BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – On Sept. 23, at 7:30 p.m., Chris Smither returns to the Bellows Falls Opera House as part of the 2023 Ray Massucco Concert Series.
Chris Smither, the towering figure in American acoustic blues, burst onto the singer-songwriter scene in the late 1960s with a unique finger-picking style and a ragged world-weary voice. Along the way he amassed major fans, folks like the late founder of Little Feat, Lowell George, and Townes Van Zandt, who, amongst other things, always credited Smither with saving his life in a Florida swimming pool one hazy night, and Bonnie Raitt, whose recording of Smither’s “Love You Like A Man” entered the pantheon of stone-cold classics any number of years ago. With eighteen albums under his belt and one of the most stellar reputations a living guitar god could hope to have, Smither returns to Vermont this September for the third Ray Massucco Concert Series show on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Bellows Falls Opera House.
Opening the show is Windham County’s favorite son Matt Lorenz, a.k.a. The Suitcase Junket, who builds his own instruments from scrap and salvage, and homesteads in western Massachusetts. Lorenz has collaborated with Smither, originally from New Orleans but now a Bay State resident as well, on several albums, laying down backing rhythms behind Smither’s steadily tapping toe and intricate, Mississippi John Hurt guitar figures.
“I’ve known The Suitcase Junket a few years now and am really glad he’s on the bill with me,” says Smither. “I am looking forward to returning to the beautiful Bellows Falls Opera House. It’s been way too long. It’s good to see it’s so well-loved. If only all historic old concert halls were so lucky.”
Ray Massucco, for whom the series is named, was a beloved local lawyer and indefatigable music supporter, and passed away unexpectedly in September 2022. Next Stage Arts of Putney is co-presenting the series with Ray’s The Roof Productions. Media sponsor is Great Eastern Radio. The final concert of the 2023 series is scheduled for Nov. 5, featuring the Vermont Symphony Orchestra with vocalist Kat Wright.
The Bellows Falls Opera House is located at 7 Village Square, Bellows Falls, Vt. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets and information online at www.bellowsfallsoperahouse.com, or call 802-387-0102.