The Listening Room: Where Local Sound Takes Center Stage

This series is made possible through the generous support of Edward & Sara Kozel and John & Mary Feikema.

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Artist: The Charles Brown Project featuring Nicolas Bearde

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2026

Time: 7pm concert with a pre-concert conversation with the musicians at 6pm

Pricing: $25

Member Price: $18.75 - $22.50

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Nicolas Bearde, Vocals
Ruth Davies, Bass
Eamonn Flynn, Piano & Vocals
Danny Caron, Guitar
Kristen Strom, Sax
Deszon Claiborne, Drums

A band of stellar musicians comes together with a special holiday show to celebrate the music of blues legend Charles Brown (1922-1999), whose forties and fifties Top Ten Billboard hits like "Driftin' Blues" and "Merry Christmas Baby" earned him a place in both the Blues and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame and influenced performers like Ray Charles and Sam Cooke.

Brown staged a comeback in the nineties, thanks to support from Bonnie Raitt and guitarist Danny Caron. With Caron as musical director, he won over audiences around the world with his stage presence and mellow delivery of songs later covered by the likes of Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Bobbie “Blue” Bland, Alicia Keys, and Sam Smith. Caron has put together an outstanding band that includes original band members bassist Ruth Davies and drummer Deszon Clairborne, Nicolas Bearde on vocals, pianist Eamonn Flynn, and saxophonist Kristen Strom for an exciting evening of blues inspired by this musical legend.

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