Jeff Antoniuk and the Jazz Update, Friday September 30, 8 p.m.Saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk is an internationally respected jazz composer and musician whose recordings and performances are consistently well received by critics. His quartet, the Jazz Update, released their first CD, Here Today, in 2007 to rave reviews and their latest release, Brotherhood, is being praised for “the solid melody lines, probing improvisation” and “sheer beauty” of the album. A favorite in the regional jazz scene, Antoniuk is the artistic director of the Maryland Summer Jazz Festival and teaches at Towson University. http://www.jeffantoniuk.com $25
The Return Saturday, October 1, 8 p.m. “Beatlemania” is alive again in the Return–the world’s most authentic and entertaining Beatles tribute band. These four lads carefully and skillfully recreate the Beatles’ look and sound from the Fab Four’s early years to their groundbreaking and mind-blowing Sgt. Pepper masterpiece. The Return makes it possible for music fans from every generation to experience the thrilling rush of an actual Beatles concert from the early ‘60s. http://www.thereturnonline.com $30 adult/$15 student
Sonos Monday, October 3, 8 p.m. Fans of Glee will absolutely go ga-ga for this show of spellbinding electronic a cappella music. Wait…electronic a cappella? That’s the unique choral category this L.A.-based group has created with its repertoire of electronically manipulated vocal stylings. They’ll share their cutting-edge style with local students during the day through the Avalon Foundation’s Outreach Program, and then will appear at the Stoltz to perform bold and surprising a cappella interpretations of indie favorites like Radiohead, Imogen Heap, and Bjork from their critically acclaimed CD SonoSongs. www.sonosongs.com $25
The Smithereens Friday, October 7, 8 p.m.Some bands merely reflect the times, while other bands, like the Smithereens, help to define them. This enduring power-pop quartet from New Jersey contributed to the ‘80s alternative rock scene with edgy and exuberant hits like “Blood and Roses” and “A Girl Like You.” Whether you want to savor a nostalgic flashback or experience the fresh, new music from their recent CD The Smithereens 2011, you’ll want to be there when the Smithereens commandeer the stage!www.officialsmithereens.com $40
Molasses Creek Thursday, October 13, 8 p.m. This high-energy acoustic group continues to win loyal followings with a captivating stage presence, elegant harmonies, blazing instrumentals, and a quirky sense of humor. Award winners from Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion, Molasses Creek has recorded 11 albums and its members have been featured in Warner Brothers’ movie Nights in Rodanthe and is now appearing at the Avalon! Come on down, kick back, and plan to enjoy an autumn evening of fine entertainment! www.molassescreek.com $20
Mimosas with Maureen Saturday, October 15, 8 p.m.If you know the Mid-Shore theater scene, then you know local vocalist and performer Maureen Curtin. She’s dazzled audiences in Tred Avon Player productions and at St. Michael’s Community Center shows…and now she’s on her own in a delightful musical revue of Broadway tunes by Gershwin, Porter, Mercer, and more. Come out and support our local talent! $15
Preservation Hall Jazz Band Wednesday, October 19, 8 p.m.Batten down the hatches and put on your dancing shoes! The legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band is returning to the Avalon with a heaping helping of crowd-pleasing Dixieland jazz. After a day of sharing the timeless spirit of jazz with local students through the Avalon Foundation’s Outreach Program, the band plans to bring down the house late that night with their unmatched high-energy style. Tickets usually go fast for this long-standing favorite among Avalon patrons, so be sure to get yours early! www.preservationhall.com $40
Tim Miller, Randolph Terrance, Andy Haines – Thursday, October 20, 8 p.m. (Comedy Series)Graham’s a real comedic Renaissance man: TV appearances on CBS’s The Late Late Show and Comedy Central’s The Sarah Silverman Program; high-larious documentaries with his pal Doug Benson in Super High Me and The High Road; he even has a 2nd degree yellow belt in karate, which gives him what he calls “the strength and skill to fight a puppy and the elderly.” Stand-up comedy fans won’t want to miss this master comic practicing his craft! www.grahamelwood.com/ $20
Dan Haas Band Friday, October 21, 8 p.m.The Avalon’s dance floor will be open when Dan Haas and his band returns for an autumn evening of musical delight. Compared to Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, and Darryl Hall, Haas is known around the Annapolis area for his own unique brand of songwriting and nuanced guitar work that engages your mind and moves your feet. Performing Songwriter says Haas’s “delectable melodies, sensitive arrangements, and expressive vocals are all served up with plenty of smarts and soul.” Sounds like a great recipe for an enjoyable night out! www.danhaas.com $15
“Social Life in the White House,” Colonel Stephen M. Bauer (Ret.) Wednesday, October 26, 8 p.m.Ever wonder what life is really like behind the scenes at the White House? Instead of watching fictional dramas about it, why not get the real scoop from someone who was actually there? Author and lecturer Col. Stephen Bauer served as a Military Social Aide under five Presidents in the White House, longer than anyone in the institution’s history. If you’re a presidential history buff or just interested in insider anecdotes about every President from LBJ to Obama, this lecture is for you! http://www.pbspeakers.com/speakers/speaker.asp?sID=162 $20
Los Straitjackets Rock ‘n’ Burlesque Spectacular
starring The World Famous Pontani Sisters and Special Guest: Lake Street Dive Friday, October 28, 8 p.m.The end of October is a time for masked mischief, so that must mean it’s time for Los Straitjackets to return to the Avalon stage! Their Mexican Wrestling Masks and sizzling Southwestern surf music provides the perfect spirited backbeat for our Halloween Dance Party. Joining them for the fun festivities are The World Famous Pontani Sisters and Lake Street Dive. Come in costume ready to dance and find out why Los Straitjackets is considered one of hottest party bands around! www.straitjackets.com, www.pontanisisters.com $25
Matthew Sweet Saturday, October 29, 8 p.m.Matthew Sweet’s exceptional album Girlfriend garnered him both critical acclaim and mainstream appeal in 1992. Join Sweet in the Avalon for this rare opportunity to hear him perform his classic album front to back, followed by other selections from his soon-to-be released album Modern Art and his extensive catalog. Whether you’re a serious music buff or someone who just loves good guitar-driven pop, you’ll want to be there when Sweet performs this classic album.http://matthewsweet.com $25
The Blue Rhythm Boys Friday, November 4, 8 p.m.The Blue Rhythm Boys have made quite a name for themselves in the DC area for their swinging blues style and tight vocals. The two guitarists, Tom Mitchell and Jim Stephanson, have individually played with the likes of Dan Hicks, Elvis Costello, and rockabilly legend Billy Hancock. Together the duo’s musical blend is guaranteed to knock your socks off, as a critic for the Washington Post put it. www.bluerhythmboys.com $20
Chaise Lounge Thursday, November 10, 8 p.m. Chaise Lounge performs a blend of music that sounds like it was recorded at Capitol Recording Studios in 1962 and somehow found its way to today’s pop charts. It’s the combination of five of the DC area’s top jazz musicians playing sparkling arrangements of standards and original tunes and featuring the soft, luminous vocals of Marilyn Older, one of the most wonderful voices singing in America right now. Cool lounge music to shake your martinis to.www.chaiseloungenation.com, $25
Guggenheim Grotto Friday, November 11, 8 p.m.With their two-part harmonies, folk-acoustic stylings, and intelligent pop songwriting, this Dublin-based duo was often compared to Simon and Garfunkel when first coming to America five years go. Since then Guggenheim Grotto has transcended that comparison to establish their very own approach to Americana/roots music. Critics and fan alike praise their silky melodies and incredibly deep and meaningful lyrics. Their latest album, The Universe is Laughing, a celebration of self-discovery and the mysteries of life, is regarded as their most artistically mature piece of work to date.www.guggenheimgrotto.com $25
The Temptations Tuesday, November 15, 8 p.m. What can you say about this legendary musical treasure that hasn’t been said a million times already? From their early ‘60s Motown sound to the present day, the Temptations’ soulful R&B hits have played an essential role in the soundtrack of our lives. No one can resist the Temptations…You’re going to love the way they do the things they do! www.thetemptations.com $60
Nikki Glaser Thursday, November 17, 8 p.m. (Comedy Series)Nikki Glaser has been performing her honest and twisted style of comedy in clubs since she was 18, appearing on The Late Show with Jay Leno and NBC’s Last Comic Standing. Nikki regularly headlines comedy clubs and colleges around the country and has performed at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal as part of its New Faces showcase. Be sure to catch this rising comedy star light up the Stoltz with laughter! www.nikkiglasercomedy.com $20
Blue Highway Saturday, November 19, 8 p.m. Blue Highway is indisputably one of the most esteemed and influential groups in contemporary bluegrass. Since taking the stage in 1994, they’ve released nine exceptional albums, received Grammy nominations, and earned a well-deserved reputation for compelling live performances. With their heart-pounding instrumentals and original compositions, Blue Highway artfully balances its music between tradition and innovation while pushing it to new levels.www.bluehighwayband.com $25
Krys Kozinski December 2, 8 p.m.Born in Baltimore, Krys has been singing, playing keyboard and acoustic guitar, and performing her own original music for quite a while.. and now the Mid-Shore is lucky to have her as one of our own! Before moving to the Shore with her four children in 2004, Krys garnered a number of impressive musical accolades, including winning a vocal competition in Nashville by singing one of her own compositions, placing in Billboard’s Songwriter Competition, and making it into the Top 5 of L.A.’s “Voice of an Angel” competition. $15
Cassie Peterson Saturday, December 3, 8 p.m.Growing up in Nashville as the daughter of a singer-songwriter, Cassie has a wealth of musical experiences shaping her own unique style. Named Best Jazz Vocalist in Downbeat Magazine’s Student Music Awards in both 2004 and 2005, she went on to win the Kerryville Folk Festival’s prestigious New Folk Competition in 2011. Critics describe her as “evoking the rawness of Bob Dylan and the buoyancy of Sara Bareilles.” www.cassiepeterson.com $15
Jayme Ploff Thursday, December 8, 8 p.m. Growing up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, Jayme discovered her love of music at an early age. And now people on the Shore where she calls home are developing a love for her dynamic and expressive voice. Trained in jazz vocal performance at the University of Miami, Jayme has spent the past few years entertaining local audiences with her jazz group, interpretations of standards, and original compositions. The Stoltz is the perfect place to catch this rising local star.www.myspace.com/jaymeprocks $10
Ingrid Gerdes Friday, December 9, 8 p.m. Boston-based singer-songwriter Ingrid Gerdes offers what critics call “the smoothness of classic, Motown-era pop; the grit and sex of Southern-soul; the sunshine and swaying feel of reggae; and the romantic mood of Eva Cassidy-like sensual ballads.” Performing selections from her acclaimed debut album The Eclectic Collection and her latest release,Shed, Ingrid’s southern soul is sure to shake your winter doldrums! www.ingridgerdes.com $20
Hampton Yount Thursday, December 15, 8 p.m. (Comedy Series)Since winning the DC Improv Comedy Competition in 2008, Yount has gone on to make a name for himself in the DC stand-up scene and beyond for his “unflappable devilish intelligence.” He’s performed twice at Portland, Oregon’s Bridgetown Comedy Festival and made it to the semi-finals of the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival competition. Come out to the Stoltz and check out what the Washington Post calls Yount’s “relaxed, gregarious comic style.”www.hamptonyount.com $10
A Charlie Brown Christmas with the Eric Byrd Trio Saturday, December 17, 1 p.m.The Eric Byrd Trio makes a triumphant return to the Avalon to spread the yuletide groove! After a DVD showing of Charles Schultz’s beloved holiday classic, the Trio will perform music from the show live and updated for today’s listener. This festive matinee performance is something you’ll want to experience with the whole family. And don’t miss the Eric Byrd Trio’s Holiday Jazz Show later in the evening in the Stoltz Listening Room!http://ericbyrd.com $15 adults, $10 student
Eric Byrd Trio’s Holiday Jazz Show Saturday, December 17, 8 p.m.After enjoying the Trio’s matinee performance of music from A Charlie Brown Christmas earlier in the day, be sure to return to the Avalon for an evening of swinging holiday jazz for grown-ups in the warm coziness of the Stoltz. The Eric Byrd Trio is a big favorite of Avalon patrons, especially after that magical moment last spring when Bryd joined jazz legend Chick Corea in an impromptu performance. You’ll want to be there as the magic continues in this festive musical experience! www.ericbyrd.com $25