Writers guild’s song night set Dec. 8 at Béseme in Lewes
“Duets” is the theme for an evening of music, food and unusual beer Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Béseme Bistro in Lewes, where top jazz and blues singer/songwriter Billie Stevens-Carlins, country music star Randy Lee Ashcraft and local favorites Stuart Vining and Amy Felker, otherwise known as Charity Case, will headline the December Night of Songs and Stories sponsored by the Rehoboth Beach Writers’ Guild Songwriting Series.
This is not a typical night of background music. Emcee Terry Plowman, publisher of Delaware Beach Life magazine and a musician in his own right, will ply the musicians with questions - many from the audience - about their artistry.
The evening kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a Duets beer-tasting sponsored by Béseme and 16 Mile Brewery, a newly launched microbrewery in Georgetown. Complimentary tasting of Amber Sun Ale, a traditional amber ale with an initial roasty flavor followed by a sweeter finish, and Old Court Ale, an American pale ale that is a lighter-bodied brew with a citrusy-hop aroma and caramel finish will be offered by brewery owners Brett McCrea and Chad Campbell, whose ales will be featured on the menu throughout the evening. In keeping with the Duets theme, Béseme will feature a special small bites pairing menu throughout the night in addition to the bistro’s regular menu.
Stevens-Carlins spent 20 years in Nashville critiquing and co-writing songs with her late husband before forming her own band, Billie Stevens and the Gypsies. Stevens-Carlins, who makes regular appearances with Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Salt Water cowboys, performs at Ovations in Rehoboth Beach where she was showcased during this year’s Rehoboth Beach Autumn Jazz.
At age 11, Stevens-Carlins didn’t only dream of becoming a singer, she knew she’d become one. And, confesses the sultry-voiced musician decades later, she even knew exactly how she would sound. It’s a sound that Sydney Arzt, owner of the former Sydney’s Blues & Jazz Restaurant, noticed the first time she heard Stevens-Carlins, a sound that has made Arzt not only a fan, but a driving force in promoting Billie.
Ashcraft has been entertaining people all over the country for more than 15 years, opening for several national acts such as Allison Krauss, Marty Stewart, George Jones, Joe Diffle, Colin Raye, Lonestar, Cherie Austin, Toby Keith, Travis Tritt, Phil Vassar, Aaron Tippin and Sawyer Brown.
He is the winner of the 1997 Jimmy Dean/True Value Country Music Showdown, a year-long talent search of more than 100,000 aspiring artists who compete in 750 playoff-style contests, and he is the only country music artist to ever win the Music World Series held in Philadelphia PA. Charity Case, who in April performed to a full house at the Milton Theater as part of the Not Yet Famous series, and who will be performing at Ovations in June, sings ballads, pop hits, folk-rock and classic songs from artists across the musical spectrum, from Emmylou Harris, The Beatles, Chuck Berry, The Doors, even Elvis Presley. Felker, owner of The Lewes Bake Shoppe and Notting Hill Coffee Roastery on Second Street is known for her sexy rendition of “Fever.”
Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Vining, who began playing guitar and singing in the early 1960s and has played in various bands throughout the east coast, including the local groups, Big Hat No Cattle and Ed Shockley and Friends, is known for his Warren Zevon-like voice.
Accompanying both duets will be Mickey Mickeljohn, who performs regularly with Randy Lee Ashcraft of the Saltwater Cowboys.
Reservations for this special evening are strongly encouraged. Please call Béseme Bistro at 302-645-8108. Béseme is an award-winning restaurant located at 142 Second St. in downtown Lewes.
