Erin Hill Plays The Music Of Kate Bush At The Levitt Pavilion
Rock Harpist & Singer Erin Hill brought her electric harp and vocals to the Epstein Stage at the Levitt Pavilion Sunday night singing and playing the music of Kate Bush. Erin will be singing and playing Kate Bush songs from almost all of Kate's albums, along with Erin's backing band of drums, percussion, violin, cello, flute, and pedal steel guitar.
She’s had a #1 album on the Billboard world chart and Erin has performed with Cyndi Lauper, Kanye West, moby, Sinead O’Connor, a-ha, Josh Groban, Jewel, Randy Newman, Martha Wainwright, and Dave Chappelle, as “The Pretty White Girl Who Sings Dave’s Thoughts” on Comedy Central’s “Chappelle’s Show” (she also wrote the music for the sketch). Her Celtic album hit #1 on the Billboard World chart; she’s performed for two First Ladies and for royalty, and she played the "Game of Thrones" theme on her harp for HBO’s Season 3 promo.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Erin’s been heard on SiriusXM The Beatles Channel and she released her harp & vox cover of “Eleanor Rigby” as a single & a music video in 2021. On her album Harp Town (Cleopatra Records), Erin sings and plays songs by Kate Bush, Smashing Pumpkins, Lady Gaga, The Beatles, Alicia Keys, Roxy Music, Adele, Tim Buckley, Til Tuesday, Kansas, Leonard Cohen, Rihanna, Radiohead, U2, and even Edith Piaf and Frank Sinatra. Cleopatra also released Erin’s holiday album Christmas Harp, featuring Erin singing and playing holiday classics, and Girl Inventor, which includes her original hits “Lookout, Science” and “Giant Mushrooms.”
In addition to being a rock harpist, Erin is also a Celtic/Irish harpist and singer; her Celtic album Four Leaf Clover hit #1 on the Billboard World chart.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
Tonight
Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 5 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow
A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 88. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South wind around 9 mph.
High Tides
12:52 AM / 1:12 PM
Low Tides
7:09 AM / 7:29 PM
Mary Jane Springman, 79, Died; Former Westport Teacher
Mary Jane Springman, wife of Joseph W. Springman for 56 years, was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to William Shea and Ruth (Wisnousky) Shea on November 14, 1943. After her parents' deaths in 1952, she was raised by her father's sisters, Alice Johnson of Pasadena, CA, and Marguerite Sommer of Haverford, PA.
Mary Jane attended St. Elizabeth's school in Altadena, CA, Harriton High School in Rosemont, PA, Immaculata College in Malvern, PA, receiving her BA from the Pennsylvania State University in State College in 1965. In 1988 she received an MA in American Studies from Trinity College in Hartford.
Before her marriage she taught English in Westport, CT, for a year, then as the wife of a submarine officer, she moved several times, most notably to Pearl Harbor and Mare Island Navy bases.
After returning to Connecticut, she was the co-author of two books, East Granby, the Evolution of a Connecticut Town and Images of America: Simsbury. She served on the board of the Simsbury Historical Society, where she republished Clavin Fisher's A Spy at Ticonderoga and calendars of historic photos, and on the board of the Simsbury Free Library, editing its newsletter and researching and writing historical articles for many issues.
She served as the president of the Greater Hartford branch of the American Association of University Women where she made lasting friends. In addition to her two much-appreciated private book clubs, since 1997 she facilitated the Simsbury Senior Center's book club.
She and Joe enjoyed traveling, sometimes taking their children and grandchildren along. Her family was the major focus of Mary Jane's life. In addition to her beloved husband, she is survived by her two sons: Brian, his wife Toni and their children Sean, Kyle and Emilia of Charlotte, NC, and Andrew, his wife Kimberly and their son Christopher of Harrisburg, NC, and son Benjamin and his wife Christina of New Ipswich, NH. She also leaves behind her cherished sister, Patricia Shea Mei, and her husband, Tony, of Novato, CA, and their children and grandchildren. Interment in Simsbury Cemetery will be private. In lieu of flowers, please donate in her memory to the charity or cause of your choice. The Vincent Funeral Home of Simsbury is caring for the arrangements. Please visit Mary Jane's Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.
Morning Weather Report
Today
A 20 percent chance of showers after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. North wind around 6 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Light northeast wind.
Tomorrow
Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. East wind 6 to 8 mph.
Tomorrow Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
High Tides
12:01 PM
Low Tides
6:00 AM / 6:14 PM