Milford Music Festival announces 2007 line-up

From Gypsy Jazz, Celtic sounds, and String Quartets to Rock, Blues, and Middle Eastern beats, this year promises to be the best yet Milford - Announcing its jam-packed line-up, the Milford Music Festival Board of Directors are presenting three musically filled days with talented artists that will rock the Ann Street Park, once again June 8, 9, and 10 - rain or shine. Last year, the festival brought more than 5,000 through the Ann Street Park with its free admission. This year it promises to be even better. Friday, June 8: • 7 p.m. - Gypsy Jazz Quintet: A local musical tribute to the 1930’s “hotclub” jazz of gypsy guitarist, Django Reinhardt and Parisian violinist, Stephane Grappelli. The sounds of the band are those of the high-energy swing that was played in the dance halls of Paris from 1934 to 1939. • 8 p.m. - Mahavishnu Project: Launching straight from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, New York City based Mahavishnu Project has picked up right where the orchestra left off. The group began performing its own unique renditions of the orchestra’s albums including Birds of Fire, Inner Mounting Flame, Between Nothingness and Eternity, and others in 2001. Mahavishnu Project stays true to the cutting edge improvs of the original band while replenishing the original spirit of the melodies, intricate grooves, and all-out jamming - which has even been endorsed by the master, John McLaughlin himself. Saturday, June 9: • 11:30 a.m. - Parker String Quartet: The dynamic young chamber ensemble that has The Washington Post affirming them as “a quartet that propels the music irresistibly but with extraordinary grace and flexibility.” Since its founding in March of 2002, the ensemble has played many venues in not only the United States, boasting Ravinia, Carnegie Hall, and the Lincoln Center, but also across Europe participating in France’s prestigious ProQuartet program and the Recontres Musicales Internationales des Graves in Bordeaux. All of the quartet’s members are presently pursuing graduate degrees in performance and chamber music at the New England Conservatory. • 12:30 p.m. - Roger Drawdy and the Firestarters: All the rage at Irish Festivals across the country, this Celtic band plays a mix of traditional and original Irish music with a distinctive sound. Their thought provoking lyrics, haunting melodies, and thunderous live performances are the keys to their success. • 2:30 p.m. - In Flight Radio: The up and coming acoustic-based rock band with ethereal guitars and revealing lyrics, pegged as “Powerful Britpop-inspired instrumentals and vocal melodies delivered by silken-voiced front woman, Peira,” by Amplifier Magazine, will stay with you long after the last chord has faded. • 6:45 p.m. - Alfred James Band: The only group in the entire world that has a cellist who plays a five-string carbon fiber cello standing up; reason enough to see them perform on the main stage in Ann Street Park. Alfred James band is a cello-driven acoustic rock group, encompassing the didgeridoo, electric and acoustic guitars, a dumbek, and an electric bass, that has been compared to the likes of Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson, and Jason Mraz. Recently opening up for Bruce Hornsby at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania-based band’s sensual yet intense acoustic folk songs are also being broadcast on college radio across the country. • 8 p.m. - Dave Mason, headlining performance: “Rock and Roll is an attitude … not an age!”--- the famous phrase that Dave Mason will be shouting from the Ann Street Park Stage when his tour makes a stop to rock with the fans of the Milford Music Festival. With a career spanning over thirty-seven years, with hits like “Feelin’ Alright” and “We Just Disagree,” his musical background has encompassed producing, performing and song writing. Sunday, June 10: • 2 p.m. - Raquy and the Cavemen: Progressive Middle-Eastern music rich with a variety of exotic instruments, pulsating rhythms, and evocative scales will have you wondering if you are still in Milford! Raquy and the Cavemen have appeared at Lollapalooza, Central Park Summerstage, FloydFest, and Percussive Arts Society International Convention. • 3 p.m. - Jim Weider and Project Percolator: Blending rock and blues with funk and jazz, the guitar driven band performs groove’s combining modern drum loops and samples to beautiful melodic ballads. Jim Weider received great acclaim during his long tenure (1985-2000) as lead guitarist (replacing Robbie Robertson) for Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductees, The Band and was featured on numerous albums, films, videos and television appearances. Project Percolator’s signature sound has awarded them as “the highest-quality recording heard in a long time…This is a celebration of guitar at its best” -- Vintage Guitar Magazine. • 4:15 p.m. - Bobby Kyle Band: Local music aficionado, the Bobby Kyle Band will end the festival weekend with the heart and soul of the music area residents have come to love. Songs telling the story of the Everyman, filled with a passion of life, love, and loss, they will be sure to leave you wanting more from the blues band that is reminiscent of yesterday’s greats. In addition to this array of performances, Milford Music Festival is still planning. Similar to last year, there will be another talent contest held at Milford Chrysler and not only will one more artist be added to the already jam-packed line-up, but there will also be a special children’s performance. The Milford Music Festival is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible. For information on becoming a sponsor, please visit the website at: www.milfordmusic.org, or contact Angel Barnard at 570-296-1339.