“He can make a piano knit a pair of socks.” Johnny Maddox, Ragtime legend
All-Americana Piano Fireworks – from one of the world’s foremost pianists and historians of vintage American popular music – as ‘Four-Time World Champion Old-Time Piano Player’ Adam Swanson makes his debut on the Lincoln Hall Steinway in Foxburg on Sunday, July 14 at 2 PM.
Be amazed by his performances of the Great American Song Book, Blues, Boogie-Woogie, Ragtime AND – celebrating its 100th Anniversary – Adam will play his version of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”
With four solo albums & appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and around the world in Hungary, Switzerland and Australia, Adam’s virtuosity, vast repertoire and program commentary will dazzle! As the ONLY Four-Time World Champion Old-Time Piano Player, Adam’s virtuoso piano pyrotechnics transports audiences back in time while keeping them on the edge of their seats.
A brilliant pianist who loves to entertain audiences, award-winning pianist Adam Swanson will take the audience on a tour through early American popular music.
From Ragtime and early jazz piano to the blues of W. C. Handy, to the Great American Song Book, Boogie Woogie, the Broadway show music of George Gershwin and a special Gershwin jazz piano medley, join him for a historical tour through American music – as “he can make a piano knit a pair of socks”, per legendary Ragtime pianist Johnny Maddox.
ARCA is grateful for the very generous donation of ARCA Board members Karen and Dan Mortland sponsoring the debut concert of Adam Swanson. Karen also is the Red Brick Gallery Cooperative Artist whose exhibit ‘Mothers and Daughters’ – featuring a hundred years of art from four generations of women in her family – has its opening Red Brick Gallery reception following Adam Swanson’s Lincoln Hall concert.
Tickets – Adults $25 Members $20 Students $5
Buy online here.
Call to Reserve to pay by cash or check at the door: 724-659-3153. Walk-ins are welcome!
Enjoy the RBG Exhibit After the Concert
Mothers & Daughters Exhibit Opening – 4 to 6 PM
After the concert, enjoy meeting the artist at the Wine & Cheese opening reception for the Exhibit MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Red Brick Gallery and Gift Shop (adjacent to and a short walk from Lincoln Hall) to view 100 years of art from four generations of women in one family that complements Adam Swanson’s musical tour of a century of American popular music: The exhibit of ARCA Board Member and Red Brick Gallery Cooperative Artist, Karen Mortland, and her family
MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS
One Family. Four generations of women. 100 years of art.
Ruth Coy, Carolyn Kingman, Annette Kingman, Karen Mortland, Nissa Rappoport
This is a richly textured display of photographs, acrylics, oil paintings, watercolors, pen and ink, graphic designs and jewelry from a supremely talented family of women, who followed their muse in the midst of professions and raising children – creating a body of work that’s like a multi-colored tapestry of their family history, with each generation adding to the narrative – capturing images and stories, preserving memories, and invoking emotion.
The photographs, acrylics, oil paintings, watercolors, pen and ink, graphic designs and jewelry will be on display weekends from July 5 to August 11 in the Upstairs Gallery.
There is no admission for the exhibit opening and wine and cheese reception on Sunday, July 14 from 4 to 6 PM, in the Upstairs Gallery.
The RBG is directly adjacent to and a short walk from Lincoln Hall – located at 17 Main Street, Foxburg.
About Adam Swanson
Adam Swanson is a brilliant pianist who loves to entertain audiences. His mentor was the late Johnny Maddox and, like Maddox, he performs ragtime, early standards and obscurities from the Great American Songbook, novelty pieces, and medleys that make one want to sing along.
Swanson earned degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, has appeared at many ragtime and jazz festivals, and had previously recorded four solo albums plus collaborations with pianist Frederick Hodges, drummer Danny Coots, singer Ian Whitcomb, and the Peacherine Ragtime Society.
Swanson lives in Durango, Colorado, and has performed at the local Diamond Belle Saloon a countless number of times. An Evening In The Diamond Belle Saloon is a two-CD set that gives one a strong idea what his shows are like.
Some of the pianist’s interpretations are purposely dominated by humor and are even a little corny (such as an eccentric version of “The Entertainer,” and “12th Street Rag”) while some others are relatively somber. In most cases Swanson is intent on both having a good time and making his performances fun for the audiences.
He has a huge repertoire which he really displays during medleys of waltzes, World War I songs, tunes from Texas, and numbers from the 1950s, all of which could be used for “name that tune” contests. Swanson comes up with fresh variations of “Maple Leaf Rag,” “Bill Bailey,” a rollicking “Pine Top’s Boogie Woogie,” and “St. Louis Blues,” revives such forgotten numbers as “Cotton Bolls,” “X.L. Rag,” and “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic,” and performs a version of “Frankie and Johnny” that musically acts out the story.
Ragtime and early jazz purists are not the main audience for this batch of honky-tonk piano, but those who like good-time music that is filled with both nostalgia and surprising moments will enjoy Adam Swanson’s spirited solo outing.
Here is Adam’s performance at the 2022 Glenn Miller Festival for the full scope of this musical virtuosity and genius.
Plan to make it a day & ENJOY FOXBURG!
Before Adam Swanson’s concert, plan to enjoy time in Foxburg – to take a brisk walk in the morning along the Allegheny River trail or rent bicycles or have a scenic pontoon tour on the Allegheny River with Foxburg Tours!
Have lunch before the concert or dinner after the concert at the Allegheny Grille with seating overlooking the Allegheny River. And be sure to make a reservation as seating is limited on concert days.
Or for more casual fare, at Foxburg Pizza with salads, sandwiches and pizza.
Save time to enjoy a wine tasting or drinks and snacks on the patio of the elegantly remodeled Foxburg Wine Cellars
Make it a get-away-weekend and stay over Saturday or Sunday night in Foxburg in the rustically elegant and remodeled Foxburg Inn – where every room has a view of the river!
or if the Foxburg Inn is sold out for a wedding, stay up the river at Emlenton’s historic bed and breakfast, The Barnard House.
