Britt Announces 2008 Summer Season
The Northwest's premier outdoor summer music festival presents over 39 performances by such world-class artist as Brooks & Dunn The Black Crowes, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Midori, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Mark Knopfler, Michael McDonald, Three Dog Night, The Devil Makes Three, Michelle Shocked and Michael Franti & Spearhead.
JACKSONVILLE, OR - Crosby Stills and Nash, LeAnn Rimes, The Neville Brothers and Dr. John, Keb' Mo', Taj Mahal, Earth Wind & Fire, B.B. King, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Clint Black, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Buddy Guy, Judy Collins, Steve Miller Band, and Joe Cocker are among the best of the best to have ever performed at Britt returning to Britt Festivals' 46th season of concerts under the stars. New and interesting talent round out the lineup and there is still more to be booked!
Britt Festivals is a non-profit organization and the Pacific Northwest's oldest outdoor music and performing arts festival. Set among majestic ponderosa pines and native madrones, the vast hillside estate of gold rush era pioneer Peter Britt forms a natural amphitheater of unparalleled beauty where internationally renowned artists perform every summer. For 46 years, Britt's world-class performances, spectacular views, and casual, relaxing atmosphere have attracted thousands of music lovers from all over the West.
The season kicks off this year with a first-time event-"Celebrate Britt's 46th Season and Jacksonville"-on Saturday, May 31 in downtown Jacksonville from 2 - 6 p.m., complete with artisan food, local wine and musicians.
Currently comprised of 39 performances running June 1 through September 7, Britt's 2008 season features artists in jazz, blues, pop, dance, folk, country and classical music. The Britt Gardens and Amphitheater is located two blocks from downtown Jacksonville, five miles west of Medford, and 15 miles from Ashland's famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival. At press time, Britt Festivals currently has two performances scheduled at the 5900-seat Lithia Motors Amphitheater (LMA) at the Jackson County Expo Park in Central Point, with more to come.
BRITT DEBUT ARTISTS and ENSEMBLES
Among the highlights of the 2008 season are artists who have never performed at Britt, including: The Average White Band, Wailin' Jennys, Kelly Joe Phelps and Krista Detor as part of the Under the Radar Festival; Bob Weir & RatDog; Three Dog Night; The Devil Makes Three; Billy Bob Thornton and the Box Masters; George Thorogood and the Destroyers, The Avett Brothers; G. Love & Special Sauce; John Butler Trio, Bill Evans and Soulgrass; and The Black Crowes. Although most of the jazz superstars in the Return to Forever tour have performed at Britt as individuals, this will be the first time collectively-Chick Correa, Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola, and Lenny White. Chris Thile has graced the stage with the band Nickel Creek but returns with his new band Punch Brothers.
DANCE LINEUP
"Take a deep breath, because Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is going to take your breath away." -The Washington Post
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is celebrating more than 30 years as one of the most renowned dance institutions in the world, performing annually for more than 100,000 people. Critically acclaimed for its exuberant, athletic and innovative repertoire, the company features dancers who display unparalleled versatility and virtuosity in performances that inspire, challenge and engage audiences worldwide. The company performs works unmatched in artistic excellence by world-renowned choreographers such as Jirí Kylián, Nacho Duato, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe, Susan Marshall, Christopher Bruce and Daniel Ezralow.
FAMILY SHOW
The Flying Karamozov Brothers who perform at Britt on Sunday, June 22 are a continuing experiment in comedy, theatre, music and juggling. From the beginning, it was their intention to blend the worlds of performance art, improvisation, word play, harmony, emotion and, above all, virtuosity into a unique form of theatre and entertainment. Taking their cue from Shakespeare, they bring art and accessible entertainment to the stage. Comedy is their bread and butter and they layer it on so that children of 2 or 92 will laugh at the same moment for very different reasons.
CLASSICAL FESTIVAL
Britt's Classical Festival runs for three weeks (August 1-17), featuring the celebrated Britt Festival Orchestra under the direction of Peter Bay. More than 90 of the nation's best musicians journey to southern Oregon for three weeks as they come together to form the 2008 Britt Festival Orchestra. Maestro Peter Bay returns for his 16th season as Music Director and Conductor
Britt Classical Administrator Angela Warren says, "The 46th Britt Classical Season is our most exciting ever!" featuring music from Chopin to Shostakovich, guest artists from around the world, ballet music, classic film scores and music that captures the American spirit-there is something for everyone during Classical 2008.
The return of the Britt Orchestra is celebrated with a gala opening night concert on August 1. Highlights of opening weekend include: pianist Ingrid Fliter performing Chopin, excerpts from Prokofiev's ballet Romeo & Juliet, British trumpet phenomenon Alison Balsom, Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, the Britt horn section playing Schumann's Concertstück, and a chance to hear the percussion players in an exotic piece based on sensuous Haitian rhythms.
For the middle weekend Maestro Bay has planned a tribute to The Golden Age of the Silver Screen. Friday and Saturday night performances feature film music and music of film composers from Hollywood's heyday. As is the case today, some of the most beautiful music written is for film scores. The orchestra will be joined by four guest artists including world-renowned violinist Jaime Laredo and his wife, cellist Sharon Robinson.
Few artists reach out to the public in as many ways as Midori, who will be at Britt on Friday, Aug. 15. She is best known as one of the world's leading violinists performing over 100 concerts worldwide each year, but she also touches people's lives in many other extraordinary ways. Through five community engagement projects she has founded in the U.S. and Japan, Midori addresses an issue that is close to her heart-access. She feels passionately that people must have access to a variety of great music and through Midori & Friends and Music Sharing, she tackles getting music education and concerts to children who might not otherwise have access to the arts.
Saturday night, August 16, will be an out-of-this-world experience for families when the Magic Circle Mime Company returns to Britt with a new program, "The Orchestra from Planet X." Patrons will find out what happens when aliens decide to bring their musical ideas to the Britt stage in this sci-fi thriller starring the Britt Orchestra.
The final evening of the 2008 Classical Festival is a chance to wave the flag and celebrate America through some of its music. From music inspired by "The Star-Spangled Banner" to quotes from Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, to Gershwin's audacious Concerto in F played by pianist Jon Kimura Parker, this concert celebrates America's national musical character.
Tickets for Britt's 2008 season go on sale April 1 to Britt Members and on May 12 to the general public. For full information about Britt's 2008 season and membership, visit Britt on the web at brittfest.org or call 541-773-6077 or 1-800-882-7488. Britt's box office is now open 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday at 216 West Main St. in Medford.
Now in its 46th year, Britt Festivals is a non-profit organization that presents and sponsors performing arts and supports those activities through on-going education and audience development programs, and through cooperation with educational, civic, cultural, and governmental organizations in Southern Oregon. In addition to presenting concerts, Britt Festivals maintains a formal education program through the Britt Institute. Established in 1985, the Britt Institute hosts a wide variety of learning opportunities through a multi-faceted approach of summer camps, workshops, artist residencies, grade school programs, lectures and adult learning opportunities.
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