Artist Spotlight at The Cut Live

Steve Sweeney has a new film that will be screening here at The Cut on January 16th. It's about his childhood growing up in Charlestown, and in this episode he talks about his voyage from there to his life now.

Johnny A has been establishing himself as one of the North Shore's outstanding guitar virtuosos, and his Jeff Beck tribute project, Beck-Ola, has been leaving crowds in heartfelt standing ovations. In this episode he talks about his beginnings, some of the stars he's played with, his recording technique, and his dedication to the art of groundbreaking rock musicianship.

There’s a new sound coming from a new Gloucester landmark—It’s The Cut at 177 Main Street, the North Shore’s premiere destination for live entertainment. Hi, I’m Ted Reed, and we’ve just launched our new podcast, Artist Spotlight at The Cut. We’ll be bringing you show-night interviews with the headliners coming to the Cut so you can get an up close, backstage seat to the entertainers who are makin...

Performing since he was in his mid-teens, Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter/guitarist Zane Christopher has his musical roots in Americana, The Beatles,  and classic rock. Along with his lead guitarist Nick Fawza, Zane talks about his recording process, the many hats musicians have to wear today to get heard, and how coming back to The Cut rates out of all the music venues in New England.

Founder and ex-Outlaw guitarist/vocalist Chris Anderson leads his new band Once an Outlaw and talks to us about his roots in the blues, playing with Stevie Ray Vaughn's Double Trouble as his backup band, rumors of the death of rock, AI in music today and the importance of the human element in all art, and songwriting vs. performing. MUSIC: Old Friend Born to Be Bad Once an Outlaw (The Outlaws)

Soul Rebel Project Talking with Mike Francis, lead vocal and guitar for Soul Rebel Project. Mike remembers some of the reggae legends SRP has shared the stage with, why reggae became his chosen path, the music industry's cycles and business advice for musicians. YOU CAN HELP: The island of Jamaica is reeling from the devastating damage caused by hurricane Melissa. There are several relief agencies...

Jackie Venson   Austin guitarist/songwriter Jackie Venson tells us about: surviving the pandemic just as her promotional tour was supposed to start, reveals her songwriting process, why she switched from classical piano to blues guitar, and why she doesn't tour in the winter. MUSIC: Keep On Rollin on Destruct

Toronzo Cannon Growing up in a blues-heavy neighborhood in Chicago, Toronzo Cannon started out playing reggae ("Jamaican Blues" he calls it,) but quickly moved into the inspirational music of his local blues heroes. His song writing topics are drawn from street life and his time driving a city bus, always putting the emphasis on the story and the lyrics and the true roots of the original "message...

Black Uhuru founder Duckie Simpson has been in the pantheon of Reggae royalty since the 1970s, and he has seen a lot of life's joys and challenges. In this episode we hear about being brought up by Rastafarians as a child, finding his way in music, the brutal realities of the recording industry, and his positive way of seeing the future. MUSIC: Sinsemilla What Is Life New Day

Residual Groove Connecticut jam-rock band Residual Groove has the improvisational and technical chops to make each of their performances a musical journey. We sat down with drummer Adam Fink and keyboardist Kiran Edwards to find out what goes into their unique musical expeditions, and what drives them to keep creating.

The Far Out Six-piece funk and soul band The Far Out have been playing together since they were kids growing up in Ipswich, Massachusetts. With influences as wide-ranging as Jimi Hendrix, Maceo Parker and Miles Davis, they put on a show that has become a favorite of audiences at The Cut. MUSIC: Packed to Go Laurel Funkadelic Gas

We're talking with 18-year old country rock phenom Gavin Marengi about his high school playing his first hit song at his hockey team's victories, learning music from his father (now his band's lead guitarist,) his approach to song writing, and the thrill of being on stage. MUSIC: Restless Legs Southbound Back to Boston 

We're talking with James Austin Johnson about his rough start in comedy in middle school, breaking into Saturday Night Live, developing his Donald Trump impression and wrestling with what it does to people.  

Duane Betts, son of Allan Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts, has created his own stellar career as a writer/musician. In this episode he talks about growing up in a musical family, switching from playing drums to guitar, playing with G. Love and Devon Allman, and his creative process. MUSIC: Stare at the Sun Sacred Ground Circle in the Stars 

The newly formed Cape Ann Guitar Society presents Fabiola Mendez at The Cut. She's a musician, composer, educator and documentary film producer. As a child, she started playing the cuatro, a ten-stringed instrument beloved in her native Puerto Rico. As her talents have continued to grow, she has toured and collaborated widely and is in demand for her interpretations of folk music, jazz and pop. MU...

Robert Ellis Orrall first gained audiences' attention as part of Boston’s New Wave of musicians in the early 1980s. He and his band have toured to worldwide fame ever since. We talk about the Boston New Wave era, how fast musical success can be, Robert's songwriting process, working in Nashville, and some of Roberts biggest hits. MUSIC: Glad All Over Ultimate I Couldn't Say No

In this episode we're talking with Florida bluesman Albert Castiglia about discovering the blues thanks to British artists, sleeping in Jimi Hendrix's bedroom, keeping healthy, and the importance of live music.   MUSIC: Help Yourself (feat. Mike Zito) Cadillac Assembly Line Bad Year Blues

Coming on the Boston music scene in the late 1980s, the Heavy Metal Horns have re-interpreted many musical styles with a powerful new horn-centric sound. They've put out several albums and this time they've come to The Cut to drop their new album, "Heavy Metal Horns--Live From The Cut." We go back to their Boston club beginnings at Ryles, Bunratty's and times at Berklee College of Music.   MUSIC:...

This episode we’re talking with turntablist DJ Logic and guitarist/vocalist/songwriter G. Love.  DJ Logic has been wowing audiences with his skills using vinyl on turntables as an instrument performing with live musicians. G. Love has attracted many, many fans of his unique style of blues and rap. Together they talk about the records they hunted down when they got started, their shared interest in...

This episode we’re talking with Roger Lewis, saxophonist and founding member of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  Since their forming 45 years ago, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band has redefined brass band music with what they describe as a musical gumbo that has carried them across five continents and over thirty countries. Roger talks about the roots of New Orleans Jazz, how modern jazz influenced their so...

Donna the Buffalo--a mondegreen (mis-hearing) that stuck--came out of New York state's Finger Lakes Americana scene I'm 1989 with a blend of roots music, zydeco, folk and reggae. Since then they have been performing almost 50% of each year, with an enthusiastic community of followers called The Herd. In this episode we talk with vocalist and fiddle player Tara Nevins and guitarist Jeb Puryear abou...

This episode we talk with vocalist DD Bastos, guitarist Chris Vachon, and saxophonist Rich Lataille of Roomful of Blues. The band has been around for 55+ years, Rich and Chris have been with them for 30+ years, but DD is their newest member. They talk about how they got into the music business, what formed the band's sound, how they embrace the wide range of blues, who has inspired them and their...

This episode of Artist Spotlight at The Cut we’re talking with George and Charles Clements, twins and co-founders of The Clements Brothers. These Cape Ann natives first appeared together in 2012 and have been touring and recording their own brand of grass-roots music ever since. Tonight, they’re back, appearing once again here at The Cut. Music from the Clements Brothers this episode: Out of the B...

Boston-based blues warriors GA-20 resurrect the raw energy of the Chicago blues--inspired by Otis Rush, J.B. Lenoir, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells, Hound Dog Taylor, Earl Hooker, Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson and so many others, guitarist Matt Stubbs, guitar/vocalist Cody Nilsen and drummer Josh Kiggans bring a mix of classic blues along with fresh originals to the stage at The Cut in Gloucester. MUSIC: Chi...

The eclectic Martha's Vineyard-based six piece Entrain has been thrilling critics and fans alike since its inception. Formed and led by drummer Tom Major in 1993 while on hiatus from touring with rock legend Bo Diddley, Entrain has been blessed with a list of top tier musicians over the years. Tom takes the stage with lead singer/guitar wiz Brian Alex. Often joining them is bassist M'Talewa, saxop...