On Stage: Vanessa Collier goes ‘Live’

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Vanessa Collier After releasing five studio albums over the last decade, Vanessa Collier finally decided to make a live album. Collier, who is headlining a show at Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) on September 30, recently released “Live At Power Station.” Power Station at BerkleeNYC is a recording...

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...

On Stage: Vanessa Collier comes home for rooftop show at The Flash

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Vanessa Collier Vanessa Collier is a highly acclaimed blues/jazz sax player who – in normal times – spends a lot of time touring nationally. Occasionally, the Chadds Ford resident gets an opportunity to play a show at a venue close to home – including Delaware gigs at the Candlelight Dinner Theater and the Arden Gild Hall. On July 30, she will...

On Stage: Roth, Tuk, Levins featured in Flash Rooptop shows

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Bryan Tuk Complex This will be a big weekend for the Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) with a trio of shows featuring highly respected veteran music acts – Arlen Roth on June 11, Bryan Tuk Complex on June 12 and Levin Brothers on June 13. It will be a hometown gig for Bryan Tuk, a Bucks...

Chesco’s Glass comes home for Philly show

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Todd Glass You can get your weekend off to an early start and be laughing all the way as two comedians with Philly roots perform at area venues tonight – Chester County native Todd Glass and Philadelphia’s Coleman Green. From May 20-22, Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com). is hosting Todd Glass. A...

On Stage: Vanessa Collier keeps busy close to Chadds Ford home

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Vanessa Collier The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the spring and the music industry went into freeze frame. As a result, Vanessa Collier’s touring schedule has been decimated – in the real meaning of the word. Since the spring, she has performed about one-tenth of the shows she normally would have. For Collier, a resident of Chadds Ford, the pandemic...

Music Spotlight: Chadds Ford’s Vanessa Collier keeps busy, ready to release new album

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  Vanessa Collier The COVID-19 pandemic has hit everyone hard – in a variety of ways. For musicians, it has been devastating. Live shows are virtually unheard of. Going into a studio to make an album is hardly a viable option. It’s as if someone has pushed the “pause” button for most of the music industry. For Vanessa Collier, a resident...

On Stage: Carlene Carter reaches back into her family tree for new project

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Now that Valentine’s Day is over, it might just be a good time to check out some live music. There are shows with a variety of genre choices around the area on February 15 including country rock/Americana, jazz/blues, alt-pop, avant-garde, Hawaiian/SoCal reggae and singer-songwriter. Carlene Carter Carlene Carter, who has one foot in country-influenced...

On Stage: The Pineapple Thief is livin’ the dream, making U.S. tour debut

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The Pineapple Thief Picture a high school boy dreaming for years about having a date with one of the most attractive girls in the school and never having the dream come true – until one day years later, the girl invites him to go on a date. The Pineapple Thief, a rock band from the south of England, went through a similar experience this year. The...

On Stage: Chadds Ford’s Collier appears poised for blues stardom

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Vanessa Collier Kennett Square is no stranger to the blues. It’s actually just the opposite. Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) presents top-flight blues acts on a regular basis. Most of the time, they are established acts who have been recording and performing for years – proven stars...