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Knickerbocker Cafe Hosts Three Big Shows over 4th of July Weekend

WESTERLY, RI: After a packed Grand Opening Memorial Day Weekend, the KNICKERBOCKER CAFÉ has continued booking star-studded talent. The summer will be a hot one with both national touring artists and rising local talent performing on the Knick’s stage.

Two sizzling shows are scheduled for 4th of July weekend with DAVID FOSTER & THE MOHEGAN SUN ALL-STARS, formerly known as the Shaboo All-Stars - named after the 1,000 seat club Foster owned in Connecticut for 11 years. The show is SAT, JULY 4th at 8 pm. The band’s all-star moniker is no exaggeration with the rhythm section from Joe Cocker’s band: keyboardist, Mitch Chakour, bassist, David “Wolf” Ginandes, and lead guitarist, Cliff Goodwin who also played with Robert Palmer. Drummer, Marty Richards is currently with J. Geils. Derec Dyer, former horn player with Tina Turner, will sit in on tenor sax. David Foster himself sang with the San Francisco band, Electric Flag, which included Buddy Miles.

The band’s rollicking set is a mix of American R&B, blues and Memphis soul – and you might just hear a few Joe Cocker classics thrown in. A new CD is on its way, something Foster is very excited about. It was actually recorded and produced 20 years ago and was tied up during famed producer Paul Rothchild’s sickness and subsequent passing. Now it is in Foster’s hands and ready to be released around the time the band hits the Knickerbocker. Rothchild produced The Rose for Bette Midler, albums for Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin, and all the Doors’ recordings. The new CD features the Phoenix Horns – the horn section from Earth, Wind & Fire that also recorded with Phil Collins, Foster and the band will hit the Knickerbocker just one week after their first gig with the Harford Symphony with a couple more dates to follow.

On SUNDAY, JULY 5th at 8 pm, the dance floor will be filled when HECTOR CUEVAS & THE BOSTON LATIN BAND take the stage with their authentic salsa, Latin jazz, merengue, boleros and more. Cuevas is the real deal, having played with Tito Puentes, Eddie Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco to name a few. With former bands, he shared the stage with Gloria Estefan and others playing in Miami, New Orleans, Santo Domingo, and Puerto Rico. The band has 3 CD’s and inclusion on 3 compilations to its credit. Their song, “Bios Lo Crea” hit number 2 on the salsa music chart in Italy. One of their salsa tunes was also used in the TV movie, The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream, which was recently released on DVD in Europe.

When she heard the band’s debut CD, Ana Morales of THE BOSTON GLOBE said, “It has the Bronx naughtiness I like in salsa: sharp horns, heavy bass lines, highly driven percussion, and clever lyrics." The Middlesex Beat said, “What is particularly convincing is one listen to the debut CD release titled CUBARENGUE-a name that reflects both Hector's regard for Cuban music and his merengue roots….the disc features some of the liveliest salsa, merengue, and bolero music to hit the airwaves.

The Knickerbocker Café, 35 Railroad Ave, Westerly, RI 02891 - www.theknickerbockercafe.com, 401-315-5070