There’s a musician in Connecticut this week who’s been going strong for over half a century. Bluesman Bobby Rush, who began his career in the 1940s, became the first blues artist to perform in China in 2007, won a Grammy in 2017 at the age of 83 and, now 92, can be heard playing on the soundtrack of one of the biggest movies of last year, “Sinners.” He recently wrote a memoir, “I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story.”
Guitarist Steve Conte has also seen the music change over decades. He’s worked with blues artists, anime composers, chart acts like Billy Squier, the New York Dolls, pioneering glam diva Suzi Quatro and hundreds of other artists including his brother and longtime collaborator John Conte. Steve Conte’s ninth solo release, “The Concrete Jangle,” came out in 2024.
The current versions of teen groups we recognize from the 1980s and ‘90s pervade Connecticut this week with Lisa Lisa, The Cover Girls, Rockell, Lisette Melendez and many others.
SosMula is finding himself outside of the influential trap-metal act City Morgue, which may have broken up, is at least on hiatus and likely won’t resurface unchanged. SosMula has been releasing solo material for the past five years and is in a period of growth worth examining.
While we can be nostalgic for these artist’s earlier work, it’s clear that even the ones who might appear to be living in the past by resting on their proven hits are working in a different context in a different world. Embrace the artistry this week in Connecticut.
Orchestra Lumos: ‘Fantasia’
Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford
Orchestra Lumos accompanies a screening of the 1940 Disney movie that animated such classic classical works as “Rite of Spring” and “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. $27-$99. palacestamford.org.
Drum Tao
Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield
The Japanese drum/movement spectacle Drum Tao is at Fairfield University’s Quick Center on Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. $35. quickcenter.fairfield.edu.
Justin Furstenfeld
Infinity Music Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford
Justin Furstenfeld of the bands Blue October and Harvard of the South also has a longstanding solo act in which he sings his songs as well as reads from his published writings. He calls the show “An Open Book: I Laugh at Myself.” Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. $63.19-$107.73. infinityhall.com.
Meet Me @ the Altar
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
The lively, catchy, female indie pop/punk trio Meet Me @ the Altar, whose members hail from New Jersey, Florida and Georgia, made waves with their song “Garden” and are on another national tour. Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. $32.34, $26.69 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
Spend an evening with rocker Bret Michaels at Mohegan Sun Arena on Feb. 7. (Mark Maglio)
Say Anything and Motion City Soundtrack
College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New Haven
Two alt/indie bands that hit it big in the 2000s, Say Anything (known for “A Girl Like You”) and Motion Picture Soundtrack (“This Is for Real”) are on a co-headlining a winter tour together. Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. $53.96-$64.26. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Henhouse Prowlers
Fairfield Theatre Company, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield
Internationally touring bluegrass ensemble Henhouse Prowlers play music from its latest album “Unravel” Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. $30-33, $25-$28. fairfieldtheatre.org.
Sosmula
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford
Sosmula, from the New York trap-metal act City Morgue, is at The Webster on his Killa Season tour with Ricky Hil opening. Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. $26.15. thewebsterct.com.
Zeddy Will
Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven
The progressive hip-hop artist from Queens, Zeddy Will, is at Toad’s Place on Feb. 5 at 10 p.m. thanks to the Yale Black Solidarity Conference. $42. toadsplace.com.
‘Darling’
Studio Theatre, 802 Bolton Rd. Unit 1127, Storrs
The first show of the new semester at Connecticut Repertory Theatre is UConn puppet arts student Harley Brooke Walker’s “Darling,” a modern take on the Peter Pan story involving shadow puppets, dance, movement and visual effects, with the intriguing subtitle “A Guided Adventure in Dismantling the Patriarchy.” “Darling” is directed by Kate Brehm. Feb. 5-15. $25-$35, $20-$30 seniors, $12 students and children. connecticutrep.uconn.edu.
‘Frozen’
ACT of CT, 36 Old Quarry Road, Ridgefield
Ridgefield’s ACT of CT company, which specializes in American musicals, has chosen an appropriate time of year to tackle the stage version of “Disney’s Frozen.” Feb. 5 through March 15. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. There is no performance on Feb. 18. $79-$97. actofct.org.
Sydnee Washington
Funny Bone Comedy Club, 194 Buckland Hills Drive Suite 1054, Manchester
Comedian and “Unofficial Expert” podcaster Sydnee Washington does four shows at the Funny Bone Comedy Club on Feb. 6 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Feb. 7 at 6:30 and 9 p.m. $22. hartford.funnybone.com.
Former ASCAP Country Songwriter-Artist of the Year Brett Young is performing at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater on Feb. 7. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Steve Conte
Cafe Nine, 250 State St., New Haven
Rock guitar hero Steve Conte has led his own bands, including Company of Wolves, and worked with the likes of Paul Simon, Chuck Berry, Peter Wolf, David Johansen and many, many others. He’s been doing solo stuff now and is at Cafe Nine with two other acts: the hockey-mad locals The Zambonis and punk diva Palmyra Delran of The Friggs. Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. $20. cafenine.com.
Freestyle Extravaganza
Palace Theater, 100 East Main St., Waterbury
This ‘80s/’90s pop/hip-hop package tour is headlined by Lisa Lisa of Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam fame and also includes George Lamond (“Bad of the Heart”), The Cover Girls (“Show Me,” “Wishing on a Star”), Rockell (“In a Dream”), Noel (“Silent Morning,” “The Question”), Lisette Melendez (“Together Forever”) and David from Nice & Wild (“Diamond Girl”). Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. $83-$133. VIP pre-show event is an additional $58. palacetheaterct.org.
Bret Michaels
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
There are stories about a possible Poison reunion not happening, which makes this “Evening with Bret Michaels” show all the more enticing. Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. $51.35-$264.05. mohegansun.com.
Brett Young
Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
Brett Young, whose Southern-tinged California pop style has been labeled “Caliville,” is at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater on Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. $49.35-$191.15. foxwoods.com.
Bobby Rush
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook
Electric blues/R&B vocalist, guitarist and harmonica player Bobby Rush, who was friends with Elmore James in the 1940s and had Pinetop Perkins in his first band, is still out there at the age of 92. Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. $52. thekate.org
Dan Deacon
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
Moody, interactive electronic music artist Dan Deacon brings his expansive sounds and equipment to Space Ballroom. Parlay Droner opens. Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. $32.34. spaceballroom.com.