The Shane Center Presents concert series is generously sponsored by

Walter & Regina Wunsch, SPECTEC and Colin & Seabring Davis

Stephanie Davis & Fred Newman

Saturday, April 12 | 7:30- 10:00 PM

A Radio-Theatre Performance

Get ready for a one-of-a-kind evening of music, stories, and astonishing sound effects as legendary voice artist Fred Newman joins forces with acclaimed singer-songwriter Stephanie Davis for a captivating radio-theater experience! Fred, best known for his Emmy-winning sound effects on A Prairie Home Companion, has brought his vocal magic to films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Gremlins. Stephanie, hailed as one of the finest Western songwriters of today, has penned hits for Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, and more. Together, they’ll weave an unforgettable mix of song and storytelling, joined by Livingston’s own award-winning songwriter, John Lowell. Don’t miss this unique and mesmerizing performance!

Stephanie Davis’ passion for singing and songwriting inevitably led her to Nashville, where, between working odd jobs and honing her craft, she sang at many writers’ nights around town. One fateful, life-changing night at The Bluebird Cafe, one of her songs, “Wolves”, caught the ear of a new artist named Garth Brooks. Long story short, the song was included on Garth’s wildly successful “No Fences” album, and soon she was writing with, opening for, and playing in Garth’s touring band. She and Garth remain friends and collaborators. Eventually, Stephanie moved back to her native Montana and began recording on her own small label. As a result of these recordings, she became a frequent guest and duet partner with Garrison Keillor on his iconic public radio show, “A Prairie Home Companion.” As a longtime fan of the show, this was a dream come true. It also sparked her love of radio theater, and the desire to write her own show. Stephanie is ecstatic to get to work with longtime friend and incredible sound effects man, actor, writer, musician, and composer Fred Newman.

Fred Newman is an actor, writer, musician, composer and sound designer for stage and screen, cartoon and concert hall. From the storytelling of small-town Georgia, he ventured out to become a street performer in Europe, landing a job in New York City and writing with his award-winning book MouthSounds. He went on to write and work with Jim Henson (he was a lousy puppeteer) and host several TV shows for Nickelodeon and Disney, such as The New Mickey Mouse Club. He created sounds, voices and music for the Nickelodeon cartoon series DOUG, PBS shows Sesame Street and Between the Lions, numerous films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Gremlins and Cocoon, series like Fargo, and Garrison Keillor’s iconic A Prairie Home Companion public radio show, now touring in the 50th Anniversary Reunion Tour. Perhaps Fred’s favorite gig was the creating the sound of Old Faithful itself, for Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Visitors Center – all with his mouth. Fred now lectures and performs his own stories, music and sounds around the country and is totally thrilled to be performing with Stephanie Davis.

Soul/Blues

John Roberts’ Soul Skillet is a vibrant, vocal-led soul and blues project that fuses the rich sounds of traditional Soul, NeoSoul, Blues and Jazz, creating a musical experience that resonates with all audiences. Led by Roberts (songwriter, lead vocalist and B3 organist) the band is known for its energetic performances, heartfelt lyrics, and original compositions that draw inspiration from legendary artists. Experienced with a professional music career that started in Los Angeles, Roberts was able to tour, perform and record with Soul and Gospel music icons like Bobby Womack, Chaka Khan, Beverly Crawford, Booker T, Kirk Franklin, Al Green, The Temptations, The O'jays and more. Inspiration for Soul Skillet is pulled from these real-life experiences.

Formed in 2024, Soul Skillet consists of a talented rhythm section and dynamic horn

players, each musician bringing their unique influences and styles to the table. The dynamic sound is characterized by soulful melodies, deep pocket, and powerful instrumental solos, creating a rich tapestry of sound that captivates listeners, both live and on the debut recording, “The Last Thing I Do”.

John Roberts fell in love with blues and soul music as a young teenager while growing up in North Central Montana. Garnering records of Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Willie Dixon,

Professor Longhair and more, Roberts spent many hours at the piano singing and learning this music by ear. This nostalgia was the impetus to begin the band Soul Skillet, which he leads from the B3 organ.

Roberts has performed in all 50 of the United States and internationally on 6 continents:

Mexico, South America, Israel, Cuba, India, Asia, Europe, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Australia and Africa. Notable venues include the Lincoln Center in New York, Pantages Theatre, Kodak Theatre, Roskilde, House of Blues, Blue Note, Apollo and Apollo London. Tours include; John Roberts y Pan Blanco (Afro-Latin Soul), Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca (Congolese/Cuban), Bobby Womack (Soul), Los Pinguos (Argentina), The Temptations, Chaka Khan, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, and more. Other performances and recordings include multiple Grammy and Emmy Award Shows, Chris Botti, LA Philharmonic, Feist, Sting, Dr. Dre, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Fallout Boy, Burt Bacharach, Bill Holman, The Ojays, Jill Scott, Christina Aguilera, The Today Show, NPR, PBS and Disney.

John Roberts' Soul Skillet

Saturday, September 6 | 7:30- 10:00 PM

Gabriel Donohue with Vonnie Quinn

Saturday, November 15 | 7:30- 10:00 PM

Neo Celtic

Irish born (county Galway) Multi Instrumentalist/ Singer Songwriter Gabriel Donohue is based in Philadelphia. He performs mostly on guitar and piano but also plays many more instruments from bouzouki/mandolin to irish and exotic percussion.

Gabriel performs throughout the US and worldwide, solo and along with a cadre of top flight musicians. In 1999 he began to tour with Irish music legends The Chieftains and added guitar, piano and voice to their live performances  in Spain, France, Norway, Denmark, Italy, UK and many tours of the USA. He has performed five times at New York's Carnegie Hall. He toured for X years with Cherish the Ladies.  He has recorded with the Boston Pops, Eileen Ivers, Joanie Madden, James Keane, Sean Quinn, Brian Conway, John Whelan, Karen Mal, Aoife Clancy, and Liam Clancy.

The lists of artists he has collaborated with, is a who's who of the top musicians in the acoustic and celtic music field. He performed with Michael Flatley at the National Heritage Awards in Washington DC. And played with Eileen Ivers at the Clinton White House entertaining Irish and American dignitaries and signers of the Good Friday peace accords.

Vonnie Quinn was born in the 1980s in County Limerick, Ireland, and is a television and radio host, as well as an accomplished journalist and musician. Quinn is primarily known as the host of the show “Bloomberg Markets: Americas” and “Bloomberg Markets: European Close” broadcast on New York’s Bloomberg TV. Her career has been active since 2006.

Before venturing into the world of journalism and television, Vonnie had a passion for music – she learned to play violin at a young age, and attended The Limerick School of Music. As a proof of her talent and skill with the violin, during her teenage years Vonnie played with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, however, towards the end of her high school education, Quinn developed an interest towards journalism, and so after she matriculated, she enrolled at the National University of Ireland where she studied Journalism. Wishing to continue her education abroad, she applied for the National University of Ireland Travelling Studentship scholarship, which she was awarded, and got the opportunity to study at Oxford University and Columbia University. Quinn decided to continue her studies at New York’s Columbia University.

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