For Immediate Release: 6/14/2011 1:06 pm
Worcester, MA (June 14, 2011) - Back by popular demand - the Out to Lunch Summer Concert Series & Farmers Market will return to historic Worcester Common for an expanded ten-week season, every Friday, starting July 1st and running through September 2nd from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Now entering its third year, the popular summer concert series also features a farmers market, food vendors as well as a local artisans and crafters selling and showing their wares.
"We are pleased to once again offer this popular concert series," said City Manager Michael V. O'Brien. "Particularly in these challenging times it is important for us to come together as a community to celebrate that which is uniquely Worcester. We are most appreciative of our sponsors who have once again stepped up to make this event a reality."
Cultural Development Officer Erin I. Williams agreed saying, "Out to Lunch is a great example of Worcester's amazing creative community. What better way to celebrate the summer than to bring the arts to life in our everyday lives? Come out and join the fun!"
A truly eclectic lineup of talented has been set for 2011 Out to Lunch! Entertainment for the ten week series will be as follows:
July 1st - Heavy Horses
Armed with Gibsons, Marshalls and the classic rock of the 70's, Heavy Horses is on a mission to save rock'n roll, one song at a time, one show at a time, one smoke machine at a time! The ultimate classic rock experience!
July 8th - Grupo Fantasia - RESCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 9th DUE TO WEATHER
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Angel Wagner began his career playing with a cheese grater and fork! Today, Wagner provides traditional island entertainment for all people and much of the music is performed on original, handmade indigenous instruments. His band's extensive repertoire includes original and cover songs from the Caribbean and Latin America. Also represented are various Cuban, Dominican Merengue, Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena, Colombian Cumbia, Mexican Mariachi, Calypso, Reggae and Salsa music.
July 15th - The Diamond Connection
The ultimate Neil Diamond tribute band. Close your eyes and you just may believe it's the real Neil behind the mic!
July 22nd - Decades by DeZyne
Various members of the band have performed or collaborated with artists as diverse as director Ken Burns (Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson), rock legend Chuck Berry, Richie Sambora (lead guitarist of Bon Jovi), Paul Cotton (Poco), singer Greg Kihn and author Stephen King. Their individual performances can be heard on DVDs, CDs, feature films, documentaries, Boston Celtics games, Showtime at the Apollo, television shows, books-on-tape and national commercials. DeZyne is currently producing a collection of original compositions for future release.
July 29th - Dale LePage and the Bobby Gadoury Trio
Time is suspended with the music of the Bobby Gadoury Trio, featuring Dale LePage. They perform such classics as the Very Thought of You, Cry Me a River, and my personal favorite, My Funny Valentine arranged in new and interesting ways. The very talented Bobby Gadoury is on piano and Thomas Spears on drums, with the entertaining Dale LePage telling stories and providing banter in between some of the numbers. Their live performances always make for a great time.
August 5th - Sun Parade
The singer/songwriter rarely makes the leap from the obscure safety of the basement to the challenge of recording and performing artist with the seamlessness of 21-year-old Chris Jennings. His songs are at once playfully literate and unmistakably catchy. You want to be able to see Chris Jennings early and brag that you were there when.
August 12th - Dell Smart and Exit In
An eight piece band playing original Caribbean, Punta, Soca and Reggae. From the blues of "Inside a Broken Heart" to the fast paced "Pomona Valley" to the reggae cover of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' On Heavens Door", they showcase their ability to write and perform in a variety of styles. Dell Smart and Exit/In continue their global reach by keeping their heart open to new musical signs.
August 19th - Bee's Knees
Soulful, gritty and twangy, with sweet harmonies and a hard to contain lead guitarist, the Bee's Knees are in a world of their own. Taking leads from classic country, '60s pop and psychedelic and the country rock movements of the '70s and '90s, the Bee's Knees have fashioned a unique Americana infused pop sound that is quite their own.
August 26th - Reprobate Blues Band
With blues pedigrees issued from people like Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker, Luther Georgia Boy, Shaky Snake Johnson and Robert Junior Lockwood, the Reprobate Blues Band plays with a passion, with hopes to influence innocent listeners into following them on their reprehensible path of Rock'in Blues oriented music... roots, rock, funk, roll! R&B at its best!
September 2nd - Drunken Uncles
The Drunken Uncles are two seasoned music professionals from the Central Massachusetts area that play acoustic Pop/Blues/Folk/Classic Rock...you get the idea. Tom Hurley sings and plays rythm guitar while Robin Steiger polishes it up with his masterful lead guitar and rich backing harmonies.
Applications are still being accepted for farm, artisan and food vendors. Interested parties can access applications online at www.OutToLunchWorcester.com.
Admission to all of the Out to Lunch Concerts is FREE. Farmers/crafters marketplace will open at 11:00 AM. Concerts slated to run 12 noon - 2:00 PM. WOO Card subscribers can swipe for Double WOO points at the Worcester Cultural Coalition table.
New for the 2011 season, the public will be able to vote for the Out to Lunch series as their favorite farmers market at part of a The America's Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest, a project of the American Farmland Trust. The contest is designed to raise national awareness about the importance of supporting fresh food from local farms and farmers. Market shoppers can vote to support their favorite farmers market starting June 1 until midnight on August 31, 2011. Participants can vote for as many participating farmers markets as they choose, but can only vote for each market once. At the end of the contest, one small, medium, large and a new category, boutique, farmers market will win the title of "America's Favorite Farmers Market" for 2011.
Farmers markets are an important part of our communities and they help keep local farms thriving. Voting for your favorite farmers is one great way to support local farms and farmers markets. Please take a moment to vote for the Out to Lunch Concert Series & Farmers Market as your favorite!
The 2011 Out to Lunch Concert Series & Farmers Market is presented by the City of Worcester and the Worcester Cultural Coalition, with sponsorship by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bay State Savings Bank, Blue Cross Blue Shield, CSX, College of the Holy Cross, Immedia, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and WCRN Radio.
