10 Years of Wine & Song | Musical Series Hits Milestone

Brad Colerick Presents His Five-Hundredth Wednesday Night Americana Music Show

PHOTO: Eric Fabbro | SouthPasadenan.com News | Swedish singer/songwriter Sofia Talvik at Wine & Song in the Arroyo

He calls it the “mid-week, spirit-lifting hootenanny.” Every Wednesday night since October of 2009, Brad Colerick has assembled a cast of outstanding musicians and songwriters that tell stories and sing original songs to an appreciative audience leaning in to hear every word. The series has hosted Grammy-winners as well as road-tested songwriters looking to share glimpses of life they’ve chronicled on their journey.

It began in a wine bar in South Pasadena where Colerick signed on for an eight week residency. It has turned into one of the premiere tour stops in the L.A. area for Americana singer-songwriters from around the globe — artists from Australia such as Jordie Lane and Clare Reynolds, and siblings Mitch and Kara Grainger. Other artists have made their way to the San Gabriel Valley hot spot from Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Colombia, Canada, Germany, England, Ireland, Brazil, Japan and, of course, all across the U.S.

The anniversary show will feature New Zealander Jackie Bristow along with Australian guitar ace Mark Punch, plus Nashville duo Mare Wakefield & Nomad, and special guests. The format has not changed much in ten years — two featured acts each week plus Colerick and some combination of a house band, along with a few special guests invited up from the audience.

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“We’ve seen first dates turn into long-term relationships, and many musical collaborations that began with

introductions on the Wine & Song stage,” said Colerick, “the intimacy of these shows is what keeps people coming back. The artists become part of the community here and always look forward to returning.”

Following year one at the wine bar, the series moved to Firefly Bistro in South Pasadena for over four years until the restaurant closed. For the next nine months the show jumped around to a dozen locations, sometimes being announced only days prior to the show. But the loyal following always filled up whatever venue was utilized, including one show in Colerick’s backyard. The series landed in its current location in the Blue Guitar room at Arroyo Seco Golf Course in 2015.

So what’s ahead for the next ten years? Colerick says he’ll continue to book the most compelling

Americana artists he can find. He may enlist some assistance from guest hosts as he hits the road himself a bit more. Whatever is ahead, he says, “it will surely pair nicely with an old vine, central-coast Zinfandel.”

More information can be found at http://blueguitar.club, or call (323)769-3500 and speak to Brad directly.

The Arroyo Seco Grill is adjacent to the Blue Guitar room and has food and full bar. Patrons can bring a bottle of wine for $10 corkage fee. The Arroyo Seco Golf Course is located at 1055 Lohman Lane in South Pasadena.