Iconic New Orleans Music Venues Unite for Historic ‘NOLAxNOLA’ Live Events Series OCT 7 – 17

Maison is one of the venues participating in an unprecedented coalition of New Orleans’ iconic nightclubs and music venues, in partnership with New Orleans & Company, to create NOLAxNOLA, a branded series of live music events throughout the city during the dates of the city’s lost New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, October 7-17, 2021 © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

NEW ORLEANS – An unprecedented coalition of New Orleans’ iconic nightclubs and music venues, in partnership with New Orleans & Company, have proactively combined to create NOLAxNOLA, a branded series of live music events throughout the city during the dates of our lost New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, October 7-17, 2021. The goal of NOLAxNOLA is to keep New Orleans’ music venues, musicians and culture bearers strong and supported during this difficult time, while following all safety guidelines. 

NOLAxNOLA strives to illustrate that we can create a national model of promoting and supporting live music in a safe way that calls for proof of COVID vaccine or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours for entrance into the venue. We are asking locals and visitors to join our musicians and employees in getting vaccinated and continuing our way of life. We want locals to have safe venues to attend shows and we will promote to travelers that they keep their travel plans, while following all vaccination and safety guidelines, because the shows must go on. 

NOLAxNOLA will feature over 170 events across over 20 music venues in 10 days. More shows are being added by the day. 

NOLAxNOLA Music Venues: 
– Buffa’s Bar 
– Café Istanbul 
– Café Negril 
– Carnaval Lounge 
– Civic Theatre 
– d.b.a. 
– Gasa Gasa 
– Hi-Ho Lounge 
– Howlin’ Wolf 
– Joy Theater 
– Mid City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl 
– NOLA Brewing Company 
– Preservation Hall 
– Republic NOLA 
– Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro 
– The Broadside 
– The Maison 
– The Metropolitan 
– The Starlight 
– Three Keys 
– Tipitina’s 
– Voodoo Two Lounge 
– Zony Mash Beer Project 

NOLAxNOLA Supporters: 
– 7S Management 
– BackBeat / Hypersoul 
– Fandiem 
– Fox Pocket 
– Hotel St. Vincent 
– MaCCNO 
– New Orleans & Company 
– Red Light Management 
– Sigfest Events 
– Them People Productions 
– WWOZ 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on New Orleans’ critical cultural economy for locals and visitors, despite months of optimism and a resurgence of leisure travelers earlier this year. Spring 2021 festivals rescheduled for the fall such as French Quarter Fest and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival have been cancelled due to the delta surge, as well as Buku Planet B, Beignet Fest, Fried Chicken Fest and Voodoo Music + Arts Experience. 

NOLAxNOLA, designed to safely and immediately support clubs, musicians and culture bearers in a time of financial peril, could become an annual tradition, created in 2021, but lasting and growing for many years beyond. 

New Orleans maintains the highest vaccination rate of any Louisiana parish with nearly 80 percent of eligible adults receiving at least their first vaccine. New Orleans & Company has been a strong advocate for COVID vaccines for the safety of all residents, employees and guests of the city. 

Sig Greenebaum, Co-Founder of NOLAxNOLA and President of Sigfest Events said, “New Orleans festival seasons mean so much to the city. It is essential that we all band together to support the city and our vibrant artistic community in our time of need. Shows will go on and we will turn this challenging moment into a historic celebration!” 

“We want to send a clear message to all travelers, regionals and locals who previously had planned to attend New Orleans music festivals or club concerts this fall: Visitors, please keep your travel plans and get vaccinated, locals…. get vaccinated and retain and buy other tickets to safe music venues this fall. Our live music shows and performances must survive, must go on and flourish,” said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company, the official destination sales and marketing organization for New Orleans’ tourism industry. “New Orleanians and our critical visitor economy deserve a rich array of music, delivered in wonderful safe club environments, instead of mass-attended festival events right now. Our music clubs are the lifeblood of the most authentic live music scene in America, and they and our musicians are in peril. This unprecedented coalition of venues, artists and New Orleans & Company has come together to plant a flag in the ground, book scores of concerts throughout venues and neighborhoods all over the city and drive the message that the music continues, and does so

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit neworleans.com/nolaxnola.

See also:

New Orleans: ‘It’s Not All About The Jazz,’ Guest at Destination Wedding in NOLA Discovers

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Fine Arts & Festivals in the Great Northern Catskills

Hudson River Skywalk, a walking path on the Rip Van Winkle bridge, is viewed from artist Frederic Edwin Church’s Olana, and connects to the Thomas Cole historic site, on the Hudson River School Art Trail © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Where can you see Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, and Brooks & Dunn all in one place? At the Taste of Country Music Festival at Hunter Mountain, June 7-9! One of the Catskill’s premier summer festivals, country music fans flock to this three-day event each year. Camp out for the complete experience and you’ll be rewarded with special concerts, great food, and craft beer from a wide variety of amazing vendors.

If you prefer banjos and stand-up basses, the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival is for you. Held at Walsh Farm from July 18-21, Grey Fox’s who’s who of bluegrass line-up boasts 40 bands playing on six outdoor stages over four days. It’s non-stop, family-friendly, toe-tapping fun. Combine your bluegrass experience with a visit to the Annual Catskills Irish Arts Week, held concurrently from July 14-20 in East Durham. It’s a week-long celebration of Irish culture that includes live music, traditional Irish dancers, workshops, lectures, art, and more.

A festival on two wheels, the 12th Annual Tour of the Catskills Pro-Am Bicycle Road Race will be held in Tannersville on August 3. One of the nation’s top cycling events, this Pro-Am race draws over 250 racers each year from throughout the world. Considered one of the toughest cycling courses in the country for amateurs and professionals alike, racers will give their all just to get through the ‘Devil’s Kitchen Climb,’ a grueling uphill portion of the course. Cheer the athletes on, or register and see if you have what it takes!

Rev up the fun and watch daring riders kick up the dirt and reach serious speeds at Diamondback Motocross of East Durham. With three Sunday race days this summer – June 16, July 7, and July 28 – there’s no excuse for missing this thrilling event. Landing big-air jumps and racing around tight corners, it’s an adrenaline junkie’s dream come true for riders, and a heartpounding spectacle for those on the sidelines!

The Catskill Region has long been a place where poets, painters, writers, and photographers have found artistic inspiration. The stunning natural surroundings and ample opportunities for reflective solitude make it a haven for creative minds. As a result, it also holds incredible appeal for those who appreciate the fine arts.

There is no better place to begin your Catskills arts and culture exploration than at the Thomas Cole National Historic Site. There, the former home and studio of Hudson River School of Art founder Thomas Cole still stands, now serving as a museum of Catskills art history and a working gallery and studio.

Exchange traditional for contemporary when you visit the LUMBERYARD Center for Film and Performing Arts. This modern-day studio and performance center is a wonderful place for audiences to enjoy unique theater, dance, and film productions, and a place for budding artists to hone their craft and blaze their own artistic path. Browse their upcoming events or learn more about their leading-edge artist-in-residence programs.

With so many incredible performance spaces and galleries to choose from, it’s easy to make the arts part of any visit to the Great Northern Catskills. Check the performance schedules of the Bridge Street Theatre in Catskill and the Orpheum Film and Performing Arts Center in Tannersville to find world class concerts, theater productions, and one-of-a-kind shows, or stop by a local art gallery to see breathtaking works by talented local artists.

What is it about the Great Northern Catskills that is so inspiring to artistic minds? Take a walk along the new Hudson River Skywalk to see for yourself! Hundreds of feet in the air, the mile-long Skywalk connects the homes of two famed Hudson River School painters, Thomas Cole and Frederic Church. Spanning a picturesque portion of the Hudson River, several outlooks along the path provide panoramic views of the water below and the surrounding mountains. It is a view that has inspired countless photographs, paintings, and written works, including the famous fable of Rip Van Winkle. While pets are not allowed, sketch books, cameras, and easels are encouraged!

Greene County Tourism, 800-355-CATS, 518-943-3223, www.greatnortherncatskills.com..

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2014 Lake Tahoe Summerfest Showcases World-Renowned Classical Musicians

Metropolitan Opera Star Matthew Polenzani and U.S. Billboard Classical Chart best-selling pianist Simone Dinnerstein will be thrilling audiences this August as soloists for the 2014 Lake Tahoe SummerFest. Held the first three weekends in August, the classical concert series will offer two evening concerts, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and a new chamber music series called “Meet the Music,” on Sundays at 4 p.m. The festival runs weekends Aug. 1-17. Polenzani will headline the classical music festival, Aug. 1-3 and Dinnerstein will be featured Aug. 7-9. (www.tahoesummerfest.org)

Now in its third season, the 40 member orchestra performs in a 500-seat, intimate acoustical tent pavilion on the campus of Sierra Nevada College, in Incline Village, Nev. Audience members are reminded of their unique setting as they enter the tent nestled under hundred year old towering trees and within a half mile of the Lake Tahoe shore.

For the individual musicians who travel to Tahoe, the festival is the ultimate summer camp. Their home symphonies include some of the most prestigious orchestras in the world — the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the symphonies of San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver, among others.

Lake Tahoe SummerFest Artistic Director and Conductor Joel Revzen has conducted and recorded symphonies and operas throughout the world, including with the London Symphony, the Mariinsky Orchestra, (formerly the Kirov), Scottish Chamber Orchestra And the Moscow Symphony. He is currently in his ninth season on the conducting staff of the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

“It is a great privilege to help bring masterpieces of music to life with these extraordinary artists in one of the most beautiful natural settings in the world,” Revzen said. “Our audience can experience musical intimacy rarely found in most large concert halls. With only 500 seats and vibrant acoustics, the music virtually reaches out and touches you.”

Repertoire highlights this season include Beethoven’s 4^th Symphony; the rarely-heard gem Britten’s Serenade for tenor, horn and strings; Mozart Symphony No. 40; Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2; Strauss Concertino for clarinet, bassoon, strings and harp; a newly-orchestrated Concerto for timpani and orchestra; and Mendelssohn’s ‘Scottish’ Symphony.

Connection between the audience and musicians has always been central to the SummerFest performances, and that will be served by two new additions to the season. “Meet the Music/Meet the Musicians” Sunday concerts will bring intimacy and electricity between the artists and audiences as the musicians explore weekly themes based on the great classical music centers of Europe – Vienna, Paris and London.

“We began with a vision to make Tahoe a summer destination for arts and culture and we are continuing to deliver on that promise,” said Madylon Meiling, Lake Tahoe SummerFest founder and chair. “Ticket sales have grown every year and our patrons come from all over California, Nevada, and from as far away as Texas and Arizona. The event’s success speaks to the quality of the experience.”

The Lake Tahoe SummerFest season begins Friday, Aug. 1, 2014 with the opening concert in the acoustically designed concert tent on the grounds of the Sierra Nevada College: 999 Tahoe Boulevard, Incline Village, Nev. For tickets and season subscriptions information go to www.tahoesummerfest.org.

 

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Tickets on Sale for 60th Anniversary Newport Jazz Festival, Aug. 1-3

The 60th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival taking place August 1-3, 2014 will feature three full days of music that give a look at the future of jazz, including more than 40 performances by some of the world’s greatest established and emerging jazz artists and devote an entire day dedicated to emerging artists..

Now presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, the Festival will feature the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin spirityouall, Trombone Shorty, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Robert Glasper, Dr. John, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Cecile McLorin Salvant, Gary Burton, Gregory Porter, Jon Batiste, Dave Holland, John Zorn, Miguel Zenon, The Cookers, Snarky Puppy and more.

“We are thrilled to open the Festival on Friday with an entire day of musicians who have emerged on the scene with distinctive stories to tell through their music,” said George Wein, who has produced the Festival since its beginning in 1954. “We’re not just selling these artists, we might be selling the future of jazz. In fact, the only reason for me to be in the Festival business at this point in my life is because these musicians and others must be heard,” added Wein, now 88.

Also, the Newport Jazz Festival will present a symposium to discuss how jazz relates to popular culture in today’s society. It will feature jazz aficionados and historians, including Henry Louis Gates.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame will host the Friday evening concert, featuring Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis and Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Festival-goers can play an additional role in helping to secure the future of jazz by supporting Newport Festivals Foundation, Inc. at its fundraising gala at the famed Vanderbilt summer cottage, The Breakers, including an appearance by Marsalis and other Festival artists.

Tickets are now on sale. For tickets and more information, go to http://www.newportjazzfest.org. For information on luxury bus trips to Newport, go to WBGO Travel at wbgo.org/travel.

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Telluride Blues & Brews Offers Live Internet Video Stream of Festival, Sept. 12-15

Telluride Blues & Brews Festival celebrates 20 years.

Telluride Blues & Brews is again offering a live internet video stream of the entire festival,Sept. 12-15; (for details and schedule visit tellurideblues.com).

The summer music season of Colorado’s Western Slope region is capped off by four days of live tunes and craft libations at this year’s Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Celebrating 20 years means bringing a standout lineup of national touring acts and a record 56 regional and national microbreweries for the festival and its patrons.

Primarily taking place in the 36 acre venue outfitted for choice live music experiences, Town Park sits adjacent to the downtown Telluride section at the end of the scenic box canyon bordered by high elevation peaks. New amenities this year include an enhanced food selection from 13 vendors, exclusive campground music sessions, an onsite camping gear vendor provided by Project Shelter, and a Main Street parade featuring the Rebirth Brass Band.

This year the iconic Fred Shellman Stage will take on the strong top-to-bottom lineup with headliners The Black Crowes, Jim James and Melissa Etheridge leading the charge. Last year The Black Crowes frontman played a memorable set at Telluride Blues & Brews with side project the Chris Robinson Brotherhood that serves as a testament to what his core band will offer this year, while My Morning Jacket vocalist Jim James will make his first solo appearance in Telluride after a huge summer of sets at the country’s biggest festivals. Melissa Etheridge’s extended 135 minute slot to close the festival on Sunday promises to be another notch in the event’s history of music legends playing at their highest level.

Telluride Blues & Brews never strays too far from its blues roots, and this year Booker T. Jones will be representing the electric blues category with his Hammond B3 mastery at the free kick off party on Thursday night. Booker’s modern counterpart and recent collaborator on Sound The Alarm Gary Clark Jr. will also flex his prodigious and progressive blues guitar chops the following evening on the Main Stage. Also on board for Thursday’s 20th Annual Celebration Show is trance blues stringsmith and Blues & Brews veteran Otis Taylor.

The modern rock landscape finds multi-instrumental soul-stress ZZ Ward, Austin’s retro-rockers Bright Light Social Hour, one-man-band Low Volts, American rock guitarist/pianist John Hiatt, and Telluride favorite Anders Osborne layering the lineup.

Telluride Blues & Brews goes heavy into the cast of funk players this year with England’s The New Mastersounds, the world class Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans, and the resurrected 70s psychedelic funk of The Relatives. The thriving neo-soul sound will be also be properly represented by Washington’s “hippie with soul” Allen Stone and UK acoustic soul singer/songwriter James Bay.

Between the 170 individual beers offered at the Grand Tasting on Saturday, the five hand selected House of Brews local representatives Aspen Brewing Company, Durango Brewing Company, Ska Brewing Company, Smuggler’s Brewing Company, and Telluride Brewing Company, and the official beer sponsor Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Telluride Blues & Brews stays true to its legacy as a premier beer showcase in a booming microbrewery era.

When the lights go down, the party continues at the four late night Juke Joint venues. Booker T. Jones and The Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Jim James and Karl Denson claim the Telluride Conference Center. A revamped Fly Me To The Moon Saloon sees The Rebirth Brass Band and The New Mastersounds. The intimate Elks Lodge houses Bright Light Social Hour and Selwyn Birchwood Band. The historic Sheridan Opera House hosts an Allen Stone and ZZ Ward co-bill, Anders Osborne, and then Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe for the Fais do-do closing celebration.

The coveted Saturday single day tickets for the 20th installment of Telluride Blues & Brews have officially sold out, but limited 3-day passes and single day tickets for Friday and Sunday are still available. All limited Juke Joint tickets are still available, as are 4-day camping passes at tellurideblues.com.

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Wanderlust Opens New Yoga Studio in Squaw Valley Resort

Wanderlust,  a yoga and music platform, announced it is opening a permanent facility in Lake Tahoe, California with the first yoga studio to hit the Squaw Valley Resort.

The new studio, Wanderlust Yoga Squaw Valley, is the third for Wanderlust and is an extension of the longstanding partnership between Wanderlust and Squaw Valley. Squaw was the original birthplace of the Wanderlust festival, which has now expanded to seven locations around the world. Wanderlust Yoga Squaw Valley will be the only full-time yoga studio in the valley, and is slated to open on Frist Street in the Village at Squaw Valley in late June 2013.

“Wanderlust’s core mission is to create community around yoga & mindful living,” said Wanderlust co-founder, Jeff Krasno. “The opportunity to do this on a 365-day basis in Wanderlust’s birthplace is beyond exciting. The integration of a first class yoga program with all of the outdoor activities and natural beauty of Squaw Valley will create a totally unique experience for local residents and guests.”

The studio plans to open six days a week with a variety of classes including Hatha, Vinyasa and Iyengar– ranging from beginner through high-level instructor training. Unique to Squaw, some classes will incorporate its extraordinary landscape, taking the practice outside on the mountain as well as classes that will start in the studio and wrap-up with a hike, bike ride, run, swim in Lake Tahoe or, come winter, skiing and riding on the mountain.

“The Wanderlust brand is truly among the preeminent brands in yoga with an ever growing presence well beyond yoga. We’re proud to be the origination of the now global Wanderlust Festival and this dedicated yoga studio space is a natural, exciting extension of our partnership with Wanderlust,” said Andy Wirth president and CEO of Squaw Valley. “We see this relationship coupled with our recent alliance with Ironman as one more progressive step towards Squaw Valley becoming the region’s epicenter of health, wellness athletic development and training.”

Squaw’s partnership with Wanderlust means the studio will be able to offer classes taught by some of the most recognized yoga instructors both regionally and nationally. Wanderlust and Squaw Valley will also be working together to host several two to three day retreats incorporating yoga, activities and accommodations.

In the style of the Wanderlust Festival’s vibrant fusion of yoga and music, Squaw’s new Wanderlust yoga studio will feature a full sound system to be used for some yoga sessions as well as for monthly live music in the studio. Wanderlust Yoga Squaw Valley will host its grand opening party during this summer’s Wanderlust Festival, coming to Squaw Valley July 18-21.

The Wanderlust Yoga Squaw Valley studio is the third of three Wanderlust yoga studios. The first opened in Austin in spring 2012, followed by a studio in Montreal in early 2013.

Wanderlust Festival, LLC is a producer of large-scale lifestyle festival events focusing on yoga, music and wellness. Its flagship festival, Wanderlust, was first launched in California in 2009 and has already become the largest multi-day yoga event in the world as well as a significant player in the larger US festival market. The company was founded in 2009 as a joint venture between Velour Music Group, an artist management company and event producer based in New York City, C3 Presents and Starr Hill Presents, event producers responsible for the top music festival brands in the country, including Austin City Limits Festival, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. For more information, visit www.wanderlustfestival.com. Become a fan of Wanderlust at www.facebook.com/wanderlust and follow Wanderlust on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wanderlustfest.

Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley is internationally renowned for legendary terrain that spans 3,600 skiable acres, six peaks and 30 chairlifts, and ranges from an expansive mountaintop beginner area to unrivaled expert steeps, trees and bowls. Off the mountain, families relax in The Village at Squaw Valley around the cozy fire pits or enjoy a host of restaurants, bars, boutiques and art galleries. Guests can stay in one of The Village at Squaw Valley’s one, two or three bedroom suites, each with a fireplace, kitchen and balcony, for the ultimate slopeside lodging experience.

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows joined forces in November 2011, bringing the two ski resorts under common ownership. Skiers and riders can access 6,000 skiable acres, 43 lifts, six terrain park and 270+ trails at Squaw and Alpine Meadows on one lift ticket or season pass.

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Tickets on Sale for BBC Proms 2013, Two-Month Music Festival in London Featuring Musical Firsts

Tickets are now on sale for the 2013 BBC Proms, a two-month festival in London featuring 92 concerts  and many musical firsts including Daniel Barenboim  first time conducting Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

For those who want to attend the 119th BBC Proms season this summer, opening at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday, July 12. now is the time to book a London hotel.

In a series of firsts, this will be Barenboim’s first time conducting Wagner and it’s the first time the complete Wagner Ring Cycle will have been played at the Proms in one summer, with four concerts performed in the week beginning Monday 22nd July. Barenboim’s concerts are not the only Proms events marking the 200th anniversary of Richard Wagner’s birth, and there are also significant anniversaries for bicentenarian Giuseppe Verdi, and the centenary of Benjamin Britten.

The 2013 festival will be the first in Proms history to have the last night conducted by a woman. Marin Alsop, a New Yorker who has spent time in the UK including a stint as chief conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, is joined by mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, violinist Nigel Kennedy and the BBC Symphony Orchestra for the rousing Last Night of the Proms on Saturday, September 7, 2013.

It was also be the first Proms to include an ‘Urban Classic Prom’, to be broadcast on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, which will combine music by the German modernist Hans Werner Henze and the Soviet futurist Alexander Mosolov with performances by singers Faser, Laura Mvula and Maverick Sabre. The first BBC Radio 6 Music Prom, on Monday 12th August, will also appeal to a younger audience with Cerys Matthews, Laura Marling and The Stranglers all performing live at the Royal Albert Hall.

The 2013 season brings the first ever free main evening Prom with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and youth choirs from the UK and Ireland performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, also known as the ‘Choral’ Symphony, on Sunday, August 11, 2013.

Many well-loved Proms favourites return to the festival in 2013 including the Doctor Who Proms which makes a third visit to the Proms in the year that the BBC television celebrates 50 years on our screens. Nigel Kennedy returns and not only plays on the Last Night of the Proms for the first time but also plays at the Proms in the Park on the same night as well as playing in a Late Night performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons on Thursday August 8.

Leading concert pianist Stephen Hough performs on the First Night of the Proms, on Friday, July 12, when the festival opens with a 450-strong choir, and the premiere of Julian Anderson’s Harmony performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Every Prom is broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 but with tickets starting from GBP5, and with such a huge variety of music to choose from, the best way to enjoy the events is by going in person to experience the unique atmosphere of the Royal Albert Hall.

Tickets are now on sale and the season opens on Friday July, 12 2013.

To find out the best events in London this summer go to LondonTown.com where a host of useful information is given including the latest listings for opera, classical music, dance and ballet. With over 18 years of experience, the website is the place to go to for informative and unbiased reviews on everything you need to know about the UK’s capital city.

LondonTown.com is the number one Internet site for London. With over 18 years of experience assisting visitors to the capital, they pride themselves on their customer service and editorial independence – no advertising or paid for content is allowed. The LondonTown.com team assist in finding cheap London hotels, sightseeing tours, ticket information and events.

http://www.LondonTown.com

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Street Performers add to Festivities, Family Fun at 46th Festival d’été de Québec July 4-14

Festival d’été de Québec street performers, sponsored by Leclerc, are back again for 11 days of creative and original shows! This year finds them not only on Rue Saint-Jean and at Théâtre de La Bordée, but also in an exciting program of circus performances at Parc de l’Esplanade.

The 46th edition of the Festival d’été de Québec will be held from July 4 to 14, 2013.

“Street performers always give the Festival d’été de Québec a special flair. They grab our attention and make us laugh, they can inspire or astound us, but they never leave us indifferent,” says Michel Barette, who is in charge of the street arts program. “Circus is a type of performance that fascinates us the most, so we decided to give it a special place at Parc de l’Esplanade,” he added.

Parc de l’Esplanade

David Dimitri puts on a totally unique show inspired by his tours with Cirque du Soleil and the Big Apple Circus. Dubbed ‘Lord of the Wire’ by the New York Times, he is truly a one-man circus. Five Foot Fingers features five burlesque characters in a variety of stunning and daring circus cabaret acts. Vague de cirque perform their latest show, Carrousel et cordes à linge, whose highly acrobatic numbers are rooted in the tradition of travelling fun fairs. Also at Parc de l’Esplanade, audiences will love the quirky Fanfare Le S.N.O.B brass band, the antics of Rosie Volt the clown, the street music of Semèl Rebel, circus acts by Théâtre Attrape, the original mini-show by Toxique Trottoir, Kabir Percussions, and the theatre of objects performed by Elvis alAtac, the Sages Fous and the CréatureS Compagnie.

Shows at Parc de l’Esplanade: Free.
Every evening starting at 6 pm.

Smashed, at Théâtre de la Bordée

Smashed! treats festival fans to an exceptional circus performance. In a combination of high- precision juggling and theatrics, London’s Gandini Juggling pays tribute to the great German dancer, Pina Bausch. On stage, nine master jugglers transform their art into a form of dance, using everyday objects like apples and dishes. Composed of a series of live tableaux reminiscent of old photos depicting war scenes, strained relations, love and innocence lost, Smashed! promises to be a uniquely dramatic experience. The Festival d’été de Québec is putting on this show jointly with Montréal Complètement Cirque.

Smashed by Gandini Juggling: $13 phone reservation, $10 at the door or Festival pass.
Thursday July 11 to Sunday July 14 at 8:30 pm.

Rue Saint-Jean

The ever-popular street performers, sponsored by Leclerc, will be taking Rue Saint-Jean by storm from Place d’Youville to Côte du Palais. With street performers from France, the Netherlands, Spain and Québec, spectators can expect original artistic performances every evening. Festivalgoers are advised to keep their eyes and ears open if they don’t want to miss any of these wild and wacky shows! Watch for:

Street theatre in all its forms with Le Filament, Le Gestuaire, Poupées [K]rinkées, Mobile Home and NomadUrbains

The Teatro Pavana stilt walkers

Acrobatics by Bulles de Zinc

Musical street theatre with L’Aubergine

An original artistic techno creation by Marc-Andrée Goulet

Theatre of flying objects with Cal y Canto

Giant fan juggling with Shintaï JonGlo Théâtre

Shows on Rue Saint-Jean: Free.
Every evening starting at 6 pm.

Family Place, sponsored by le Lait

With something happening under the big top, at the amphitheatre or the Ephemeral Gardens, Family Place, sponsored by le Lait, is taking over the entire Espace 400^e site! From Friday July 4 to Sunday July 14, there’s a great choice of free family activities to choose from every day from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.

“We’re lucky to have this outstanding venue for our activities at Family Place. Every year, we try to come up with an exciting new program that makes the most of the site. And with even more interactive activities planned this year, the kids will love it!” reports FEQ general manager Daniel Gélinas.

The big top will feature a slew of popular kid’s stars, including Arthur l’Aventurier, La Comtesse d’Harmonia, Carmen Campagne and Koukoulia, to name just a few of the shows that will have the whole family singing, dancing and laughing along.

This year there will be a new tent just for puppet shows. Everyone loves a puppet show, and the original and inventive creations produced by Aliona Munteanu, Puzzle Théâtre, Belzébrute and many others are sure to set the imagination free.

The program at the amphitheatre opens with the Brazilian drums of Le Bloco. In the days that follow, Le Filament and Artéfacts et Artifices will be presenting their street theatre, Strada its Fanfare Monfarleau and Shintaï JonGlo Théâtre will display their remarkable fan handling techniques. More fun and exciting shows will also be taking place around the Ephemeral Gardens.

Along with all these shows, Family Place also has a wide range of activities and sports, artistic and discovery workshops planned. Kids will be thrilled with the new ÉducaZoo and Repti-Zone exhibits where they can learn all about reptiles and other cool pets or exotic animals. Also offered: an acrobatics course, a skate park, a visual arts workshop, a wooden toy-making workshop, a workshop for budding scientists, extreme face painting and much more!

For festival information, www.infofestival.com.

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Pop Artists, Living Legends, New Discoveries and Rising Stars to Perform at 46th Festival d’été de Québec, July 4-14

The Festival d’été de Québec has released this year’s outdoor shows in a program covering a broad range of musical genres. Pop artists and living legends, names to discover and rising stars ─ for festival fans, choice is the operative word. The Black Keys, Bruno Mars, Tiësto, Wu-Tang Clan, Def Leppard, Weezer, Rush, Wiz Khalifa, MGMT, Foreigner, Bad Religion, Bassnectar, Belle & Sebastien, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Passion Pit and Ellie Goulding are just some of the big names on this year’s lineup.

“Again this year, we’re proud to say that the Festival d’été de Québec is in the vanguard. The depth of talent on our program clearly puts us right up there with the biggest and the best,” said General Manager Daniel Gélinas.

As Program Director Louis Bellavance explained, “This depth can be seen in the number of shows that have a slate of big names from start to finish, and this goes for international and francophone artists, whatever the style or the venue. It’s one of the biggest plusses in this year’s programming.”

ElectroFEQ

The 2012 ElectroFEQ show was a surprise hit that drew crowds of electro fans and more than a few curious festivalgoers to the largest venue, the Plains of Abraham. ElectroFEQ is back this year even bigger and better than ever, with shows at four different venues on four consecutive nights, starting at the Impérial and reaching a crescendo on the Plains!

Kicking off at the Impérial on July 8 with Le Matos, Keys N Krates and Austra, the ElectroFEQ moves to the Hydro-Québec Stage at Place d’Youville the next day, with the world beat grooves of the Mexican Institute of Sound, 3Ball MTY and A Tribe Called Red. On Wednesday, July 10, dubstep takes over the Loto-Québec Stage at Parc de la Francophonie with Zeds Dead and Bassnectar headlining the show.

And to top off ElectroFEQ on Thursday, July 11, the Plains will be plugged into Madeon, Martin Solveig and Wolfgang Gartner, with superstar Tiësto the highlight of the show. This evening of electro house music will call for one of biggest technical deployments in the history of the Festival.

Bell Stage on the Plains of Abraham

July 4: As was announced a few weeks ago, the Festival will open in French on a grand scale with Quand le Québec chante. Five solid names in Québec song, Paul Piché, Daniel Lavoie, Richard Séguin, Michel Rivard and Laurence Jalbert, accompanied by a chorus of 400 voices, will be playing their most popular hits along with some of Québec’s best-loved standards.

July 5: Hip-hop could make history this night with the legendary Wu-Tang Clan playing here for the first time! Big name rapper Wiz Khalifa is up just before the American group, along with Classified, known for the hit single Inner Ninja. Anodajay, Dramatik, Koriass, Manu Militari and Samian, in a hip-hop celebration of the 10th anniversary of Disques 7e Ciel, will be opening the show.

July 6: Since The Black Keys’ wildly popular Festival appearance in 2011, they’ve racked up Grammy awards and hit the international scene big-time with their new album. Now on top of their game, it’s an honour to have them back on the Plains. Eagles of Death Metal and Father John Misty will be up first.

July 7: With their latest album J’aime ta grand-mère, and their concept show Les Trois Accords with a bunch of chicks, a big brass band and balls of fire, the Trois Accords embrace the absurd. And they have more than one guest artist and surprise in store for the audience! They’ll be preceded onstage by French star M, whose incredible personality and energy really shine in a live show. Caféïne will be opening in what promises to be an evening Festival fans won’t want to miss.

July 8: The announcement that pop superstar Bruno Mars was coming to the Festival really got things rolling. His fans should also go for Ellie Goulding’s world-popular electro pop, and for Toronto’s own Diamond Rings.

July 9: Passion Pit, MGMT, Weezer ─ the Festival has pulled out all the stops with this hard-hitting lineup. This will be the first time MGMT plays here in Québec City.

July 10: Rush is back with a new, highly-acclaimed super production, the Clockwork Angel Tour. Packed with impressive projections and special effects, this will be the tour’s only stop in Québec.

July 11: ElectroFEQ

July 13: The legendary Def Leppard needs no introduction, and it goes without saying that this show will bring hardcore rockers out in droves. Talented US rock band Foreigner is up first.

Loto-Québec Stage at Parc de la Francophonie

The Loto-Québec Stage has always held a special place in the heart of Festival fans as a venue where new talent is revealed and musical memories are made. With the spotlight on French music, some of Québec’s most popular artists are slated to play here this year. Cœur de pirate will be putting on her only band-style show of the summer in an evening that starts with talented young singer-songwriter Chloé Lacasse followed by promising artist Karim Ouellet, from Québec City. Lisa Leblanc, whose debut album went gold, will be onstage right after performances by none other than Bernard Adamus and Keith Kouna. And in a night to remember, look for Richard Desjardins and Ingrid St-Pierre, accompanied by a string quartet, as well as Gaële. To close the Festival, Robert Charlebois will sing hits from a career spanning fifty years, with David Giguère and Hôtel Morphée up first.

Big name indie band Belle & Sebastian is sure to draw crowds for their first ever Quebec City appearance. Here We Go Magic and Born Ruffians will set the tone for an evening of indie pop. Then punk rock takes over with Bad Religion, whose new album is making records sales. First up will be The Hunter, The Balconies and the winner of the Clic ton band contest. So get there early!

For metal fans, Parc de la Francophonie is the place to be! In their only canadian appearance and their first in Quebec City, the 15 musicians of the German band Avantasia, known for their symphonic metal sound, are here with a grandiose rock opera. Voivod will be celebrating its 30th year, up right after Never More than Less. The Festival is also welcoming folk legend Emmylou Harris and her guitarist Rodney Crowell, with songs from their country-folk duo album Yellow Moon. Bears of Legend will be opening. Look for big crowds for Canadian pop rock band Marianas Trench, who just won the Juno Award for Group of the Year. Down with Webster will get things rolling along with Quebec City’s own Final State.

Hydro-Québec Stage at Place Metro in Place d’Youville

A lively program of world beat, blues, soul, reggae, pop and electro music will have the Hydro-Québec stage hopping every evening this year!

World music fans, get ready to dance to the music of Amadou et Mariam, Kassav’, Fatoumata Diawara, Locos for Juana and the inimitable Balkan Beat Box. Afrobeat is out in full force with Femi Kuti & The Positive Force, a big name in afrofunk, and The Souljazz Orchestra.

Danakil, Reggae Meta and The Cornerstones will fill Place d’Youville with the laid-back sound of reggae, with some help from French reggae masters Alpha Blondy & The Solar System.

Soul fans will be happy to see soul funk legend Booker T. Jones in a lineup that includes The Dynamite featuring Charles Walker and Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, who lights a fire everywhere she goes. Gospel soul is also on tap with The Relatives and Naomi Shelton & The Gospel.

Blues lovers won’t want to miss James Hunter, The Slide Brothers, and Dr. John, the Night Tripper, here directly from New Orleans.

There will also be plenty of music in French at Place d’Youville, with Loco Locass playing songs from their latest album, Le Québec est mort, vive le Québec! Noir Silence and Canailles will be playing at Place d’Youville that same evening. Festival favourite Daran will also be back, with Zaz headlining.

The beating heart of the Festival, the Hydro-Québec Stage will also host Socalled, Nomadic Massive, Nick Waterhouse, Charly Yapo, Sagapool, Coyote Bill, Kodiak, Gotta Logo Project, William Sevigny, Jeanphilip and Ampli de Québec artists Julielle, Maude, Équinoxe and The Seasons.

“Year after year, the FEQ is a driving force for the local economy that helps keep the financial outlook sound. But in addition to the millions of dollars the Festival brings in, it also builds a level of technical expertise that can’t be beat,” Board Chairman Mario Girard pointed out.

Geneviève Borne, President of the 25th Prix Miroir

The Prix Miroir, sponsored by SODEC and awarded at the end of the Festival d’été de Québec, recognizes the talent of local and guest artists. Geneviève Borne will preside over the jury in this 25th anniversary year. Active in the cultural milieu for over 20 years, and co-host of Belle & Bum (a Quebec tv show), she has always been a music lover above all. And this Quebec City native has never been shy about saying that the Festival d’été de Québec is her pick! Organizers are pleased to have this outstanding communicator as the spokesperson for the 25th Prix Miroir awards.

Again this year, the Festival is looking for an avid music lover from the public to sit on the Prix Miroir jury! Interested candidates will find details on the Festival website. Go for it!

The 46th edition of the Festival d’été de Québec will be held from July 4 to 14, 2013.

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Governor, Mayor, Senator show support for Texas Thunder Music Festival efforts to raise funds for West, Texas

Texas Thunder Music Festival, May 17-19 in Gardendale, Texas, will raise money for those affected by the recent fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. The Randy Rogers Band, The Josh Abbott Band, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, Casey Donahew Band, are featured.

Governor Rick Perry lent his support to the Texas Thunder Music Festival that will raise money for those affected by the recent fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas. The music event that will host The Randy Rogers Band, The Josh Abbott Band, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, Casey Donahew Band, among others will take place May 17-19 in Gardendale, Texas.

“The city of West has a long way to go to get past the grief and devastation and move on to rebuilding,” Gov. Perry said. “In the true spirit of Texas, the people of our state are coming together to help ease the suffering of individuals who lost loved ones, and help this strong community get back on its feet.”

“My thoughts are with everyone in the city of West. I am proud of the Texas musicians who are coming together for this event,” Senator Joan Huffman, Senate Republican Caucus Chairman of Houston, said. “It reinforces the well-known fact that when anyone in our state needs help, fellow Texans automatically rise to the occasion.”

“Our small town is made up of big hearts. The people of West have always given and supported,” said Tommy Muska, Mayor of West, Texas. “This event will allow the people of Texas to show their support and love to the great residents of West. We appreciate all the artists that will be giving of their time to make this event a success.”

Last week, the Texas Thunder Music Festival announced all net proceeds will be donated to the first responders and schools of West, Texas. The Odessa based firm of Johnson, Miller & Co. will oversee all the accounting and distribution of funds.

“As a fellow Texan, my heart went out to all those that were affected by the explosion,” says festival landowner Herb Graham. “We could not sit around and do nothing, so my partners and I quickly decided to donate all the net proceeds from this festival to rebuild the school and get first responders equipment.”

The first-year Texas Thunder Music Festival in Gardendale, Texas presents an all-star, all-Texas line-up, with both musicians and fans coming together to help bring support to those who need it most. Weekend passes are available for a discounted price of $65 with camping starting at $110. A very limited number of single-day tickets are available for $35.

Texas Thunder tickets are now available for purchase at Graham Central Station in Odessa, Rockin’ Rodeo Midland and Arriba Midland. For more information or to purchase tickets and camping, please visit www.texasthunderfest.com or call 855-362-0535.

For the most up-to-date information on Texas Thunder, like us on Facebook at facebook.com/texasthunderfest and follow us on Twitter @txthunderfest.

Texas Thunder Line-Up:

Friday:
3:00-4:00pm Bri Bagwell
4:30-5:30pm Curtis Grimes
6:00-7:00pm Micky and the Motorcars
7:30-8:30pm Charlie Robison
9:00-10:00pm Aaron Watson
10:30-12:00am Josh Abbott Band

Saturday:
1:30-2:30pm Kimberly Dunn
3:00-4:00pm Johnny Cooper
4:30-5:30pm Brandon Rhyder
6:00-7:00pm Whiskey Myers
7:30-8:30pm Turnpike Troubadours
9:00-10:00pm Wade Bowen
10:30-12:00am Randy Rogers Band

Sunday:
1:00-2:00pm Jake Kellen
2:30-3:30pm Kyle Bennett
4:00-5:00pm William Clark Green
5:30-6:30pm Brian Milson
7:00-8:00pm Stoney LaRue
8:30-10:00pm Casey Donahew Band

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