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January 2019
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with James Zeller Trio
General Admission: $10
Doors open 6:30PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
The group is lead by James Zeller who supplies heartfelt vocals and tasteful trombone. Additional members include pianist John Wood, multi-instrumentalist Daniel Nickerson on guitar, accordion, piano and saxophone, Lee Phillips on upright bass and Shane Fox on drums.
Skynnyn Lynnyrd
$25 Online | $30 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Skynnyn Lynnyrd is: Larry Woodruff, Curt Posthuma, Chris Durham, Jason Miller, Brad Andersohn, Wade Olson, Mike Klepic, Debra Lee Andersohn and Heather Rose. This compilation of outstanding musicians and talented artists have joined forces to play tribute to the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in History, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Michael Mancini – World’s Funniest Cop
$25 Online | $30 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
A police officer by day and the "Worlds Funniest Cop" at night his act is filled with real life experience, so sit back and put on your seat belt, because if he hits the brakes the airbag will deploy and knock you out.
Film Club – Who Will Write Our History?
Tickets: $10 | Free for Film Club Members
Event at 7PM
In November 1940, days after the Nazis sealed 450,000 Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, a secret band of journalists, scholars and community leaders decided to fight back. Led by historian Emanuel Ringelblum and known by the code name Oyneg Shabes, this clandestine group vowed to defeat Nazi lies and propaganda not with guns or fists but with pen and paper. Now, for the first time, their story is told as a feature documentary. Written, produced and directed by Roberta Grossman and executive produced by Nancy Spielberg, Who Will Write Our History mixes the writings of the Oyneg Shabes archive with new interviews, rarely seen footage and stunning dramatizations to transport us inside the Ghetto and the lives of these courageous resistance fighters. They defied their murderous enemy with the ultimate weapon – the truth – and risked everything so that their archive would survive the war, even if they did not.
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with Kevin Frazier and Friends
General Admission: $10
Doors open 6:30PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
Kevin is currently the General Manager of the Empress Theatre in Vallejo and a very accomplished saxophone player and vocalist. He has had the pleasure of sitting in with many popular bay area musicians that perform at the theatre and also plays with the Jazz Explosion who will be his back-up band for this show. He has invited a number of popular bay area artists to sit in, so this is going to be a fun night of music for sure. Kevin delivers when playing smooth jazz saxophone to the grooves of David Sanborn, Boney James, Grover Washington Jr. and others. His soulful sound is infectious and soothing at the same time. A few years ago, Kevin was featured on a major collaboration CD titled “Sierra Nights” which includes incredible musicians from across the country. He also released a solo CD earlier in his career titled "Gemini".
February 2019
Mama’s Soup with Opener Azuah
$20 Online | $25 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
This Bay Area Five Piece is brewed with Funk, R&B, Jazz and Soul. Mama's Soup features velvety vocals backed by silky smooth bass, ambient synthesizer, melodic guitar and a crispy tight backbeat. They draw for musical inspirations like Snarky Puppy, Anderson Paak, Flying Lotus, Jill Scott and Hiatus Kaiyote. From love songs to hard-hitting protest anthems, their live shows will satisfy any musical diet.
Stroll Down Penny Lane pays tribute to Paul McCartney in a multimedia extravaganza
$25 Online | $30 Phone & Box Office
VIP: $75
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
After sold out shows in Oakland, Stroll Down Penny Lane comes to Vallejo! Much more than a concert, it is a multimedia, live performance of the work of Paul McCartney, the most iconic songwriter of our age. The music is embellished with stories, evocative images and animation, for a fascinating, educational and entertaining romp through McCartney's career. Enjoy songs from early influences, to the Beatles, Wings and beyond!
Super Bowl LIII Party
Free live broadcast in Lounge & Theatre
Doors open 1PM | Kickoff at 3:30PM
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with Terry Hiatt Trio
General Admission: $10
Doors open 6:30PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
Terry calls his music “gumbo” – a blend of styles, genres and influences.
Blues is one influence but, as music author Jeff Kaliss once wrote, Terry “…takes fans far beyond the blues, with a song list that borrows from or pays tribute to rock legend George Harrison and jazz wizard John Scofield as well as to blues forefathers...”
Mac McDonald called Terry “…an immensely gifted and creative guitarist”
The Golden Gate Blues Society Newsletter described him as “an extraordinary guitarist who create[s] innovative musical patterns..."
Musical gumbo? See for yourself.
Vallejo Symphony Concert II – Individual
Doors open 1PM | Pre-concert talk 2PM | Symphony at 3PM
Beethoven, Leonore Overture No. 2
Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 3
Nielsen, Symphony No. 5
Marc Taddei, conducting
Alina Kobialka, violin
West Coast Songwriters Competition – Feb 2019
$10 General | $5 Empress Members | Performers are free with WCS membership
Registration open 7PM | Show starts at 7:30PM
West Coast Songwriters (WCS) - Start of Season Three
Vallejo competition will be held every second Monday of the month at the Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia St in downtown Vallejo.
Anyone may attend, but only WCS members may compete for prizes. Online membership registration is available. There are 2 winners of the Songwriting Competition each month for Best Song and Best Performance. Winners receive 3 hours free recording time, generously sponsored by 25th Street Recording in Oakland along with an invitation to compete at the Location Playoffs for Best Song of the Year on August 13th.
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge – Joyce Grant Returns
General Admission: $10
Doors open 6:30PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
Joyce Grant singer/songwriter, determined at an early age that she was going to be a singer and spent her elementary and high school days performing in choir and musical theater. She is the great-great-niece of famed ragtime composer Scott Joplin. City Swing started a new chapter in 2007 with jazz singer Joyce Grant.
An Evening of Romantic Tunes with Megan and the Heartbeats
$20 Online | $25 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 6:30PM | Show starts at 7:30PM
"An Evening of Romantic Tunes" features vocalist Megan, keyboardist Wayne Fettig and upright bass player Marc Levine. Megan has performed numerous gigs with acclaimed Italian guitarist Peppino D'Agostino and is often sought for weddings and funerals. Before relocating from Chicago to California, she toured with her singing sisters. Fettig is a veteran jazz musician based in Concord and plays regularly with popular vocalist Chris Cole. Levine, a former session player for Johnny Rivers, also worked with Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Dionne Warwick, Rosemary Clooney and former Journey stars Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain. Also an actor, Levine appeared in "The Young and the Restless" and "General Hospital."
Film Club – 20th Animation Show of Shows
Tickets: $10 | Free for Film Club Members
Event at 7PM
ANIMATION SHOW OF SHOWS presents 15 thought-provoking, poignant, and very funny animated shorts from around the world. In a year when the best and worst of human nature has been on constant display, the works in this year’s show remind us of both the universality of shared ideals, as well as the diverse challenges we face.
The show has a running time of 98 minutes and includes 15 films, four of which have qualified for Academy Award® consideration.
Smooth Jazz Valentine Show featuring Najee with opener Blake Aaron
VIP Valentine Dinner 6PM | Doors 7PM | Show 8PM
VIP Valentine Dinner Add-on $50 per person
The Multi-Platinum & Grammy Nominated saxophonist and flautist, is back with his new album “Poetry In Motion” featuring: Incognito, Will Downing, Eric Roberson, Maysa, Bobby Lyle & Blake Aaron.
Grammy nominated saxophonist and flautist, Najee has made a career following his heart and keen musical intuition by pushing musical boundaries, all of which have made him an international pioneer in the music industry. Having collaborated with everyone in the music business from Prince, Quincy Jones to Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Herbie Hancock, Najee’s technical agility, grace, compositional prowess, unbridled passion and fearless genre bending have made him one of the most sought after musicians of his generation. With two Platinum and four Gold albums under his belt, Najee is an icon whose musical vision spawned an entire new genre by fusing the music close to his heart (R&B and Jazz).
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with Groovality
Featuring Simon Russell, Billy Johnson, Rob Watson and Paul Branin
General Admission: $10
Doors open 5PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
Blues, Funk, Soul and Jazz are fused together, wrapped into an eclectic, colorful package, and emerge as a funky, yet soulful sound that is called 'Groovality'.
Groovality is a Bay Area-based group that has its own highly distinctive sound. Each member has a discrete background and set of talents, but they come together with their simple, but absolute, love for music, creating a sound that is raw and honest. Like the name, the music is more than groovy-- it has a vitality that expresses joy, blues, passion, and soul all at the same time.
Gallagher – Comedy Night
Reserved Seating: $25 - $60
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Gallagher World-Famous comedian
Gallagher became a household name by smashing watermelons during his highly rated HBO specials. But millions of comedy fans around the world were already in love with his razor-sharp observations, hilarious dead-on insights, and incredibly creative word play. One need only see that he has joined the exalted pantheon of the "one-name only" celebrities (such as Oprah, and Madonna) to know how beloved Gallagher's comedy is. With a following built upon countless sold-out concert halls, uproarious HBO specials, and bestselling CDs, videos, and DVDs Gallagher's immense talent and broad appeal make him a "first ballot" Hall of Fame comedian Gallagher is not coasting nor is he slowing down, however ! To the delight of audience's across America. Gallagher is still making us fall out of our chairs with laughter.
Academy Awards Party
Doors 3PM | Free Broadcast at 4PM
Limo ride and glass of champagne 3:30PM - $10
Wednesday Night Live in the Lounge with Red’s Blues Band
General Admission: $10
Doors open 6:30PM | Show 7:30PM to 10PM
Red’s Blues has a finger-poppin’ attitude—straight outta the golden years when blues, R&B and swing all meshed together and dance floors every night were filled with snake hips and slow drags. Beth, with her sensual, southern voice and classy behind-the-beat phrasing is more a Julie London or Bobbie Gentry-styled singer: smoky with languid, sexy sophistication.
April 2019
Pacific Mambo Orchestra Salsa Dance Party
$30 Online | $35 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
This 20-piece ensemble from San Francisco, led by pianist Christian Tumalan and trumpeter Steffen Kuehn, won the 2014® Grammy for 'Best Tropical Latin Album' with their debut album, beating Marc Anthony and Carlos Vives. PMO rejuvenates the Latin Big Band sounds of the 1940s through 1960s.
Scott Capurro Comedy
$25 Online | $30 Phone & Box Office
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Offence economy is in overdrive, so Capurro has migrated from “inappropriate” to “problematic”, but his sharp eye for hypocrisy and relentless pursuit of gasp-inducing punchlines has only improved. In Capurro Comes Again!, Scott wrangles with rich friends, worthy yoga, marital improvement and the miseries of home ownership. Certain that every silver lining is attached to a rather imposing cloud, he spins yarns that are meant to resolve issues but oddly seem to have the opposite effect. Challenging and sometimes outrageous, Scott Capurro is a natural raconteur – confessional, intimate and most shocking of all, occasionally full of doubt.
May 2019
Yngwie Malmsteen with opener Danny Jones Band
Reserved Seating: $35 - $65
Doors open 7PM | Show starts at 8PM
Yngwie Johann Malmsteen is a world-renowned guitarist from Stockholm, Sweden. Yngwie Malmsteen's career has spanned over 40 years with over twenty albums to his name. Drawing influence from classical composers such as Bach, Paganini, and Vivaldi, Yngwie is responsible for birthing the neo-classical genre to the world of rock.