Terrance Simien, Rebirth Brass Band and More Set for Centennial Festival of Riverboats' 2014 Music Lineup, Now thru 10/19
By: BWW News Desk Oct. 14, 2014
The Centennial Festival of Riverboats, a commemoration of the 100th birthday of the Belle of Louisville, will feature a variety of musical and performing acts, powered by Louisville Gas and Electric Company. The Kentucky Center curated the musical lineup with a close eye on authentic, river-inspired genres -- carefully orchestrating the music roster to set the tone for the event. The celebration, today, October 14-19, will have a distinctly local flavor, centering on Louisville's best music, food, bourbon and art along the banks of Waterfront Park.
The musical acts will represent a broad range of genres -- particularly those long-associated with river towns and cities - like Blues, Jazz and Dixieland, Jug Band; but also includes Alt-Rock, Americana, Zydeco, Brass Band and more. In addition to evening entertainment, check out a Second Line parade following the Belle of Louisville's christening on Tuesday, October 14 at 5:30 p.m. and come by the "Lunchtime Sessions" which take place from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday with local food trucks onsite.
Relax and enjoy the music -- a blend of folk and contemporary influences -- as majestic riverboats coast along the Ohio River.
HEADLINERS:
Terrance Simien (LaFayette, LA)
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 7:45 p.m.
An American zydeco musician, vocalist and songwriter, Terrance and his band won the Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album for 2008. Simien is an eighth generation Creole from one of the earliest Creole families documented to have settled in the Mallet area of St. Landry Parish. He was introduced to music via the piano at home, the Catholic Church choir, and in school band programs where he played trumpet.
Billy Joe Shaver (Corsicana, TX)
Wednesday, October 15, 7:45 p.m.
The Corsicana, Texas native's Lone Star State roots run deep: His great-great-great grandfather, Revolutionary War veteran Evan Thomas Watson, was one of the founders of the Republic. Raised in hardscrabble circumstances by his grandmother, working on farms and selling newspapers on the street in his youth, he sang and made up songs "since I could talk," and was inspired in his childhood to keep at it after sneaking out of home one night to catch Hank Williams early in his career. This legendary Texas outlaw songwriter celebrates his 75th birthday, fresh off the release of his latest album Long in the Tooth.
Mike Cleveland & Flamekeeper (Louisville, KY)
Thursday, Oct. 16, 7:45 p.m.
It comes as no surprise that Michael Cleveland, nine-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association's Fiddler of the Year Award, is considered one of the premier bluegrass musicians of his generation. In 2006, Michael formed his band Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. Since then, the band has earned numerous IBMA awards and nominations, toured extensively throughout the US and internationally, and achieved the number one slot on Sirius XM Bluegrass Junction's Most Played Albums chart for their second release Fired Up.
Jimmy Hall & Friends (Nashville, TN)
Friday, Oct. 17, 8:30 p.m.
Jimmy Hall moved to Macon, Ga. from his hometown of Mobile, Ala. when he was 20 with his newly formed band, Wet Willie, and was signed by Capricorn Records. Hall shared the studio and stage with artists such as The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jeff Beck Group, Grand Funk Railroad, and a host of others while Wet Willie gained the reputation as one of the hardest working bands on the road. Gregg Allman once said that Hall "...is the hardest man to follow on stage that I ever worked with." As Wet Willie helped to create the Southern Rock genre they scored a major radio success with Keep on Smiling. This record solidified their place in rock and roll history, and Wet Willie's hits are still being played on the radio today.
Rebirth Brass Band (New Orleans, LA)
Saturday, Oct. 18, 8:30 p.m.
The Rebirth Brass Band is known for combining traditional New Orleans brass band music, including the New Orleans tradition of second line with funk, jazz, soul and hip hop. The group was founded in 1983 by tuba/sousaphone player Philip Frazier, his brother, bass drummer Keith Frazier, and trumpeter Kermit Ruffins, along with other school marching band members from Joseph S. Clark Senior High School in New Orleans' Tremé neighborhood. The band released its first album in 1984 on Arhoolie Records which was recorded in a Tremé neighborhood bar, and in 1989 gained wider notice with a series of releases on Rounder Records.
FULL SCHEDULE OF ACTS:
Tuesday, October 14
Rascals of Ragtime
Christening 5:00-5:30pm
Second Line Parade, featuring:
River City Drum Corps
Rascals of Ragtime
Kentucky Wheelmen
Krewe of Louis
6:00 p.m.
CENTENNIAL STAGE
Juggernaut Jug Band
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Terrance Simien
7:45-9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 15
RIVERBOAT STAGE/Lunchtime Series
Tyrone Cotton
11:00-11:25 a.m.
Bridge 19
11:30-11:55 a.m.
12-12:25 p.m.
Tyrone Cotton
12:30-12:55 p.m.
Bridge 19
1-1:25 p.m.
1:30-1:55p.m.
CENTENNIAL STAGE/Evening Sessions
WFPK Roots 'n' Boots-Michael Young
Johnny Berry & the Outliers
5:30-6:15p.m.
Bottle Rockets
6:30-7:30p.m.
Billy Joe Shaver
7:45-9 p.m.
Thursday, October 16
RIVERBOAT STAGE/ Lunchtime Series
Leigh Ann Yost
11:00 - 11:25 a.m.
John Gage
11:30-11:55 a.m.
Big Poppa Stampley
12-12:25 p.m.
Leigh Ann Yost
12:30-12:55 p.m.
John Gage
1-1:25 p.m.
Big Poppa Stampley
1:30-1:55 p.m.
CENTENNIAL STAGE/ Evening Sessions
State Champion
5:30-6:15 p.m.
The Wheelhouse Rousters
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Mike Cleveland & Flamekeeper
7:45-9 p.m.
Friday, October 17
RIVERBOAT STAGE/ Lunchtime Series
The Wheelhouse Rousters
11-11:25 a.m.
Steel City Jug Slammers
11:30-11:55 a.m.
Brother Duo Tribute
12-12:25 p.m.
The Wheelhouse Rousters
12:30-12:55 p.m.
Steel City Jug Slammers
1-1:25 p.m.
Brother Duo Tribute
1:30-1:55 p.m.
CENTENNIAL STAGE/ Evening Sessions
Tanita Gaines
5:30p-6:30 p.m.
The Bibelhauser Brothers
7-8 p.m.
Jimmy Hall & Friends
8:30-10 p.m.
Saturday, October 18
RIVERBOAT STAGE
Louisville Leopard Percussionists
11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
The Cincinnati Dancing Pigs
12:30-1:15 p.m.
RIVERBOAT PARADE
1:15-2:30 p.m.
Squeeze-bot
2:30-3 p.m.
Steel City Jug Slammers
3:15-4 p.m.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Big Band
4:30-5:15 p.m.
The Predators
5:45-6:30 p.m.
CENTENNIAL STAGE/Afternoon Sessions
String Theory
12-12:45 p.m.
Side Street Steppers
1:15-2 p.m.
Quiet Hollers
2:30-3:15 p.m.
McLain Family Band
3:45-4:45 p.m.
The Pass
5:15-6:15 p.m.
Dick Sisto, Steve Allee Quartet w/ Jeremy Allen and Steve Houghton
6:45-8 p.m.
Rebirth Brass Band
8:30-10 p.m.
Sunday, October 19
RIVERBOAT STAGE
John Gage
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Big Poppa Stampley
12:45-1:30 p.m.
Kentucky Opera
2-2:30 p.m.
Tyrone Cotton
3-4:00 p.m.
Juggernaut Jug Band
4:30-5:30 p.m.
CENTENNIAL STAGE/Afternoon Sessions
Louisville Orchestra Brass Quintet
12-12:30 p.m.
Small Time Napoleon
1-1:45 p.m.
Don Krekel Orchestra
2:15-3:15 p.m.
Billy Goat Strut Revue
3:45-4:30 p.m.
23 String Band
5-6 p.m.
TBA
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Squallis Puppeteers
1-5 p.m. Roaming
*Performance times and dates are subject to change in the event of inclement weather, etc.
Wednesday evening's WFPK "Roots and Boots" will include emcee and radio host, Michael Young. Thursday night will focus on Bluegrass/Americana and Friday night will emphasize Blues. Saturday night will showcase Jazz, Jug Band and Bluegrass. On Sunday, the festival will close with a family fun atmosphere that will include the Louisville Orchestra Brass Quintet and Kentucky Opera, as well as Big Band (with USO memorabilia on the lawn), Jazz, Bluegrass, Old-river Ad Blues music.
In addition, sonaBLAST! Records has curated a "concept" compilation CD entitled "Belle 100: Steamboat Songs" to help celebrate our esteemed riverboat's landmark centennial anniversary. The CD, currently available physically and digitally, features 13 tracks that celebrate, in one way or another, riverboat culture, the unique heritage of the Ohio River, and the spirit of Louisville.
Tickets for riverboat cruises are on sale now at www.FestivalofRiverboats.com, or 1-855-259-0350. For more information on the Centennial Festival of Riverboats, visit www.FestivalofRiverboats.com. For information about events at Waterfront Park, visit www.LouisvilleWaterfront.com.
ABOUT THE EVENT - Celebrate America's rich Southern heritage with a cruise on the mighty Ohio River during Louisville's Centennial Festival of Riverboats. In October 2014, six riverboats will provide the backdrop as Louisville plays host to a historic six-day festival of art, bourbon, music and culture at the internationally-acclaimed Waterfront Park. Enjoy live music, sample the finest spirits in the world and experience history first-hand, while we celebrate the 100th birthday of the Belle of Louisville and enjoy all that life on the river has to offer.
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