Sunday Street Acoustic Series

The Sunday Street Acoustic Series, co-sponsored by WUSB-FM, presents nationally and internationally touring artists who perform in the listening room setting of The University Cafe. The series runs from September to early June and is presenting its 100th concert this fall. Past performers have included Graham Parker, Willie Nile, Susan Werner, Eric Andersen, and Fairport Convention.

The Sunday Acoustic Concert Series, produced by Charlie Backfish, is co-sponsored by WUSB-FM (90.1fm).

For Podcasts of past shows at The University Cafe, please click here: University Cafe Podcasts.

To see all dates at a quick glance please view our flyer

From Canada: Treasa Levasseur and Jory Nash
Sunday, May 6th at 7 P.M.

Two highly-acclaimed young Canadian musicians share a spring evening co-bill at the University Cafe.

Treasa Levassuer is one of Canada's most versatile artists. A singer, pianist and accordian player, she draws from a deep pool of influences, from Brill Building pop to Muscle Shoals soul, and all points between — and she's been compared to Laura Nyro, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King and Marcia Ball. Her new album, Broad, shows her at the peak of her game, on blues songs as well as great interpretations of songs by Neil Young and Randy Newman. A main stage performer at last year's Philadelphia Folk Festival, Treasa and her trio will amaze the Cafe audience. (www.treasalevasseur.com)

Jory Nash is an award-winning singer-songwriter who blends elements of folk, jazz, blues, pop & soul into an original stew of sound. He has recorded 6 critically acclaimed albums, including his newest CD "New Blue Day", which was named the Penguin Eggs Magazine 2009 Critic's Choice Album of the Year . New Blue Day was also nominated for a 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award. Jory returns to the University Cafe after a highly-acclaimed appearance with Aengus Finnan and Terry Tufts in a tribute show to Gordon Lightfoot. (www.jorynash.com)

Look for lots of collaboration by these two performers during this concert.

Advance sale at $20.00 at www.shopsbu.com until 3:00pm Wednesday, May 2nd.
Tickets at the door (if available) $25.00

NOTE: When purchasing tickets, please select "Sunday Tickets" for the delivery method and print your invoice. Your tickets will be waiting for you at the door the day of the event.

Bob Dylan's 71st Birthday Celebration with The Kennedys, Rod MacDonald, Russ Seeger, Steve Sollog, Steve Kaplan, Roger Murdock, and others
Saturday, May 19th at 8 P.M.

The Cafe's annual benefit event and always a sell-out show.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Dylan's emergence as a recording artist with the self-titled debut album in 1962, so we'll be visiting songs throughout this amazing half-century of recording. It is also the 45th anniversary of the release of John Wesley Harding and the recording of The Basement Tapes so songs from them will also figure in the mix.

Anchoring the evening's celebration will be Pete and Maura Kennedy, who return for their sixth Dylan Birthday celebration at the Café. Guitars, sitars and even ukeleles come into play when The Kennedys "do Dylan." (www.kennedysmusic.com)

Rod MacDonald, one of America's finest singer-songwriters and an acknowledged master at interpreting Dylan, returns for another Dylanfest at the Cafe. Rod and his band Big Brass Bed have recently recorded a second album of Dylan songs. (www.rodmacdonald.net)

Russ Seeger, of Levon Helm's Last Hombres, interprets lesser-known Dylan songs and adds great fiddle and guitar work to other Dylan classics in his seventh appearance at a Cafe Bob Dylan Birthday celebration. (www.myspace.com/russseegermusic)

Steve Sollog on keyboards, Steve Kaplan on bass, and Roger Murdock on drums round out the band for this terrific evening of music.

And who knows who else might appear?

Tickets limited to 100 seats and available now for $30.00 at www.shopsbu.com.

NOTE: When purchasing tickets, please select "Sunday Tickets" for the delivery method and print your invoice. Your tickets will be waiting for you at the door the day of the event.

Ray Bonneville and Louise Taylor
Sunday, June 10th at 7 P.M.

Presented in collaboration with the Long Island Blues Society

A co-bill of two incredibly talented artists who also happen to be very good friends, so expect a lot of musical interaction.

Ray Bonneville is a roaming blues poet. Born in Canada and raised in the United States, Ray says New Orleans is where he began to "learn to take my time, to allow space between the notes, so the songs could truly groove." That groove is at the core of his sound. A one-man band, he backs up weathered, storytelling vocals with a highly percussive guitar style, dramatic harmonica lines and a foot that keeps the rock steady beat. Bad Man's Blood is his latest album (www.raybonneville.com)

Louise Taylor's smoky (often sultry), incredibly expressive voice, coupled with her innovative guitar tunings suggests a combination of Bonnie Raitt and Cassandra Wilson, as she continues to push the boundaries of acoustic music, incorporating blues, jazz and world rhythms into the mix. In a long over-due return to performing, Louise will be showcasing songs from a brand new studio album as well as featuring her classics like "Blue Norther" and "Call My Name." (www.louisetaylor.com)

Advance sale at $20.00 at www.shopsbu.com until 3:00pm Wednesday, June 6th.
Tickets at the door (if available) $25.00.

NOTE: When purchasing tickets, please select "Sunday Tickets" for the delivery method and print your invoice. Your tickets will be waiting for you at the door the day of the event.

Blackie and The Rodeo Kings
[POSTPONED to Sunday, October 14th at 2 P.M.

NOTE: All tickets purchased will be honored. on October 14th.

These three Canadian musicians, Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing and Tom Wilson, all well-established artists on their own, formed B&RK as a tribute to Canadian songwriter Willie P. Bennett. The group has evolved into one of North America's finest roots-oriented bands and is now in its second decade, with a Juno award and several Juno nominations to its credit.

B&RK amazed the Café audience in 2008 with an unforgettable performance, reminiscent of The Band and other groups. B&RK will be playing some of their classic songs as well as songs from their new CD, KINGS & QUEENS, which features them collaborating with Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and eleven other prominent female singers. (www.blackieandtherodeokings.com)

This show is sold out!

Reservations/information by e mail to: SundayStreetWUSB@aol.com
Telephone inquiries: leave message at 631-632-1093

Directions: www.stonybrook.edu/sb/directions.

THE UNIVERSITY CAFE PATIO WILL BE CLOSED AS OF JANUARY 2010. PLEASE USE THIS MAP TO VIEW ALTERNATE WAYS TO ACCESS THE UNIVERSITY CAFE.