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Music at McClellan this weekend Anyone who wants to attend Music at McClellan this year should make sure they’re in town this weekend. Because of the recession, the seven-year-old music festival has been condensed to a two-day weekend event from the succession of events it is known for. It begins Friday at 6 p.m. with a performance by Mel Melton and the Wicked Mojos, a blues band with a Cajun kick, and ends Saturday with a performance by John Sebastian, front man for The Lovin’ Spoonful, a ’60s rock-revolution band. “This is our seventh annual festival and in the past it has been spread out over three or four weekends, but the staging of that was extraordinarily expensive,” said Tom Potts Jr., chairman of the Longleaf Arts Council. “One of the ways we could reduce some of the expense is to have it on one weekend.” And while the event may be short in duration, it’s not lacking for quality entertainment, according to organizers. In between the first performance and the last, there will be about half a dozen acts, including the Friday night headliner Abbey Road Live, an established Beatles tribute band. “Abbey Road Live is the world’s best tribute band,” Potts said. “They go a step further than I have ever seen in that they concentrate on the latter studio albums.” According to its website, the band began in 2002 and only played songs from the Bealtes’ Abbey Road Album, but has since expended to cover 100 of the famed quartet’s tunes. In addition to performing the album the band derives its namesake from, it specializes in complete performances of "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band." Saturday night’s headliner, John Sebastian, who preformed at Woodstock, will be accompanied by Jimmy Vivino, the former guitarist from Conan O’Brian’s late show. The pairing of Vivino, who will head up the band for O’Brian’s new show in the fall, and Sebastian is drawing interest not just from inside the state, but from Atlanta, Chattanooga, and in one case New York City, according to the Chairman of Music at McClellan, Pete Conroy. “Through Facebook and Twitter it has begun to go viral and so were seeing interest from the region,” Conroy said. The two-day music festival will also include a steel drum performance by JAXPAN, singer-songwriter Kelli Johnson, jazz performers TADD of Jazz, and local guitarist Tony Yardley. Each of those Saturday acts will be followed by brief workshops, where performers will provide music education sessions with attendees. “It will be real close quarters,” Potts said. “So that’s a really neat attraction.” The alternative and classic rock cover band Five Sterling Silver also will perform at the festival. They will take the stage shortly before Sebastian’s headlining performance Saturday. In addition to the musical performances and workshops there will be a variety of kid-friendly entertainment and education-oriented attractions. Among them will be presentations from the Anniston Museum of Natural History curators with live animals, and a table with information and “tar balls” from the current gulf oil crisis. Donations will also be taken at the event to assist with the gulf cleanup effort, Conroy said. In addition to changing the event to a one-weekend festival for the fist time, this year’s event has another first. It’s the first year the Alabama Symphony Orchestra will not participate. However, Conroy said he fully anticipates that the Music at McClellan will return to its series format and re-incorporate the state orchestra into its lineup in the future, though both were changed this year to slash expenses. “I like spreading it out and I would like to think that in the future the economy will recover and Music at McClellan will be back to the series format.” Conroy said. “We love the symphony.” Contact staff writer Laura Johnson at 256-235-3544. |
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Music at McClellan 2010 Offers More Activities This year’s Music at McClellan festival has been shortened to one weekend and expanded in scope to offer more diverse music and more educational components than ever before. The Seventh annual event will be one weekend only this year: June 18th and 19th. The venue has also been shifted to Longleaf Village, where there is more shelter from the sun and the elements as well as being more conducive to having multiple stages for various activities. The festival kicks off at 6pm on Friday evening with Mel Melton and the Wicked Mojos (Blues with a Zydeco/Cajun flavor) followed at 8pm by Abbey Road LIVE!, a fantastic group (complete with strings and horns) that specializes in performances of complete Beatles’ albums like Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper, and Magical Mystery Tour. Then on Saturday the 19th, there are all sorts of family fun events going on all day: 1pm – JAXPAN – Steel drum extravaganza Workshops Also, JAXPAN, Kelli Johnson, T.A.D of Jazz, and Tony Yardley will be presenting workshops on their instruments, songwriting, recording, the music business among other topics. Each artist will offer workshop presentations immediately following each of their performances. Kids of all ages will be able to ask questions and learn from these master musicians all afternoon! There will also be educational presentations about our area wildlife. 2:15 - Alabama Animals Live Plenty of food and beverage vendors will be available as well as arts and crafts exhibits. Headliner John Sebastian will be joined by special guest Jimmy Vivino, guitarist for Conan O’Brien’s band. John Sebastian is famous for writing so many songs that make up the fabric of our lives and memories. Songs like “Do You Believe in Magic?”, “(What a Day for a) Daydream”, “Summer in the City”, “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice”, “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?”, “Darlin’ Be Home Soon” and many, many more. His storytelling about his experiences is as entertaining as the music he performs. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a truly historic performance. Bring your lawn chairs and coolers. Tickets and more information are available online at www.musicatmcclellan.org or call 256.782.8158. |
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Music at McClellan Tickets on Sale Advance tickets are $35 for the entire weekend or $20 for single day passes. (At the gate, they will be $45 and $25, respectively.) Children are $5, and 3 years old or younger are free. Get your tickets on line at www.MusicatMcclellan.org or pick them up at the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, JSU Bookstore, Tyson Art & Frame, The Anniston Star, Cosmic Debris, and The Center for Cultural Arts in Gadsden. For more information, contact Pete Conroy: Chairman, Music at McClellan at 256.782.8158 or Tom Potts, Chairman, Longleaf Arts Council at 256.237.7788 x13 |
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Rediscovery of the Monteith Amphitheater Rediscovery The Future
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Tickets for the Seventh Annual Music at McClellan Longleaf Series are now on sale. This year’s event is one fun-filled weekend for the whole family on June 18th and 19th. Music at McClellan is combining efforts with the Mountain Longleaf Festival for twice the fun. The venue shifts this year to historic Longleaf Village, with two stages presenting a wide variety of music Friday evening and all day Saturday. Friday’s music begins at 6pm with Mel Melton & the Wicked Mojos, an eclectic blend of New Orleans Zydeco mixed with Chicago Blues. Then Friday night’s headliner takes the stage: Abbey Road LIVE! This band is a crowd favorite at the world’s largest BeatleFests. They feature complete renditions (including string and horn sections) of the later albums by the Beatles such as Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. A splendid time is guaranteed for all! 
Then on Saturday the 19th, the gates open at noon with music beginning at 1pm… There will be live music and fun family events all day long: Alabama Live Animals Show, Birds of Prey, moon bounces, parachute waves, artist exhibits, vendors, food and beverages. The music includes live performances from JAXPAN steel drum extravaganza, Kelli Johnson, Tad of Jazz, Tony Yardley, Sterling Silver Band, the return of Mel Melton & the Wicked Mojos, and then at 8pm the headliner is legendary Woodstock performer and former leader of The Lovin’ Spoonful, John Sebastian along with his special guest, Jimmy Vivino, guitarist and musical director of Conan O’Brien’s Band. John Sebastian is famous for writing so many songs that make up the fabric of our lives and memories. Songs like “Do You Believe in Magic?”, “(What a Day for a) Daydream”, “Summer in the City”, “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice”, “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?”, “Darlin’ Be Home Soon” and many, many more. Sebastian’s storytelling about his experiences is as entertaining as the music he performs. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a truly historic performance. 
To see more historic
photos of the 