Thursday, February 2
WILLIAMSTOWN — Men aren't the only ones who get the blues, as a local woman focuses her music on influential female performers of the genre.

Gina Coleman of Williamstown and her band, Misty Blues, will perform Friday night at 8 as part of Massachusetts College of Liberal Art's "Blues and Funk Festival" in the Church Street Center.

By day, Coleman is Williams College's associate director of admissions, but weekends and nights she and Misty Blues perform around the Northern Berkshire area, as well as at the Charlemont Inn, the first Sat-urday of every month.

Misty Blues is an off-shoot of another band Coleman had — Cole-Connection, which played a mix of blues, folk and funk for more than a decade in the Berkshires during the mid-1990s. But after one of Coleman's guitarists moved away from the away, working with the Williamstown Theatre Festival as the lead gospel singer for a production of "Raisin in the Sun" left her loving the blues.

Rehearsing the play one day, a cast member, Rubin Santiago-Hudson, commented on how Coleman's voice was suited for the blues and urged her to sing more.

"He turned me onto this collection of old female blues singers called 'Men are like Streetcars.' I got the collection and I knew right away that I needed to form a blues band to give some props to all the female blues."

Along with her group — Jason Webster of Adams on the guitar, Bill Patriquin of Lanesborough on bass, Mike Basiliere of Dalton on drums and Jeff Dudziak of Boston on guitar — Coleman performs the work of blues musicians such as Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton and Dinah Washington.

During the summer months the band travels to various performances, which often includes those at weddings.

"We used to play quite regularly at Joga, but now we turned over and started playing at Gideon's (on Eagle Street in North Adams)," Coleman said. "And, we had a very regular stint at the Firehouse Cafe in Adams."

At MCLA's festival this Friday night, Coleman said the band wants to "keep the energy up high."

"We know Papa Grows Funk's music and they're really amazing," she said. "We want to get the energy up with some of our peppier, dancier jigs. But, we'll still hold true to what we primarily do, which is traditional blues."

In addition, Coleman said she has something up her sleeve for the festival, just for Friday night.

"I can't divulge the big secret, but it's going to be great," she said.

Friday night's concert also will feature a performance by the college jazz band, as well as music by Papa Grows Funk of New Orleans. The festival will continue Saturday with performances by local band Conor Meehan Blues Quartet and Michael Hill Blues Mob of New York City.

The Blues and Funk Festival will take place on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 in the Church Street Center. Admission is $10 per evening or $15 for both nights, $3 for MCLA faculty and staff. MCLA Patrons of the Arts and students are free.

Friday and Saturday, Gideon's Luncheon & Nightery at 23 Eagle St. in North Adams will feature a blues jam session from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in conjunction with the festival. Admission is free. For reservations, (413) 664-0404.