Advertisement: Soggy Po Boys jazz served up 'messy style' at Castle on Friday

The Soggy Po Boys deliver a rich powerful jazz roots fusion sound. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Now in its fourth year, The Castle on Charles has booked some great talent for spring performances, including several sought after bands, singer-songwriters, a variety show, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, a Mother's Day Jazz event, a musical Pirate's dinner theatre and a dance party.

The season encompasses an eight-concert Spring Music Series PLUS 8 other special entertainment nights (in red). The Music Series is still only $5 a show, or get a bargain Season Pass now at only $25 for all 8 concerts! Wow! The other 8 varied events are ticketed at various low prices. Tickets are flying and shows are expected to sell out to so don't wait!

The 7-piece 'Soggy Po Boys' band will storm The Castle on April 13 with their brand of New Orleans swampy roots music. The Po Boys will be celebrating their new album and promise to get the crowd dancing. Then on Saturday, April 14 three bands (Trubble, C-Rock, The Culprits) will rock The Castle in tribute to the area's Mike Melanson who drowned in Costa Rica while one of the bands was on tour in February.

On Friday, April 20 acclaimed singer-songwriter Craig Werth debuts at The Castle. Werth has toured nationally with folk legend David Francey, and has the exceptional voice and guitar style similar of Dave Mallet and John Gorka. Things take a different turn the following evening, on April 21, featuring a sassy performance by The Boston BeauTease with their Spring Fling Burlesque show!

Come see the award-winning American of Hilton Park, and then our big act of the season is on Saturday, April 28 with a special, intimate concert by American pop-rock icon John Ford Coley. You will know many of C.F.Coley songs by heard - he was household name in the 70's and 80's as part of the duo 'England Dan and John Ford Coley.' Some of J.F.Coley's triple-platinum hits include the songs "I really love to see you tonight," "Nights are Forever," "Love is the answer," and "We'll never have to say goodbye again." Get online and listen!

The month of May at The Castle springs forth with Dave Gerard's 'Groove Thang' - a dancey roots band - on May 4, followed by a very lively Latin dance party with the 5-piece Cuban band 'Primo Cubano' for Cinco de Mayo, complete with a Mexican dinner buffet, a mini salsa dance class and performances, and of course, dancing to live Salsa, Cuban son music and Cha Cha.

Then the Castle sets the stage for an encore performance the two middle weekends of May, returning our fabulous, colorful, musical dinner theatre show "Pirates of The Castle! - Curse of the Black Spot." Highly rated in a theatrical review, the show features a talented troupe of costumed actors, live music, song, and a four-course feast fit for royal pirates and their guests. This is Castle entertainment in all of it's abundance.

After the Pirates show, we present our annual Mother's Day Jazz Concert with the Ray DeMarco Band, and a smaller scale theatrical show staged by Susan Poulin performing 'The Best of Ida' and her brand of Maine humor. Live music continues at The Castle through mid June with acts including folk rock with The Revolutionists, Boston blues legend Joe Lilly and The Mystics, a rocking, bluesy dance party with Sharon Jones and the Downtown Express, and lastly an evening of upbeat blues with Ben Knight and the Nightlifes.

All of schedules and details are posted online. Most of the Friday concerts at The Castle open at least an hour before show time with drinks, appetizers, a salad, sandwiches or an entree du jour. Season passes and all tickets are currently available at www.CastleNH.com So get psyched - tell your friends and forward this email - we'll see you soon!