Hot Names in Blues Warm Winter Weekend at Madison Beach Hotel

Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning boutique resort and Top Performer for the Hilton brand, hosts its annual Blues Fest Weekend March 17-18, 2023, featuring American barbecue and blues menu specials, a bourbon and beer tasting room, a blues guitar master class, and a star-studded musical line-up.

The music-packed weekend begins Friday, March 17 with an unplugged show in The Wharf with Blues Hall of Fame guitarist-singer-songwriter and International touring and music recording artist Tom "The Suit" Forst. His unique story, which has been chronicled by Forbes Magazine, as well as by television news programs, radio, and newspapers, has included a solo album produced by Grammy winner Paul Nelson, and being inducted into the New York and Connecticut Blues Hall of Fame. RESERVE via www.thewharfmadison.com

On Saturday, March 18, Madison Beach Hotel hosts a Blues Guitar Master Class by Jake Kulak from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The class is limited to 12 participants and may be purchased separately from the main event. Bring a guitar and notebook. $20 per person, plus EventBrite fees.

The bar opens at 7 p.m. featuring a bourbon and beer sampling in the Tasting Lounge beginning at 7 p.m. by Lawson's Finest Liquids.

Doors open for the main event at 8 p.m. starring The Jake Kulak Band, winner of the 2019 Foxwoods Resort Casino "Battle of the Bands" and special guests Daryl Davis, Cliff Goodwin, and James Montgomery.

The Jake Kulak Band brings their blend of modern and traditional guitar-driven blues and blues-rock to music lovers everywhere. The band represented CT for 4 years at the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase in Memphis, TN. In 2018, they won the CT Blues Society Band Competition and performed at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2019. They have also been nominated for a New England Music Award in the "Best New Act of the Year” category and were one of 6 Boston-area bands to win the House of Blues emerging artist competition.

Daryl Davis is an international recording artist, actor, and leader of The Daryl Davis Band. He is considered to be one of the greatest Blues & Boogie Woogie and Blues and Rock’n’Roll pianists of all time, having played with The Legendary Blues Band (formerly the Muddy Waters band) and Chuck Berry. As an Actor, Daryl has received rave reviews for his stage role in William Saroyan’s The Time Of Your Life. Daryl has done film and television as well and had roles in the critically acclaimed 5-year HBO television series The Wire.

As a race relations expert, Daryl has received acclaim for his book, Klan-Destine Relationships and his documentary Accidental Courtesy from many respected sources including CNN, NBC, Good Morning America, TLC, NPR, The Washington Post, and many others. He is also the recipient of numerous awards including the Elliott-Black Award, the MLK Award and the Bridge Builder Award among many others. Filled with exciting encounters and sometimes amusing anecdotes, Daryl’s impassioned lectures leave an audience feeling empowered to confront their own prejudices and overcome their fears.

Super six-stringer Cliff Goodwin was born in Worcester, MA on August 4th, 1953; and his father played sax and piano. His early influences initially included The Beatles but he quickly discovered the British blues scene: Clapton, Beck, and Page, and these great guitarists set the stage for his colossal career in music.

Growing up on the streets of Detroit, James Montgomery learned first-hand from the masters - James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells. James has continued to carry out the blues tradition and is still a vital blues presence and one of the most dynamic performers on stage. James has toured with many artists, including Aerosmith, The J. Geils Band, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, The Allman Brothers, The Steve Miller Band, The Johnny Winter Band, The Blues Brothers with (Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) and others.

Doors Open at 8 p.m. | Concert starts at 8:30 p.m. and play until 10:30 p.m.

General Admission. Limited Seating. Seating is not guaranteed for this event.

Reserved Tables available with the purchase of a Table of 10.

TICKETS FOR THE MAIN EVENT

Tables of 10, RESERVED Seating for your group of 10: $400* ($40 per ticket), minimum 10, maximum 10

General Admission - Advance Purchase: $45* per person

Day of Event: $50*per person, subject to availability

*EventBrite ticketing fees additional

Cash Bar | 21+ Event

PARKING: Limited self-public parking at the Shore. Free valet parking available.

DINNER RESERVATIONS: Secure dinner before the show in The Wharf Restaurant >> reserve online.

The Wing Agency artists include The Jake Kulak Band, sponsored in part by Lawson's Finest Liquids and Diageo.

Madison Beach Hotel is located at 94 West Wharf Road, Madison, Connecticut.

Visit Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton. For more information on Curio Collection by Hilton, please visit newsroom.hilton.com/curio.

# # #

About Madison Beach Hotel

Madison Beach Hotel is a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning boutique resort and was chosen as Top Performer by Hilton, the highest hotel award across all Hilton brands. The hotel, with 32 rooms offering luxurious accommodations with sweeping ocean views, private balconies, and beach, is part of Curio – A Collection by Hilton. Opened in May 2012, Madison Beach Hotel features The Wharf Restaurant with both dining room and porch seating, concierge spa, state-of-the-art fitness center and private yoga studio, and more than 5,000 square feet of private event space. Madison Beach Hotel is managed by Distinctive Hospitality Group.

Located at 94 West Wharf Road, Madison, Connecticut. For more information, please call: 203-245-1404 or visit: www.madisonbeachhotel.curiocollection.com | www.madisonbeachhotelweddings.com

About Curio Collection by Hilton

Curio Collection by Hilton is an upper-upscale, global portfolio of nearly 80 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts. Curio Collection properties provide travelers authentic, curated experiences through distinctly local offerings and unexpected amenities, while providing the benefits of Hilton and its award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors. Read the latest brand and hotel stories at newsroom.hilton.com/curio, and connect with Curio Collection on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 17 world-class brands comprising nearly 5,900 properties with more than 939,000 rooms, in 114 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company, Hilton earned a spot on the 2018 world’s best workplaces list and has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its 100-year history. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, more than 100 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy, plus enjoy instant benefits, including digital check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

About Distinctive Hospitality Group:

Founded in 2010, Distinctive Hospitality Group is led by president and owner, Lou Carrier who offers years of experience in the hospitality industry and has overseen several the most successful hotel establishments in the country. Lou launched DHG with a mission to build a portfolio of unique high-end hotels and comprised a solid team of seasoned hospitality professionals to work towards his dream. Located in Natick, MA, DHG is quickly building a name for its constant dedication to overseeing projects with lasting power and quality, ones that provide hotel guests and restaurant diners with the utmost in experience, service, style, and atmosphere. For more information, please visit: www.DistinctiveHospitalityGroup.com.