DATE: SEPTEMBER 28, 2006
FROM: MARCEE RONDAN/KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/
MITCH SCHNEIDER
2006 VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE;
INTRODUCES “FLAMBEAU”
WHERE NEW ORLEANS’ MUSICAL LEGACY
LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE
The announcement of the local line-up brings the number of performance areas to five for the annual event that has been described by AOL as New Orleans’ “signature rock festival” and “one of the top 10 music festivals in the US.”
But this year, it’s about more than rock.
The latest addition to VOODOO is Flambeau, an area designed and dedicated to celebrating and passing the torch of New Orleans’ musical culture and celebrating its influences. Flambeau features two performance areas: The WWOZ/SOCO Stage and the Preservation Hall Tent, as well as six full service local restaurants, an expanded New Orleans Arts and Crafts area and a musical line-up that includes The Meters, Yerba Buena, Ozomatli, Irma Thomas, Marva Wright’s tribute to Mahalia Jackson, Kinky, Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave, The Preservation Hall Band, The Soul Rebels, Amanda Shaw, The Brand New Heavies, Jon Cleary, Otra, Morning 40 Federation, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, The Hot 8 Brass Band, Wild Magnolia’s featuring Bo Dollis, Ernie Vincent, Rockie Charles, Wardelll Quezerque’s, The New Orleans Rhythm and Blues Review, the Rhythm Roots Drum Circle and a special tribute by New Orleans’ iconic act Cowboy Mouth.
The new Preservation Hall Tent, along with the WWOZ-SoCo stage, brings a bit of history to the relatively new, eight-year old festival. WWOZ will be broadcasting the weekend festivities to local listeners and around the world on the web (http://www.wwoz.org).
Ben Jaffe, Creative Director of Preservation Hall, says, “All New Orleans music shares a common African, rhythmic root. This is a unique opportunity to expose fans of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (coincidently the same name Jelly Roll Morton used for his backing band) to the music we are fortunate enough to have in New Orleans’ on a nightly basis. I can’t imagine any other festival in any other city in the world presenting this eclectic roster of bands and styles.”
“The Flambeau addition is an obvious extension of Voodoo and our relationship with the local music community at this point,” says Voodoo Music Experience Founder/Producer Stephen Rehage. “It is an area to light it up and let go.”
David Freedman, General Manager, WWOZ-FM, adds: “We love what Voodoo is doing and I have so much respect for them after what they did last year. They were the first event to come back to the city and managed to produce a world class festival under absurd conditions. The commitment that Voodoo has to local music is great and we have almost come to expect the same dedication every year. But this year, they’ve taken it to the next level. By continuing to support New Orleans music, they help to create awareness of the impact that local music has had on the many forms of music heard at Voodoo. We need to remember where this music comes from and that this city serves as a creative musical center. Since last year, every event like this is critical to the local music scene and the emphasis on roots music makes it that much more important.”
About RE:
Rehage Entertainment (RE:) creates and executes LIVE-based entertainment products, properties, and media. Founded in 1992, RE: combines the magic of live events with emerging technologies and urban science to create interactive entertainment experiences. The company offices are located in New York City and New Orleans.
2006 Voodoo Music Experience is made possible by:
Southern Comfort • Billboard.com • Millerlite • Giant Step • Counts Media • The Village Voice • Filter Magazine • ALARM Magazine • URB Magazine • NOLA.com • Marriott New Orleans • Gambit Weekly • Revista Sonika • Renaissance Arts Hotel • Offbeat Magazine • New Orleans Magazine • Where Y'at Magazine
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VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE: INTRODUCES “FLAMBEAU” WHERE NEW ORLEANS’ MUSICAL LEGACY LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE