Riley Etheridge Jr. Bringing Louisianna-Americana Cajun Music to Turning Point Cafe April 19

BY GEORGE J. DACRE

Born and raised in North Carolina and Georgia, singer-songwriter Riley Etheridge Jr. has made several appearances at the Piermont venue Turning Point, many of them sellouts, and will present a seven member band including two Piermont locals on Saturday, April 19.

Etheridge’s band has three guitars, a drummer, a bass player plus Joe Grunfeld of Piermont on harmonica and Athena Ole of Piermont as backup singer. Etheridge says they will be playing many of the tunes on his latest album release “Straight And Narrow Way,” which is rife with haunting and healing stories, each carefully placed within well developed themes.

Etheridge tells the Rockland County Times there was always music in his home, with his father playing banjo and a brother playing piano. He said he has gained a lot of his musical thoughts living in Cajun Country in the state of Louisiana for more than 20 years.

After the Piermont gig Etheridge will be on the road with a 12-day tour opening up for Leon Russell in Chicago, Ithaca, Cleveland and Milwaukee.