On Stage: Squirrel Nut Zippers are back and playing Philly

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times 

There are three meanings for “Squirrel Nut Zippers.”

“Nut Zippers” is a southern term for a variety of old bootleg moonshine. There was a newspaper story about an intoxicated man who climbed a tree and refused to come down even after police arrived. The headline was “Squirrel Nut Zipper.”

Squirrel Nut Zipper is also the name of a caramel and peanut candy dating back to 1890. A Squirrel Nut Zipper is a delicious vanilla nut caramel that was first introduced in 1926 by the Squirrel Brand Company whose primary products are nuts. 

The third meaning for “Squirrel Nut Zippers” — the name of a band that formed in North Carolina in 1993 blending a wide array of genres into its own distinct sound.

Jimbo Mathus, the founder of the band Squirrel Nut Zippers (band), had been on his own for the last 16 years — until a few years ago when he brought the Squirrel Nut Zippers back to life.

The new band performed at the World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, www.worldcafelive.com) in March 2020 and now is back for a return engagement at the venue on July 16.

“I brought the band back in 2016,” said Mathus, during a phone interview Wednesday from his Mississippi home. “If I was going to take the time to put something back together, it had to be the Zippers.

“It’s not an easy band to put together – a lot of musicians and a lot of chemistry. There’s nothing out there like it. At that time, it was the 20th anniversary of the band’s ‘Hot’ album.”

2020 marked the 25th anniversary of the band’s first album, ‘The Inevitable.” Last year, the “Hot” album celebrated its silver anniversary. There is more silver on the horizon because “Perennial Favorites” and “Christmas Caravan” dropped in 1998.

“That’s a lot of silver,” said Mathus, who is in his mid-50s. “I’ve got a lot of silver too.”

Between 1995-2000 the Squirrel Nut Zippers sold over three million albums. With grunge, and alternative rock in full swing back in 1995, the Squirrel Nut Zippers debut album “The Inevitable” sounded like nothing happening musically at the time. NPR was the first to take notice followed by an appearance on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. The band toured its debut album heavily in North America during 1995 and 1996.

“The Zippers broke up in 2000,” said Mathus. “It was a good challenge for me after that — a challenge to regroup and re-invest in what I’m all about.”

At the time, Mathus had just released “Blue Healer” on Fat Possum Records. It was his 12th solo album.

“When I was approached and asked about doing a reunion tour for the 20th anniversary of the Squirrel Nut Zippers. I really didn’t know how to feel about it.

“Then, I thought – I know so many great musicians in New Orleans. I thought I could put together a great band. I cherry-picked the best people I thought could make the greatest Squirrel Nut Zippers of all time.”

The band has evolved a lot over the last quarter-century.

“In the early days, there was a lot of creativity in the band but not that much musical talent. We had a punk rock drummer. A saxophone player who had just bought his sax at a thrift shop.

“Putting together the current Zippers band wasn’t really that hard. I just started making some phone calls. I got guys who have a lot of history with the Zippers along with young guys – fresh talent that was able to fit in.”

Mathus got the players and started to play live dates as Squirrel Nut Zippers. The led to the “Beasts of Burgundy” album.

“Beasts of Burgundy” was released in March 2018 via the band’s own label — Southern Broadcasting. Next up, the Squirrel Nut Zippers” released their latest album, “Lost Songs of Doc Souchon.”

“That album came out about a year ago,” said Mathus. “It was done when the pandemic hit. I had recorded it in New Orleans, and I decided to just put it out – even with the pandemic messing everything up. I was in and out of New Orleans a lot in 2019 because that’s where most of the band lives.

“We were on the road when COVID hit. We were one of the last acts to come through in a lot of places. Now, this will be our first tour this year. We did do our Christmas Caravan last year. We’re not touring in support of ‘Lost Songs of Doc Souchon.’ This is a support tour for all our records.

“When I was recording ‘Lost Songs of Doc Souchon,’ I had access to really nice studios in New Orleans. The album is based on an early New Orleans character – a folklorist for early New Orleans music. He preserved a lot of the old material, so he was the spirit animal for this record. Other songs look at the mysterious facet of New Orleans music.”

The new album contains songs such as “Animule Ball” (was originally recorded back in 1938 by Jelly Roll Morton), “I Talk to My Haircut,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” “Purim Nigun” and “Happy Days Are Here Again.”

According to Mathus, “This new album was inspired by all of the mysterious characters from the history of New Orleans jazz music. It speaks to the hidden roots of where our aesthetic, interests and philosophy comes from. It pulls on the hidden thread.”

Mathus said that he and his wife were considering a move from Mississippi to New Orleans in the near future.

“New Orleans is home to thousands of fabulous musicians,” said Mathus. “It continually inspires me. I have a long relationship to New Orleans – back to when I was 18 and working on the barges there.”

The music made by the Squirrel Nut Zippers is a mesmerizing blend of traditional New Orleans music, folk, punk rock, swing, old world jazz, Delta blues, klezmer, rock and blues.

“Right now, we’re a nine-piece band including a three-piece horn section,” said Mathus. “Our live act is a really fun thing. There is nothing out there like it. We play songs from all our records, and they all fit together really well.”

Video link for the Squirrel Nut Zippers — https://youtu.be/KJzWGkgFcTU.

The show at the World Café Live will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.

Other upcoming shows at the World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, www.worldcafelive.com) are Bebel Gilberto on July 14, David Cook on July 14, and Christina Perri on July 20.

Danielle Nicole, a Midwest musician who is a Philly favorite, is coming back to the area riding the crest of her latest album – an album that garnered her a lot of recognition from the Blues Music Awards and the Grammy Awards.

Nicole, who now lives in Kansas City (Missouri), will play a show on July 14 at the Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389, www.ardmoremusic.com).

In February 2018, Nicole came to the World Café Live to play a record release show for her second solo album “Cry No More.” The album dropped on March 10, 2018 via Concord Records and peaked at Number 1 in the Billboard Top Blues Albums Chart. Additionally, the television series, S.W.A.T., used one of the album’s tracks — “Save Me” — on the February 21, 2019 episode of the show.

Also, “Cry No More” was nominated for a 2019 Grammy Award in Contemporary Blues. In May 2019, Nicole received Blues Music Awards for both Contemporary Blues Female Artist and Bass Instrumentalist.

“Winning awards is always nice,” said Nicole. “It’s extra nice for blues artists because it helps get people to know who you are. When the album was nominated for a Grammy, we exploded on the jam scene.”

Nicole’s album features 14 powerful, blues-influenced songs, including the Bill Withers-penned “Hot Spell,” and appearances by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Luther Dickinson, Walter Trout and Sonny Landreth.

“I recorded the album in September 2017 at Ultratone Studio in Studio City, California,” said Nicole. “I went there to work with producer Tony Braunagel, who also played drums on the record. We did two sessions.

“I didn’t have my own band, so we used a lot of guest artists. Tony is an amazing drummer. Our engineer Johnny Lee Schell played a lot of the guitar parts. I always loved the idea of playing with guest musicians. Mike Finnigan and his son Kelly both played organ. I played bass and there were a lot of different guitarists.”

The list of impressive musicians who worked with Nicole on “Cry No More” also included Nick Schnebelen, Brandon Miller, Monster Mike Welch with Maxanne Lewis and Kudisan Kai as background vocalists.

Nicole wrote or co-wrote nine of the 14 songs on “Cry No More” but the seductive “Hot Spell” was given to her by its author — long-retired R&B legend Bill Withers.

Withers was a surprise visitor to the album’s recording sessions at L.A.’s Ultratone Studios and was so impressed with Nicole’s singing that he dug into his archives and offered her the song – an unrecorded song that he wrote more than 40 years ago.

“Tony and Johnny have a lot of friends in L.A.,” said Nicole. “One is a doctor who likes to drop in on sessions. He wanted to come by with Bill Withers and I was thrilled. Bill Withers is the essence of cool – and one of my all-time musical heroes. We played him a track and then the doctor said – do we have any songs for Danielle?

“Bill invited me to come out to his car. We were hanging out in his SUV and he’s shuffling through his glovebox. Then, he pulls out this disc and says – I’ve got this song. It’s a bit risqué, but if you don’t mind, I’ll play it for you. It was this demo that he’d done with his daughter doing the vocals.  It was really moody – and it had a really cool groove. He said — you can record this one if you want. It’s a great track that was written in the 70s and never released.”

Now, the classic Withers tune has seen the light of day. The tune, along with many more from “Cry No More,” will be presented live when Nicole and her band rock the house at the Ardmore Music Hall tonight

“Coming back to Philly is always special for me,” said Nicole. “I spent a lot of time in Philadelphia when I was a young musician.”

Born Danielle Nicole Schnebelen, Nicole comes from a long line of singers and musicians and showed an affinity for singing almost from birth.

Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri, she performed in public for the first time at the age of 12, singing Koko Taylor’s “Never Trust a Man” as part of a Blues for Schools program at her elementary school.

In her early teens, she began singing in local coffeehouses and at open mic events, often jamming with her parents at clubs that would allow minors.

At 16, she became lead singer in her father’s band, Little Eva and the Works.  In 1999, she started her own band, Fresh Brew, with some older local musicians. Fresh Brew performed for four years and represented Kansas City in the prestigious International Blues Challenge.

It was during this time that Nicole and her brothers formed a family band — Trampled Under Foot — and relocated to Philadelphia in the process.

To maintain the family concept, Nicole learned to play bass. Trampled Under Foot traveled the world, recorded several self-released albums, and built a sizable national fan base through years of nonstop roadwork.

The band, which specialized in a blend of blues, soul and rock, started as a trio featuring three siblings — Danielle Nicole Schnebelen (lead vocals and bass), Nick Schnebelen (guitars and vocals) and Kris Schnebelen (drums and vocals). The current line-up of the Danielle Nicole Band features Brandon Miller on guitar and vocals, Cameron Tyler on drums and Nicole on bass and vocals.

“Trampled Under Foot was my brothers and I,” said Nicole. “We had been touring for 12 years and it was time to move on.

“Kris left in 2014. Then, we added musicians, so we could go out on a high note. We’re all still playing music. Nick has a power trio and Kris is playing with Albert Castiglia, who is a really good blues guitarist.

“When my brothers and I were in Philadelphia, we wanted to pursue the blues. But there isn’t a thriving blues scene in Philly. Everyone in Philly was really supportive of us but moving back to Kansas City was a smart move – especially because it’s so centrally located.

For its 2013 album “Badlands,” which was also produced by Braunagel, Trampled Under Foot moved to the Telarc label, a division of Concord Music Group.  “Badlands” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Blues Chart.

As Trampled Under Foot wound down after an eventful 13-year run, Nicole formed her own band and signed with Concord Records, released a self-titled EP and then followed with the Anders Osborne-produced album “Wolf Den” in 2015.  Those releases established Nicole as a formidable solo artist and bandleader.

For those of you who do not live close enough to the Philly area to come to the show at Ardmore Music Hall, it will be live-streamed from nugs.net — http://nugs.net/ardmoremusichall.

Video link for Danielle Nicole – https://youtu.be/fk1oUaNKyfk.

The show at the Ardmore Music Hall, which has Goodnight, Texas as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $13.

Other upcoming shows at the Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, www.ardmoremusic.com) are Somo on July 15, Class of 92 on July 16, Osiris on July 18, Dogs in a Pile on July 19 and Beeswax on July 20.

Gabe Stillman, an accomplished blues guitarist from Williamsport, seems to have found a home-away-from home in Delaware County.

In January, he did a show at Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) and then returned to the comfortable venue in Delaware County to deliver another evening of high-powered blues music.

On July 15, Stillman is coming back to Delco for a show at 118 North (118 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, www.118northwayne.com).

“I’ve stayed busy all through the last year-and-a-half,” said Stillman, during a phone call Tuesday from his home in the birthplace of Little League Baseball.

Stillman was busiest during a two-week period in April 2021.

“I went to Austin in April and recorded my first album,” said Stillman. “It was produced by Anton Funderbergh at Wire Recording.”

Funderbergh is top-flight guitarist and the bandleader of Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets since 1978. Their style incorporates both Chicago blues and Texas blues. He is also one of the most respected producers in Texas’ capitol city.

“I met Anton at the International Blues Challenge a couple years ago,” said Stillman. “I’ve been a fan of his since I was a teenager. He’s in my top 10 list of blues players. And I loved his production work with other people.”

Stillman’s album, “Just Say the Word,” was released in August by the Vizztone Label Group.

“It’s a 15-song album – 13 originals and two covers,” said Stillman. “The covers were Bill Withers’ ‘Friend of Mine’ and Bobby Blue Bland’s ‘I’ll Take Care of You.’

“When the album came out in August, it debuted at Number 10 on the Billboard Magazine Blues chart. It was also named one of the top blues albums of 2021 by Roots Music Report.

“I brought my rhythm section Bassist Colin Beatty and drummer Ray Hangen – down to Austin. In the studio, we used Taylor Streiff, a piano player from St. Louis, Austin’s Texas Horns and had Sue Foley and Anton playing guitar on one track.”

It was a big step forward for Stillman, who has been studying guitar for almost a decade-and-a-half.

“I started taking guitar lessons when I was 11,” said Stillman. “I’m 25 now so I’ve been playing for 14 years.

“When I started out, I wanted to play heavy rock and heavy metal. Listening to guitarists in those genres, I realized that their playing was very fast and technically complicated. A teacher told me to learn rock by getting into the blues.

“So, I started listening to a lot of blues guitarists like B.B. King, Freddie King, Albert King, Buddy Guy and Elmore James. I was also listening to guitarist such as Duane Allman and Derek Trucks. I realized – hey, I can do this. I got hooked on blues and R&B – and jazz. When I was 13 or 14, I started to perform live.”

A key stage in Stillman’s development came at the Uptown Music Collective in Williamsport.

For 20 years, the Uptown Music Collective has been providing exceptional modern music education grounded in traditional educational principles. Its programs engage students through an emphasis on modern genres including rock, pop, soul, blues, country, R&B, and funk.

“I studied at the Uptown Music Collective when I was younger,” said Stillman. “I also taught there after I got out of college.”

Stillman spent his college years in Boston where he got a degree in “Professional Music” with an emphasis on guitar performance and songwriting.

“I started my band in 2015 after graduating from Berklee,” said Stillman, whose honors include making it to “Final Eight” of the 35th Annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee.

“My band has been primarily a trio but at the Blues Challenge, I made it to the finals with the addition of a harmonica player in the group.

“My bass player Colin Beatty, who is also from Williamsport, has been with me the whole time. We’ve had different drummers come in-and-out. Right now, our drummer is Ray Hangen from Buffalo, New York.

“With the trio, we play mostly blues and American rock. There also is a little mix of R&B in there.”

Video link for Gabe Stillman — https://youtu.be/QGIJgb51Kw8.

The show at 118 North on July 15 will start at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $10.

The joint will be rockin’ at 118 North two nights later with a performance by Professor Louie & The Crowmatix.

One half of the show will be Louie and his band performing a set of original songs. The other half will be “Music of The Band Performed By Professor Louie & The Crowmatix.”

Professor Louie & The Crowmatix began as the studio backing band for Aaron “Professor Louie” Hurwitz’s musical productions for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, The Band. Rick Danko christened him “Professor Louie” because of his work and friendship with The Band.

Professor Louie & The Crowmatix are touring in support of their new album “Strike Up The Band,” which was released on January 7, 2022. The album has nine songs written by Professor Louie and one co-written with Miss Marie and John Platania — songs that reflect a unique vision of relationships and thoughts about this tumultuous world and the times we live in.

“The new CD is hitting the charts,” said Hurwitz, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from his home in Woodstock, New York. “It’s our 16th studio album in 22 years.

“This is an all-original album – not a covers album or a concept album. I love playing new stuff because it’s fresh for the band – and fans get to hear new stuff.”

Such was not the case with the band’s previous album release.

When Professor Louie & The Crowmatix released their previous album, the timing of the music was impeccable — Professor Louie is a master in the recording studio – but the timing of the LP’s release was not so good.

“Miles of Blues,” the 15th release from Professor Louie & The Crowmatix, dropped in August 2019. Plans were for the Woodstock, NY-based band to tour extensively across the United States and Canada in support of the new disc. Then, COVID-19 came along and disrupted everybody’s plans.

“‘Miles of Blues’ was our last blues record and it did well,” said Hurwitz. “Before the calamity hit, we had scheduled six-to-seven months of shows. We were going to be driving across the country to South Dakota and then to western Canada for the Salmon River Blues Festival in British Columbia. We have a lot of fans in that part of North America.

“Instead, we just played the East Coast and New England for most of last year. We tried to stay three-to-four hours from home. We went down to South Carolina and North Carolina. We’re just trying to keep the band going.”

Professor Louie has been more than successful at keeping the band going. The blues-based group is now entering its third decade.

Professor Louie has emerged over his five decades in the music industry as the torch bearer of the true spirit of American Roots music. Seasoned live performer, prolific recording artist and versatile multi-instrumentalist (Hammond B3 organ, piano/keyboards, accordion, vocals), Professor Louie also is an award-winning recording producer and engineer, capturing the talents of some of the world’s premier musicians including The Band.

This Grammy-Nominated band usually plays 150 shows a year in the US and worldwide. They have performed at the Thunder Bay, London & Windsor Festivals in Canada, The Tondor Festival, Falcon Ridge Festival, The Sellersville Theater, BB Kings in NYC, The House of Blues in L.A. and The Bearsville Theater in Woodstock.

Professor Louie & The Crowmatix have a repertoire that is steeped in rock-and-roll, blues, gospel and American roots music. They have a huge discography that features 15 studio albums on The Woodstock Records label.

The band’s lineup features Professor Louie (Keys, Accordion, Vocals), John Platania (Guitar, Vocals), Gary Burke (Drums), Miss Marie (Vocals, Percussionist, Keys) and Frank Campbell (Bass, Vocals).

Professor Louie collaborated with The Band for more than 16 years and produced the group’s three comeback albums in the 90’s – “Jericho.” “High on The Hog” and “Jubilation.” Louie has produced and performed with such artists as Graham Parker, Commander Cody, Guy Davis, Buckwheat Zydeco, and New Riders of The Purple Sage.

Platania is a session musician, guitarist and record producer known for his work with Van Morrison for more than 30 years. He also has performed and recorded with Chip Taylor, Randy Neuman, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Merchant, Don Mc Lean, and Judy Collins. Burke is a drummer and percussionist with The Radio City Music Hall Orchestra He has performed with Bob Dylan’s The Rolling Thunder Review and recorded and toured extensively with Joe Jackson.

Miss Marie has performed and recorded with Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson and The Commander Cody Band and was an integral part of Mercury Rev’s gold album “Deserters Song.” Campbell (Bass-Vocals) was Levon Helm’s Music Director with the Woodstock All-Stars. He also has performed and recorded with Steve Forbert.

“The current lineup has been the same for the last 16 years,” said Louie. “We’ve had the nucleus of the same five for quite a while. We’re also a good recording band. So, people use us a lot when they record. They hire us to be their studio musicians.”

Professor Louie & The Crowmatix have established a truly international reputation.

In 2007, they recorded their song “Melody of Peace” with the Czech Symphony in Prague that was released on the 2007 ERM Media CD “Holidays of The New Era Vol.2”. Professor Louie’s documentary “Woodstock – Siberia Blues Express” was filmed in Russia and featured in the Woodstock Film Festival in 2007.

“We have a good following in Russia,” said Louie. “We’ve toured there seven times. We’ve played a lot of shows in Novosibirsk and other Siberian cities.”

For now, Russia and Ukraine appear to be good countries to omit from any upcoming international tour itineraries.

Video link for Professor Louie & The Crowmatix — https://youtu.be/nqkwgv3jzNY.

The show at 118 North on July 17 will start at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15.

Other upcoming shows at 118 North are Mas Tequila Orchestra on July 14, Goldpark on July 16 and Yarn on July 20.

Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) is hosting Sir Rod & the Blues Doctors on July 15 and Toby Walker on July 16.

Riding high on the success of “Come Together” in 2020, Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors are a soulful, funky, Deep South trio bound by a family connection to the late Sterling “Mr. Satan” Magee (1936-2020), the greatest one-man blues band who ever lived.

Featuring Patterson up front, Adam Gussow on amplified harmonica and drums, and Alan Gross on electric guitar, Sir Rod & The Blues Doctors offer a powerful mix of down-home blues, old-school soul, and uptown funk.

Toby Walker was the first-place winner of the International Blues Challenge Award, and someone who keep the rich American heritage of down-home blues alive.

The “Thursday Night Jazz Jam” and the “Sunday Blues Brunch & Jam” are regular features on Jamey’s calendar while Friday and Saturday night shows feature national and regional acts.

On July 14, it will be time for the “Thursday Night Jazz Jam” featuring the Dave Reiter Trio playing intriguing jazz from 8-10 p.m. every

There is a $10 cover charge at the door for the “Thursday Night Jazz Jam.”

“Sunday Blues Brunch & Jam” is a favorite of Jamey’s regulars because Reilly and his band the Philly Blues Kings (www.phillyblueskings.com) are the performers each week.

The Philly Blues King are a veteran outfit comprised of David Reiter on guitar, keyboards and vocals, Bill Marconi on drums and vocals and Reilly on bass guitar. They have performed together for 15 years and are the house band for Jamey’s House of Music. They are well known for tight, jazz inflected classic blues.

Reiter performs on a seven-string guitar and Reilly plays a fretless five string bass and that sets the group above the ordinary. The three veteran musicians have each spent decades playing the blues professionally and have backed many well-known national artists.

Maci Miller, an internationally recognized jazz singer based in Philadelphia, joined the Blues Kings and quickly established herself as a top-flight front woman.

Video link for Philly Blues Kings — https://youtu.be/bAnBVLc7Wsg.

Video link for Maci Miller — https://youtu.be/D3ktSJTVxDs.

The show at Jamey’s House of Music on 12 will start at noon. Admission is free.

On July 15, the Shady Grove Music Fest will be held at Arden Gild Hall (2126 The Highway, Arden, Delaware, ardenconcerts.com).

The festival will run from noon-8 p.m. with performances by Cosmic Guilt, Eyebawl, The Mary Veils, Katie Dill, Kelsey Cork & the Swigs, Rew, Edgewater Avenue, Death By Indie and Red Birds.

Tickets are $29.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a novel by the American author Harper Lee, which was published in 1960 and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is also a movie that won three Oscars and was nominated for five more.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is also a 2018 play that received nine Tony Award® nominations and picked up a win in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play.

The Kimmel Cultural Campus, in partnership with The Shubert Organization, is presenting the history-making production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” in a Philadelphia premiere engagement, July 12 – 24, 2022 at the Campus’ Academy of Music (240 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, kimmelculturalcampus.org.) Academy Award® winner Aaron Sorkin’s new play, directed by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher and based on Harper Lee’s classic novel, will come to Philadelphia as part of a multi-year national tour across North America.

Set in Alabama in 1934, Harper Lee’s enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence centers on one of the most venerated characters in American literature, small-town lawyer Atticus Finch. The cast of characters includes Atticus’s daughter Scout, her brother Jem, their housekeeper and caretaker, Calpurnia, their visiting friend Dill, and a mysterious neighbor, the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley. The other indelible residents of Maycomb, Alabama, are Bob Ewell, Tom Robinson, prosecutor Horace Gilmer, Judge Taylor and Mayella Ewell.

Starring in the critically acclaimed National Tour production are Emmy Award®-winning actor Richard Thomas as Atticus Finch, Melanie Moore as Scout Finch, Jacqueline Williams as Calpurnia, Justin Mark as Jem Finch, Yaegel T. Welch as Tom Robinson, Steven Lee Johnson as Dill Harris, Mary Badham and Delaware County native Greg Wood as Dr. Reynolds.

Thomas, who has a large Broadway and film resume and a list of acting awards, first gained national recognition as John-Boy in the hit TV series “The Waltons.”

Video link for “To Kill a Mockingbird” – https://youtu.be/QzBjwOmnmXQ.

The National Tour of “To Kill a Mockingbird” will have a run at the Academy of Music now through July 24. Ticket prices start at $25.

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) is hosting Hearts, Hands & Grenades on July 15 and D Corrididi Band on July 17.

The Sound Bank (119 South Main Street, Phoenixville, www.soundbankphx.com) will have Dane Mattock on July 14 and “Sounds Better: A Fundraiser for Better Days Ahead” on July 15.

Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts (9 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com) will present Jimmy Vivino Band on July 16.

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, 302- 475-2313, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org) will open its current production of “Sweet Charity,” on July 16. The show will run through August 28.

People’s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, www.peopleslight.org) is presenting “The Vinegar Tree” through July 24.

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) will present Memphis Lightning on July 14, The Hillbenders on July 15, The High Kings on July 16, Colin James on July 17, Jimmie Vaughan on July 19 and Willie Watson on Juy 20.

City Winery (990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, citywinery.com) will have Dwell on July 15, Kevin James Thornton on July 16, Les Nubians on July 17, and LaLa Hathaway on July 19 and 20.

The Met (858 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, http://themetphilly.com) will host Deadmau5 on July 15.

Brooklyn Bowl (1009 Canal Street, Philadelphia, www.brooklynbowl.com/philadelphia) will have Omar’s hat on July 14, Snacktime on July 15, Kingpin on July 16 and Warpaint on July 20

Mann Music Center (Mann Center, 5201 N. Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, http://manncenter.org) hosts Phish on July 19 and 20.

Kung Fu Necktie (1248 North Front Street, Philadelphia, kungfunecktie.com) presents Elway on July 14, Outages on July 15, Kat Jagger on July 16, and Kay and the Hooligans on July 20.

Fire (412 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, thefirephilly.com) will host Vazum on July 14, Dr. Arcola on July 15 and Bazookatooth on July 18.

The Xcite Center at Parx Casino (2999 Street Road, Bensalem, https://parxcasino.com) will present Sheryl Crow on July 14 and the Psychedelic Furs on July 15.

Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, www.thefillmorephilly.com) hosts Max Brennan on July 14, If I Die First on July 15 and Laura Marano on July 18.

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, www.johnnybrendas.com) presents Brick and Mortar on July 15, Cassandra Jenkins on July 18, Katie Besjick on July 19 and The Deslondes on July 20.

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, http://undergroundarts.org) will have Left to Die on July 14 and Fiona’s World 2022 on July 20.

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com) hosts Joe Pera on July 19, Sleeping with Sirens on July 19 and Strfkr on July 20.

Colonial Theater (227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, thecolonialtheatre.com/events) hosts Miguel Espinoza on July 22.

PhilaMOCA (531 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, 267-519-9651, www.philamoca.org) will present Psychic Flowers on July 14 and Rat Boys on July 18.

Phantom Power (121 West Frederick Street, Millersville, www.phantompower.net) will have The Bouncing Souls on July 14, Lovesik on July 15, Native Maze on July 16, and Elf Power on July 20.

Punch Line Philly (33 East Laurel Street, Philadelphia, 215-606-6555, http://www.punchlinephilly.com) will have Benji Brown from July 14-16, Clean Chuckles on July 17 and Yvonne Orji on July 18.

Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.heliumcomedy.com)., will have Kyle Kinane from July 14-16, Nimesh Patel on July 17 and 18 and Lil Sasquatch on July 19 and 20.

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 215- 925-6455, www.milkboyphilly.com) will present The Stews on July 19.

Reverb (1402 North Ninth Street, Reading, 610-743-3069, www.reverbconcerts.com) has El Philly, Hugo Cesar on July 15, Adam Calhoun on July 16 and Montana of 300 on July 20.

The Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 202-730-3331, www.thequeenwilmington.com) presents Railroad Earth on July 14 and Femi Kuti on July 15.

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com) presents Howard Jones and Midge Ure on July 15, Manhattan Transfer on July 16, Dion on July 17 and John Anderson on July 20.

The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, www.AMTshows.com) is presenting a twin-bill with Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan on July 15 and a concert by Nelson on July 17.

The Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (One Harbor Boulevard, Camden, New Jersey, http://bbtpavilion.centercamden.org/) is hosting Backstreet Boys on July 14 and the Dave Matthews Band on July 15 and 16.