John Sebastian, the frontman of the legendary Lovin’ Spoonful, a man who made history with his unplanned performance at Woodstock ’69, will return to his famous site for a duo set at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on December 12 at 8 pm.
Sebastian will be joined on stage by Jimmy Vivino, a longtime collaborator best known as the Music Director for Conan O’Brien’s late-night shows and a fixture in bands from The Fab Faux to The Black Italians. Vivino’s dynamic career spans decades of live performance and collaborations with music greats, including Levon Helm, Phoebe Snow, and Donald Fagen.
A longtime resident of Woodstock, Sebastian has been a defining voice in American music for over six decades. As the leader, singer, and songwriter of The Lovin’ Spoonful, he helped shape the soundtrack of the 1960s with hits like “Do You Believe in Magic?,” “Daydream,” and “Summer in the City.” In 1976, he scored a solo number one Billboard hit with “Welcome Back,” the theme song from the popular television show, Welcome Back, Kotter. Sebastian’s pioneering blend of folk, blues, jug band, and rock carried the roots of American music into the future, leaving an indelible mark on generations of listeners. The son of an American master classical harmonica virtuoso, Sebastian is also well-known for his soulful contributions on this instrument to The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues” and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Déjà Vu” to name a few.
Sebastian and Vivino promise to serve up a warm evening of hits, some folk and jug band classics, and some great storytelling and self-effacing humor – a trademark of any Sebastian show.
The concert will take place at Bethel Woods’ Event Gallery, one of several performance stages located at the 1,000-acre complex. The Event Gallery boasts exceptional acoustics, state-of-the-art lighting, and sound in an intimate indoor setting. From the alabaster chandeliers to the hand-laid stone fireplace and custom cherry woodwork, this is among the most elegant rooms to be found anywhere. Attendees can also visit the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods, which carries on the history, spirit, and lessons of the 1960s and the Woodstock Music & Art Fair through the preservation and interpretation of the historic site.
Bethel Woods offers a package that includes John Sebastian concert tickets and, if desired, a pre-show dinner and entrance to its famous museum. For ticket and info, visit here.
In other Sebastian news, the Woodstock Film Festival will host the world premiere of Ezzie Films’ “I’ll Paint Rainbows All Over Your Blues,” a new documentary on the fascinating life of this legendary musician. Taking place at the Bearsville Theater on Sunday, December 7 at 2 pm, the event will feature a screening, along with a Q&A with the film’s co-directors, Christopher Andersen and Todd Kwait, and an appearance by Sebastian himself.
The documentary features interviews with Sebastian contemporaries including Steven Stills, Michele Phillips (The Mamas and Papas), Arlo Guthrie, Graham Nash, The Cars’ Elliott Easton, bandmates Joe Butler and Steve Boone, along with former managers and producers all reflecting on John’s friendships and collaborations, giving us an insider’s look into the creative community and times that forged the soundtrack of the baby boom generation.
For information on this event and follow-up screenings on December 8 and 9, visit here.
Comments are closed.