The Knickerbocker Music Center

DANCE NIGHT AT THE KNICK W/ The Hoolios | MARCH 21 | 7:00pm - The Hoolios bring the rhythm to the Knick for the return of dance night, an evening of swing on the storied Knick dance floor. Dance Night at the Knick will be a monthly series featuring a different live act, from swing and big band to soul, roots, jazz, and other styles that invite you to get up, get loose, and dance however the music moves you.
The Hoolios are a high energy New England swing and roots band blending Americana, Latin, reggae, and Gulf Coast rhythms, known for infectious grooves that keep dance floors full and moving.
Please note that the Knick no longer has a working kitchen. Pre-packaged concession snacks and soft drinks will be available for purchase and this event will include a limited bar featuring a selection of pre-packaged beers, wines, and canned cocktails ( cashless payments only).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE UNITED THEATRE TO OPERATE THE KNICKERBOCKER AS A MUSIC LAB BEGINNING IN 2026

WESTERLY, R.I. - November 19, 2025 - The UNITED Theatre in Westerly, RI is excited to announce a major new chapter in its longstanding partnership with the Knickerbocker Music Center (“the Knick”). Beginning in 2026, the UNITED will assume stewardship of programming for the iconic 91-year-old venue, transforming the space into a creative center for music education, performance, and artistic incubation that honors the Knick’s storied history while embracing a bold vision for its future.

The UNITED and the Knick have been close collaborators for more than seven years. That partnership has expanded significantly since 2020, when the UNITED Music School began offering private lessons, classes, ensemble rehearsals, summer camps, masterclasses, and Youth-on-the-Mic events at the Knick providing thousands of young musicians opportunities to grow on a stage steeped in local legacy.

“The Knick is more than a venue, it’s a cornerstone of our cultural campus and an essential piece of Rhode Island’s musical story,” said Tony Nunes, Artistic Director of the UNITED Theatre. “This next chapter ensures that its history continues to be written for many years to come by the emerging artists who will define the future of music in our region.”

Under the UNITED’s leadership, the Knick will offer curated local and regional live performances multiple times each month; monthly dance nights; teen music nights; youth and community open mics; UNITED Music School lessons and ensemble performances; community rentals; and a new artist residency program for established and emerging musicians, many brought up from Nashville as part of the UNITED’s Nashville North initiative. Additional programs with new partners in recording, audio production, and musician development will be announced later in 2026.

Under the operating model set to begin in 2026, the Knick building itself will remain as is, with a focus on utilizing the building primarily as a venue and education space while preserving the historic space and finding new ways to celebrate Westerly’s rich music history with artifacts and historical pieces on display throughout. The Knick will pivot away from operating as a regular bar venue and restaurant to better serve youth programming. Select events may feature pop-up food and beverage service in partnership with the UNITED and local hospitality partners. The Tap Room at the Knick will be closed.

Public programming at the Knick has taken a pause that began on November 1, 2025 while the building undergoes long-planned repairs and renovations, including a much-needed roof replacement. The UNITED’s music lessons and student-focused events like Youth-on-the-Mic will continue uninterrupted throughout the pause. Full public programming will return in March 2026 under the UNITED banner.

ABOUT THE UNITED

The non-profit UNITED features a 700-capacity flexible-use black box auditorium that is used for live music, theater, comedy, opera, dance, and presentations; three film venues including a 76-seat main cinema, a 24-seat micro-cinema, and a 99-seat balcony cinema; a multi-purpose event and gallery space; and a state-of-the-art music school. The UNITED is located at 5 Canal St. in downtown Westerly, RI.

ABOUT THE KNICKERBOCKER MUSIC CENTER

Founded in 1933, the historic Knickerbocker has been a beloved institution within Westerly’s musical landscape. Since becoming a nonprofit in 2014, the Knick has worked to preserve the region’s rich musical heritage and provide a home for artists to teach, play, and create.

knickmusic.com

Otis Read and Jimmy Corwin & Friends
Chris Brooks on pedal steel guitar
https://knickmusic.com/events/202510/31/otis-and-jim
Friday, October 31
Playing in the Tap Room
Show Time 8p | Free | 21+

Sweet Mercy!
Thursday, October 30
Playing in the Tap Room
Show Time 8pm | Free | 21+
https://knickmusic.com/events/2025/10/30-sweet-mercy
Sweet Mercy! Award winning roots rock, including classic covers and originals. John Speziale, Sandman Allen, and Jaime Duquette, all seasoned musicians, will have you dancing in your seats.

This week at The Tap Room:
https://knickmusic.com/events
Sweet Mercy!
Thursday, October 30
Playing in the Tap Room
Show Time 8pm | Free | 21+

Otis Read, Jimmy Corwin & Friends
Friday, October 31
Playing in the Tap Room
Show Time 8pm | Free | 21+

Sandy Allen of The Hoolios
Sunday, October 26
Playing in the Tap Room
Show Time 8pm | Free | 21+
https://knickmusic.com/events//2025/10/26-sandyallen
Sandy Allen (The Sandman) has played his observational and honest songs about love, loss, joy and pain (and everything else) all over the country. He’s an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, and his musical skill and engaging personality have won him a large, appreciative following.

Mystic Dead
Playing music of the Grateful Dead
Saturday, October 25
Show: 8p | Doors: 7p
Tickets: $15a/$20d
https://knickmusic.com/events/2025/210/25-mystic-dead
($3 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges. Seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and seats are not guaranteed with ticket purchase.)

In 2018 a group of musicians got together for a once a month Dead night at the Captain Daniel Packer inn in Mystic, CT. It turned out to be a seriously good time that translated to more shows, more fun and Mystic Dead was born.
Deep dives into all things Grateful Dead coupled by the freedom to remain true to their own creative individuality has been and will always be the mantra of all 6 members of Mystic Dead.
mysticdead.com
Mystic Dead

Eight to the Bar
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24
Swing/Boogie Woogie/Rhythm & Blues/Soul and Motown
https://knickmusic.com/events/2025/10/24-eight-to-the-bar
Show: 8p | Doors: 7p
Tickets: $20 ($3 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges. Seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and seats are not guaranteed with ticket purchase.)
eighttothebar.com

Drawing its musical influences from American roots music - swing, boogie woogie, rhythm & blues, soul, Motown, - Eight to the Bar is known for its outstanding instrumentalists and sophisticated musical and vocal arrangements, highlighted by female vocals.

With the support of independently-produced albums and videos, Eight to the Bar has cultivated a large, enthusiastic following that has put them in clubs from Disneyland to Disney World as well as Europe and the Caribbean. Their rigorous performing schedule (approximately 200 dates per year), has included opening spots for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Manhattan Transfer, Robert Cray, Neil Young, Roy Orbison, and Ray Charles.
Eight to the Bar

OLIVIA Charlotte
Thursday, October 23
Playing in the Tap Room
Show Time 8pm | Free | 21+
https://knickmusic.com/events/2025/10/23-oliviacharlotte

Olivia Charlotte is Rhode Island's folk goddess. Her vocal style is unique and haunting, with a sorrowful but hopeful tone. Her debut single "Diagnostics" and its accompanying music video was described by Loud Women as a strong alt rock debut reminiscent of the Cranberries.

This week at The Knick:
https://knickmusic.com/events
Olivia Charlotte
Thursday, October 23
Playing in the Tap Room
Show Time 8pm | Free | 21+

Eight to the Bar
Friday, October 24
Swing/Boogie Woogie/Rhythm & Blues/Soul and Motown
Show: 8p | Doors: 7p
Tickets: $20 ($3 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges. Seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and seats are not guaranteed with ticket purchase.)
eighttothebar.com

Mystic Dead
Mystic Dead Playing music of the Grateful Dead
Saturday, October 25
Show: 8p | Doors: 7p
Tickets: $15 a / $20 d
($3 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges. Seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and seats are not guaranteed with ticket purchase.)
mysticdead.com

Sandy Allen of The Hoolios
Sunday, October 26
Playing in the Tap Room
Show Time 8pm | Free | 21+

Wheelhouse
Sunday, October 19
Playing in the Tap Room
Show Time 8pm | Free | 21+
https://knickmusic.com/events/2025/10/19-wheelhouse
Around 2008, Gene Parise and Amie Coffey, along with Carl Franklin, took Westerly by storm with their 3-piece band Wheelhouse. Musician/vocalist Amie Coffey had recently moved to Westerly RI from Alabama, and met local guitarist/vocalist Gene Parise. They formed the acoustic duo WHEELHOUSE. Very soon after, Carl Franklin, a highly respected musician from New London joined them making Wheelhouse into a trio performing every week at Perks & Corks in downtown Westerly to a packed audience often with guest musicians joining in including Thor Jensen and on percussion the late Art Falconi. They often expanded into a full electric band, joined by percussionists iMatt Covey, and Kenneth Serio along with keyboard players Al LaPorte and Jay Franklin. They continued to perform both as a full band or acoustically for about 10 years. During that time Amie’s notoriety as a powerful, soulful dynamic vocalist grew as she performed with the Franklin Brothers Band, Sunday Gravy, Hope Road and Green Tea. Although Amie continues to now reside in Alabama, she does return to visit our area where her name has earned her a legendary reputation in the region. On this special night, Gene, Amie and Carl will once again perform together for the first time in 9 years.

Sugar Ray and the Bluetones
Saturday, October 18
Award-winning Blues.
Show: 8p | Doors: 7p
https://knickmusic.com/events/2024/10/18-sugar-ray-and-the-bluetones
Tickets: $20 ($3 Service Charge Included With Online Tickets. All sales are final, no ticket refunds or exchanges. Seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and seats are not guaranteed with ticket purchase.)
sugarrayandthebluetones.com

History written by Mudcat Ward, bass: In 1977, Sugar Ray Norcia and Neil Gouvin were working southern Rhode Island in their band, Sugar Ray & the Blues Stompers. Up in Boston, Ronnie Earl, still using his given surname Horvath, was beginning to try stage monikers such as Little Ronnie. After a while, the winds of change were swirling. Ronnie and bassist, Mudcat Ward were searching for musical colleagues that wanted to play bluer, lower down, earthier and produce the highest quality blues.

Ronnie chose to book a series of dates out of town, under the name "The Dueces." Neil Gouvin, well-known blues drummer in southern New England, was contacted to make the dates and demonstrated that he could provide the sought-after groove. After reviewing the situation from his own vantage point, Gouvin made the suggestion that altered blues history: get his vocalist/harp player Sugar Ray into this picture.

Although the band enjoyed the four-piece sound, they wanted a larger band and the addition of a piano player. A number of months later, Ronnie and Mudcat attended a show at Paul's Mall in Boston where Muddy Waters and his band were performing. The opening act, a band from New Hampshire, featured a damned good blues piano player. He turned out to be Little Anthony Geraci. Ronnie and Mudcat visited him in Newton, MA where he was in the middle of writing a sonata. The blues musicians offered Anthony the position and he signed on. The band christened itself Sugar Ray & the Bluetones.

They have had multiple personnel changes over the last 40 years but remain true to their blues roots- returning to The Knick and touring throughout the New England area.