On Stage: Kennett Symphony ‘reimagines’ live performance

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Without question, concerts by the Kennett Symphony are always enjoyable events. This weekend, the Kennett Symphony (kennettsymphony.org) is performing two concerts, and both will offer more than just well-played classical music. The first will be “Reimagined Symphony” on March 19 at 1 p.m. at Mendenhall Inn (323 Kennett Pike, Chadds Ford). The second...

On Stage: Slambovian Circus of Dreams finally returns to local stage

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times It is said that good things come to those that wait. Slambovian Circus of Dreams Fans of the Slambovian Circus of Dreams have been waiting for a long time to hear the band perform a live show in the area – waiting since December 2019. COVID-19 wiped out all shows in 2020 and in most of 2021. Then, there was a long-awaited Slambovian Circus of Dreams...

On Stage: The Connells return to the area with show at Brooklyn Bowl

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The Connells When music fans talk about Southern rock, they are usually referring to a subgenre of music that is a blend of rock, country and blues with the focus on electric guitar.  Southern rock started in the 1970s and featured such bands as the Allman Brothers Band, ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd. There is another Southern rock subgenre that appeared...

On Stage: Warm up from the cold with hot jazz

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Matt Cappy A great way to combat a chilly evening is hot jazz – a live performance of hot jazz. This weekend, the temperature may dip into the twenties outside, but an antidote can be found inside a venue in Kennett Square on Friday night. On February 25, Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org)...

On Stage: Hadestown comes to Kimmel

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Hadestown The Kimmel Cultural Campus had to suffer through more than a year without productions from early 2020 through the fall of 2021. Back in October, the Kimmel’s The 2021/22 Broadway Philadelphia season got off to a rousing start with a six-week run of “Hamilton” from October 20-November 28 at the Academy of Music. The Broadway Philadelphia...

On Stage: FABBA brings the music of ABBA to Kewswick

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times FABBA What is one of the most popular palindromes in the world and is also a name of one of the best-selling bands in the history of popular music? ABBA, of course. ABBA is a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni -Frid Lyngstad. The group’s name is an acronym of the first...

On Stage: Countdown to Ecstasy brings the music of Steely Dan to West Chester

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Countdown to Ecstasy Tribute bands continue to gain popularity for many reasons. In some instances, it is because the act being celebrated is dead. Other times, the band is no longer together or no longer performing live. No matter what the reason, fans still want to hear the music – whether delivered by the original or by a worthwhile tribute band. Some...

On Stage: Kennett Symphony returns for first concert in more than two years

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Kennett Symphony Music Director Michael Hall leads the kennett Symphony. After a long pandemic-induced hiatus, the Kennett Symphony is back. The orchestra will present its first performance of 2022 on January 30 at Unionville High School auditorium with pieces by Aaron Copland, Joan Tower, Camille Saint-Saëns and Ludwig Van Beethoven. It would be fitting...

On Stage: Red Wanting Blue headlines at City Winery

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Red Wanting Blue Red Wanting Blue has been around for a long time – if you consider more than a quarter century to be a long time. The Ohio-based rock band has played many different venues around the Delaware Valley with the last few shows hosted by the World Café Live. On January 23, Red Wanting Blue will add another Philly venue to its CV when...

On Stage: Christine Havrilla fights through a difficult year

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Christine Havrilla It’s safe to say that 2021 was a tough year for all of us with the pandemic causing major disruptions in health, work, school and just about everything else. It’s also safe to say that 2021 was a tough year – an extremely tough year – for Christine Havrilla, a talented singer/songwriter/guitarist who is headlining a show at...