NEWS RELEASE
DATE: Dec. 8, 2010
CONTACT: Mark Demko, 610-332-1342 or mdemko@artsquest.org
ARTSQUEST ANNOUNCES FIRST CONCERTS AT NEW MUSIKFEST CAFÉ
BETHLEHEM, PA--Former Yes frontman Jon Anderson, the incomparable Leon Redbone, Grammy Award winner Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, Canadian folk duo Dala, Celtic/world group Scythian and Pink Floyd tribute The Machine are the first acts announced to perform at the new Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling, located at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.
Tickets for the six concerts will go on sale Wed., Feb. 16, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and Fri., Feb. 18, 10 a.m., to the public. They will be available at www.artsquest.org or by calling 610-332-3378. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets before the public to these shows and over 200 other ArtsQuest concerts at the Musikfest Café, Musikfest® and other ArtsQuest festivals is invited to become an ArtsQuest Member. Memberships are available at www.artsquest.org or by calling 610-332-3378.
Jon Anderson - May 2, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $39 & $49 (reserved seating)
As the lead vocalist and creative force behind Yes, Jon Anderson is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable voices in rock. A founding member of Yes, he was the author and a major creative influence behind the series of epics produced by the group, and his role in creating such complex pieces as "Close to the Edge", "Awaken" and "The Gates of Delirium" was central to the band's success. Anderson co-authored the group's biggest hits, including "I've Seen All Good People," Roundabout" and the No. 1 chart topper "Owner Of A Lonely Heart."
Dala - May 20, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20 & $30 (reserved seating)
Pop singers/songwriters Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther have it all – talent, charisma, charm and heavenly, harmonious singing voices. Combined, their vocal range spans from the darkest depths of the scale to startling and rarely explored heights. Their extraordinary friendship emerged from a shared high school music class – and the ensuing collaboration has been nothing short of spectacular. Under the moniker Dala, the duo has captivated festival-goers and music lovers all over North America. Its most recent album, “Everyone Is Someone,” was released in June 2009 to critical acclaim. It earned the pair its fifth Canadian Folk Music Award nomination and a Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Folk Group.
Scythian - May 21, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $15 & $25 (general admission)
Rousing and raucous, Scythian plays kicked-up Celtic and world music with hints of Gypsy and Klezmer, all infused with a touch of punk-rock sensibility. Take a pair of classically trained dueling fiddlers, toss in a rhythm guitar and the occasional funky accordion, then power it with the driving rhythm of a jazz percussionist, and you have the ingredients for a show you won't soon forget. This band’s high-energy, adrenaline-peddling, interactive brand of music has one goal in mind - to get people on their feet and dancing.
Leon Redbone - May 27, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $29 & $39 (reserved seating)
During his 30-plus year career, Leon Redbone has released more than 15 albums and delighted audiences throughout the nation. First appearing on the music scene in the early 1970s, he has carved out a long and distinguished career thanks to his unique voice and thorough knowledge of blues, jazz, urban folk and ragtime. In 1975, Redbone released his Warner Brothers debut, “On the Track,” and the following year he made his network debut, performing “Walkin’ Stick” on Saturday Night Live.
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - June 1, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $45 & $55 (reserved seating)
Béla Fleck is often considered the premier banjo player in the world. A New York City native, he picked up the banjo at age 15 after being awed by the bluegrass music of Flatt & Scruggs. While still in high school he began experimenting with playing bebop jazz on his banjo, mentored by fellow banjo renegade Tony Trischka. In 1980, Fleck released his first solo album, “Crossing The Tracks,” and in 1989 he formed the genre-busting Flecktones. During his career, Fleck has won 11 Grammy Awards and received 27 Grammy nominations. He has been nominated in more categories than anyone in Grammy history.
The Machine - July 8, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $25 & $35 (reserved seating)
America’s top Pink Floyd show, The Machine has forged a 20-year reputation of excellence, extending the legacy of Pink Floyd while creating another legacy all its own. Over the years, The Machine has touched the hearts and souls of many, selling out theaters, clubs and casinos across North and Central America, Europe and Asia. The New York-based group focuses on making every show an authentic Floydian experience. Known for performing a diverse mix of Pink Floyd’s extensive 16-album repertoire, The Machine’s stellar musicianship, dramatic lighting and video, coupled with its passionate delivery, set it above and beyond the rest.
ABOUT THE MUSIKFEST CAFÉ PRESENTED BY YUENGLING
The Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling is an intimate concert venue featuring one of the most unique backdrops in the nation, the historic blast furnaces of the former Bethlehem Steel plant. Guests attending concerts at the state-of-the-art performance venue will be able to look out upon the iconic furnaces, illuminated nightly, thanks to 26-foot-tall clear glass walls located behind the stage, making for a concert experience unlike any other.
The Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling, located on the third and fourth floors of the new ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way in Bethlehem, can accommodate audiences of 450-900 people depending on the performance and seating configuration. Both the café and ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks will open to the public May 1, 2011.
ABOUT ARTSQUEST
ArtsQuest is a Bethlehem, PA-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting music, arts, cultural experiences and educational and outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization and community enrichment. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest®, and the Banana Factory® cultural arts and education center, ArtsQuest’s programming currently reaches more than 1.3 million people annually.
ArtsQuest is furthering its mission of celebrating arts and culture through the development of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. The 65,000-square-foot building, set to open in May 2011, will feature live music, independent and scientific films, new festivals and community celebrations year-round, reaching an additional 750,000 people each year.
For more information on ArtsQuest, visit www.artsquest.org or call 610-332-1300.
-30-
Editor’s Note: Attached is an image of Béla Fleck, who performs at the Musikfest Café on June 1.
