Donovan Roberts - Acoustic Blues, Roots & Jazz

08.10.11 Donovan Roberts Tie the Knot at Musikfest

Lori Donovan and Jeff Roberts will be tying the knot in a very unique way this summer -- on the Leiderplatz stage at Musikfest on Wednesday, August 10th (7pm). The couple first met when Donovan was working as Director of Sponsor Relations for (Musikfest organizers) ArtsQuest. "Jeff and Craig Thatcher were performing together at a sponsor's party," says Donovan. "We had a met briefly once before and struck up a conversation. A few weeks later, we had our first date." Eight months later, the Jeff Roberts Band invited Donovan to provide guest vocals on during their show on the Leiderplatz stage at Musikfest. The duo have been performing at Musikfest every year since and thought it would be the perfect place to take their vows. The wedding concert, with the full Donovan Roberts band and special guests, will encompass their seven-year performance history. [more]


Are You Alone (Shelloy Sounds) crackles with energy even on such oft-recorded songs as “Big Road Blues,” displays inventiveness in a country blues arrangement of Percy Mayfield’s “River’s Invitation,” and enriches the canon with Jeff Roberts’ lovely, jazzy “Wonderin’ About You.” Roberts’ guitar is augmented by occasional piano, harmonica, and mandolin, and Lori Donovan's smooth, sultry vocals are simply perfect. Bold moves like the bossa nova “What You Need From Me” and a reworking of Tom Petty’s “You Got Lucky” pay off neatly without interrupting the mood. -- Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue magazine