The Unfettered Critic – May 2023

FAR OUT! The Britt Festival has announced the entirety of their 2023 schedule, and, as expected, it’s a gas! Which is to say, it’s funky, and fab, and outtasight! We certainly dig it.

But then, we are—and we say this proudly—Boomers. Never thought that word would become synonymous with senior citizens, but hey, it’s better than not being here at all, right?

As per usual, there’s music included to mellow every mood, because the folks that run this “Woodstock on the Hill” are firm believers in not Bogarting the joint. You dig?

We’re not going to talk about every varying act, because we know you guys can go with the flow and take a hit of the full, heady schedule (which includes comedy, country, “Texican rock’n’roll”, reggae, blues, and, as always, the ever-popular Michael Franti) on your own. We’re just here to rap about the stuff that resonates with us on a personal groove. Talkin’ about our generation. Cool? But we certainly invite every one of you to jump in and share the love.

Let’s start with the Boomer-esque tribute bands: An Evening with Brit Floyd (July 29), celebrating 50 Years of Pink Floyd’s mind-blowing vinyl album The Dark Side of the Moon, which we actually know note-for-note because it reverberated through our apartment walls 24/7 back in the day thanks(?) to a truly obsessed neighbor. And get set for An Evening with RAIN (August 3), a tribute to the Beatles, this time around focusing specifically on the Fab Four’s masterpiece Abbey Road AND The Rooftop Concert. (If you’re wondering which Rooftop Concert the group is referencing, you’re obviously way too young to appreciate the experience, so let’s rock on.)

June 19 is reserved for the presence of a true legend, the one and only Miss Diana Ross. Whether you remember Ms. Ross as the unforgettable lead singer of The Supremes, the vibrant star of silver screen hits like Lady Sings the Blues and Mahogany, or a woman who claims not one but two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. we assure you that her show (which we saw not so long ago) will blow your mind!

And now for a big, big flashback into some of our happiest memories of the Sixties. We’ve personally seen this artist twice with his current group—and one of us had the extreme good fortune to see him with his previous band on a screamingly memorable afternoon in Chicago’s International Amphitheatre in 1966.

Yes, that’s right. On June 10 the Britt is gifting us with an appearance by the best rock’n’roll drummer ever, not to mention a member of the most deservedly famous rock’n’roll band ever (if you have to ask which band that is, well, you are not only too young but too uncultured to attend), the one and only Sir Richard Starkey—a.k.a. Ringo Starr (and his All-Starr Band).

Ringo’s All-Starr assemblage has been touring the rockin’ world since 1989. He’s presented fourteen variations of the group, with rotating star-quality, famous friends readily lining up to share the stage with him. This year, the lineup includes Ringo (of course!), Colin Hay (Men At Work), Hamish Stuart (Average White Band, Aretha Franklin, Paul McCartney), Edgar Winter (Edgar Winter Group), Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth), Steve Lukather (Toto), and Warren Ham (Kansas, Toto). While Ringo and the lads will join in on his most fun and fancy hits (from both within and without that former famous band), the All-Starrs will warble the hits associated with their respective groups, this time with a mop-topped drummer.

Groovy, friends. Peace! Love! Incense!