The Willie Nininger Trio celebrates the summer with a tropical evening in Margaritaville at the Mattatuck Museum’s TGI Third Thursday on July 21, 2011 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Wear your most outrageous floral shirt and get ready to party! Willie Nininger will perform popular Margaritaville favorites and rabble-rousing songs.
Willie is well known for his extensive repertoire, spontaneous sense of humor and flat-picking guitar technique. His performances range from country, folk and rock ‘n roll standards to theme shows including Irish, tropical, cowboy and international, as well as his own songs. Whether playing solo or with his band, Willie has a unique capability of adapting to, and interacting with, his audience. The New York Post calls Willie, “an all-smiling, downright charming performer who gets more enjoyment out of doing his musical thing than anyone else in recent memory”.
Willie Nininger, a mainstay of the New York, Greenwich Village Folk Scene in the 70s and 80s, has M.C.’d and performed in the legendary Fast Folk Musical Revues, and played clubs and concerts across the USA. He wrote and performed the title song for the Winter’s Night CD, that inspired the still popular Winter’s Night concert tours. He wrote songs for the Captain Kangaroo show and children’s TV specials, won the Folk City Bob Dylan imitator’s contests, developed a reputation as a great folk humorist, and gained notoriety as a top flatpick guitarist with his solo acoustic blue-grass version of the William Tell Overture. During visits to Europe in the early 90s Willie gained such a following that he pulled up stakes and moved to Switzerland, playing and recording for several years, and winning the National Entertainer of the Year award. Now Willie has returned to the United States to pick up where he left off, and has even applied to become the official State of Connecticut Troubadour.
July’s TGI Third Thursday with Willie Nininger promises an evening of lively, foot-tapping music by a highly accomplished artist who knows how to show an audience a good time. TGI Third Thursday, a fun, after-hours event, is a great way to meet up with friends, network with business associates, and enjoy live music, hors d’oeuvres and wine. To purchase tickets in advance call Cathy Filipone at (203) 753-0381 ext 10. Or go to the website at www.mattatuckmuseum.org for more information and to register online. Admission is $7 for museum-members, and $15 for non-members. Join the museum or renew your membership on TGI Third Thursday at get in free!
The Mattatuck Museum is operated with support from the Connecticut Commission on Cultural & Tourism, and is a member of the Connecticut Art Trail, fifteen world-class museums and historic sites (www.arttrail.org). Located at 144 West Main Street, Waterbury, the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Convenient, free parking is located directly behind the museum on Park Place. For more information about First Thursdays, the museum’s collections, or other programs please call 203-753-0381 ext 10 or visit the website at www.MattatuckMuseum.org.