The City's Backyard

On this episode we chat with Marc Alan, a lover of the arts and Director of Marketing at Factory Underground Studios in Norwalk about Make Music Day! 

From Marc:

Upcoming Events
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JUNE 2026***************************************************
WESTPORT VFW: Saturday, June 13465 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT(203) 227-6796 Doors open at 7:00pm***************************************************
GREEN KNOLL: Sunday, June 14. ON THE PATIO!
645 US-202, Bridgewater NJ
908-526-7090
3:00 Showtime.***************************************************

PENNYPACK MUSIC FESTIVAL: Wednesday, June 17at CANNSTATTER9130 Academy Rd, Philadelphia, PA215-332-01217:00 SHOWTIME!***************************************************
GOLDEN NUGGET CASINO: Sunday, June 28Fakefest on the Bay600 Huron Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ609-441-20004:00pm & 10pm***************************************************

http://www.blackdogzeppelin.com/home.html

For the Westport CT show order tickets here: > https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-dog-the-music-of-led-zeppelin-tickets-1988631648794?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Born on June 3, 1982 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Davey Jones brings the rich musical heritage of the Deep South to every stage he steps on. A true multi-instrumentalist, Jones is best known for his searing guitar playing but also masters drums, piano, bass, organ, and more — often performing and recording nearly every instrument on his releases himself. Drawing from Southern Rock, traditional Blues, Gospel, and Country, he has forged a distinct and powerful sound that pays homage to the greats while remaining unmistakably his own.

With more than 30 years of writing and performing, Jones has built a reputation for high-energy, soulful shows that connect deeply with audiences. From his early days playing in Southern churches and gospel groups to rocking county and blues stages across the region, his journey has led him to share bills and stages throughout the United States. His dynamic live performances and genuine connection with fans have become his signature — a philosophy best captured in his own words: “It’s simply not enough to put on a good show, you’ve got to involve the audience and make them feel like the show is dedicated to them. Because, at the end of the day, this show is for them.”

Jones’ talent has been recognized with accolades including “Most Talented Musician” for the state of Louisiana in 2000. His playing draws favorable comparisons to blues and rock icons such as Tab Benoit, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Chuck Berry. His music has received airplay on “Blues Legends” radio and major blues playlists, further cementing his place among today’s most compelling blues and roots artists.

Whether headlining clubs, festivals, or theaters, Davey Jones delivers the kind of authentic, roof-raising performances that remind fans why they fell in love with the blues.

https://daveyjonesmusic.com

We check in with Scott Smith from The North County Band! The North County Band delivers a distinctive blend of New England Country and Americana, pairing thoughtful songwriting with seasoned musicianship. Formed by a Chicago-born songwriter and a Texas fiddle standout, the group brings together some of Connecticut’s most versatile players to create a sound rooted in storytelling, harmony, and high-energy live performance.

Following their breakout EP, the band launched a nine-state, 115-date tour and earned multiple nominations from the New England Music Awards, including “Country Act of the Year.”

Now touring New England in support of their sophomore release Lay It on the Line, North County Band continues to build momentum with sold-out shows and appearances at premier venues and festivals across the region, including Daryl’s House, The Press Room, The Levitt Pavilion, The Wolf Den, Edmond Town Hall, and Ocean Mist. Their sound captures the spirit of modern Americana while staying firmly rooted in New England.

http://northcountyband.com

This episode is about the debut of the Paul McCartney & WINGS exhibit at The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio! Liz Hines, widow of DENNY LAINE from  WINGS talks about the opening debut since she was responsible for lending her late husband Denny Laine's guitar and Wings memorabilia! Wings former members Laurence Juber and Steve Holley were there to celebrate the opening along with Liz and others! We hear all about the debut of the exhibit  as her late husband Denny Laine was not able to be there since his passing. Liz describes her trip to Cleveland as emotional and discusses the experience of sharing her husband's guitar and memorabilia from Wings! The Wings exhibit will be on display and run for a full year! For more info on seeing it go to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame website! 

https://rockhall.com/exhibitions/paul-mccartney-and-wings

Fred Hostetler is an indie artist, American musician, singer/songwriter, and author who has worked with major artists including Johnny Winters, Graham Parker, the Knack, Billy Squier, Jeff Beck, and Grammy award winning producer Jack Douglas. Along with Karen Lawrence he founded the highly acclaimed southern California blues band Blue By Nature. His style, while grounded in blues and Americana traditions,  cannot be defined by a single genre.He won the LA Music Critic Award for Best Singer Songwriter 2019 ...and nominated for Best Video 2019 ‘You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know’ ”

  Fred Hostetler's new single ‘A Man in Black’ is an interpolated song about a song. "It is about the writer of that song and about a mother pleading with her son: “Don’t take your guns to town”. It also refers to Johnny Cash’s memorable 1971 album ‘Man in Black’ and the powerful statement it made," explains the longtime singer-songwriter with a loyal fanbase and a resume recording and playing with rock luminaries including legendary producer Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon), who produced a record by Hostetler's previous band, LA stalwarts, Blue By Nature.

  "This is where the American icon, Johnny Cash, the Man in Black returns. He dressed in black explaining “it was for those who didn’t have a voice: the poor, the imprisoned, the soldiers sent into war, and the marginalized who lived outside the spotlight,” says Hostetler. "Cash had the audacity to deliver a powerful message about guns to nation obsessed by them. He came to be identified as a truth teller. Bearing these things in mind, a little-known indie artist tries with a little help from an American icon and his sing to cast a glimmer of liight into the dark gloom of the human condition, hopin every day people can return to their lives in peace."

https://fredsheartradio.com/

If you love rock music you will love rock art from Robert Abriola! He is a multidisiplinary artist and designer driven by a lifelong pursuit of visual storytelling! Over a 40+ year career in the creative services industry he has worked across a wide range of disciplines as both a designer and art director! 

He is best known for his award winning work in the music industry at EMI/Universal Music Group in New York, where he created iconic album work for internationally recognized artists including The Kinks, Robert Palmer, Joan Baez, Alice Cooper, Todd Rundgren, Liza Minnelli, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr! That experience-immersed in music culture and visual identity-continues to shape and inform his work today! 

Working across mediums including graphite, watercolor, acrylic, and spray paint, his style is dynamic, versatile, and unmistakable-balancing precision with creative freedom. His work has been exhibited and collected throughout the Northeast.

For more on Robert Abriola click on his website! 

https://www.robertabriola.com/home

This week's guest is NEW YACHT CITY, a band that plays Yacht Rock! On this episode we chat with Manish Nag the keyboardist and leader of the band about  what Yacht Rock means to it's fans!  If you love Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross, The Doobies, Ambrosia and more you will love this band! Check them out for a fun time that you and your friends will always remember!  For more info on shows, ticket info, merch and  the band check out their website! 

https://www.newyacht.city/#shows

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yacht-rock-returns-to-westport-ct-tickets-1986855601589?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Biography of Crispin Cioe
Saxist/songwriter/producer Crispin Cioe has left an indelible imprint on American/ British roots and pop music, through his work as a soloist (viz. sax solos on James Brown’s “Living in America”, “Love & Money” by Bronski Beat, etc.), being a charter member of the esteemed Uptown Horns (recording/tours with icons like the Rolling Stones, Solomon Burke, Tom Waits, Ray Charles, Ohio Players. . . ), music directing for TV (including “The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for Humor” and “The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Songwriting, Live From The White House”), and by dint of a lifelong commitment to workin’ it hard every time he’s hit the stage playing tenor and/or alto, baritone and soprano saxophone.

Writer and Musician
Crispin studied creative writing and film at University of Michigan, then music/saxophone at Wayne State University and Berklee School of Music, after which, he hit the streets, eventually migrating to NYC.  For several years, Crispin split his time performing live/recording with a variety of artists (Duane Eddy, Carolyne Mas, Steve Forbert, James Montgomery Blues Band, Tom Rush, Geoff Muldaur) and doing music journalism/liner notes for such as Soho Weekly News, Playboy, High Fidelity, Prestige Records, The Detroit Free Press, and Musician Magazine.

See Crispin perform Live with The Grateful Dead All Stars Saturday May 2  at The Westport VFW at 465 Riverside Ave, in Westport! The word is you may hear a couple of Stones tunes! 

For tickets purchase here:

https://ctdead.com/upcoming-shows

• Comedy Night @ The VFW Westport - Friday April 24th! Doors at 6pm Show at 8pm! PLENTY of Free parking! Featuring 4 great comedians! Host Matt Zako from The City's Backyard Podcast, Jeffrey Paul,  John Kenneth, and Teddy Smith who is the headliner and regular residency comic JOE PONTILLO!
• Location: 465 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880
• Laughing Gas Comedy and The City's Backyard Podcast present another night of pain free comedy at the VFW Westport. We are back following our wildly successful comedy shows!! Tickets are $20 online and at the door. Please buy in advance as this will sellout because of limited seating! The venue has a full bar as well as a limited snacks! Sponsored by Spacecat Brewing!
• Tickets: Eventbrite $20 plus fee
• https://www.eventbrite.com/e/upstairs-comedy-vfw-westport-spring-edition-tickets-1983560413593?aff=oddtdtcreator