6th Annual Comcast Art & Soul Oakland Lineup Announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RICKIE LEE JONES, NEW FOUND GLORY, WAYMAN TISDALE, ANGIE STONE
AND EDWIN HAWKINS
THE BAY AREA’S BEST SUMMER FESTIVAL COMCAST ART & SOUL OAKLAND
LABOR DAY WEEKEND
OAKLAND, California (July 27, 2006)—The City of Oakland announced headliners and featured performers for this year’s 6th Annual Comcast Art & Soul Oakland. Thanks to guaranteed stellar lineups, abundant parking, easy BART accessibility and the bargain price of just $5 per day, Comcast Art & Soul Oakland has been named the Bay Area’s “best annual cultural event†by Oakland Magazine. Held in beautiful, re-energized downtown Oakland over Labor Day weekend September 2–4, 2006, this sixth annual celebration features an eclectic all-star lineup of 50 bands sure to please every musical taste. Comcast Art & Soul Oakland gets off to a running start on Saturday with the catchy punk-pop of New Found Glory (in association with LIVE 105). Rickie Lee Jones and the subdudes share top billing Sunday (in association with KFOG 104.5 FM/97.7 FM.) Fiery, soulful R&B star Angie Stone headlines Monday’s show (in association with KBLX 102.9 FM.) which also features jazz great Wayman Tisdale.
New Found Glory anchors the main stage on opening day. Renowned for energetic live shows, their unique brand of punk-pop is influenced by everything from hardcore and thrash to new wave. Sharing the main stage on Saturday are Lostprophets, the Welsh band with their sonic guitar-driven splendor, and Plain White T’s whose music is less punk than power pop and always pleasing. The Silversun Pickups bring their textured melodies and indie-rock stylings.
Grammy Award winner Rickie Lee Jones is a modern musical cult-heroine whose relentless exploration of her art makes for utterly compelling and riveting music. Her rare live performance at Art & Soul promises to be a highlight. The strong Sunday lineup also includes the New Orleans funk, R&B and gospel sounds of the subdudes; the Latin jazz, mariachi trumpet, pedal steel guitar delights of Calexico; and Oakland-based rising stars The Bittersweets introducing music from their full-length debut album The Life You Always Wanted.
Capping Comcast Art & Soul Oakland on Monday, the ever-popular KBLX 102.9 FM stage features the sassy, fiery and soulful R&B singer Angie Stone plus the dynamic funk drenched sounds of NBA star-turned-jazz-bassist Wayman Tisdale. Rounding out this exciting lineup are the legendary smooth jazz super group Fattburger and Oakland-based R&B duo Christión.
Comcast Art & Soul Oakland delivers five stages offering simultaneous talent and diversity from 50 bands. This year, the Plaza Stage hosts an all-jazz lineup on Saturday with the likes of local jazz favorite Kim Nalley, Latin jazz percussionist John Santos and be-bop guitarist Bruce Foreman. Sunday it focuses on R&B featuring Oakland’s own R&B sensation Goapele, the Temptations Revue and others. The ever popular Gospel Showcase presented by Edwin Hawkins and the Community of Unity takes the Plaza Stage on Monday. The Culture Jam Stage in City Center kicks off with Latin/Salsa on Saturday featuring the Cuban dance music of La Familia Son, the Amigos Band and Cuban-born percussionist Jesús Diaz y Su QBA. Back by popular demand is the Out in Oakland LGBT program on Sunday with Klymaxx (featuring original guitarist Cheryl Cooley), the all-female R&B/pop group that scored several top 20 hits in the 80’s, and dance crooner Jason Walker, winner of NBC–TV’s “Showtime at the Apollo.†Monday will be dedicated to world music performed by Mo’ Rockin’ Project, Jackeline Rago & The Venezuelan Music Project, Palabuniyan Kulintang Ensemble and the native rock sounds of Phoenix & Afterbuffalo. The Bay Area Blues Society’s ever popular three-day Blues Stage offers a jammin’ showcase featuring blues greats Lydia Pense and Coldblood, Café R&B and Jesse “I Can Do Bad by Myself†James. The World Dance Festival Stage will present three days of local troupes showcasing a variety of dance expressions including traditional/heritage, world and new generation (hip hop).
Comcast Art & Soul Oakland has great music but that’s not all. A family paradise, the festival boasts the largest Family Fun Zone of any festival in the Bay Area, complete with kiddie rides, children’s entertainment and free festival admission for ages 12 and under. The ever-expanding Family Fun Zone is jam-packed with interactive activities for children of all ages, as well as kid-friendly carnival games, inflatable bouncers and hands-on activities to create their own art to take home. In addition, Comcast Art & Soul Oakland features art exhibits, artisan booths and a mouth-watering array of food reflecting the rich cultural diversity found in Oakland—the most diverse city in America.
The 6th Annual Comcast Art & Soul Oakland is Northern California’s most accessible festival offering direct service from BART (12th Street – Oakland City Center Station) and free parking for thousands of cars. Last year more than 70,000 people enjoyed three sensational days of music, food, fun and art in beautiful downtown Oakland. As Samee Roberts, City of Oakland Marketing Manager points out, “Just like Oakland – Art & Soul is a multicultural mecca of music, art, food and the most wonderfully fun, diverse festival-goers you will find anywhere in the Bay Area!â€
The 6th Annual Comcast Art & Soul Oakland takes place in downtown Oakland on Saturday, September 2, Sunday, September 3 and Monday, September 4, 2006 from 11AM–6 PM. The festival is centered in Frank Ogawa Plaza and City Center, encompassing 10 city blocks. Admission is $5.00 per day at the door; 12 and under free.
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (http://www.comcast.com) is the nation’s leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. With 21.7 million cable customers, 9 million high-speed Internet customers and 1.5 million voice customers, Comcast is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the delivery of programming content.
For more information on the 6th Annual Comcast Art & Soul Oakland, log onto www.ArtandSoulOakland.com or call (510) 444-CITY.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Michael Coats (707) 935-6203 or michael@coatspr.com
Lance Cutler (707) 996-5980 or lance@winepatrol.com
Harry Hamilton (510) 238-2107 or hhamilton@oaklandnet.com
It’s raining j-notes posts!