Belfry brings bluegrass and blues to Sisters

Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen returns to Sisters at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7, for a show at The Belfry, 302 E. Main Ave. The show, sponsored by Sisters Folk Festival and Preston Thompson Guitars, also features the powerhouse duo of Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley.

The showcase evening of bluegrass, country, blues and Western swing starts with a Thomspon Guitars demonstration.

Since Frank Solivan left the cold climes of Alaska for the bluegrass hotbed of Washington, D.C., he's built a reputation as a monster mandolinist - and become a major festival attraction with his band, Dirty Kitchen. Solivan, with banjoist Mike Munford, 2013 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year, award-winning guitarist Chris Luquette and bassist Jeremy Middleton, simmer a bluegrass/newgrass stew from instrumental, vocal and songwriting skills so hot, they were named IBMA's 2016 Instrumental Group of the Year. 

Solivan released "You Can't Stand The Heat" on January 25, on Compass Records. Tickets are selling fast; for information visit http://www.sistersfolkfestival.org/sff-presents.

"Tommy Castro & The Painkillers will showcase the power of the blues, soul and down-and-dirty rock 'n' roll to celebrate the March 1 release of their new Alligator Records album, "Killin' It Live," with a performance on Saturday, March 16, at The Belfry.

Castro, along with his band, The Painkillers - bassist Randy McDonald, keyboardist Michael Emerson and drummer Bowen Brown - plays music that is guaranteed to fill the floor and raise the roof.

Showtime is 8 p.m. For ticket information visit www.belfryevents.com.