(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) -- Get your groove on during Blues in the Loft, a South Orange Performing Arts Center concert series curated and hosted by Mike Griot. On Sunday nights, hear world-class artists from the region in the cabaret-style setting of the SOPAC Loft. The 2022 Blues in the Loft series is dedicated to Lee Boswell-May, longtime curator of the program. Upcoming shows include performances by King Solomon Hicks and Alex Tea. Tickets are $20. All shows begin at 7:00pm.
King Solomon Hicks - Sunday, February 27. King Solomon Hicks, the 26-year-old guitar phenom from Harlem, New York is a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and composer. He was invested in music from a very young age and started playing guitar at just six years old. Growing up in Harlem he was constantly surrounded by music. Hicks witnessed performances that made a significant impact on his ambitions as a musician and he says: “When you’re around good musicians, it gives you that spark. “Being around those types of musicians also taught me to NOT be the fastest guitar player. I wanted to be the one who knew the most riffs and drew on a lot of knowledge so I could play anything, and with anyone.
Solomon won the 2021 Blues Music Awards for Best Emerging Artist for his 2020 CD release, Harlem on Provogue Records. The set, produced/recorded by multiple Grammy Award winner Kirk Yano (Miles Davis, Public Enemy, Mariah Carey), showcases Hicks as a writer, player and interpreter.
He was WXPN’s “Artist To Watch” for August 2020. His original song “421 South Main” made the Top 20 Blues songs of 2020 on Spotify and the song “What the Devil Loves” gets daily spins on “Sirrus Bluesville” Radio. Has performed on KISS Kruise V, Joe Bonamassa’s Blues Alive at Sea [ 2017 & 2019]. He’s shared stages with Tony Bennett, Jeff Beck, Ringo Starr, Beth Hart, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Mavis Staples, Robert Cray and many others. He is a member of the Blues Foundation in Memphis, Solomon has Judged the IBC’s in Memphis [International Blues Challenge]” being a supporter of young Musicians and The Blues Foundation.
He paid his own success forward by teaching music for the Children’s Aid Society, working with the Harlem Arts Alliance and the New York City Jazzmobile.
Alex Tea - Sunday, April 24. Alex Tea is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and artist living in Jersey City. In addition to various original musical projects, he has done backup vocal arrangement and recording with producers Pat Van Dyke, Victor Rice, Curumin, Klaus Sena, Jim the Boss, and Esteban Descalzo, and appeared on recordings by Saulo Duarte e a Unidade, Elliot Martin, Paula Cavalciuk, and Kika (Brazil), in addition to many others.
His current musical endeavors include a continuation of the Roots Reggae project, Kiwi, which he co-founded and led from 2003-2016; Orquestra Raiz, an international collaboration with São Paulo-based producer Klaus Sena; and a conceptual project fusing elements of Electro-Pop, Soul, Folk, Funk and Roots. In addition to his main projects, he writes, produces and records in a variety of genres and formats (i.e. Jersey City Roots Orchestra). He was an active contributor at Hoboken Hi-Fi and founding member of the house band. In the nearly two decades since he dedicated himself to composing, he has amassed an original catalog of over 150 songs, soundscapes and jingles.
Covid-19: At this time, all SOPAC patrons are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test and wear a mask. All current Covid-19 Precautions & Policies can be found at SOPACnow.org/Covid-19.
Since 2006, SOPAC has been serving as a premier performing arts center in the region. SOPAC offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. The arts center hosts a variety of live performances, community events and education programs for all ages. SOPAC is home for Seton Hall University Arts Council’s performances, including the Classical Concert Series, Jazz ‘N the Hall performances and Seton Hall University Theatre productions. SOPAC programs are made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. The South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
