Walla Fest Set for Centre Theater, 8/12

Walla Fest returns to the Centre Theater on August 12 at 7pm for more music on the Norristown Arts Hill. This show includes performances by Carmel Liburdi , Norristown Native Drew Mills, Idle Idols, and The Districts. This shows Headliner's is regionally recognized Shorty Boy Boy.

The regular first floor art show will feature work by Justin Mellon, Precious M. Evans, Vi Tran, and 
Anonymous Mad Villainy. Anonymous Mad Villainy is a DIY T-short company created by a group of young artists. Walla is actively supporting business development in Norristown even as it supports artists and musicians.

Tickets are $5 at the door or $10 for admission and a Walla CD including tracks from past walla performances. The doors open for the art show at 6pm. At 7pm, the bands will begin in the Centre Theater's 4^th floor space!

Walla Fest is expanding its performance options with an open mic in the Walla Art Gallery between 6pm and 6:40pm. The first seven musicians to arrive at the gallery and sign up to play one song in the Centre Theater’s first floor. Poetry is welcome too!

"We want to give more local talent the chance to share what they make with the community and possibly even find more musicians for future Walla Fests. We also like the idea of jam packing the evening with constant music. The more the better" stated Walla organized Makeba Robinson.

Shorty Boy-Boy or, Josh Pannepacker, is a down-to-earth dude with scruffy blonde hair, always has that same pleasant smile on his face. Whether it’s everyday life or on stage, Pannepacker is all about having a good time — something that shines clearly in his music. With the focus being on the fun, the band’s brand of catchy-garage-rock mixed with pop charm is nothing short of infectiously danceable.

The Districts are from Lititz, PA, and are returning the their second Walla Fest this summer. Inspired by Fugazi, The Clash, Wes Montgomery, The Beatles, Sonic Youth, Johnny Cash, Robert Johnson, and others, the band has an eclectic mix of music. Accenting a rock sound with violin makes their musical take unique. The Districts are Rob Grote, Mark Larson, Connor Jacobus, and Braden Lawrence.

Carmel Liburdi is a 19 year old singer, songwriter, and musician from Detroit, Michigan. Her music is energetic and unique, combining an alternative acoustic sound with ragtime and jazz influences. Her musical style has been compared to artists like Queen and Regina Spektor

Drew Mills is a Norristown Native Hip Hop artist and performance poet. His uplifting mind bending plays on words and his dynamic rhymes make his lyrics engaging and thought provoking. He is breaking out with his first CD and is making his second appearance at a Walla Fest.

Idle Idols is an emerging band from Philadelphia with a catchy sound and unique guitar parts. The band is only a year old but has already released an EP called "Talk To Me.”

Walla Fest is the brain child of Anthony Bui, Makeba Robinson, and Yesenia Bello. Their mission to bring local music into Norristown locality has spawned a year's worth of rock shows in the Centre Theater. Past shows can be viewer on YouTube at the Walla Fest live channel. They have become the most prolific art and music providers on the Norirstown Arts Hill, beginning with band from Norristown High School and now booking groups from all over the country. Their continued artist vision is assuring that Walla will grown for years to come.

Iradiophilly is the official media sponsor of the event.

The Centre Theater is one of the most critically acclaimed companies in the area for over fifteen years. The Philadelphia City Paper called the companies, Norristown's Theatrical Gem. Receiving Barrymore nominations for a number of their productions, including The Elephant Man, Molumby's Million and Terra Nova. This year the Centre is expanding its programming with cabaret shows, Poetry slams, comedy nights and More music as well a their full theater season. This season includes a world premiere by Ray Saraceni called Mana about Easter Island, Orson Wells Moby Dick Rehearsed, and Ragtime. The Centre’s Independent Voices Festival presented 50 nights of theater by 28 regional companies over the past 3 years.

Working in collaboration with Iron Age Theatre, the Centre is planning a massive renovation of its theater and building. In August, the Centre will get another new sign as phase two of the buildings renovation including a new larger first floor venue for theatre and other performance begins.

 The Centre Theater is in the Montgomery County Cultural Center at 208 DeKalb Street in Norristown. The new marquee marks its location as the anchor of the Norristown Arts Hill. It is easily reached via routes 202, I-76, I-476 and Ridge Pike. There is plenty of free parking and the theater is one block from Septa’s Norristown Transit Center on the Manayunk/Norristown line.

For more information call 610-279-1013.

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