DATE: OCTOBER 14, 2005
FROM: MARCEE RONDAN/KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON/
MITCH SCHNEIDER
VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE
TAKES OVER MEMPHIS
OCTOBER 27-30;
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30 CONCERT IN AUTOZONE PARK
TO CONCLUDE
FOUR FULL DAYS OF FREE FESTIVITES AND CELEBRATIONS INCLUDING
SOUTHERN COMFORT PRESENTS
“VOODOO ON BEALE STREET” OCTOBER 27-30;
NEVILLE BROTHERS SET TO PERFORM
FREE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 SHOW FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS
This year’s two-day, two-city VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE will wrap with an October 30 celebratory benefit concert at Memphis’ AutoZone Park. Sunday’s show will conclude a four-day music celebration of free concerts and events throughout downtown Memphis, including a free Saturday, October 29 performance from New Orleans’ legends the Neville Brothers and a free Sunday, October 30 concert featuring Dr. John. The preliminary line-up for Sunday’s AutoZone Park show includes: Cake, The Decemberists, Carl Cox, New York Dolls, along with New Orleans’ bands such as World Leader Pretend, Better Than Ezra, Cowboy Mouth and others.
“The lineup for Voodoo in Memphis is still taking shape,” says producer Stephen Rehage, “We are excited to see what will unfold in the coming weeks from the music community to support this cause and the city of Memphis. We hope to have more major announcements.”
From Bourbon Street to Beale Street, music fans throughout Memphis can enjoy the “Southern Comfort Presents Voodoo on Beale Street,” a series of free concert events which will take place in downtown from October 27-30. Legendary New Orleans acts will descend upon the city of Memphis, for four nights of concerts at the Beale Street Stage in Handy Park and include performances (listed below) as well as other acts TBA:
Thursday: Bonerama, Dan Dyer, Theresa Anderson, Rebecca Barry
Friday: Tommy Womack, American Princes, Rebecca Barry
Saturday: Neville Brothers, Ivan Neville, Cyril Neville, Papa Mali, Susan Cowsill
Sunday: Dr. John, The Legendary JC’s, Beatin Path, Susan Cowsill
Originally set to take place in its home of New Orleans’ City Park, the VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE–known for its eclectic and intriguing mix of top-tier artists, iconic musicians, indie performers and local New Orleans favorites–was displaced in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
After considering various other locations, Memphis was chosen for the 2005 VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE when organizers visited the city, which has similar ties to music history. The public portion of the concert event is being held in Memphis this year, with a private concert set for Saturday, October 29 in New Orleans for police, firefighters, National Guard, military and other relief workers.
“This year, Voodoo has had the amazing opportunity to become something bigger than just a music festival,” says producer Stephen Rehage. “We’ve worked hard to move forward with the staging of two events in one weekend and though it’s been a uphill battle at times, we know that the end result will be worth all the effort. Over the next two weeks, we’re continuing our goal of making Memphis a four-day celebration of music.”
Tickets for the Sunday, Memphis event are $35 each and a select number of VIP tickets (details of which will be announced shortly) are available for $100 via www.voodoomusicfest.com or Ticketmaster. Monies raised will benefit the New Orleans Restoration Fund, a donor advised fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
As previously announced, proceeds from the VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE will benefit the New Orleans Restoration Fund (NORF), a donor-advised fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. New Orleans Restoration Fund will work closely with the Mayor and his administration in conjunction with BringNewOrleansBack.org, a fund set in place by the city to help promote businesses and encourage residents to return and rebuild in New Orleans. The remainder of the funds will be distributed directly to humanitarian organizations such as Mercy Corps and Habitat for Humanity as well as local organizations committed to restoring the vibrant cultural community of the greater New Orleans area, including: Audubon Nature Institute; WWOZ, 90.7 FM, New Orleans Roots Radio; and YA/YA, Inc. (Young Aspirations/Young Artists), a local organization dedicated to empowering future generations of young artists and community leaders.
MSO Contacts: 818-380-0400
Marcee Rondan marcee@msopr.com ext. 248
Kristine Ashton-Magnuson kashton@msopr.com ext. 233
Mitch Schneider mschneider@msopr.com ext. 235
###
http://