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Lansing, MI (August 30, 2010) – This year’s Old Town BluesFest headlines
award-winning blues performances Friday, September 17 and Saturday,
September 18 on the corner of Turner Street and East Grand River Avenue in
Old Town Lansing.
Friday brings out Larry McCray, the first artist to be signed by Virgin Records’
blues division. McCray has received worldwide recognition for the combination
of his blues-rock guitar and soulful vocals. Ten years and two albums later,
McCray has co-established his own record company, Magnolia Records, and
released his third album Believe It. Magnolia Records released McCray’s first
live album, Live On 75, in December 2005. In November 2006, his latest
studio record was released, self-titled Larry McCray, and is gaining popularity
in the U.S. from coast to coast and causing quite a stir in Europe.
From his humble beginnings as a child learning the guitar from his sister up
until now, McCray sights a career highlight as being honored as the Orville
Gibson 2000 Male Blues Guitarist of the Year. “Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, like
seven or eight other people were nominated, as well,” stated McCray.
Saturday night’s stage will be burning up with back-to-back performances
by headliner Shirley Johnson & Her Blues Band and Bryan Lee & The Blues
Power Band.
Shirley Johnson was born and raised in Virginia. Coming from a very
religious family, she started her singing career in the church. Since then, she
has gone from singing only gospel to embracing blues and R&B. She has
since then opened for well-known artists such as Aretha Franklin, Jerry Butler,
and Z.Z. Hill. Johnson, an amazing vocalist with a passionate, strong voice,
has been representing both the blues and gospel traditions for 40 years. Her
albums Killer Diller and Blues Attack have both received rave reviews, as she
is compared to blues heavyweights such as Koko Taylor.
Born in northern Wisconsin, Brian Lee has beaten the odds to secure his
status of one of the most beloved blues musicians to call New Orleans home.
Losing his sight at the young age of eight, he grew up listening to the blues on
the radio and eventually began playing guitar at age 13. After originally being
shunned from the blues music scene because of his skin color, Lee found
acceptance in New Orleans when he moved there in 1982. Lee has been
playing the blues for more than five decades, releasing over 10 albums and a
DVD, and earning respect from those who originally refused his talents.
However, Lee finds his struggles to be more of a blessing than a curse. “I can
focus deeper. I don’t have any physical distractions. That’s the grace of God.
Yes, I don’t have eyesight, but the good Lord gave me the gift of music and I
run into a lot of people that are emotionally blind. Eyesight or insight, it’s kind
of an easy choice to make.”
The Old Town BluesFest is a free community music festival, attracting
attendees from across the city, state, and region. It is produced annually by
Old Town Business and Art Development Association (OTBADA) / Michigan
Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
dedicated to quality arts programming, the preservation of historic buildings
and economic development. BluesFest is still accepting volunteers. See www.
oldtownbluesfest.com or call 517-371-4600 for more information.
On Friday October 1 from 6 to 11 p.m. and Saturday October 2 from 2 to 11 p.m., Old Town will transform into a two-day, German celebration, complete with polka music, authentic beer, food and entertainment. Now in its fifth year, the Old Town Commercial Association (OTCA) presents Mid-Michigan’s largest German-style event, one that the Germans would be proud of.
Oktoberfest will be held in lot 56 and historic Burchard Park, located at the corner of Turner and Grand River Ave. Once inside the tented area, there will be endless opportunities to try German-style beers, indulge in authentic German food, listen and dance to the musical performances and enjoy the festival atmosphere. Kids can join the celebration and visit the kid’s area with German activities on Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m.
Admission to the festival is $17 for Friday or Saturday, or all weekend. Tickets will be $13 if bought on-line before October 1st (http://www.oldtownoktoberfest.com) or in the OTCA office, located at 1232 Turner Street.
Oktoberfest began as a celebration of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese’s marriage on October 12, 1810. Throughout the past 199 years, Oktoberfest has become the world’s largest festival and brings nearly six million attendees to Munich during the sixteen-day event to experience their Bavarian culture. Old Town’s Oktoberfest brings in over 3,000 patrons from Mid-Michigan and surrounding areas.
Beer drinkers travel to Old Town during these two days to try the cold, German beers. Oktoberfest stock features authentic Oktoberfest beers, including Frankenmuth Brewery, Samuel Adams, Leinenkugel Brewing Co., Hack and Spaten Oktoberfest beers. Attendees treat themselves to delicious German food, an assortment of the same type of hearty goodies offered in Germany. Doughy Brötchen, Potato Pancakes and Schnitzel are just a taste into the range of authentic German food offered this weekend.
In addition to offering traditional German beverages and food, Old Town will provide German entertainment to complete the authentic Oktoberfest experience. Live polka music and dancing will energize attendees into a true German spirit. Eddie and the Biergarden Boys will be returning and playing both days. The Carpathia Schuhplattler group will be performing dances and other unique entertainment, lederhosen and all, on Saturday.
Souvenir mugs are complimentary to each ticket bought to Oktoberfest, but will be available for $5 at the festival. These souvenir mugs allow Oktoberfest attendees to cheers like a true German or “Prost!“ as they do in Munich. T-shirts and other OTCA apparel will be available for purchase.
For those festival-goers who travel by bike, a Valet Bike Parking station will be set up free of charge (donations accepted) to park and guard bicycles during the festival. Parking your bike will relieve the stress of finding a place to park in crowded Old Town during Oktoberfest. The Lansing RiverTrail is another great path to take, which leads you right to the heart of the festival.
As Oktoberfest in Bavaria has already started and is still underway, Old Town is diligently preparing for the renovation of lot 56 and Burchard Park to resemble Munich, Germany, equipped with all the German essentials. While the Germans have been drinking, dancing and eating for days now, we will soon join them in their Oktoberfest celebration.
For more information or tickets visit, http://www.oldtownoktoberfest.com or call the OTCA at 517-485-4283. Text “OTF” to 411669 to receive festival information, discounts and more (standard text messaging rates apply). Follow us on Twitter @OtcaOktoberfest!
After months of meetings and discussion between Old Town Commercial Association (OTCA) and Lansing for Cesar E. Chavez (LCEC), the two groups have reached a compromise that both honors Cesar Chavez in a visible and educational way while being cognoscente of the businesses owners concerns. On Thursday, August 12 LCEC amended their application to change Grand River Avenue to Cesar E. Chavez Ave to be an honorary street name change with dual signage. The application also formally changes the name of Lot 56 at the corner of Turner & Grand River Ave to Cesar E. Chavez Plaza. OTCA was named as a partnering applicant in the amendment.
These two memorials were one of several alternatives discussed on May 22 at Perspective2 Studio when both LCEC volunteers and Old Town stakeholders met to discuss the future of their proposed memorial. From that meeting it became obvious that though the Old Town community was not against a memorial they were against a street name change for several reasons including potential cost to the small business owners, loss of history connected to Michigan’s longest street and the lack of participation the City of Lansing required by property owners along the Grand River Ave.
Through this meeting and online survey’s that followed both OTCA and LCEC found that these two alternatives were not only the highest vote getters but also addressed the LCEC interest in education on Chavez and all of the businesses concerns. The honorary street name change will be executed by the City of Lansing and will be done with sign toppers or dual signage allowing the business owners to keep their print and marketing materials. The honorary signage will be installed after the City of Lansing’s vote in September. The Plaza will be privately funded, will include an archway into the lot, and will be installed by LCEC sometime after that when funding allows. Both projects will be discussed at public hearing of the Lansing City Council on August 30th.
“I’m truly thrilled at the cooperation and respect that both parties have displayed and the sheer passion that each group holds for the betterment of our community. By working together, we have reclaimed the future of our community and the memory of a very import figure for Lansing.“ said Brittney Hoszkiw, Executive Director of the OTCA.
“The Old Town community is fortunate in finding partners in their efforts towards business development, community engagement, and historic preservation. And I’m confident that these two community projects will create another layer of culture and vibrancy to our neighborhood.“
If anyone has any further concerns regarding the dual signage on Grand River and how that may impact their property, feel free to contact the OTCA office at any time at 485.4283.
September Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
In April Old Town welcomed thirteen new businesses to the area and now we are ready to celebrate seven more! Gravity Works, Epicenter of Worship Church, Northside Barbershop, Tallulah’s Folly, Lamb’s Gate Antiques, Lighthouse Massage Center and the Michigan League for Human Services have all joined Old Town since April.
The group of businesses (and organizations) that will be welcomed on September 9th, 2010 are just as diverse as Old Town. Northside Barbershop features $10 hair cuts at their new E. Grand River shop. Tallulah’s Folly offers unique gifts and flowers and Lamb’s Gate Antiques is a great place to find a rare treasure (both located on Turner Street). Gravity Works provides web design and development services out of their office on North Washington. If you are looking to relax head over to Lighthouse Massage Center on Grand River for a great massage. Epicenter of Worship Church has found a new home on West Grand River and last but certainly not least the Michigan League for Human Services now calls Turner Street home.
Each business will get its own time to shine as we travel to officially welcome them. Beginning at 10am Brittney Hoszkiw, executive director of the Old Town Commercial Association, and Bob Trezise, the president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Development Corporation, will lead the ribbon cutting through the streets of Old Town. We are excited for Bob to join us for a second ribbon cutting ceremony this year and hope that you will come along as well! The event begins at 10a.m. and will visit each of the seven new businesses.