This Thursday, Sept. 15, it’s the season finale featuring one of the hottest new bands on the scene – Atlantic Groove.

Plus it’s School Employee Appreciation Night – so if you present your school ID at the gate, you’ll get in for FREE!

It’s our way of saying “thanks” for all you do for our children.

It’s really the most fun place to be in Roanoke on Thursday night!

See the BB&T Party in the Park web site for complete details.

And be certain to “Like” us on Facebook!

]]> http://www.eventzone.org/2011/09/every-thursday-night-its-bbts-party-in-the-park-this-week-its-coastline-time/feed/ 1 http://www.eventzone.org/2011/05/the-family-stone-1964-the-tribute-will-take-you-higher-at-festival-in-the-park/ http://www.eventzone.org/2011/05/the-family-stone-1964-the-tribute-will-take-you-higher-at-festival-in-the-park/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 17:33:51 +0000 Larry http://www.eventzone.org/?p=4177
Sunday night, May 29, in Elmwood Park on the Festival in the Park big stage with the big screen, we’ll be taking you higher!  Or should we say it’ll be a family affair!   Either way we say it, you’re guaranteed a unique and unforgettable musical experience.     The Family Stone, features three original members of the legendary Soul/Funk/R&B band Sly & the Family Stone, surrounded by the hottest R&B, funk and soul musicians you’ll find.  Cynthia Robinson (trumpet),  Jerry Martini (saxophone) and Greg Errico (drums) are original founding members of Sly & The Family Stone.  Jerry, Cynthia and Greg are also 1993 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, as well as R&B Pioneer Award winners.  They are also the heart of The Family Stone and are keeping the legacy alive and true to its original sound and raw funk groove.

But they’re obviously not alone, The Family Stone features the powerful voices of Alex Davis and Trina Johnson.  Alone with an outstanding assemble of musicians.  Together they’ll bring you a musical message of peace, love and social consciousness through musical harmony wrapped in one of the funkiest and liveliest shows you’ll find.  Experience for yourself the roots of funk and you’ll understand what half a million others worldwide already know…”Cynthia and Jerry got a message, they say… ALL THE SQUARES GO HOME!”

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Plus keeping a Festival in the Park tradition alive (but with a twist) opening for The Family Stone is 1964: The Tribute.  Since the early 80’s, “1964″…The Tribute has been thrilling audiences all over the globe with what Rolling Stone Magazine has called the “Best Beatles Tribute on Earth”.   “1964″ takes their audiences on a journey through a quintessential moment in music history that will live forever. Over 20 years of researching and performing have made “1964″ masters of their craft. They are hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute show in the world.

Of course fans of Festival in the Park already know about this – but did you know that Roanoke’s Festival in the Park is one of the band’s favorite shows each year!

What a night of unforgettable night of music and showmanship!

Tickets for this show and all other Festival in the Park concerts are on sale now!

We suggest you take advantage of the new online advance “Print at home” discount e-ticketing.

Be certain to be a Festival in the Park Facebook fan to get all the latest information.

Presented by

Maria Anderson, Billy Fadorick, Brenda Underwood, Earl Houff, Deborah Bradley, Benny Firestone, Travis Jenkins, MaryKay Brown, Robert Turcotte, the EventZone Board of Directors and EventZone staff

Unfortunately, while living the “life of a bluesman” he succumbed to the demons that surround it, derailing his musical career for many, many years. Drugs, alcohol, divorce, incarceration, and death nearly brought his once promising career to a screeching halt, but it was living the blues and his faith in the Almighty that resurrected Jr. Hooker. With the support of his family and friends, and a crew of talented musicians who never ceased to believe in him, Jr. Hooker finally found his own inner muse, making music that expresses the depth of emotion he has experienced in his personal life.

His first album, Blues with a Vengeance, is what he called his “celebratory redemption.” After struggling through years of extreme hardship and nearly losing himself to the streets, the remarkable John Lee Hooker Jr. overcame the adversity to begin a rapid emergence into the blues spotlight. Released in April 2004, Blues with a Vengeance certainly lived up to its name by wrapping up 2004 with a Grammy nomination in the Traditional Blues Album category and a nomination for a distinguished W.C. Handy Award as Best New Artist Debut. The California Music Awards (formerly the BAMMYS) named Blues with a Vengeance 2004’s Outstanding Blues Album of the Year, and the Bay Area Blues Society presented John Lee Hooker Jr. with the 2004 Comeback Artist of the Year award, as he performed alongside world-class musicians Jimmy Reed, BB King, Bo Diddley, Lenny Kravitz, Taj Mahal, Koko Taylor, Charlie Musslewhite, Etta James, and John Lee Hooker.

Cold As Ice, Jr. Hooker’s second album, was released in June of 2006 and showed his progression as a contemporary blues artist. Blending his roots with a modern sound, his style is indicative of his Motown base. Music enthusiasts describe his style as R&B, Jazz, Funk, and “down home blues”. While the record did not gather as much attention as his debut, it received positive reviews across the board and solidified Jr. Hooker as one of blues’ rising stars. Epitomizing the synthesis between traditional blues and the new age funk, the record at times pays homage to his father while at others it blazes a trail of its own.

John Lee Hooker Jr. releases his third CD, All Odds Against Me only to discover the impact it has made worldwide in its infancy… it generated a ‘08 Grammy nomination. Jr. Hooker continues to carry the blues into the 21st. century. The 12-song album was his first effort to include only new original tracks, a contrast to either of his previous solo projects.

Additionally, Jr. continues to stretch the envelope, becoming blues’ first animated superhero in a cartoon included on the enhanced disc. The first episode of “Bluesman” introduces Jr. Hooker. as a crime-fighting musician, singing in clubs by night and cleaning up the streets by day. Conceived by Frenchman Laurent Mercier at the Callicore Animation Studios in Paris, the video series has also inspired work to begin on a comic book. Mercier, son of a French jazzman contemporary of Hooker Sr., dreamt up the idea as a way for the two sons to pay tribute to their fathers’ legacies and Jr. immediately embraced the vision. Set to “Blues Ain’t Nothing but a Pimp” from Blues with a Vengeance, the video is the first of three to be released in 2008.

From the gravely blues of the Detroit streets to a new era of sound; from the shadow of his father’s accomplishments to standing apart from his namesake; from criminal to crime-fighter; from San Quentin to the Red Carpet, its no wonder the album is called All Odds Against Me. John Lee Hooker Jr. has built upon his colorful past as he continues to distinguish himself as a contemporary “Bluesman.”

See John Lee Hooker. Jr, at the Sat. Sept. 2, 2010 SunTrust Big Lick Blues Festival in Elmwood Park, downtown Roanoke.  Advance discount tickets are available now online or at all regional SunTrust Bank branch locations for just $22.00. Also appearing are Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps and 4x Grammy winner, “Mr. Tuff Enough” Jimmie Vaughan.

]]> http://www.eventzone.org/2010/08/john-lee-hooker-jr-has-truley-lived-the-life-of-a-bluesman/feed/ 0 http://www.eventzone.org/2010/08/early-bird-discount-tickets-on-sale-now-ends-july-31st/ http://www.eventzone.org/2010/08/early-bird-discount-tickets-on-sale-now-ends-july-31st/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:51:26 +0000 Larry http://www.eventzone.org/?p=2804 The award winning SunTrust Big Lick Blues Festival, Sat. Oct. 2, 2010 – promises once again to deliver “Rockin’ Blues & Smokin’ Ribs!”   And this year’s entertainment

lineup will blow you away.  Featuring 4x Grammy winner and guitar legend Jimmie Vaughan and his Tilt-A-Whirl Band (featuring Lou Ann Barton).   2x Grammy nominee John Lee Hooker, Jr. and his band with their funky Blues & Soul sound!  The Virginia debut of Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps will keep you on the dance floor!  Plus Clarence “The Bluesman” Turner, the U.S. Foods Rib

Cook-Off Competition, the Martin’s Rib Eating Contest and all the ribs and BBQ you can handle!

Here’s the best news, buy tickets now and save $6.00@ off the gate price!  The discount advance ticket is just $22.00!

Here’s the breakdown

Rodney Atkins – 7
Honesty (#4 – 2003)
If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows) (#1 – 2006)
Watching You (#1 – 2006)
These Are My People (#1 – 2007)
Cleaning This Gum  (#1 – 2007)
It’s America (#1 – 2008)
15 Minutes (#20 – 2009)

Sister Hazel – 6
All For You (#1 – 1997)
Change Your Mind (#5 – 2000)
Champagne High (#22 – 2000)
Mandolin Moon (#26 – 2006)
Your Mistake (#27 – 2003)
Happy (#27 – 1998)
Life Got In The Way (#36 – 2003)

Chris Young – 2
The Man I Want To Be ( Currently #2)
Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song) (#1 – 2009)

Jaron & The Long Road To Love – 1
Pray For You (Currently #22)

The Band Perry – 1
Hip To My Heart (Currently # 20)

By the way Concert admission is just $10.00 at the gate, or purchase a Festival EZ 4-Pass for $32.00 (that’s four admissions to be used in any combination.  You can’t go to the movies for that! Festival EZ 4-Pass tickets will be on sale soon at all area Kroger stores.

Photo Courtesy of Rod Dixon

There’s a lot of elements that made last year’s inaugural Derby Day Gala fundraiser such a huge success.  The breathtaking view from Mill Mountain, the elegance of the Rockledge home, the graciousness of our event hosts, the enthusiasm of the Derby Day Gala committee members, the great looking people in their Derby attire, the fine wine, the mint juleps, and even the Kentucky Derby itself.   But certainly one of the big attractions of the event was the food prepared by the chefs and students of the Virginia Western School of Culinary Arts.   Not only was the menu  absolutely delicious, beautiful in presentation and plentiful – but the Culinary Arts students were so enthusiastic and enjoyable – they became a big hit themselves.

Photo Courtesy of Rod Dixon

The menu for this year’s Derby Day Gala, on May 1, 2010, has been tweaked to add even more classic Derby culinary treats.  It will feature action stations with carved turkey hot browns, shrimp & grits,  strip lion with Henry Bains sauce.  Also expect pork lion on sweet potato biscuits, grilled vegetables, Rumaki-scallops wrapped in bacon, Italian sausage dip, Kentucky Burgoo to name just a few.  Of course no Derby Day Gala would be complete without Kentucky Derby pie and other sweet treats!

Invitations have been mailed to last year’s guests.  We’ve had overwhelming response and the buzz has started.  Capacity to the Derby Day Gala is limited, but if you are interested in joining us I bet we can find room – and some food!  The Derby Day Gala is a fund raising event for Festival in the Park and it’s Scholarship for the Arts Program.   Your tax deductible contribution of $100.00 per person guarantees you a great experience and a few keep sakes. Event begins at 4:00pm- 9:30pm. Oh yea, we understand that Derby hat sales at Roanoke Valley retailers is already brisk – so we suggest you get started on your attire ASAP!  See this web site for Derby Hat ideas and tips.

Email Debbie McClure or call (540) 580-2526 for more information.

See photos from the 2009 Derby Day Gala!

Photo Courtesy of Rod Dixon

Photo Courtesy of Rod Dixon

Photo Courtesy of Rod Dixon

Photo Courtesy of Rod Dixon