Local artist to promote music in England

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Al Roop took a sip from his drink before he started talking about local music artist Caitie Thompson.

She’s a regular performer at the Roops Bar, 17 N. Union St., formerly Roop Brothers Bar when Roop owned it. He’s known Thompson, a 2006 Delaware Hayes High School alumna, since she was a teenager, performing as a drummer with the Rip City Rockers.

Thompson was one of the band’s few members including her sister, Leslie Alexander, who continued to perform.

“They stuck with it,” Roop said. “… They have all my respect.”

Using colorful language, he said Thompson worked extremely hard to achieve her goals.

In her latest endeavor, Thompson goes solo with a release party of her extended play album “Enough” at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Roops, which she considers her home base. Coya Hill, a local southern rock band, will perform as a special guest followed by Thompson with The Hallows’ bass player Anthony Sellers and drummer Eric Maes.

It’s “going to be a wonderful night of Delaware musicians,” she said.

Thompson’s EP has an eclectic mix of four songs, which were recorded at Vaughn Music Studios in Upper Arlington. Thompson personally recorded every instrument and vocal track on the EP. Mark Abrams from the studio engineered and produced the project.

“It was probably one of the coolest experiences I ever had,” she said.

Josh Moore, one of Roops’ current owners, said he’s proud to support local musicians and hopes the party will sell some albums.

“It’s her day,” he said.

Following the release, Thompson will travel on April 12 to Chelmsford, England, where her folk rock and country alternative-style of music has received attention and airtime from the Chelmsford Community Radio Station on its Folk Union program.

Her family owns an apartment in Richmond, which is two hours away from Chelmsford.

“Things just kind of fell into place,” Thompson said.

Thompson and her sister learned to sing hymns at the kitchen table with their mother. She didn’t see herself performing in the long run, but thought she would manage a manage a studio or to continue her education. Thompson’s family was supportive and adamant that she continued to perform especially after she received her degree in the music industry from Capital University.

Four years of “college burnt me out really bad,” Thompson said.

Since 2011, she and her sister have performed together as the Lucky Penny Sisters and were often the backup for open mic nights at Roops.

“We’ve been gigging strongly for the last six years in central Ohio,” Thompson said. She also traveled to Nashville and Texas as a lead guitarist for local artist Dominic Francesco.

Roop agreed. He said Thompson and Alexander pursued gigs aggressively and considers them true professionals and “rockers.”

“I’ve had a couple shots of tequila to watch them along the way,” he said.

Caitie Thompson poses at Roops Bar, 17 N. Union St., days before her upcoming release party of her extended play album. She will travel on April 12 to Chelmsford, England, where her folk rock and country alternative-style of music has received attention and airtime from the Chelmsford Community Radio Station on its Folk Union program.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2017/04/web1_DSC_0027.jpgCaitie Thompson poses at Roops Bar, 17 N. Union St., days before her upcoming release party of her extended play album. She will travel on April 12 to Chelmsford, England, where her folk rock and country alternative-style of music has received attention and airtime from the Chelmsford Community Radio Station on its Folk Union program. Brandon Klein | The Gazette
Will host release party for album at Roops

By Brandon Klein

[email protected]

WEEKEND GUIDE April 7-9

• “Mascot Madness” First Friday, downtown Delaware, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. Sponsored by Wendy’s, the event will feature Wendy herself as well as lots of favorite Delaware and Central Ohio mascots including friends from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and Preservation Parks of Delaware County. The mascots will be walking around downtown posing for pictures, and giving hugs and high-fives. A mascot dance-off will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the corner of William and Sandusky streets. If weather becomes bad, the mascots will be indoors at their favorite stores. The Easter Bunny will be available for photos using family’s cell phones and personal cameras at the Strand Theatre.

• Library playdate with Powell Parks and Recreation Department, Powell Branch, 460 S. Liberty Road, noon to 1 p.m. Saturday. The program will include a mini-storytime, crafts and large assortment of toys and puzzles.

• “Blood Wedding,” Ohio Wesleyan University’s Main Stage inside Chappelear Drama Center, 45 Rowland Ave., Delaware, 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. A new gender re-imagined adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca’s work by OWU faculty members Edward Kahn and Eva Paris-Huesca unites contemporary questions with Lorca’s surrealistic tragedy. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for senior citizens, Ohio Wesleyan employees, and non-Ohio Wesleyan students. Admission is free for Ohio Wesleyan students with a valid OWU ID. To reserve tickets, call the box office at 740-368-3855.

• Mary Poppins, Olentangy Orange High School, 2840 E. Orange Road, 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available online at www.oohstheatre.com, $11.50 for students, staff and seniors and $13.50 for adults. Tickets will also be available at the door, $12 for students, staff and seniors and $14 for adults.

Email your event to [email protected].

STRAND SHOW TIMES

Friday & Saturday

Beauty and The Beast (PG): [2 p.m.], 5 p.m., 8 p.m.,

The Boss Baby (PG): [2:15 p.m.], 5:15 p.m., 8:15 p.m.

Smurfs: The Lost Village (PG-13): [2:30 p.m.], 5:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m.

Note: Times in [brackets] are Saturday ONLY.

Sunday

Beauty and The Beast (PG): 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m.

The Boss Baby (PG): 1:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 7:15 p.m.

Smurfs: The Lost Village (PG-13): 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

Gazette reporter Brandon Klein can be reached by email or on Twitter at @brandoneklein.

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