Special July 5 Concert to Celebrate Independence Day Weekend
Media contact:
Debbie Fant: 360-902-8635
Wash. Telecommunications Relay Service: 800-833-6388
OLYMPIA – June 19, 2014 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Folk & Traditional Arts in the Parks Program invites the public to the Eighth Annual American Roots Music Series at Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island.
The series of free outdoor concerts will take place each Saturday in July, beginning July 5 and running through July 26, at Deception Pass State Park, 41020 State Route 20 in Oak Harbor. The first concert on July 5 starts at 5 p.m. with a special performance of Dixieland jazz to celebrate Independence Day Weekend, following by a second performance at 7 p.m. of rousing Irish music.
The remaining concerts all begin at 7 p.m. and feature folk and traditional music representing a variety of communities from around the Pacific Northwest. Admission is free to the performances. The Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the park.
All performances are in the West Beach amphitheater on the Whidbey Island side of the park, unless it’s raining. In case of rain, performances will move to the East Cranberry Lake picnic shelter, also on the Whidbey Island side of the park.
Performances are scheduled as follows:
• July 5 at 5 p.m. The General’s 7 Dixie Band
As musical ambassadors, this Dixieland jazz band performs all over Washington state supporting numerous civilian and military ceremonies and community events. Come sing along and tap your feet, or if the mood strikes, get up and dance! The group includes eight soldier-musicians from across the state who exemplify the Army National Guard's model of a “patriot, soldier and neighbor.” The band is led by Sergeant First Class Michael Vandiver.
• July 5 at 7 p.m. Crumac
Traditional Irish tunes and songs. Founding members are Tom Creegan on the tin whistle and the intriguing Uilleann pipes—the Irish version of the bagpipes—and Irish fiddlemeister Dale Russ. Mike Saunders, a long-standing singer/guitar player in the Northwest, joins Creegan and Russ. Since 1989, together and in various combinations, they have played from coast to coast—including the largest Irish music festival in the country—and as far west as Alaska and as far east as Japan.
• July 12 at 7 p.m. Rebel Voices
Labor songs with wit and flair from duo Susan Lewis and Janet Stecher. For more than 20 years, the duo has created incredible harmony as members of The Belles of Hoboken, Shays' Rebellion, and since 1989, Rebel Voices. They took their name from the book by Joyce Kornbluh, Rebel Voices: An IWW Anthology, a collection of writings, songs, poems and cartoons by members of the Industrial Workers of the World, or “Wobblies.” Wobblies have always been rabble rousers, unionists, artists and singers who attack the issues of their time with passion and humor. This same spirit moves Rebel Voices today as they sing out for social and economic justice.
• July 19 at 7 p.m. Hale Bill & the Bopps
Hale Bill & the Bopps offers a musical smörgåsbord of toe-tapping Scandinavian fiddle music from all the Nordic countries, including schottisches, waltzes, polskas, and much more. The band includes fiddle, keyboard and voice, plus the nyckelharpa (Swedish), and Hardanger fiddle (Norway), two instruments you may be seeing for the first time. The band’s musicians have been on the regional folk music scene since the ‘70s and ‘80s, performing primarily at folk dances and festivals in various configurations. They became constellated as Hale Bill & the Bopps in 1997 while Hale Bopp the comet was streaking across the sky.
• July 26 at 7 p.m. Quichua Mashis
The band members are Quichua Indians from the Andean mountains of northern Ecuador. Better known as the Inca Empire, the Quichua region of South America covers Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Their music has been passed down through the generations and reflects the struggle of the Quichua people, their connection to “Pacha Mama” (mother earth) and their spiritual journeys through history. Many of the instruments are handmade, using bamboo, sheep hooves, goat skins and armadillo shells. The group performs on zamponas (panpipe flutes), quenas (endblown flutes), the bombo (drum), chakchas (rattle), and charango, which resembles a small guitar with 10 strings. The traditional instruments are accompanied by the guitar, bandolin and violin.
The series is accessible to persons with disabilities. Those needing special accommodations may call (360) 675-3767 or the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service (800) 833-6388. Requests must be made in advance.
The American Roots music series is part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures and presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program. The program is a partnership of Washington State Parks, the Washington State Arts Commission and Northwest Heritage Resources with funding provided by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Washington State Parks Foundation. For a full schedule of Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program events, visit www.parks.wa.gov/calendar.aspx.
About Deception Pass State Park
Deception Pass State Park is a 4,134-acre marine and camping park with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline and 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline on three lakes. The park is best known for views of Deception Pass and Bowman Bay, old-growth forests, abundant wildlife and the historic Deception Pass Bridge. For more information, visit: www.parks.wa.gov/497/Deception-Pass
About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at www.AdventureAwaits.com.
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
-30-