann, celebrating the release of his new album “Writing on the Wall.” He’ll perform Sunday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. at The Cut, 177 Main St. in Gloucester. Billboard wrote of Montoya: “In a world of blues guitar pretenders, Coco Montoya is the real McCoy.”
Montoya’s latest album debuted in the fall at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues chart; his debut album in 1995 won him the Blues Music Award for Best New Artist. In this show, he performs with his long-time road band with keyboardist and songwriter Jeff Paris, bassist Nathan Brown, and drummer Rena Beavers. His latest album features 13 tracks with ten originals, five co-written by Montoya. For tickets, $38, and details, visit thecutlive.com.
New gallery opens downtown
A grand opening of a new gallery, M/N Contemporary Art, will take place Saturday, April 20, from 3-5 p.m. at 20 Pleasant St., Gloucester. The gallery name relates to the two Cape Ann artists featured, Vanessa Michalak and Rebecca Nagle. All are welcome to the opening celebration. The gallery also feature guests artists in upcoming exhibits.
BIGtiny auction under way
The Rocky Neck Art Colony’s annual fundraising auction, BIGtiny, is underway, closing Sunday, April 21. Close to 300 tiny works that have been donated by artists to support this benefit event. The works are on a scale of 6x6 inches. The artist’s name will be revealed at the time the artwork is picked up after a successful online bid. All proceeds support the exhibitions and programs of the Rocky Neck Art Colony. For details, visit https://rockyneckartcolony.org/big-tiny-art-event.
Singer-songwriting duo
The singer-songwriter duo, The Honey Dewdrops, returns to the Old Sloop Presents performing arts series Saturday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. at in the handicap-accessible Fellowship Hall of the First Congregational Church of Rockport, at 12 School St. Erin Ash Sullivan will open the show.
The Honey Dewdrops, based in Baltimore, began touring in 2009; Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish are known for their experimental folk sound of electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin and clawhammer banjo with their signature vocal harmonies. No Depression, a roots music publication, wrote: “The Honey Dewdrops have a way of filling their songs with humanity, using their beautiful playing and harmonies to emphasize what connects us all.”
Sullivan, who opens the show, won the 2023 Rose Garden Performing Songwriter Competition, received the Mark Erelli Judge’s Choice Award in the New England Songwriting Competition, and was a finalist in the Great American Song Contest and the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest.
Advance tickets are $15 for adults, and $5 for those age 18 and under. Visit oldslooppresents.org, John Tarr Store in Rockport, or The Bookstore of Gloucester. Suggested contribution at the door is $20 for adults, $5 for those age 18 and under, and $40 cap for families. This is an all-volunteer project of the church, conceived to thank the community for its support of the historic Sandy Bay meetinghouse. The program presents performing artists in a welcoming, informal and alcohol-free environment. Desserts and fair trade coffee and tea, and other beverages, are available.
Sculpture show tours
Cape Ann Museum presents gallery tours of its current special exhibition, “In the Round: 20th and 21st Century Cape Ann Sculpture,” every Thursday at 2 p.m. at 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester.
Public sculpture strolls, or walking tours, will be offered every other Saturday at 10:30 a.m. through June 8.
Related programming for this exhibition includes this CAMTalks series: “The Work of Pablo Eduardo” with Pablo Eduardo on April 27, “Creating the Fishermen’s Wives Memorial” with Morgan Faulds Pike on May 11, and “Producing Large-Scale Sculpture” with Morgan Dummit, an instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, on May 17. For details or to register, visit: www.capeannmuseum.org/events.
Experimental Art Group opens 23rd show
The New England Experimental Art Group opens its 23rd group exhibition at Charles Fine Arts, 196 Main St., Gloucester, which runs Thursday through May 18. There is a public artist reception Saturday, April 20 from 4-6 p.m. Works on view include paintings, mixed-media, graphics, sculpture, digital art and photography.
The gallery is open Thursday and Friday, from 1-4 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, from 1-5 pm. There will be a gallery talk with Nella Lush, “The Act of Creating,” on Saturday, April 27, at 4 p.m.
An evening of poetry
In celebration of National Poetry Month, the Sawyer Free Library will host an Evening of Poetry nextThursday, April 25, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for all ages. All are welcome to attend this evening of poetry, featuring two local accomplished poets, Patricia Giragosian and Kristin Czarnecki. To register or for more information, visit sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-675-2706 or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com at least two weeks in advance.
