Music Niagara is launching the first episode in a new contemporary variety show series this week.
The Not-So-Late Show will be anchored by comedian/host Joe Pillitteri and the house band Quartetto Gelato, led by acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Colin Maier.
The first show, on Thursday, March 17, is filmed at the Olde Library at the Pillar and Post. It features Shaw Festival artistic director Tim Carroll, Greg and Yannick Wertsch from Between the Lines Winery, Julie Nesrallah (soprano) with Guy Few (piano), and young virtuoso Sora Sato-Mound (violin and piano).Upcoming episodes include:
* March 24, from Yuk Yuk's in Niagara Falls, featuring Marcel Morgenstern from Bella Terra Wines, Tanya Charles (violin) with Atis Bankas (violin), comedian Ben Bankas, and Kris Maddigan (Cuphead’s musical mastermind).
* March 31, from Hernder Estate Winery in St. Catharines, featuring Canada’s Polka King Walter Ostanek (accordion) with Wayne Malton (keyboard), Daryl Novak, Doug Miller (flute) and Deborah Braun (harp) from the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Hernder Estate winemaker Angela Kasimos, and St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik.
More episodes are planned in the future.
All shows can be seen live at 7 p.m. on Music Niagara's website musicniagara.org or its YouTube channel.