FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

TO:                 Media

 

FROM:           Stephanne Saunders, Manager, Office of Special Events, The City of Frederick,

                              301-228-2845

 

DATE:            May 23, 2003

 

RE:                 2003 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, FREDERICK, MARYLAND

 

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

FEATURES DIVERSE LINE-UP OF TALENT

 

      Summer is just around the corner, which means it’s time to relax and enjoy FREE, outdoor concerts in Frederick, Maryland's Baker Park.  The 2003 Summer Concert Series will kick-off on Sunday, June 8, 2003, and will continue every Sunday evening through August 24th.  Each concert begins at 7 PM with a Carillon concert beginning at 6:15 PM.  Brand new seats have been installed at the bandshell, or bring a blanket or chairs to relax in the lawn.  Concessionaires will be on hand nightly offering a variety of refreshments to make your evening complete. The Series features a diverse line-up of talent ranging from local talent to those who tour internationally, and from those who are writing their own concert material to those who are writing material for television.  Following is a brief description of each week’s performers.

 

June 8 – NRBQ will kick-off the first week of the Summer Concert Series.  Formed in the late 1960's and described as rock-n-roll’s best-kept-secret, the New Rhythm and Blues Quartet continues to inspire and amaze those whose lives their music has touched.  There may be no other group of musicians in the history of rock that has so consistently enjoyed the adoration and adulation of their peers.  Their fan base has long included a veritable Who's Who of the music world, including Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, John Mellencamp, R.E.M. and the Replacements, to name a few.  This reputation among musicians knows no generational bounds either.  The Q is also among the favorite bands of a whole new breed of artists, including the members of such

 

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groups as Barenaked Ladies, Widespread Panic, Yo La Tengo and Ben Folds Five.

NRBQ attained something approaching pop-culture immortality when the band made its debut in animated form on television's longest-running comedy series, The Simpsons. But the November 28, 1999 installment was pretty much wall-to-wall Q, with five soundtrack appearances, the cartoon version of the band (playing in a biker bar visited by Homer) and, to top it all off, a live-action sequence of the Q playing its own version of the Simpsons theme, which ran under the final credits (something that was unprecedented in the show's history).  Soon Hollywood came calling again with NRBQ soundtrack appearances in two feature films: Where The Heart Is and 28 Days. The latter film also featured an on-screen appearance by the Q as a wedding band.  Now NRBQ is in America's living rooms again, performing the theme music for a new comedy series on the Fox network called The Pitts, created by longtime Simpsons executive producer Mike Scully. 

 

June 15 – Last Train Home will entertain audiences with their roots-rockin’, heartachin’ alternative country sounds.  This band is all about great songs about real life played like these folks mean it.  Recently, they earned themselves several WAMMIES (Washington Area Music Awards hosted by WAMA, the Washington Area Music Association).  The band was awarded “Best Roots Rock Band”, “2002 Artist of The Year” and the lead singer, Eric Brace, was awarded “Best Roots Rock Singer.” If you enjoy the group for free on the 15th, you may still be able to get tickets to Wolf Trap on June 18th where they will be opening for the legendary Willie Nelson.  Plus, after nearly two years of recording in bits and pieces around the country, Last Train Home proudly announces the release of its new CD, “Time and Water”.

 

June 22 – Corey Brooks and the Gumption Group will be playing classic pop R&B.  Corey Brooks started pursuing an interest in music at the tender age of 6 when he began playing piano.  By age 8, he began taking piano lessons at the Maryland School for the Blind and continued until he was 19.  He began playing professionally when he was 17.  By the early 80’s and 90’s, he began his recording career and has recorded with various artists such as Julius Brockington, Barbara Coates, Virgil Taylor, Margaret Baker and Abundant Life.  In 1993,

Milton A. Dugger, Jr. saw his name on Barbara Coates’ CD, contacted him and they have been working together ever since.  The Gumption Group is an exceptional group usually consisting of keyboards, guitar and drums.  Their repertoire consists of instrumental arrangements of jazz, standards, R&B, funk and listening music.  Brooks brings music from his CD’s “Gumption Ain’t Got None?  You Better Get Some!”, “The Gumption Revue”, and “The Bleu Lights Forever”.

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June 29 – DKGB Band will bring the music of the islands to Frederick.  The DKGB Band was founded in 1992 by keyboard player Frank Javois.  The Drums, Keyboards, Guitar and Bass are played by experienced musicians who have toured with international artists.  The band’s labor of love is evident in their debut CD “Higher Calling”.  Original material, coupled with seasoned professionalism and plain and simple good vibes has been the key to this group’s success.  Founder, bandleader, keyboard player and vocalist, Frank Javois, hails from the island of St. Martin.  His keyboard playing has been influenced by the likes of Billy Preston, Tyrone Downie, Jackie Mitoo and Bob Marley.  Carver Julian is DKGB’s newest member and is a lead vocalist.  Although born and raised in the Soca capital of the world, Trinidad and Tobago, Julian has always been an avid reggae fan.  Jammin’ on the drums is Angus “Bunny” Balmar, who is from the island of Grenada and who has played with various calypso greats.  Also arriving from the island of Grenada, keyboard player and lead vocalist Worrel “Kango” David was awarded a WAMMIE in 2002 for “Best Reggae Vocalist”.  The bass player, Joe Straws, originally hails from Kansas City, Missouri but has spent many years in the Virgin Islands.  While initially a jazzman, he caught the island fever and started his career in reggae.  You, too, will catch island fever as you enjoy DKGB Band.

 

July 6 –The Crawdaddies are a national touring act based in the Baltimore/DC area whose music combines the infectious pulse and energy of classic Cajun/Zydeco rhythms with cool Swing grooves, Country, Rock and Soul.  The Crawdaddies infuse Cajun, Zydeco, Funk, Swing, Soul, Reggae, Roots and Rock into an incomparable, groove-laden sound that is unquestionably its own.  The eclectic, good-time spirit of their set has also allowed The Crawdaddies to share the stage with a wide range of artists including Etta James, Terrance Simien, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Cliff, C. J. Chenier, Wayne Toops, Joan Jett, Rosie Ladet, Gino Delefose, Johnny Klegg, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, G. E. Smith, Marcia Ball, and Reel Big Fish.  The Crawdaddies are a regular fixture on the national college and festival circuits. Their CDs, “Accordions Are Cool” and “Spice it Up”, are in rotation on college and broad-format radio stations.

 

July 13 – LOVE RiOT has been delighting audiences with their catchy rock songs and moving, high-energy performances.  Over the years, the band’s songs have been featured on JAG, MTV, The Oxygen Channel, and Disney’s Zgames2000.  LOVE RiOT also appeared on Homicide-Life On The Streets, took part in 1998’s LILITH FAIR, and enjoyed national airplay of the video “Sometimes A Feeling”.  Fans will still find the great songs and genuine emotion,

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which are LOVE RiOT’s hallmarks, along with the multi-generational appeal that makes this band remarkable.  LOVE RiOT released a new CD, “Jump Kiss Me”, in spring 2002 on the Deck Party Music label. 

 

July 20 Carey Ziegler’s Expensive Hobby will bring a rock performance to Baker Park.  Leading the band on bass, megaphone and vocals, Carey Ziegler has performed with such groups as Roy Buchanan, the Edgar Winter Group and Crack The Sky.  He has also performed with local Maryland groups Carry On, Glass House, No Heroes, and Band of a 1000 Names with Paul Reed Smith, Russell Stone, Gregory Phillips, and David Glaser. He has played such venues as the Roxy and the Hollywood Palace in LA, the Bottom Line and Beacon Theatre in NYC and Carnegie Hall.  On keyboard, percussion and vocals, is Glenn Workman; The band’s drummer/percussionist is Mark St. Pierre; On guitar and vocals is Andy Shriver; On trombone and percussion, J.-J. Gunning; Playing trumpet, accordion, and percussion is Dave Makowiecki; And on saxophone, wind synth, and flute is Barry Caudill.  The Y2K2 version of Carey Ziegler’s Expensive Hobby CD titled “The Adventures of Elliott Finesse” was recorded live in Baker Park during their 2001 Summer Concert Series performance.

 

July 27 –Wescott Brothers Band comes to Frederick from nearby Germantown, Maryland with a blues performance.  The Westcott Brothers got their early start as blues performers in 1999 when the duo consisting of Andrew and Phillip were just twelve and fifteen years old.  Since that beginning on the “Homegrown” stage at the Bele Chere Festival in North Carolina, the brothers have moved on to perform at a variety of festivals, live radio broadcasts, and major blues events in the Northeast.  The teenage brothers learned to play the blues partly from the mentoring and contributions from local Baltimore and Washington organizations such as the Baltimore Blues Society, HR-57 and the DC Blue Society, who sponsor open mic nights and weekend blues jams in the area.  Raw talent is the other half of the equation, and these bluesagers certainly have plenty of that.  The band’s other members include Jeff Conlin on organ and “Uncle” Billy Herrington on drums.   “Blues Brats” or  “Bluesagers”, call them what you want, but once these two teenage guitar prodigies take to the stage and begin playing, there is no doubt about where they are headed - firmly into the blues circuit. 

 

August 3 – The Scott Ambush Group will feature a contemporary jazz concert lead by Frederick native, Scott Ambush.  Internationally known as the bass player for the mega jazz

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group Spyro Gyra, Scott Ambush has played in a wide range of musical contexts.  He has played with such luminaries as Stanley Turentine, Dizzy Gillespie, Omar Hakim and Special EFX.  He has backed R&B vocalists Angela Bofil and Jeane Carne as well as R&B jazz instrumentalists Pieces Of A Dream and George Howard.  When he is not out on tour with Spyro Gyra, Scott has his own group, which he will be bringing to Baker Park, playing progressive and fusion jazz to crowds that just can't get enough.

 

August 10 - Tuxedo Park Orchestra swings into the Summer Concert Series.  A versatile society-style swing band, Tuxedo Park Orchestra plays sophisticated music from the big band era all the way to today’s dance favorites.  Pete Ostle, the bandleader and a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army Band, has lead many groups in the Washington area including the A La Carte Brass and Percussion.  In addition, he is a member of the popular, lounge-style band, Chaise Lounge. Tuxedo Park Orchestra features a five-piece horn section, which consists of Bill Holmes on trombone, Paul Mertha and Paul Dubois on trumpets, Mike Cappeto on alto sax, and Scott Weinhold on tenor.  While this may seem like a small horn section by big band standards, the band members more than make up for size with quality and talent as all of these musicians hail from U.S. military bands.  The drummer, Charles Ostle, is the son of the bandleader, and the newest member on vocals and keyboard, Lou Durham, is a current member of the U.S. Army Band.  The lead female vocalist, Michele Krause, is a Frederick-native.  Tuxedo Park Orchestra appeals to the swing dance community, playing dance favorites from the late 40’s and early 50’s.  They are known as the small band with the big band sound!

 

August 17 – New Country Showcase features a trio of talent directly from the music capital, Nashville, TN courtesy of WFRE 99.9.  One of the hot, new showcase performers is Dusty Drake.  And it's no overstatement to say Dusty Drake’s soon-to-be-released CD is the most hotly anticipated major label debut of 2003.  "Dusty Drake," produced under the Warner Bros. Records label, is an edgy mix of songs that moves from sexy to heart shredding, joyous to poignant. Produced by Nashville veteran Paul Worley, Clarke Schleicher and Billy Crain (former member of the legendary country-rock outfit The Outlaws), the CD is a dynamic mix of Drake's influences, from John Anderson to Hank Williams Jr. to heartland rocker Bob Seger.   

The BNA Records Label has secured the talented Rachel Proctor who will also perform during the New Country Showcase.  “Days Like This,” co-written by Rachel Proctor and Odie Blackmon, is just one of her cuts.  Following is an excerpt from the BNA website that quotes her take on the song:  “I love a good, lazy day.  One of those days when I have nothing to do but

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play with my dog, lay on the couch and watch movies with my husband.  Or curl up in bed and read a good book.  That’s what inspired this song.  Odie and I were writing at his house one day, and I looked outside and said, “I love days like this…this would be a great day to be lazy.”  He said, “There’s our idea” and we write it really fast so we could go do nothing for the rest of the day!” 

Brian McComas, the third artist to perform during the Showcase, has been secured by Lyric Street Records.  Brian's life has been filled with moments that prove his calling for making music, with perhaps none so pivotal as the one that took place outside an outdoor amphitheater in Branson, Missouri, when he was 16.  He was a hungry songwriter wannabe standing outside a chain-link fence near legendary songwriter Paul Overstreet's tour bus.  He wanted to get one of his own simple demos into Overstreet’s hand.  "He came over to the fence," says Brian, "and I said, 'Hey, I love what you do.  Is there any way if I sent you something that you would listen to it?'" Overstreet gave him the name of his publishing company, and Brian sent a tape.  "They actually called me back," says Brian.  "They said, 'The songs aren't there yet, but we'll keep accepting your material--and we don't normally do that.'  I was thrilled to death.  I thought, 'If I'm at this point now and I've just been at it a little while, maybe someday I'll get to the point where I can actually craft something that somebody'll listen to and want to sing themselves."  Both his honesty and show through in his music. 

 

August 24 - The Justine Hall Band will bring the season to an energetic and unforgettable close with her rhythm and blues band.  Leading the band on vocals, local artist Justine Hall is no newcomer to the Frederick music and stage scene.  She has been in numerous productions at The Weinberg Center and the Cultural Arts Center.  She has also performed at many local Baltimore and DC clubs with blues band Bonedaddy and The Gumption Revue.  After coming off a tour performing with Washington DC’s Pin Points Theatre, Justine was anxious to head her own

R&B band. With the help of the Uptown Sports Bar in Frederick and musicians she has met in the music circle, her wish has come true.  Justine has taken everything she has learned from dance and the theatre and put it all into her performance, giving you soul, funk and R&B with lots of high energy and character. 

 

Plan to arrive early to enjoy the free Carillon Concerts in the park beginning at 6:15 PM, which serve as the prelude to the main performer.  Frederick’s carillon is one of only two in the entire state of Maryland.

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The concerts are a nice, relaxing way to enjoy the warm summer evenings with friends and neighbors.  Bring a blanket and some friends, the Summer Concert Series will provide the entertainment!

While the concerts are FREE to the public, the Summer Concert Series Committee encourages you to bring a canned food item in lieu of admission to each performance.  Non-perishable items such as canned meats and vegetables, soups, peanut butter, cereal, rice and pastas are requested.  All items collected benefit the Frederick City Community Action Agency Food Bank. 

In the event of inclement weather, please tune to 99.9 WFRE, 103.1 WAFY or 106.9 WARX for news of event cancellation.  Due to the travel time and set-up by various artists and the sound production company, decisions regarding weather are made by 4:00 PM.  Therefore, if the weather is inclement at this time, listen to the radio for confirmation of the evening’s performance being cancelled.

The 2003 Summer Concert Series is a sub-committee of Cultural Events for Educating Frederick, Inc., who is supported financially by the following community-minded businesses:  Gold Sponsors -Ausherman Homes, BB&T Bank, Bechtel Foundation, COMSTAR Federal Credit Union, Farmers and Mechanics National Bank, and Sandy Spring Bank; Silver Sponsors – Bank One, The Frederick News-Post, The Gazette and Mount Saint Mary’s College; Bronze Sponsors - Cellular One, CitiMortgage and Frederick Arts Council.

For more information, please call The City of Frederick Office of Special Events at
301-600-CITY (2489) or visit www.cityoffrederick.com.

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