“Two Guitars” are stars at the Palladium this week: See Nate Najar and Roy Book Binder in our Side Door Cabaret

American Stage opened its riveting and musically-rich production of Seven Guitars on January 20, and the opening party featured seven of the bay area’s best guitarists. It was seven guitarists for Seven Guitars.

To celebrate the run of the August Wilson play about a struggling bluesman, we’re featuring two of those guitarists this week in the Side Door Cabaret.

Thursday night – Feb 2 – brings Nate Najar and this trio – John Lamb, bass and Steven Buckholtz,  drums – back to the Side Door. This St. Pete native is always a Palladium favorite. Nate also spends a lot of time playing jazz dates, both as a headliner and a side man, around the country.

Nate loves bringing in special guests and larger bands, but his fans are in love with this trio, which really lets him go to work on bossa novas, standards and some jazz classics. His interaction with Duke Ellington alumni, John Lamb, is always a highlight. 

Showtime is Thursday at 7:30 in our newly refurbished Side Door Cabaret.

Then, on Friday, we bring back another local – this one with a major national and international name. Roy Book Binder spends the winter in his house just north of downtown, doing some gardening and enjoying some time with his wife and friends. Most of the year Roy is touring around the U.S. and Europe, playing acousitc blues guitar, singing and telling his entertaining and amazing stories.

Roy learned from the blues legends – he found Rev. Gary Davis street preaching in New York and became almost an adopted son. Roy not only learned from Davis, he helped the old bluesman – turned preacher – restart his career playing those sinful blues.

When he’s in town, Roy only plays one major show  and that’s always at the Palladium. You can see this living legend of the blues on Friday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. Like Nate, he will be on the new stage in our beautiful and intimate Side Door Cabaret.

For information and tickets, contact the Palladium box office at 727 822-3590 or visit www.mypalladium.org.

And don’t miss August Wilson’s Seven Guitars at American Stage. We saw it opening night and plan to return for a second helping. It’s great American theater. The show runs through Feb. 26. For tickets and information visit www.americanstage.org.