Beat the Winter Blues at Madison Beach Hotel

Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning boutique resort and recipient of the 2019 Top Performer Award for the Curio Brand by Hilton, hosts its first Blues and Brews Festival on Saturday, March 7 from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

The concert features Jake Kulak and the Lowdown, winner of the 2019 Foxwoods Resort Casino "Battle of the Bands" with special guests Bob Margolin, Tom Forst and Chris Bergson.

Jake Kulak and the LowDown bring their blend of modern and traditional guitar-driven blues and blues-rock to music lovers everywhere. The band represented CT for 4 years at the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase in Memphis, TN. In 2018 they won the CT Blues Society Band Competition and performed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2019. They have also been nominated for a New England Music Award in the "Best New Act of the Year” category and were one of 6 Boston-area bands to win the the House of Blues emerging artist competition.

Blues icon and renowned guitarist Bob Margolin tours worldwide at festivals, concerts, clubs and workshops. From 1973-‘80 Bob played guitar in Muddy Waters’ band, appearing on all the albums Muddy made during that time. He also played guitar with Muddy at special shows like "The Last Waltz” with Martin Scorsese filming the concert for the classic film. Since 1980, Bob performs his own songs, but still honors his historic and personal connection to Muddy Waters.

"After nearly 50 years of playing the Blues, Margolin should be bestowed with the 'icon' title. He's not just a link to many blues artists now gone from this world…but continues to breathe new life into the genre. “ (Bill Mitchell/BluesBytes)

Bob has won two Blues Blast Magazine Awards, one as Best Male Blues Artist, and one for Best Traditional Blues Album for his album, “My Road.” Bob was nominated for The Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Award for Traditional Male Blues Artist. He has won Blues Music Awards for guitar in 2008 and 2005. Bob has played on several Grammy-winning recordings, won numerous W.C. Handy/Blues Music Awards for his playing and is a KBA Award recipient for Journalism

Chris Bergson was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame in February 2015. With MOJO Magazine's #1 Blues Album of 2008, Fall Changes,#2 Blues Album of 2011, Imitate the Sun, and #3 Blues Album of 2014, Live at Jazz Standard, New York guitarist/singer Chris Bergson has established himself as "one of the most inventive songwriters in modern blues music" (All Music Guide)

Tom The Suit Forst, a lifelong musician whose style has been called a cross between Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Joe Walsh, will release his new album "World of Broken Hearts" on Valentines Day, February 14, 2020. The 5-song EP features guest vocalists Christine Ohlman, Ethan Isaac, guitarist Paul Nelson (Johnny Winter Band), guitarist Ryan Hommel (Amos Lee Band), blues harp player James Montgomery, and drummer Travis McNabb (Sugarland, Better Than Ezra).

Doors open at 8 p.m. with the concert starting at 8:30 p.m. and playing until 10:30 p.m. The 21+ concert is general admission with limited seating and will offer a cash bar.

TICKETS:

Advance Purchase: $25 per person, plus EventBrite ticketing fees here.

At the Door: $30 per person, plus EventBrite ticketing fees, based on availability.

Call ahead to secure dinner before the show at 203-350-0014. The Wharf Restaurant will feature a special blues menu all weekend.

On Saturday, March 7 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., budding guitarists will have the opportunity to attend “The Basics of Improvising,” a Guitar Master Class with Blues Hall of Fame recording artist and guitarist Tom Forst. The group instruction will enable guitarists to learn the basics of improvising and to understand the fundamentals of melody structure. Each student will improvise as a group as well as individually with Forst. Attendees must bring a guitar and a notebook. The class is $20 per person, tickets will be sold via EventBrite.

Madison Beach Hotel is located at 94 West Wharf Road, Madison, Connecticut. For more information, please call 203-245-1404 or visit Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton. For more information on Curio Collection by Hilton, please visit newsroom.hilton.com/curio.

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About Madison Beach Hotel

Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton is a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning boutique resort and recipient of the 2019 Top Performer Award for the Curio Brand by Hilton, the highest hotel award across all Hilton brands. The hotel, with 32 rooms offering luxurious accommodations with sweeping ocean views, private balconies and beach, is part of Curio – A Collection by Hilton. Opened in May 2012, Madison Beach Hotel features The Wharf Restaurant with both dining room and porch seating, concierge spa, state-of-the-art fitness center and private yoga studio, and more than 5,000 square feet of private event space. Madison Beach Hotel is managed by Distinctive Hospitality Group.

Located at 94 West Wharf Road, Madison, Connecticut. For more information, please call: 203-245-1404 or visit: www.madisonbeachhotel.curiocollection.com | www.madisonbeachhotelweddings.com

About Curio Collection by Hilton

Curio Collection by Hilton is an upper-upscale, global portfolio of nearly 80 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts. Curio Collection properties provide travelers authentic, curated experiences through distinctly local offerings and unexpected amenities, while providing the benefits of Hilton and its award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors. Read the latest brand and hotel stories at newsroom.hilton.com/curio, and connect with Curio Collection on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 17 world-class brands comprising nearly 5,900 properties with more than 939,000 rooms, in 114 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company, Hilton earned a spot on the 2018 world’s best workplaces list, and has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its 100-year history. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, more than 100 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy, plus enjoy instant benefits, including digital check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

About Distinctive Hospitality Group:

Founded in 2010, Distinctive Hospitality Group is led by president and owner, Lou Carrier who offers years of experience in the hospitality industry and has overseen several the most successful hotel establishments in the country. Lou launched DHG with a mission to build a portfolio of unique high-end hotels and comprised a solid team of seasoned hospitality professionals to work towards his dream. Located in Natick, MA, DHG is quickly building a name for its constant dedication to overseeing projects with lasting power and quality, ones that provide hotel guests and restaurant diners with the utmost in experience, service, style and atmosphere. For more information, please visit: www.DistinctiveHospitalityGroup.com.