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Best Video Performance Space

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Best Video Performance Space

Best Video Performance Space was launched in June, 2011 as a venue for music, film screenings, literary readings and more.

Best Video Performance Space was launched in June, 2011 as a venue for music, film screenings, literary readings, wine tastings and more. From the beginning, the Performance Space has pursued an eclectic booking policy, showcasing acts ranging from classical (Haven String Quartet) to jazz (Bassology) to folk (Robert Messore) to rock and punk rock. The room is highly regarded among local musicians

for the quality of its acoustics. While the greater New Haven area has several outstanding venues for live music—most notably Cafe Nine, The Space, The Outer Space and Spaceland Ballroom—the Best Video Performance Space is unique in the way it melds both formal and informal aspects in its audience experience. The Performance Space, in collaboration with our neighbor Temple Beth Sholom, has also presented several film series, screening great movies and following them with stimulating, moderated discussions. The Best Video Coffee and Wine Bar is open on event nights, offering a selection of fine beers and wine as well as exceptional coffee drinks made from Willoughby's Coffee.

05/23/2026

FAREWELL CONCERT *** THIS *** SATURDAY *** NIGHT !!!

Isabella Mendes & Flávio Lira play Best Video Performance Space this Sat., May 23. The show starts at 7 PM and the cover is $15.

This is a farewell concert—Isabella and Flávio are moving to Florida.

Singer, songwriter, composer, pianist, and educator Isabella Mendes is quickly becoming one of New Haven and Hartford County’s top Brazilian and Jazz entertainers in the industry and has earned an impressive list of accomplishments well beyond her years.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Isabella started to study music at age four and hasn't stopped since. She has been studying with Grammy Winner pianist Fabio Torres and Emmy Winner vocalist Michal Towber. Isabella is also a leader in education, studying at Carnegie Hall as part of the Music Educators program. She is the founder and teacher of IMMusic Studio, a private music school, where she teaches piano and voice. She is an advocate for women and diversity in the arts, and is leading workshops bringing diversity through music in schools and community events.

Brazilian native bassist, Flávio Lira is very active and eclectic, musical styles have never been a restriction for him, and since the beginning, he has performed with groups ranging from Popular Samba to Classical Chamber Music. Now in New York, Flávio Lira is able to fully employ his versatility as a musician, collaborating with different artists and performing in prestigious venues, such as Birdland and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

05/16/2026

TONIGHT *** AT *** BEST *** VIDEO !!!

Kath Bloom and David Shapiro share a fantastic Saturday night bill at Best Video Performance Space with Mountain Movers tonight, May 16. The show starts at 7 PM and the cover is $10.

Kath Bloom is some kind of legend. She comes from a special place where country, blues and folk are made beautifully translucent and emotive. Highly regarded but a bit of a mystery. The Connecticut based singer/songwriter has a special gift - her almost supernaturally beautiful, wavering soprano is one that has to be heard, she has a clear transparent moonlight tone combined with an earthly raw quality that can silence a room.

Kath made some very very limited edition albums in the 70’s and 80’s with the amazing (and equally dreamlike) guitarist Loren Mazzacane Connors, full of songs that float and melt into the ether. Impossibly beautiful. However, music was put on the back burner as life changed and she raised a family, trained ‘problem horses’ and taught special music programs to kids. Just as she was starting to write and release CDs again, Richard Linklater decided to use her song ‘Come Here’ in his 1995 film ‘Before Sunrise’. Life altered - not much - but the public consciousness was rightfully tweaked. Slowly her old recordings and new material have been seeping back into the world. This includes a special tribute album by artists such as Josephine Foster, Bill Callahan, Devendra Banhart, Meg Baird and Scout Nibblet. Since 2017 she has been recording and performing with New Haven, CT based guitarist David Shapiro.

The current lineup of New Haven’s long running Mountain Movers (guitarist/vocalist Dan Greene, bassist Rick Omonte, guitarist Kryssi Battalene, & drummer Ross Menze) have been playing together for over a decade now, making their recorded debut on a slew of singles released from 2011-2013, but it wasn’t until 2015’s “Death Magic” (released on New Haven label Safety Meeting) that the potential of that iteration of the group became clear; Mountain Movers are a force of nature.

The camaraderie & sensitivity to each others playing has only grown over time, crystallizing on the group’s trio of albums for Trouble In Mind; 2015’s eponymous “Mountain Movers” served as a reintroduction of the group to a larger audience, while 2018’s “Pink Skies” raged like a group confident in its strengths, and 2020’s prescient “World What World”, written & recorded before the world shut down slightly shifted focus away from the jams & back toward the weight of guitarist/songwriter Dan Greene’s poetic tales of magical realism. The band’s ninth album “Walking After Dark” finds a happy medium between both aspects of the band’s strengths; Greene’s lyrical compositions and the group’s long-form improvised jams.

05/14/2026

THIS *** FRIDAY *** NIGHT !!!

Alexander (aka David Shapiro) and Ian St. George share the bill at Best Video Performance Space on Fri., May 15. The show starts at 7 PM and the cover is $10.

Alexander is the solo project of guitarist and multi-instrumentalist David Shapiro (Kath Bloom, Josephine Foster, Center). Under the Alexander moniker he plays fingerstyle acoustic guitar and banjo music. Drawing from a wide variety of guitar traditions, Shapiro has arrived at a style and vocabulary of his own. His albums have drawn comparisons to John Fahey and Robbie Basho who he cites as influences on his playing. Elizabeth Cotten, Frantz Casseus, and Frank Proffitt are other major influences. As Alexander he has toured extensively across the U.S. and abroad. He has shared bills with Mdou Moctar, Loren Connors, Susan Alcorn, and many more. His self-titled LP is distributed by Forced Exposure and he has additional releases on C/Site Recordings.

Guitarist Ian St. George has played his brand of punk rock. He's played free improvised psychedelic guitar. And he's also conversant in the American Primitive genre of solo acoustic guitar as championed in the past by such luminaries as John Fahey. St. George will be playing in this style at Best Video.

05/07/2026

THIS *** FRIDAY *** NIGHT !!!

The Brian Larney Band (Brian Larney Music) and The Shellye Valauskas Experience share a pop melody-filled bill at Best Video Performance Space this Fri., May 8. The show starts at 7 PM and the cover is $10.

The Brian Larney Band is a hook-driven rock/pop outfit built around the songs of songwriter Brian Larney. Haunted by hooks and good old-fashioned songcraft, the band channels the melodic punch and heart of 70s and 80s guitar pop—big choruses, ringing guitars and the kind of songs that stay with you long after the last note fades. Larney (vocals, guitar, keys) is joined by Dean Falcone (lead guitar, vocals), Bob Hibson (bass), and Jim Balga (drums), a lineup that brings both muscle and nuance to the material.

Larney’s songs have earned placements in film and television and he has shared stages with artists like Cheap Trick, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and Ellis Paul. In this full band setting, those melodic instincts expand into a full-throttle live show-tight, energetic and built around the simple idea that great songs and players still matter. Equal parts power-pop shimmer and Brill Building–inspired songcraft, The Brian Larney Band delivers timeless, melody-first rock made for anyone who still believes in the power of a great chorus.

Based in the New Haven area, Shellye Valauskas & Dean Falcone lead The Shellye Valauskas Experience and write meticulously crafted power pop songs, with an emphasis on “power.” The songs hearken back to the finer moments of the 1970’s and 1980’s and are filled with sparkling melodies powered by sharp and often jangly electric guitars; think Big Star, The Raspberries and Aimee Mann. The latest release, History of Panic, is a collection of catchy choruses, swirly guitars and melodies that instantly draw you in and satisfy on every level.

04/24/2026

THIS *** SATURDAY *** NIGHT !!!!

Pop-punk ravers My Own Gr***de plays Best Video Performance Space Sat., April. 25. The show starts at 7 PM with New Haven's great Ramones tribute band The Hymans - New Haven opening. The cover is $10.

My Own Gr***de is a hard rock/punk band. Formed in 1996, Tim Rooney (vocals), Mike Reid (guitar/vocals), Chris Siano (bass) and Buddy Oberheim (drums) are dedicated to writing, recording and performing original songs. Musical influences include a wide variety of artists and bands such as The Clash, The Cure, Descendents and Blink-182.

In the late 90’s, My Own Gr***de was voted the #2 punk band in the New Haven area, playing live at venues such as Toad’s Place, The Webster Theater and NYC clubs. The band's debut album “Randal’s Last Stand” remains a favorite with their dedicated fan base. Quit your day job and follow My Own Gr***de in living the rock-n-roll lifestyle you've always dreamed of!

Gabba Gabba (New)HEY(van)! Formed in 2005, The Hymans are the Elm City’s first Ramones tribute band. Taking their pseudonyms from Joey’s real name (Jeff Hyman), these bruddahs get into character…way into character. Leather jackets, knee hole pants, this ain’t no high school dance.They walk, talk, and look like the original boys from Queens.

The Hymans are Ramones fanatics who play all the stuff...and more. Songs from the early days to “Adios Amigos” are incorporated into their ear-splitting, foot- shuffling set. Just like the real Ramones, The Hymans sometimes rotate their line-up. Unlike the real Ramones, they only play for very special occasions.

04/17/2026

THIS *** FRIDAY *** NIGHT !!!

Friday, April 17
Hugh Birdsall, Frank Critelli, Steve Elci, Ben Parent
"Songs of Love & Resistance"
Best Video, Hamden, CT
7 PM - $10 cover

Four seasoned CT-based songwriters (and mutual admirers of each other's work) are coming together to present their most recent topical songs in a mutual show of hope and solidarity. Will it be a one-off performance or an ongoing affair? Time will tell... Either way, join us for this not-to-miss inaugural gathering at Best Video!

04/10/2026

THIS *** SATURDAY *** NIGHT *** !!!

Buzz Gordo and Jed Parish share a singer-songwriter bill at Best Video Performance Space this Sat., April. 11. The show starts at 7 PM and the cover is $10. It's a record release show for Buzz's new "Pen and Ink."

Buzz Gordo, a/k/a Gary Mezzi, is the guitarist and singer of the New Haven band Bronson Rock, and has previously been part of other renowned CT bands including Big Bad Johns and Gone Native. His songs have appeared on the soundtrack of such popular TV shows as “True Blood,” “90210,” “Divorce,” and “Heartland.”

In March 2026, he will release his first solo album, “Pen and Ink.” With just acoustic guitar and harmonica, he revisits his long career with a set of sixteen songs composed between 1980 and 2025. The album highlights the continuity of his songwriting style, with its emphasis on clever lyrics and melodies influenced by the great late-70’s British songwriters like Costello, Strummer/Jones and Graham Parker, as well as proto-Americana artists like Joe Ely and Townes Van Zandt.

Born in New Haven in the late 60s, singer & organist for The Gravel Pit since the late 80s, solo artist since 1999. Jed has performed and recorded with Mike Viola, They Might Be Giants & Citizens Band. His first album Bloodsucker Blues released in 1999 has been remastered and issued on vinyl for the first time at https://jedediahparish.bandcamp.com/

03/29/2026

THIS AFTERNOON AT 4 PM!

Bugs on a Log String Band plays Best Video Performance Space this Sun., Mar. 29. This is a matinee show starting at 4 PM and the cover is $20.

Brimming with festivity, Bugs on a Log is an emergent stringband that cultivates warmth and joy wherever they go. With a wealth of expertise spanning from classical to old-time to bluegrass under their collective belt, Bugs on a Log is a group sculpted from dynamic abundance.

The New England-based band marries their spread of music with care, the result an uncommon blend of precision, vitality, and innovation. Audiences describe live performances as moving and mirthful, often stirred to dancing, singing, clapping, and the like. Composed of Lana Auerbach (fiddle, banjo), Austin Scelzo (fiddle, mandolin, guitar), Jeff Smith (guitar, banjo, mandolin), Malcolm Callagy (cello, fiddle), Jack Corcoran (bass), and Oriana Mack (fiddle), each member is a multi-hyphenate talent and vocalist in their own rite. Their chemistry palpable and compelling, Bugs on a Log is a new outfit full of promise, ever sure to deliver a sweeping alchemy of strings and spirit.

03/28/2026

TONIGHT *** AT *** BEST *** VIDEO *** !!!

One of the most popular bands to play Best Video, Big Fat Combo return tonight, Sat., Mar. 28, to play Best Video Performance Space. The music starts at 7 PM and the cover is $10.

Don't miss this show!

The Big Fat Combo hail from Cheshire and offer their own, wry, well-crafted take on rock ‘n’ roll. The quartet is a classic rockabilly group: upright bass (Tom Murphy) and drums (Tom Smith), rhythm (Tom Hearn) and lead guitar (Cary Pollick). Led by singer Hearn, the Big Fat Combo not only play their original tunes (“Tag Sale,” “Banned by Sam the Clam’s” and “Chicks Dig it,” among others) but also riff on classic rock ‘n’ roll, garage rock, punk, country and even some easy listening chestnuts (“Que Sera Sera,” “It was a Very Good Year”) that they make fully their own.

03/16/2026

THIS *** TUESDAY *** EVENING !!!

St. Patrick’s Day Irish Music Party

Banish the wintry blues and join us for an Irish Music party to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Best Video Performance Space this Tuesday, March 17, starting at 6:30 pm. The cover is $10.

Enjoy a pint and a lively evening of Irish songs and dance tunes featuring fiddles, Irish blackwood flute, whistles, octave mandola, bodhran and banjo with the quartet Failte (Irish for "welcome")—Jim Sirch, Willow Sirch, and Gary Wikfors.

Often found on a Sunday afternoon at the Irish session at Hamden’s Playwright Irish Pub and Restaurant, these musicians draw from Celtic traditions that have inspired them over the years, presenting a repertoire of traditional tunes and songs that have been vigorously preserved and passed down over generations, along with a few original compositions. Come celebrate the day with an evening of memorable songs, haunting airs, and cheerful jigs and reels performed by these longtime musical friends.

03/14/2026

LITTLE SILVER *** AT BEST VIDEO *** TONIGHT *** !!

Little Silver plays Best Video Performance Space tonight, Sat., Mar. 14. The show starts at 7 PM and the cover is $10. The Tines (solo) will open.

Little Silver, then based in Brooklyn (but now in Spring Glen in Hamden), released their debut album “Somewhere You Found My Name” July, 2017. Built around the ethereal vocals of married duo Erika Simonian and Steve Curtis, “Somewhere You Found My Name” is a gorgeous collection of original songs which confront the shifting landscape of gaining and losing loved ones, changes in perspective, and the uncertainty of life itself. Little Silver’s sparse arrangements and beautifully understated vocals bring these everyday truths to life.

Simonian and Curtis co-wrote all of the material on the new album. The experience of being partners in both life and music informs the themes of growth, loss, commitment, and the evolution of relationships that are woven throughout “Somewhere You Found My Name.” The beauty in Little Silver’s music is the way that they collaborate and create as a couple, working through life’s changes and encouraging the listener to process these experiences along with them.

They’re currently working on a new record at Firehouse 12 in New Haven. Little Silver will be in full band mode for this show with Michael Paolucci on drums, Mike Tepper on bass, and Kevin Brady on keys.

The Tines (solo)—aka New Haven Connecticut’s Sam Carlson—writes with an acerbic punch. With incisive and often satirical lyrics he explores a fascination with the mundane, good and bad uses of time, and a fist full of bummers. He has worked in different capacities with a variety of bands including but not limited to: Ports of Spain, Laundry Day, The Proud Flesh, 10K Blades, Rob Carlson and Benefit Street, and Winter White

"(Carlson's) unassuming demeanor masks a rich musical background and artistic presence"

- New Haven Independent

Address

1842 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT
06517

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 9pm
Tuesday	9am - 9pm
Wednesday	9am - 10pm
Thursday	9am - 10pm
Friday	9am - 10pm
Saturday	9am - 10pm
Sunday	9am - 9pm

Telephone

(203) 287-9286

Website

http://www.bestvideo.com/category/performance-space-events/

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