photo by Luca DePalo

by Luca DePalo, Contributing Blogger

Daybreak

Stadium Theatre, Woonsocket, RI

April 24, 2026

When I think of romantic ’70s music, the first artist that comes to mind is Billy Joel. But in what has to be a close second at this point is Barry Manilow.  To be candid, I am a big Barry Manilow fan… or as Barry would call, a “Fanilow.” And clearly there are many Rhode Islanders who are Fanilows, as Daybreak: The Music & Passion of Barry Manilow has been performing in Woonsocket for three years and crowds continue to show up to see the songs of one of their favorite singers performed live.

photo by Luca DePalo

As the years go by, and more tribute bands continue to pop up across the country, you start to realize why it’s happening. These artists from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and even ’90s, are becoming too old to tour, and many don’t have the energy they did decades ago. Barry Manilow, on the other hand, continues to tour, even at the age of 82. Last May, I had received the opportunity to attend one of Barry’s shows on his farewell tour, and coming into this show gave plenty of expectations, which I thought could never be reached. But after a concert that went for almost two hours, featuring 21 Barry Manilow we-all-know-by-heart songs, I think it’s going to be a long time before the memory of Friday night fades away.

Personally, the Stadium Theatre is the perfect location for Manilow fans. The venue celebrates a century of entertainment after being built in 1926, and even after restoration in the last decade, it still holds that vintage presence which I’ve come to appreciate more with each visit. Everything from the seats to the marquee to every little detail that brings that signature, yet unique, touch. Just looking around before the show started made me feel like we were launched back to Barry’s starting days.

photo by Luca DePalo

The show took very little time to get going, with a short band jam, before lead singer Joe Hine opened with “Daybreak,” the perfect song to not just start off the evening, but introduce the bands name! Almost instantly, I knew they had the crowd where they wanted them. It was fun to look around the venue and see the joy in various people’s faces.

About three or four years ago, Hine was a solo musician who performed background music in Florida restaurants. But now, he is convincingly embodies the pop icon Barry Manilow, from the outfits to that signature voice and the jokes with the audience throughout the performance. In my opinion, there are moments where you close your eyes and swear you’re actually hearing the real deal. Both he and his band perfectly captured the atmosphere and vibe of Barry’s shows in the 70’s.

photo by Luca DePalo

Set one was a trip down the life of Barry’s career. After “Daybreak,” the hits kept rolling: “This One’s for You,” the signature “It’s a Miracle,” the perfect ballad “Even Now,” the staple “Could It Be Magic,” and my personal favorite, “Weekend In New England,” which felt like the best song to play for the Rhode Island crowd.

With such a badass ensemble, Joe Hine fronts the band, delivering both vocals and piano on almost every track, while Amy Evans and Laura Turk provided backing vocals, drummer Ric Craig drives the perfect rhythm, bassist Val Shaffer locks in the low end to support lead guitarist Phill Fest, whose tone brings the band to life, and then both Jody Marsh and Joe Barone provide percussion, the saxophone, keyboards, and a wide variety of instruments played on all of Barry’s studio records.

photo by Luca DePalo

After a well-deserved intermission, the band returned onstage to perform nonstop hits. Before performing the Grammy award-winning “I Write The Songs,” Hine provided an interesting story. Even though Barry may have written the songs that “make the whole world sing,” he did not write “I Write The Songs.” Yet, it was written and produced by Bruce Johnston, long-time bassist for The Beach Boys. The emotional pull of the song led to a beautiful display of the room lit up from the audience’s phone lights. Of course, a set of Barry songs would not be complete without the tracks that followed: “Mandy,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Somewhere In the Night,” and more.

One of the standout moments of the performance came when the entire theatre sang along to “Copacabana (At the Copa),” turning the show into a full-on celebration, where the band’s female backing vocalists came out in atheistic attire. The band didn’t just play the songs, yet, they recreated the feeling of a classic Barry Manilow concert, blending nostalgia with genuine excitement. It was captivating from start to finish. That Friday evening in Woonsocket felt like a celebration where everybody unified together during a time of disagreement.

Don’t forget, keep supporting live music, and go see Daybreak: The Music & Passion of Barry Manilow when they return next spring to the Stadium Theatre!