FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Vanessa Silberman 310.275.5628 [email protected]
The Levitt Network Kicks Off an Unforgettable Season A record-breaking 2012 makes way for a spectacular 2013 filled with new artists and activities at six Levitt venues across America.
LOS ANGELES – May 31, 2013 – Nothing says “summer” like evenings filled with free, live music in a beautiful outdoor setting. Add yummy picnics with friends and family, then shake it up with dancing on an inviting, green lawn, and youʼve got the makings of an unforgettable summer. Thatʼs exactly what six Levitt venues are serving up across America as they launch their 2013 seasons of 300+ free concerts celebrating community, culture and the arts!
This year, over 500,000 people will enjoy music under the stars featuring emerging and world- renowned talent—including artists new to Levitt stages and returning favorites—plus even more exciting special events and activities that will strengthen the social fabric of America through the power of free, live music. Each of the six Levitt venues across the U.S. will present a free concert season that uniquely expresses the local vibe and culture of their communities:
Levitt Pavilion Arlington – Arlington, TX — levittarlington.org
• 2013 Season: May 24 - July 14 and August 30 - September 29 • The concert season kicked off with the 2nd Annual Downtown Arlington Center Stage Music Festival from May 24-26 featuring: o Hot alt-country band Delta Rae (“Bottom of the River,” “If I Loved You”) o The 22-member, awe-inspiring, Texan psych-pop choir Polyphonic Spree (“Light & Day/Reach for the Sun,” “Hold Me Now”), whose new album Yes, Itʼs True will be released August 6. o Indie artist Sarah Jaffe (“Clementine,” “Hooray for Love”) • Returning Levitt Arlington favorites include: o Experimental rockers Spoonfed Tribe (“Beetle Orange,” “Sea Monkeys”) on June 14 o Contemporary pianist Danny Wright on June 16 o Folk singer/songwriter Sara Hickman (“Simply,” “Mad World”) on June 21 o Latin rockers Del Castillo (“Spanish Castle Tango,” “Anybody Wanna”) on July 5 o Americana artist Radney Foster (“Angel Flight,” “Texas in 1880,” Nobody Wins”) on July 14 • The Childrenʼs Concert Series began on May 29 with the Emmy Award-winning Biscuit Brothers and continues on June 5 with folk singer Shannon Wurst, followed by African drummers, circus acts, Stomp-style percussion artists and more throughout the season.
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Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks – Bethlehem, PA — levittsteelstacks.org
• 2013 season: May 24 - September 21 • The season got underway with a performance from classic country-rock bands Pure Prairie League (“Amie,” “Let Me Love You Tonight”) and Poco (“Crazy Love,” “Heart of the Night,” “Call It Love”) on May 25. • Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Drifters (“This Magic Moment,” “Under the Boardwalk”) take the stage on August 17. • Other artist highlights include: o The 50s rock-and-roll sounds of Bill Haley, Jr. and the Comets on June 8 o Gospel and R&B star (and former New York subway singer) Alice Tan Ridley from Americaʼs Got Talent on July 5 o Hot off the May 2013 release of their new album, Painkiller, “Soul shaking” funk- rockers Flow Tribe on July 20 o An urban spin on classic New Orleans brass from Stooges Brass Band on August 22 o Salsa favorite Hector Rosado y su Orchestra on September 1
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles – Los Angeles, CA— levittla.org
• 2013 season: June 15 - August 25 • On opening day, Jimmy Webb and special guests will be playing his world-famous hit song, “MacArthur Park,” on the 45th anniversary of the songʼs release. • Levitt L.A.ʼs season highlights include: o Orchestral cabaret act Vaud and the Villains (“Eyes on the Prize”) on June 22 o Rising bluegrass meets hip-hop stars Gangstagrass (“Long Hard Times to Come,” “Iʼm Gonna Put You Down”) on July 11 o West African funk rockers Yemen Blues on July 14 o Punk marching band Mucca Pazza (“Borino Oro,” “Boss Taurus”) on July 20 o Global hip-hop group Nomadic Massive who will perform songs from their new EP «ANY SOUND» on August 1 o International reggae sensation Rocky Dawuni returns for a KCRW Summer Nights performance on August 24 • Starting June 16, Levitt L.A. will present its celebrated Childrenʼs Concert Series every Sunday.
Levitt Shell Memphis – Memphis, TN — levittshell.org
• 2013 season: May 23 - July 13 (an expanded 30-show, eight-week spring season to meet audience demand) and August 29th – October 6th • The summer seasonʼs highlights include: o Funk bassist George Porter, Jr. on June 13 o The return of Todd Sniderʼs What the Folk? Festival with a new roster of performers on June 15 o Country singer/songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard (“Snake Farm,” “Conversation with the Devil”) on June 20 o Alt-country artist Son Volt—who recently released the album, Honky Tonk, in March
2 2013—on June 27 o Blues guitarist Sonny Landreth (“Blue Tarp Blues,” “Congo Square”) on July 5 o A 40th anniversary celebration of The Recording Academyʼs Memphis Chapter on July 13
Levitt Pavilion Pasadena – Pasadena, CA — levittpasadena.org
• 2013 season: June 16 - August 24. • This yearʼs season highlights include: o GRAMMY® Award-winning bluegrass/Americana legend Jim Lauderdale on June 21 o Latin soul singer Alex Cuba (“Mi Plan,” “Si Pero No”) on June 22 o Traditional Italian ensemble Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino on June 29 o Neo-soul/Native American singer Martha Redbone (“Talk About It,” “Boyfriend”) on July 27 o Following the May 2013 release of his latest album, Mon Pays, reggae rock meets Delta blues artist Vieux Farka Touré on July 12 o Bluegrass “folk tornado” Whiskey Shivers—hot off the release of their new EP, 5000 Me Gustas—on August 8 o 2013 GRAMMY-winning Latin funk band Quetzal on August 24 • Returning for 2013 is the Luckman Sidestage, a pre-concert community stage where local artists perform one-hour before the main show. Featured acts include: open mic on Sundays, local DJs, Zumba and dance classes, yoga workshops and more! • Beginning June 19, Levitt Pasadena kicks off its weekly Childrenʼs Series every Wednesday starting with celebrated L.A. favorite, the Bob Baker Marionettes.
Levitt Pavilion Westport – Westport, CT — levittwestport.org
• 2013 season: June 16 - September 1 at Jesup Green (a reduced season at a temporary location due to construction of the new Levitt Pavilion Westport) • Levitt Westportʼs season highlights include: o “Reggae-tastic” performers Mystic Bowie (“Free,” “Conga Line”) on June 16 o Progressive Americana rockers The Grand Slambovians on July 5 o Brooklyn-based electro-pop band Hank & Cupcakes on July 12 o “Gypsy swinginʼ circus freaks” Caravan of Thieves (“Raise the Dead,” “Rattlesnakes”) on August 3 o Pop standard vocal group Emil Stucchio & the Classics on August 4 o GRAMMY Award-winner Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks on August 18 • The 10th Annual RiverSwing Series returns with free pre-concert dance lessons, including tango with Cuartetango on June 27 and bhangra with DJ Rekha on July 27. • Every Wednesday night Levitt Westport presents its Childrenʼs Series, which will welcome back beloved kids folk-rock group Bari Koral Family Rock Band on August 21. • Groundbreaking on the new Levitt Pavilion Westport is scheduled for Summer 2013, with a scheduled completion date of June 2014 in time for next yearʼs summer season.
About Levitt Pavilions: Levitt Pavilions is a national nonprofit that exists to strengthen the social fabric of
3 America. Levitt Pavilions partners with cities to transform neglected outdoor spaces into welcoming destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together and invigorates community life.
At the heart of Levitt Pavilions is a passion to reinvigorate America’s public spaces and create opportunities for everyone to experience the performing arts in a community setting. The need for more “third places”—those informal gathering spots outside the realms of home and the workplace—has become increasingly clear in today’s world and guides Levitt Pavilions in its community-driven efforts.
Each pavilion provides a minimum of 50 free live concerts annually featuring acclaimed and emerging artists, offering a rich spectrum of music that celebrates all genres and cultures. The success of Levitt’s six existing pavilions has piqued interest throughout America. Other cities slated to bring the Levitt program to their community include Denver, Houston and Sioux Falls, S.D., amongst others, and Levitt is currently in discussions with more than a dozen other cities.
Learn more: www.levittpavilions.org
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