The Festival schedule includes a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the legendary James Burton; Grammy award winner Anders Osborne; New Orleans favorite Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and his band Orleans Avenue; and “the ultimate Eagles experience,” Seven Bridges Road. Local favorites Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs will also be performing at the Festival.
Food vendors will be available throughout the weekend offering festival food faire.
The 2009 Jazz/R&B Festival will be a two-day long event beginning Friday evening with NSU College Night beginning at 6:00 p.m. Saturday will kick off at 11:45 p.m. with entertainment on two stages.
The Natchitoches Star competition winner will be announced during the Festival and the three finalists will perform throughout the day Saturday. A rock-climbing wall will be the highlight of the numerous children’s activities that will be available throughout the festival day.
There will be VIP parking available for motorcycles, and festival attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Admission to the festival will be $8 per adult, $4 per student/military personnel with I.D., and children 12 and under free if purchased in advance. The tickets prices the day of the festival will be $10 per adult, $5 per student/military personnel with I.D. and children age 12 and under free. Tickets will be good for both days.
For more information, call the Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-259-1714 or visit www.natchjazzfest.com.
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Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival 2009 lineup
With a hitmaking country/R&B artist with a dozen top ten hits to his name; a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and one of the top guitarists in the world; a Grammy award winning Rock, R&B, and Blues singer/songwriter; the hottest Jazz, Rock and Funk performer out of New Orleans; and a tribute to perhaps the greatest American rock band of all time, the 2009 Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival truly promises "something for everyone." The Festival which will be held April 3rd and 4th on the historic and picturesque downtown riverbank in Natchitoches, will begin with NSU College Night on Friday, and continue with music on three stages all day Saturday beginning at noon.
Featured performers at this year's Festival include country star T. GRAHAM BROWN. Brown has been writing and recording hit records for over twenty years and has charted more than twenty singles on the Billboard Hot Country songs chart. Three of these singles -- "Hell and High Water", "Don't Go To Strangers", and "Darlene" reached number one and eight more reached the top ten. T. Graham Brown has received a CMA award for his efforts.
While Brown's hits have been on the country charts, his influences are grounded in rhythm and blues and is well known as a crossover artist.
JAMES BURTON is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and was named by Rolling Stone magazine as "one of the top guitarists of all time." Having played on countless records as a session musician, Burton found his greatest fame first as Ricky Nelson's guitarist making regular appearances on The Ozzie and Harriet Show, and then Elvis Presley's lead guitarist and band leader from 1969 until Elvis' death in 1977. Burton was also John Denver's lead guitarist for several years and has played with many major artists including Frank Sinatra, Jerry Lee Lewis and George Harrison. Pete Townsend of the Who once called Burton: "The most important guitarist in American music history." Burton was also a guest performer on Brad Paisley's most recent album.
Burton holds the "James Burton International Guitar Festival" every year which raises money to purchase guitars for children in schools and children's hospitals. Burton will be performing with Natchitoches group Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs.
Singer/songwriter ANDERS OSBORNE has made the Festival a part of his "Southern Troubadour Tour 2009." Osborne was born in Sweden. As soon as he was old enough, he moved to New Orleans where he has become a widely respected and Grammy winning Rock, R&B, and Blues guitarist and vocalist. Osborne has recorded nine albums and since 1994 has been working as a professional songwriter and producer in Nashville. His song "Watch The Wind Blow By" was recorded by country music star Tim McGraw and Hit No. 1 on the country charts.
TROY "TROMBONE SHORTY" ANDREWS and his band, ORLEANS AVENUE are easily the hottest and more eclectic musical act in New Orleans. Trombone Shorty's versatility is illustrated by the fact that he is up for "Artist of the Year" and "Best Trumpet Player," and he and his band are up for "Best R&B Funk Artist" in the annual Best of the Beat Music Awards in New Orleans, while he previously won the award as "Performer of the Year" and "Best Contemporary Jazz Performer," Trombone Shorty and his high energy band receive rave reviews wherever they play and he has toured with Lenny Kravitz and performed with U2, Green Day, Dr. John, and many others. The Edge, U2's guitarist, described Trombone Shorty's unique blend of Rock, Funk, R&B, Jazz and Soul as "Unbelievable! It is just not anything you are going to hear anywhere else."
SEVEN BRIDGES ROAD -- "THE ULTIMATE EAGLES EXPERIENCE" has been described as "the closest you will come to seeing a live Eagles concert without paying $200 for a ticket." Seven Bridges Road is made up of musicians from Nashville and the Dallas area who have played many types of music with many bands over the years, but who have all shared one passion: the music of the Eagles, perhaps America's greatest rock and roll band. Seven Bridges Road has faithfully and lovingly recreated many of the Eagles' greatest hits from "Hotel California" to "Take It To The Limit" and performed them with a sound and style that is eerily similar to the Eagles themselves and Eagles fans who have seen Seven Bridges Road show gushed: "If you close your eyes, you might just think you are at an Eagles concert."
The Natchitoches Jazz/R&B Festival will have continuous music on three stages on Saturday, April 4th and there will be plenty of food and activities for the children. For more information, go to www.Natchjazzfest.com.
By Latisha McDaniels, Natchitoches Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
