RAHWAY – The Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway will host An Evening with DAVE MASON Acoustic, with an opening performance by James Maddock, on Thursday, June 28. Tickets are priced from $26.50 to $79.50.
At age 18, Worcester, England native Dave Mason teamed up with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to form the band Traffic whose influence over rock music remains unquestioned even today. At 19, Mason penned the song “Feelin’ Alright”. First recorded by Traffic, this song has since become a rock and roll anthem and recorded by dozens of artists, including Joe Cocker, who had a major hit with the song in 1969.
Mason departed from the group after their second album. In 1969. he headed for the USA to pursue a solo career. A prolific artist, Mason has penned over 100 songs. He struck gold with the album “Alone Together”, which is considered a rock classic. This was followed by five albums for CBS/Sony including “Dave Mason” and “Mariposa De Oro”, four of which received gold albums. “Let It Flow”, which has gone well over platinum, contained the classic “We Just Disagree”, a top-ten single.
Mason was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of the group Traffic, and is considered an important figure in American music history. When he is not touring or writing and producing new music, Mason supports philanthropic causes near to his heart, including Work Vessels for Vets, Yoga Blue, and Kid’s Rock.
Vritish born James Maddock was first recognized in the U.S as leader of the band Wood. The group’s album “Songs From Stamford Hill,” produced a Top 5 Triple A hit (Stay You) and was included in the first Dawson’s Creek compilation. In 2009 Maddock released, “Sunrise On Avenue C,” for which he won the 2010-11 NY Music Award for Best Americana Album. Maddock followed Sunrise in 2011 with “Wake Up and Dream.” NYC’s WFUV 2011 Listener’s Poll named “Wake Up and Dream” as one of the top albums of 2011. The song “Beautiful Now”, co-written with Mike Scott of Waterboys fame, was named the #9 song of 2011 in the same poll.
