Having worked as a professional musician for his entire adult life, Valparaiso resident Chad Clifford was looking forward to a nearly sold-out 2020 season with gigs around the country and a tour overseas that would have taken the Beatle s fan to Liverpool, England.
But then the COVID-19 pandemic struck a year ago and like other musicians, Clifford found himself unable to perform in public due to health restrictions. Initially I was bummed and then after losing a musical hero of mine and having a lifelong friend nearly pass away I reevaluated what was important and put it in perspective, he said.
Tom Lounges
People have proven they are ready to get out of the house after nearly a year of putting the skids on social events, especially concerts.
Just as the city of Chicago has started thinking about resuming some of its bigger summer events, many local Northwest Indiana communities have likewise started to talk about, and in some cases plan, a return to annual spring and summer music fests and events. While nothing seems in stone as of this week, the wheels are starting to roll in that direction regionally.
Jesse and Priscilla Jones were treated to some musical entertainment by Jordan Warren, Noah Ostrom and Camille Cherch on Saturday in Highland as the couple celebrated their 72nd anniversary.
Tom Lounges
• Mush Music Productions of Northwest Indiana brings Chicago rapper Twista (twista.com) to the Hobart Art Theatre (230 Main St.) in downtown Hobart Saturday. Twista has a new EP, Lifetime, now available on all music platforms. The show has a 9 p.m. start time and is stacked with a trio of support acts Groppo, Angel Da Demon and No Coastal. Tickets for the 18 & older performance range from $27.50 to $50. More: brickartlive.com.
⢠The weekly Open Mic hosted by multi-instrumentalist Marc Adrian (of Groovatron fame) happens tonight from 8-11 p.m. at The Flat Rock Tap (6732 Calumet Ave.) in Hammond. The stage is open to not only musicians, but comedians, spoken word artists and more. Admission is free. More: 219- 852-5262.
Albert Castiglia
Englewoods on Dearborn, which features live music from local and national blues acts, is scheduled to host Albert Castiglia as part of this week s lineup. The South Florida guitarist and singer-songwriter played in legendary bluesman Junior Wells’ band before starting a solo career, most recently releasing last year s “Wild and Free,” which won a Blues Blast Music Award for Live Blues Album and was recorded at Boca Raton’s The Funky Biscuit. Castiglia previously put out 2019 s Masterpiece,” which earned him a Blues Music Award for Blues Rock Album last year. 7 p.m. today; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com