Gettysburg Festival announces 2012 lineup
More Than 75 Events Set for June 8-17, 2012
(Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) - 3/14/2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE …
CONTACT:
Karen Hendricks
Gettysburg Festival
(717) 253-3553
[email protected]
Five-time Grammy Award winner Robert Cray launches the 10-day Gettysburg Festival lineup, June 8-17, into its banner fifth birthday by celebrating the blues, a purely American music style completely fitting for a festival focused on American arts, culture and cuisine.
More than 75 additional events explore a full range of American art forms: Broadway-style “improv” theater, farm-to-table cuisine, traditional as well as contemporary brass, America’s largest gathering of historical artists, up-and-coming Americana folk trio Red Molly, and a choral concert exploring the roots of America’s Negro spirituals, along with much more.
Robert Cray Band kicks off the festival with a June 8 concert set for Festival Main Stage at Gettysburg College; tickets ($25-$60) are available at www.gettysburgfestival.org or by calling (717) 334-0853.
Cray, credited with carrying America’s blues tradition into the 21st century, was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011 and has based a successful career spanning 35 years upon his soulful voice, creative guitar work and songs bridging the gaps between blues, rock, soul, gospel and jazz.
The blues-tinged theme continues throughout the first festival weekend, as “sizzling” blues singer Shemekia Copeland teams up with the festival’s most popular culinary event Blues, Beer & BBQ on June 9. Critics have hailed her as the eventual “Queen of the Blues,” following in the footsteps of Ruth Brown and Etta James.
“This 5th anniversary festival builds on a strong foundation of musical excellence at Gettysburg Festival, but also explores a wider range of musical styles than ever before, including not only blues, but brass, rock, Americana/folk and choral music,” said Festival Executive DireKirby.
Perennial festival favorite, the free All-American Brass Picnic (June 16) includes returning as well as fresh performers including the nation’s first all-female brass band – Athena Brass – as well as the critically-acclaimed “dream team” of brass, Rodney Mack Philadelphia Big Brass.
The Festival’s 2012 theater highlight is “Broadway’s Next H!T Musical,” hailed by The New York Times as “hilarious.” Set for June 15, this interactive show features a veteran cast of improv actors who play off ideas from the audience to create a spontaneous evening of music, theater and laughter.
New to the Festival’s visual arts lineup is the Quick Draw (June 15), offering plein air artists the chance to compete in an artistic downtown showdown on Gettysburg’s historic Lincoln Square. The public has multiple opportunities to watch artists in action, painting on location as part of the Artist Colony (June 14-17) and Plein Air Paint Out (June 8-17). The Adams County Arts Council Juried Art Exhibition (June 8-17) is known as one of the finest juried shows in the mid-Atlantic region; while the History Meets the Arts gallery events highlight the work of America’s most noted historical artists. All offer free admission to the public.
For more information on Gettysburg Festival events including tickets: www.gettysburgfestival.org, (717) 334-0853.
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