Deni Bonet in Concert with Chris Flynn

Deni Bonet with Chris Flynn

Music Sessions in the Gallery

Saturday, April 29, 7:30pm,

Tickets: $25 ($20 seniors/students) 

In an intimate concert setting Rockland Center for the Arts will host a concert with Deni Bonet and Chris Flynn.  Deni Bonet is a pop/rock singer/songwriter & classically trained violinist who has recorded & performed with R.E.M., Sarah McLachlan, Cyndi Lauper, Scissor Sisters, & Warren Zevon among many others. Her previous appearances include four sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall, NPR’s Mountain Stage, The Great Wall of China, the United nations, and the White House for President Obama.

It's no secret that Deni Bonet can rock a violin like nobody's business.  Or that she writes memorable songs that make you want to listen again and again and again.  Deni Bonet is, simply, a musical total package. Her music has been featured on HBO, NBC, American Airlines, and several films.  She was recently honored to be awarded a grant through the Arts Envoy Program of the US Government to spend a month on a residency in Africa teaching violin, songwriting, and rock n’ roll at a music college in Zanzibar. 

Deni Bonet's talent, combined with her boundless energy, does not have a limit.  Watch her perform and you'll quickly understand why; she's a whirling dervish; a streak of aural and visual lightning wielding a violin bow.  Dynamic and personable, she makes a concert hall become intimate and cozy.  At the same time, don't expect to sit back on your laurels and just watch - a Deni Bonet show is a total experience in which you'd better be ready to have fun. 

For years, Deni Bonet, classically trained, has been honing her craft as a virtuoso violinist, singer, songwriter and performer.  And anyone who’s heard her last few albums, especially the fiery, funny and fabulous Last Girl on Earth, and 2013’s It’s All Good, knows that Ms. Bonet brought something extra special to the table. On It’s All Good, Bonet was joined by an array of high-profile collaborators including R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, Fred Schneider of the B-52s, Pete Kennedy, John Wesley Harding, Wings drummer Steve Holley, Young Fresh Fellow/R.E.M. associate Scott McCaughey, and even Broadway star Mary Testa. She turned to another well-known name, former Bongo frontman and baroque pop savant Richard Barone, to produce the album. 

One listen to Deni’s newest album, Bright Shiny Objects, and you’ll know this particular record takes on a completely different life and direction.  Recorded in NYC with the cream of New York musicians, including Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel's drummer of 30 years), Graham Maby (Joe Jackson), Shawn Pelton (SNL, Rod  Stewart), Will Lee (Letterman, MIck Jagger), Steve Holley (Paul McCartney), Ben Butler (Chris Botti) and Matt Beck (Matchbox 20), this is her first all-instrumental album and shows off Deni's skills as a virtuoso violin player, composer and arranger. 

It's difficult to try and describe - or unnecessarily, classify Deni's music – her tastes and styles range from pop to roots-rock to traditional folk to high voltage rock and roll. 

Carnegie Hall virtuosity intertwined with a rock-club vibe and intimacy.  That doesn’t ring your bell?  Try Yitzak Perlman playing lead for Nirvana. That should give you some notion that this artist has, indeed, brought something special to the table. Even without the vocals, you can hear the passion and emotion in Deni’s performances.

Chris Flynn is a guitarist and singer who has accompanied Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Ronnie Spector and Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper) along with Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company), Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne), Garland Jeffreys, Willie Nile, and many others.  He has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and served for many years as the musical director of the All Star Irish Rock Revue in New York City featuring Irish luminaries such as Cait O’Riordan (The Pogues), Joanie Madden (Cherish The Ladies), and raconteurs Alphie and Malachy McCourt.  He has been performing and touring with Deni Bonet for the past four years.

This concert is Saturday, April 29th, 2023 at 7:30 pm.  You may purchase tickets in advance for $25 (seniors & students $20) at www.rocklandartcenter.org/events, call 845-358-0877 to reserve tickets.  Rockland Center for the Arts is located at 27 S. Greenbush Rd., West Nyack, NY.  Regular hours are:  Mon-Sat 11-4; closed Sundays.  For more information visit www.rocklandartcenter.org or call 845-358-0877.

RoCA gratefully acknowledges support for its programs from The Rea Charitable Trust, ArtsWestchester, Sarah and Stephen Thomas, The Richard Pousette-Dart Foundation, M&T Bank, The M&T Charitable Foundation, The Dorothy Gillespie Foundation, Walter Cain & Paulo Ribeiro, Kantrowitz, Goldhamer & Graifman P.C., QuietEvents, the Estate of Joan Konner, Lighting Services Inc.,, the Mark and Jessie Milano Foundation, Zaklin Family Charitable Fund, The County of Rockland, Art Services Group, RoCA members, donors and business members.

RoCA’s programs are made possible, in part, with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. Funding is also made possible by the County of Rockland.