Patti Spadaro: Older News

Hi everyone.  The Patti Spadaro band is in the studio!  We are happy & excited to be spending this fall working on a brand new CD.  Lots more to come...

The Blues Go Pink show at Cefalo's was a great success. We raised lots of funds for Adagio Health to provide mammograms and screenings for underinsured PA women. Jill Simmons and Andrea Pearl joined the Patti Spadaro Band for a sizzling set. Several other female fronted bands played, and we ended the evening with the all-female Diva Band, with Patti on guitar and vocals. Check the Blues Society of Western PA's website for a great slide show with photos of all the bands. http://www.bswpa.org

 

Hi everyone. The 16th annual Potter County 4th of July party was sooooo much fun! First I played & sang a beautiful set with Women On Top. These ladies harmonize so well together! Cherylann Hawk, Jill Simmons, Ali Schelin, me & Dave Tauberg (I'll get pics and video up soon). Then came a HUGE set with theCAUSE. I really dig playing with these guys. Pappy (guitar) and I have such good chemistry, as does the whole band. The audience was so warm and open and kind, the music lasted all weekend long. We played until the sun came up Sunday morning. It was a big reminder of why I still play music after all these years. Letting loose, being in the zone, connecting to my own soul and to the musicians I'm playing with and the audience. Everyone there contributed to the magic. I've been invited back next year, and plan on being there! For now, I'm hitting the beach.
Happy Summer!!
-Patti

If you haven't seen or heard our new lineup - you gotta come to a show soon! Keyboard player and vocalist Denny Karl will blow you away. And Davis is rockin out on the drums. Pittsburgh has some GREAT talent!!

Hope to see some familiar faces, and some new ones, celebrating spring with us next Sat, March 21, and the following Sun March 29. pUNKaplaooza is such a party - good people having a good time listening and dancing all day and night to great jammy music.
And D-Jam - I'll be playing with theCAUSE raising much needed funds for the food bank. They have a great lineup planned. Hope to see you! Check the Calendar page for details.
HAPPY SPRING - YAY!!
-Patti

Hi, anybody notice how important music was in the Inaguration? The whole day, including the inaguration ceremony itself was packed full of music. From Aretha singing My Country 'Tis of Thee, to Hail To the Chief, to the parade marching bands to all the Balls, and the pre-parties too. Music. Such an important part of our lives. Don't take it for granted. It's a very good thing.

OK - back to songwriting....

Hi there. This winter I'm slowing down and working on a bunch of new tunes for my next CD. Lots of good stuff in store...stay tuned...
See ya soon,
Patti

Thanks everyone for coming out to McGrogan's. It was so nice playing to a packed house and seeing so many friendly faces. Hope you had as much fun as we did. We'll definitly be back!

What a fall. Change is in the air! Lots of pretty colors, and some beautifully warm sunny days. Last night Nelson Harrison sat in with us at Moondogs. Nelson is a legendary Pittsburgh jazz horn player (He's played with Count Basie Orchestra, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, & many many more). We had lots of jammy fun rippin it up with him!
The Halloween Show with theCAUSE was a total blast as usual. We all dressed as characters from Grateful Dead songs. I was China Cat Sunflower (see photos page). I played guitar all night with theCAUSE, with Jill Simmons and Cherylann Hawk on vocals. The whole show is available for free download (check the Listen page).
Take care,
Patti

Hi all. Wexford was loads of fun last night. D'vine wine is a really cool new spot for live music. Intimate setting, great atmosphere, with a real focus on the music. Two special guests showed up out-of-the-blue to hang out and play with us. Vocalist Andrea Pearl, and Bassist and Director of Jazz Studies at Carnegie Mellon, David Pellow sat in on a whole bunch of songs. Janelle gave a stellar performance on the drums too. Check out D'vine's tapas menu & wine and beer selection you won't find anywhere else around town.

Hey there. Here it is Sept already. With Olympics and National Conventions, school starting and summer coming to an end, change is in the air. I'm breaking out my notebooks and recorder and getting to work writing some new tunes. I've always wanted to do something positive in the world with music. I think music breaks us out of the ordinary, gets us out of our heads for a little while - like a mini vacation. I don't think it's just a distraction though, I think its really important. Maybe all the other stuff is the distraction, and music gives us a glimpse of what is more real. Clearing our brains, moving our feet, feeling with our hearts, being in the moment. That's what it does for me anyway. How about you?
Happy Sept!
-Peace,
Patti

The Pittsburgh Blues Festival was a blast this year. Playing with theCAUSE was great fun. Thousands of people came out for a weekend packed full of awesome live music. And, thousands of dollars were raised for the local food bank. I hung around all day Sunday, the bands were hot, the weather was sunny, the food was tasty, and folks were kicking back enjoying the day at beautiful Hartwood Acres. Many, many thanks to all involved, especially those who volunteered their time and talents to make this event happen.

Hey there everyone. Wow, what a blast we had at Moondogs last night! Mark Weakland was HOT on the drums. The band really let loose and got into some stellar jams. It was so much fun to play to such an enthusiastic crowd. Thank you all for sharing the evening with us. Great music is about so much more than a good band - its about people - you - the audience. The band was talking about how different our energy is at a show than at a rehearsal. At a show, we're just going for it, getting into the zone, giving all we got to the music and to you. The audience (YOU) make all the difference. We hope you had a GREAT time & hope to see you again soon.
Much Love,
Patti

No, it wasn't a punk fest last night, it was Steve "pUNK" Cunningham's annual Jamband Festival at Moondogs and the Starlite Lounge. What a party! What a great bunch of folks, dancing and jamming the day and night away together. Janelle Burdell and Mark Weakland took turns on the drums for our set. First - Janelle played drum kit with Mark on percussion, then Mark took over the kit & grooved away with us. Janelle topped off the set with an awesome drum solo, then pUNK himself joined us for a rippin' version of "Turn On Your Lovelight".

Other bands included the Juggling Suns - who were blistering hot! And theCAUSE, Zen, Cheryl Ann Hawk, Sue Cunningham, HillBilly Gypsies, One Gig at a Time & The Improv Project. What a blast. Let's do it again next year!

This year's D-Jam was again a success - raising about $3,000.00 for the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. I got to hang out and play with Cheryl Ann Hawk, theCause, Jill Simmons, The Dave Iglar Band, Deanna Dean & more. It was an evening of fun times, community and great music at PD's Pub. All for a very worthy cause.

The band is having a blast playing around town. We've had great crowds at PD's and the Thunderbird & can't wait for our next shows. Thanks to everyone who came out. Jill Simmons and theCAUSE jammed the night away with us at the T-Bird - what an awesome time we had last weekend. Tom Breiding played a nice acoustic opening set for us at Scooby's too. We've got a lot of REALLY COOL stuff coming up. Benefits, jamband festivals, headlining shows, plus all kinds of great bands & special guests we are sharing shows with. It's gonna be a fun spring & summer!! Check the calendar page for all the info.
Take a deep breath, smile, and enjoy...
-Patti

Hi, I'm happy to announce the Patti Spadaro Band is up and running! We've got some exciting upcoming shows, and are sharing the bill with some great Pittsburgh musicians, including pUNK and One Gig at a Time, Tom Breiding, and theCAUSE. Also, tune in to WNJR 91.7 radio Washington, PA for a live interview/acoustic performance with Patti on Feb. 6th at 5pm.

Hey, fall is getting off to a good start. Blues, rock 'n roll, acoustic, jam-rock, -I've been playing a bunch, catching some good shows, and falling in love with music all over again. Thanks Tom Breiding for inviting me to play at your CD release show at Cefalo's. What a great party! I really enjoyed playing with you and American Son, and with Bill Toms too. I also had fun playing a night full of Rockin' blues with The Randall Troy band. Then on to the IBC's. I had the honor of judging the first heat of this year's International Blues Challenge - the premier blues competition in the world. It was a tough job - some very talented local acts performing. Thanks to everyone who came out, best of luck to the winners in the finals!
Anybody else out there catch the Allman Brothers and Ratdog? - great show! And Little Feat rocked, by the way.
Looking ahead - I'm slowing down a little with performing, gonna try and write a bit, and get my own band off the ground. But I will be jamming away with Sandoz at the end of Oct., on the 26th and 27 as they do 2 nights of double-headers with theCAUSE, first at the Thunderbird, then PD's Pub for theCAUSE's annual Halloween bash.
See ya soon,
peace,
Patti
"A heart that is light lives long." -Irish proverb

Hi - Lots of stuff going on! Three all ages acoustic shows coming up. I'll be at the Farmer's Market in Washington 9/20, and I'm looking forward to my first show at The Inspiration Cafe on 9/29 - see the calendar page for details. Also - Check out the Washington County Observer-Reporter "Washington Living" Magazine on Wed 9/19 for a full length feature on yours truly!

I'm happy to report that yesterday was a good day at Moondogs. Most of the Pittsburgh Blues community came out to support & raise funds for long time Pittsburgh blues bassman Harry McCorkle. I met Harry for the first time yesterday. I have to say, it was really moving to see so many folks coming together in support of a friend! I had the pleasure of playing with The Sweaty Betty Blues band, the Mystic Knights, Billy "the Kid", and Randall Troy. Then my bud Craig King took the stage and was so smoking hot, I still feel a little warm this morning!
Coming in Oct. - on the 6th I'll be playing at Carlow College around 6:30 for World Hospice Day - then I'll be heading over to the Rex to catch Little Feat - no I won't be playing for that one, just dancing, singing along and smiling all night.

Enjoy early fall - get outside - it's beautiful out there!
-Patti

Wow - the Women in Blues show at Cefalo's on Aug 5th was fun! I've never been on stage with so many different talented people in one night. I had the honor of kicking off the show, singing and playing with the house band (Junior Smoke, Ken Laimison, Eric Spalding, Jeff Rosenthal, and Bubs McKeg). Then I got to sit in with some of Pittsburgh's finest blues ladies all afternoon and night. Including Jill West, Jill Simmons, Andrea Pearl, Annie Sutton, the Sweaty Betty Blues Band, and several other special guests. The place was packed, people were dancing, having a good 'ol time. Jill West and Blues Attack were on fire! The Pittsburgh Diva's brought the house down. What a blast!

Hi, I hope everyone is having a fun summer. Today I had the pleasure of again joining Tom Breiding at the Leaf & Bean. That was today - Saturday. Yesterday Tom played another show. He performed in front of 70,000 people (give or take a few hundred). That's right - 70,000 lucky folks listened to Tom play & sing at the Jamboree in the Hills. Congrats Tom - you deserve it - your songs are rock-solid. I'm sorry to have missed it! But I was having fun jamming with Soul Village yesterday. Sugar Ray - you are a smooth & soulful singer.
Now I'm gearing up for the Women in Blues show Aug 5th. My chance to let it rip with some of Pittsburgh's finest blues ladies. Hope to see ya then. Enjoy the beautiful weather.

Hi everybody. I'm playing at the Washington PA Farmer's Market this Thursday, 7/12, from 3 to 6pm. Ahhh - the Farmer's Market -community, and fresh produce . And tasty homegrown music. You get to actually meet the people who grow and make what they sell, plus you can buy food and other stuff that didn't take a boat to get here. Support local farmers, artisans, musicians and eat well.

The Leaf and Bean is a fun & funky little spot in the heart of the strip district. I had a great time playing there with Bill Toms and Tom Breiding. I definitely plan on teaming up with these guys again! Stop by the Leaf & Bean any Saturday afternoon & check out great music by local singer/songwriters - for free!

Cinco De Mayo - May 5th - I'll again be joining theCAUSE. This time at McGrogan's Tap Room in Canonsburg. I'm very excited, I'll be doing an acoustic set of (mainly) originals, and then tearing it up with theCAUSE all night long. Get ready for some amazingly tasty Grateful Dead jams. These guys get into some really wide open spaces. After all these years of playing music, its so cool to still be left in awe after a show - I can't wait. Get there early - music starts at 9:30 sharp.

D-Jam, the 8th annual Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank benefit, was a huge success. A bunch of musicians got together to jam at Sunseri's & we raised $3,166.00 for the food bank! I played with theCAUSE on several songs, including a stratospheric version of "Franklin's Tower" by the Grateful Dead. I still haven't come down from that one. Thanks to David Tauberg from theCAUSE for putting it all together, and to everyone who came out to the show.