NEWS RELEASE
DATE: March 8, 2011
CONTACT: Jennifer Reese, 484-777-7916 or jennifer.reese@pasands.com
Mark Demko, 610-332-1342 or mdemko@artsquest.org
GRAMMY WINNERS & MOTOWN GREATS HIGHLIGHT 2011 MUSIK AT THE SANDS
June Concert Series at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem
to Benefit Festival Center at SteelStacks
BETHLEHEM, PA—Grammy winner Pat Benatar, pianist Michael Feinstein, the incomparable Paul Anka, Motown legends The Four Tops and The Temptations, and guitarist Peter Frampton, performing his classic "Frampton Comes Alive!," highlight the 2011 Musik at the Sands Concert Series at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, 77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem. Proceeds from the series will benefit the Festival Center at SteelStacks, the 26,000-square-foot former Bethlehem Steel building that ArtsQuest plans to adaptively reuse to present exhibitions, performances, concerts and family/youth programs associated with ArtsQuest festivals and events at SteelStacks.
Michael Feinstein – The Sinatra Project – June 3, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $44-$54
Michael Feinstein, the multi-platinum-selling, five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer dubbed "The Ambassador of the Great American Songbook," is considered one of the premier interpreters of American standards. His 200-plus shows a year have included performances at Carnegie Hall and the Hollywood Bowl as well as the White House and Buckingham Palace. More than simply a performer, Feinstein is nationally recognized for his commitment to celebrating America’s popular song and preserving its legacy for the next generation. He serves on the Library of Congress’ National Recording Preservation Board, which has been asked to ensure the survival, conservation and increased public availability of America’s sound recording heritage. In 2009, Feinstein earned his fifth Grammy Award nomination for "The Sinatra Project," his Concord Records CD celebrating the music of Ol’ Blue Eyes.
Paul Anka – June 9, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $59 and $74
Paul Anka has recorded 125 albums including more than 10 albums in Japanese, German, Spanish, French and Italian. He has sold close to 15 million albums worldwide. Among his Billboard chart stats in the U.S. are three No. 1 songs, "Diana," "Lonely Boy" and "You're Having My Baby," as well as 22 Top 20 hits. Anka also has a staggering 900 songs to his credit - 130 recorded by other artists including Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt and Robbie Williams. He is particularly well-known for penning signature songs for others, notably "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" (Buddy Holly), "She's a Lady" (Tom Jones), "Puppy Love" (Donny Osmond) and, of course, "My Way" (Frank Sinatra). And if that wasn’t enough, it was revealed upon its release in 2009, that Anka co-wrote Michael Jackson’s posthumous No. 1 worldwide hit, "This Is It," which has cemented his place among the most prolific and versatile songwriters of any generation.
Peter Frampton – June 21, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $44 and $59
Celebrating the 35th anniversary of "Frampton Comes Alive!," legendary guitarist Peter Frampton visits Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem to recreate his 1976 classic live album in its entirety! One of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history, the London-raised Frampton taught himself to play guitar while still in single digits. At 16, he was lead singer and guitarist for British teen band, the Herd, and two years later he co-founded one of the first super groups, seminal rock act Humble Pie. "Frampton Comes Alive!," his fifth solo album, is one of the top selling live records of all time. In 2006, Frampton captured a Grammy Award in the "Best Pop Instrumental Album" category for his recording "Fingerprints."
The Four Tops and The Temptations – June 23, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $49 and $59
It’s a trip to the classic days of Motown with two of music’s legendary acts. The Four Tops’ first Motown hit, "Baby I Need Your Loving," came in 1964 and launched a string of hits for the group that included the No. 1 smash "I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)," "It’s The Same Old Song," "Reach Out (I’ll Be There)," "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" and "Bernadette." In 1990, with 24 Top 40 hits to their credit, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
One of the finest male vocal group of the ’60s, The Temptations have produced some of the most classic songs of all time. Among their best known hits are "My Girl," "Ain’t Too Proud to Beg," "I Can’t Get Next to You," "Ball of Confusion," "Just My Imagination" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo – June 26, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $44 and $59
One of rock’s most popular and powerful female voices, Pat Benatar exploded onto the music scene with her 1979 album "In the Heat of the Night," which contained the hit "Heartbreaker." Originally discovered at New York’s Catch a Rising Star club, Benatar was signed to Chrysalis Records in 1977 and went on to release numerous hits, including "Hit Me with Your Best Shot," "Treat Me Right," "Hell Is for Children," "Shadows of the Night" and "Love Is a Battlefield." In the early 1980s, Benatar became a mainstay on MTV. Her popularity led to sold-out performances throughout the United States and earned her an impressive string of four Grammy Awards from 1980-’83. Still going strong, she has been married for 28 years to guitarist, songwriter producer, collaborator and soul mate Neil Giraldo. The parents of two daughters, Benatar and Giraldo have been touring almost nonstop for more than three decades.
Tickets:
Musik at the Sands is supported in part by 99.9 The Hawk. Tickets for all announced Musik at the Sands concerts will go on sale Tues., March 15, 10 a.m. to ArtsQuest Members and Friday, March 18, 10 a.m. to the public. They will be available at www.artsquest.org , 610-332-3378 and the Sands & Co. store at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. All Musik at the Sands concerts are for ages 21 and older.
About Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem opened May of 2009 in Eastern Pennsylvania. Situated on the site of the historic Bethlehem Steel plant and located approximately 60 minutes from Philadelphia and the northern New Jersey suburbs, and 90 minutes from New York City, Sands Bethlehem offers over 3,000 state-of-the-art slot machines and 100 table games. Culinary offerings include Emeril’s Chop House and Burgers And More By Emeril, two signature restaurants from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. In addition, the casino features the Carnegie Deli, St. James Gate Irish Pub and Carvery, Cobalt Cafe and the varied offerings and cuisines of The Market Gourmet Express. It is also home to the Coil bar, Infusion lounge and Molten lounge, which feature live entertainment 7 nights a week.
The Sands Bethlehem development also consists of plans for a 300-room hotel and over 5000 sq. ft. of meeting space opening in May 2011, 200,000 square feet of shopping space for popular retailers and designers, and nearly 50,000 square feet of flexible multi-purpose space, which will allow the property to accommodate meetings, conventions and a variety of special events.
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 April 15, 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.
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Editor’s Note: Attached is an image of Peter Frampton, who will be performing at the Musik at the Sands concert series at Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem June 21 at 7:30 p.m. Photo is by Gregg Roth.
