According to a press release, the Billtown Blues Association will bring dynamic four-piece band The Cinelli Brothers to Williamsport on Sept. 21. The event, which will see the group perform at both 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., will be hosted by The Side Bar, 345 Market St. Opening the shows will be regional favorites, The Cadillac Cats.

The Cinelli Brothers were recently crowned the No. 1 Blues Band in the U.K., among their five nominations at the U.K. Blues Awards, and received second place honors at the 2023 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN.

“It is a very surrealistic moment for us. The life as we once knew is no longer,” Marco Cinelli said about the band’s recent surge of recognition, in an interview with the BBA. “It is not even a bubble; it is a living dream. Time and space are no longer relevant. We gather, we travel, and we play as we build our European and soon our U.S. fanbase. It is just surreal.”

When asked about their driving force, the brothers emphasized their passion for music and their commitment to delivering 100% in every performance.

“We do everything ourselves, so we are crazy busy, but we don’t mind because we love what we do and always want to deliver a professional, meaningful and engaging performance,” Marco said.

Reflecting on their journey to Memphis, Marco stated, “What we have as a band is the will to endure, the will to pursue, the will to win.” For the band, “will to win” means winning fans through the effect of their music, with awards being a by-product of that goal and accomplishment.

“We were nominated for the U.K. Blues Awards four times and never won until this year. This year, we had five nominations and won Best U.K. Blues Band,” said Marco. “That, coupled with our IBC experience and our will to achieve, is what drives us.”

Alessandro Cinelli described his first experience on Beale Street in Memphis as “intense and magical.”

“I immediately felt lifted and inspired,” Alessandro said. “I was already a better musician just being there.”

The Cinelli Brothers recorded their fourth release, “Almost Exactly,” in March 2023, at famed Applehead studios in Woodstock, NY, under the production guidance of Rich Pagano. The band opened many new doors all over Europe in 2024, and is now ready for an extensive US fall tour stretching from New England to Florida.

“The band’s roots are in the blues, as to which they have enormous knowledge and reverence — one of their original songs is called ‘Grandchildren of the Blues’ as a testament to those roots — and the soul and rock music of the 60s and 70s,” reads the group’s website. “Their original material is an innovative mix of blues, funk, soul, rock and roll, and other genres that together produce a wonderful stew that folks are calling ‘New Blues.’ They play predominantly original material at their shows as well as some blues standards, which they play with an excitement and vitality that is distinctive in today’s blues scene.”

The Side Bar’s early show (6 p.m.) will offer seating and its late show (9 p.m.) will be a standing show for attendees, with limited seating. For tickets, which are on now on sale now, visit www.billtownblues.org or the Community Arts Center box office during normal business hours. Tickets are also available by appointment in Lewisburg by calling 570-309-7953.

In addition to general admission tickets, a special VIP ticket is available that will take place in the Side Bar VIP suite and include a meet-and-greet with the musicians from both bands, a lite-fare menu, a photo op, a signed poster and access to one of the performances. Availability permitting, tickets will also be sold at The Side Bar on the day of the show.