“A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern” Benefit @ The Linda, 6/10/10

The Tess’ Lark Tavern regular performers will gather together to present “A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern: A Benefit Celebration featuring the House Bands of the Lark Tavern” at The Linda in Albany at 7pm on Thursday, June 10.

Performing will be Jim Gaudet & the Railroad Boys, Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble, MotherJudge & the Best Damn Open Mic EVER! Band, Ramblin Jug Stompers, Albany Poets’ Poets Speak Loud and special guest Bryan Thomas. These are the performers who have graced the stage at the Lark on a regular weekly or monthly basis for years – performers who have literally taken up residency at Tess’.

Gaudet and the Railroad Boys are the “newcomers,” and they were already approaching their third anniversary at Tess’ when an early morning fire destroyed the tavern – a meeting place for many members of Nippertown’s artistic community – on May 6.

It’s no exaggeration to say that host band Ramblin Jug Stompers and the thrilling, 17-piece Big Soul Ensemble simply would not exist without Tess Collins and her tavern, which was the incubator that allowed these groups to grow and develop into important elements of the area music scene.

The theme of the benefit at The Linda is “A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern,” and it will mark the first time that the Lark’s resident favorites have been on one stage together in one night.

Admission for “A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern” is $15 at the door (although larger donations will be gratefully accepted). There will be no advance ticket sales. All proceeds from admissions and donations – as well as CD and merchandise sales – will go directly to Tess’ Lark Tavern. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Nippertown.com is proud to be a sponsor of “A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern,” along with WAMC-FM, WEXT-FM and Metroland.