Tommy Conwell has fond memories of June Jam and is ready to make some new ones on Saturday.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the charity music festival is bringing back old favorites, which include the reunion of local bands such as Hyde Park and Furious George along with Johnny Neel.
For Mr. Conwell, who gained fame with his Philadelphia-based Young Rumblers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it will be his third appearance at June Jam.
“I did June Jam once with my band the Little Kings and once with The Destroyers, George Thorogood’s band,” he said this week.
This year he’ll perform with another one of his bands, The Sellouts, performing all of the songs he found success with and then some.
The band’s national major-label debut came when Columbia Records released “Rumble” in 1988, followed by “Guitar Trouble” in 1990. A third album “Neuroticus Maximus” was recorded in 1992 but the band’s label then, MCA, chose not to release it.
Main Stage at 12:05 p.m.
Second Stage at 1:20 p.m.
Main Stage at 1:40 p.m.
Second Stage at 2:40 p.m.
Main Stage at 3:45 p.m.
Second Stage at 5:15 p.m.
Main Stage at 6:30 p.m.
Second Stage at 8 p.m.
Main Stage at 9 p.m.
Although he didn’t play with Mr. Thorogood at June Jam that year, he did tour with him back in the early 1990s.
“We went up and down the East Coast. We played the Spectrum, The Meadowlands at Brendan Byrne Arena. George was really funny and really a great guy,” he said.
Mr. Conwell said Mr. Thorogood was an early idol.
“I was already a blues fan but he was a big influence. I remember when I went to the University of Delaware, George used to come to The Deer Park once or twice a year. He would play at The Cellar in Wilmington. I heard ‘Bad to the Bone’ before it came out,” Mr. Conwell recalled.
For a Philadelphia kid, playing the Spectrum, the former hallowed area arena, with Mr. Thorogood was a dream come true.
Mr. Conwell looks back on his time in the national spotlight with fondness. But rather than playing certain gigs or venues, he’s quick to point out the people he played with instead.
“The coolest part of the whole thing are the people I got to meet and open for. These were my heroes. David Bowie, Robert Plant, Keith Richards, Stevie Ray and Jimmie Ray Vaughn,” he said.
Another career highlight was making his national television debut on “Late Night with David Letterman” in 1989.
“I got to play and sit down to talk. That’s like pulling double aces when you’re playing poker. That was amazing. At first (band leader) Paul Schafer was aloof but then he was nice to us. You just can’t believe where you are,” he said.
After music, Mr. Conwell became a radio disc jockey and also a third-grade teacher for a time. He works in his family fencing business now.
He said the touring and the limelight was fun while it lasted but he doesn’t miss it.
“Who knows why it never came out? There are a million reasons why. A lot of times the old boss loves you but they get a new boss and they hate you. They probably just changed their minds. That’s showbiz,” he said wistfully.
Now free from the politics of it all, Mr. Conwell is looking forward to being at Houston’s G&R Campground for June Jam, where he’s scheduled to go on at about 6:30 p.m.
“We may lean a little in the blues direction but it will be my stuff. I know there are a lot of blues fans in Delaware and I love the whole June Jam tradition. We’ll have a few surprises. It will be fun. We’ll play it all. It will be all kill and no fill,” he said.
Kategory 5 will kick things off on the main stage at 12:05. Shades of August, Triple Rail Turn and lower case blues are also on the bill. Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band Brickyard Road will wind things up starting at 9 p.m.
Tickets will be available at the gate on Saturday. G&R Campground is at 4075 Gun and Rod Club Road in Houston.
Rebel Seed Cidery, the sister company of Harvest Ridge Winery in Marydel, will present an acoustic performance by country artist Raleigh Keegan Sunday at 6 p.m.
Tickets for those over 21 are $10 and includes one drink and $5 for those under 21. They can be purchased at RebelSeed.com.
Rebel Seed Cidery is at 447 Westville Road.
The Smyrna Opera House, at 7 W. South St. will host Heritage Winds, the woodwind quintet component of the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band or a free concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Heritage Winds offers programming that covers a wide array of musical styles. The ensemble embraces the full range of the quintet repertoire, while also exploring various instrument combinations.
Doors open at 1:15 p.m. This does not require a reservation. For more information, call the Smyrna Opera House at 302-653-4236.
ecarte dance theatre will present its spring concert at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Education/Humanities Theatre of Delaware State University. The modern dance and contemporary ballet company will premiere nine works choreographed by artistic director Judith Engelgau, ballet mistress Tricia Massey, and company member Natascha Ward. Ruby Rogers, Emma Massey and Emma Hardy will represent the apprentice company with selections from the Young Choreographers Workshop.
The novice company, ages 4-12, will perform “Shen”, to traditional world music. They will also dance in “Send a Flood”, with musical segments from the soundtrack of “The Greatest Showman”.
Ms. Massey has choreographed “Steadfast Guide”, a two-part work to the music of Tom Walker, drawing on images from Thomas Merton. Natashcha Ward’s classical “Pointe Class” pays tribute to the long hours of training a dancer must undergo and the dedication involved.
“Living Light”, choreographed by Ms. Engelgau to the music of Zoe Keating, is an exploration of the gift of light beside moving water. Taking inspiration from “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats, “Slouching toward Bethlehem” is a modern/pointe work.
ecarte welcomes the visually impaired community by presenting a Sensory Seminar prior to the performance. All those interested in participating should call 302-674-4689 for further information.
Tickets, $15 adults, $12 students and senior citizens, may be purchased at the box office the evening of the performance. Group discount rates are available with prior request.
In 1985, Alexander Uskuraitis and Sky Brady were riding high on the success of their jukebox hit “Kensington Girls”. Time moved on for both.
Mr. Uskuraitis is now playing accordion with Media, Pennsylvania-based Lost Northern Tribe. Mr. Brady, who moved to Delaware in 1993, sang for the successful band Skinny Leg Pete.
Now 30 years later the two are joined to debut their new act Sky Brady and the Lost Northern Tribe in Milton Memorial Park Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The rest of the band is Wayne G. Harvey on bass and vocals, Frankie “Fingers” Luca on guitars and Stevie Ray “Ragnarok” Rongner-Cook on drums and vocals.