| Eileen Ivers, Joyce Anderson, Kyle Carey and The Wiyos at PPAF Saturday |
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
As a staple part of the Prescott Park Arts Festival's 38th season, the Showcase Festival will bring four talented performers to the FairPoint Communications MainStage on Saturday, July 7, 2012 from 1pm - 5pm. The Arts Festival looks forward to kicking things into high gear at the first music festival of the 2012 Summer Season with a stellar lineup of gifted musicians. (Continued below)
Festival goers will welcome nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, Eileen Ivers. She has established herself as the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today. Ivers' work is so boldly imaginative and spectacular, that it has been said that "She suggests the future of the Celtic Fiddle," (The Washington Post). Audiences members will be enchanted by her fiddle and appreciate her musical ability
The audience will also enjoy electro-acoustic violinist trailblazer, Joyce Andersen. Her latest record, "Swerve!" redefines the tonal and sonic possibilities of the violin. She takes the tradition and history of the violin and turns it completely inside out. The cover of "Swerve!" splits Andersen's musical being in two: traditional folk on one side and psychedelic shape-shifter on the other. Together the two make for an interesting marriage in sound, offering borderless boundaries and a peek into where a seasoned musician can take their craft when they are open to venturing beyond the beaten path.
The festival also features a dynamic and talented group of performers, The Wiyos. They built their fan base the old fashioned way, by touring from town to town playing gigs on the street and rallying together large crowds. It was their mastery of vintage acoustic performances that drew the attention of many, including Bob Dylan, who picked The Wiyos to open up for him during his tour of minor-league baseball parks around the country. Now, they will be gracing Prescott Park Arts Festival's stage with their performance, with their new album "Twist" in hand.
Rounding out the Showcase Festival's lineup is the latest rising star, Kyle Carey. Her poetic take on stories, helps her find fresh perspectives within the context of tradition. The ingredients of Carey's music include the songs of the American Folk Anthology, the Appalachian poetry of Louise McNeill, and the weekends spent working at Caffe Lena and listening to the best musicians in contemporary folk. Her Gospel twined with Celtic notes will engage and capture audience members.
"This season's Showcase Festival features a fantastic mix of musical greats, and we could not be happier with the lineup," says Executive Director Ben Anderson. "Our first music festival of the year is going to be something that everyone can enjoy."
The Showcase Festival is part of the Prescott Park Arts Festival's 38th season that also features the musical, Willy Wonka, running every Thursday through Sunday until August 26, 2012. The season also includes the River House Restaurant Concert Series, which will feature music legends such as the Lake Street Dive, Peter Yarrow, Martin Sexton and Suzanne Vega each Wednesday evening at 7pm through August 29.
All events offered at the Prescott Park Arts Festival are presented free of charge with a suggested donation of $5 - $10. Audience members are permitted to bring chairs, or rent those offered by the festival.
Since 1996, the Arts Festival has consistently been named by Yankee magazine a "must see" tourist attraction. Prescott Park Arts Festival is an independent non-profit organization with a mission of serving the community with a diverse array of quality arts events accessible to all.
For more information on the festival, or to see a full schedule of events, visit www.prescottpark.org or call 603-436-2848.