To get the information necessary to obtain the discount, visit http://www.sbam.org/davenport today!

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.

OLD TOWN, LANSING, Mich. – 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 only 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 (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 4,000 patrons from Mid-Michigan and surrounding areas.

Beer drinkers travel to Old Town during these two days to try the cold, German beers. Oktoberfest 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. Each food item is priced from one to seven tickets, each beer is four tickets, and each ticket is equivalent to $1.

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, who played at last year’s festival, 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 Vallet 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 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!

The Old Town Commercial Association (OTCA) will officially welcome seven new businesses to the area during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Travel around Old Town with OTCA on September 9, 2010 beginning at 10am to celebrate the new businesses!

Leading the ribbon cutting through the streets of Old Town will be Bob Trezise, president and CEO of the Lansing Economic Development Corporation, and Brittney Hoszkiw, executive director of OTCA. The event will stop to welcome Epicenter Church, Gravity Works, Lambs Gate Antiques, Michigan League for Human Services, Northside Barbershop, Lighthouse Massage Center and Tallulah’s Folly.

The OTCA is excited to welcome these diverse additions to the community. As Old Town continues to thrive more businesses are choosing to call this artistic and historic part of Lansing home.

Each stop will include a brief introduction of the business and photo opportunity. Further information about the Old Town Commercial Association or the new businesses can be found at http://www.iloveoldtown.org or by calling the OTCA office at 517-485-4283.

Mind Your Own Business

Hosted by the OTCA Design Committee, this casual luncheon is an informal opportunity for Old Town and other Lansing businesses to explore creative and new ideas to boost their business. This is a seminar you won’t want to miss! Call the OTCA office at 517-485-4283 to sign up today.

Topic: TBA

Time: TBA. Location: at the Chrome Cat

Pickin’ in the Park is a monthly jam session held every Tuesday through October. Performers will be at the Burchard park. Event runs from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.