Bramhall II To Appear in The Cabot's Gala Fundraiser

BEVERLY,MA--The Cabot, which is getting ready to celebrate its 100th Birthday in 2020, is presenting its first Gala Fundraising Event, Honoring Bessie Smith, The Empress of The Blues on Tuesday, December 4 at 8 pm.

On October 5th, Provogue released Shades, Doyle Bramhall II's dramatic debut for the label. The album comes hot on the heels of Bramhall's 2016 critically acclaimed fourth record, Rich Man, his first solo album in 15 years.

In the intervening years between albums, Bramhall established himself as one of the most distinctive and sought-after guitarists around, performing with a dizzying array of
artists that includes Roger Waters, Elton John, Gregg Allman, Allen Toussaint and T-Bone Burnett, to name a few. More significantly, Bramhall had spent over a decade as Eric Clapton's musical right-hand man, collaborating closely with the legendary guitarist both in the studio and on stage. He's also produced albums and written songs for Sheryl Crow and the Tedeschi Trucks Band, among others.

Shades is a spellbinding blend of grungy blues, raucous garage rock, transcendent psychedelia and soothing, soul-stirring ballads that sees Bramhall reaching new heights as a multi-instrumentalist, producer and vocalist while responding to his heart's most urgent commands as a lyricist and arranger.

"The new record finally feels like I'm comfortable in my own skin, like I don't have anything to prove other than trying to express myself as honestly as I can," says Bramhall. "As
an artist, writer and producer, I'm in a good place, and I think I can allow this flow of music to come out and form a real body of work that my fans can appreciate. I'm thrilled to have them go on this journey with me."

Throughout much of Shades,Bramhall addresses deeply personal themes - on the R&B-laced
"Everything You Need" and the elegant ballad "Searching For Love," he examines matters of the heart. But on the gritty, soulful rocker "Love and Pain," he takes on gun violence, a song inspired by last year's concert massacre in Las Vegas.

Performing alongside Bramhall on Shades is an ace group of musicians he's worked with over the years - bassist Chris Bruce, multi-instrumentalist and string arranger Adam Minkoff, and
drummers Carla Azar and Abe Rounds - and there are also notable appearances by friends and luminaries: Eric Clapton, Norah Jones, the Tedeshi Trucks band, and Austin buds the Greyhounds. "Without appearing immodest, I can admit that I've led a pretty charmed life," Bramhall
says. "I'm thrilled and honored to have all of these incredible people guest on my record."

Doyle Bramhall photos and other media assets are HERE

About the concert

Bessie
Smith who lived between 1894 and 1937, was "The Beyonce" of her time and was one of the musicians of great importance around the time that The Cabot was founded, in 1920, thus making her a perfect artist to salute at The Cabot's first major gala fundraising event.

Musician and Beverly resident, Paula Cole is the Artistic Director for this unique and exciting event, produced by Danny Melnick, President of Absolutely Live Entertainment and former Artistic Director of The Newport Jazz Festival.

The evening will be hosted by award-winning investigative reporter Phillip Martin of WGBH and Boston Globe columnist and WBUR commentator, Renée Graham along with Cabot Executive Director Casey Soward and others.

Paula Cole has assembled a one-of-a-kind, stellar program which will feature herself and Doyle Bramhall II, Terri Lyne Carrington, Shemekia Copeland, Dom Flemons, Nona Hendryx, Meshell Ndegeocello, Valerie Simpson and The Western Den.

Each artist will perform one Bessie Smith song and one song of their own as well.

"As a former Rockport and now Beverly resident, I've known The Cabot as a community theater my whole life. From magic shows to movie nights and now to its amazing concerts, The Cabot transports us toanother time. Now it is on the cusp of becoming a world-class theater,
one of just 250 silent movie and vaudeville survivors. I am bringing some of the most compelling and diverse musicians to the North Shore of Massachusetts, together at The Cabot, in performance to honor the music heroine, the legacy - Bessie Smith - as we help a theater transform intobecoming a lasting, iconic venue," noted Paula Cole.

The Cabot is located at 286 Cabot Street in Beverly, Massachusetts. Tickets are on sale now at ###a shape="rect">TheCabot.org. For more information, email:

VIP Tickets for $1000.00 include a four course dinner and cocktail party at Beverly's newest culinary oasis, Ellis Square Social, an inscription on a new balcony seat and premium seating at the concert.

Friends of The Cabot tickets priced at
$600.00, include a cocktail party in the Cabot's newly renovated Streetside Bar at 7:00 pm with open bar and hors d'oeuvres, an inscription on a new balcony seat and preferred seating at the concert.

Orchestra & Front Balcony seats are $84.50; Balcony Seats: $59.50 - $72.50.