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Yesterday I traveled around town doing interviews for the festival Saturday & I just wanted to give a shout out to some of the media outlets that make this festival a success…
Started with the Tony Rose Morning Show on SAM 100.7 SAM, along with sister stations WOVO & The Point are all sponsors and the ad spot was playing while I was talking to Tony Rose. We did a live interview for his morning drive time show, always a pleasure. He has festival news updates set up for all day Saturday.
Next stopped by WNKY who is our largest media sponsor & have been running many spots on NBC 40 & CBS 40. Sat down for a chat about the festival with Morgan Watson & Radar for Bowling Green Today. Always a fun show with lots of community interest stories.
Final stop before getting back to last minute details was with Chad Young on Drive Time at WKCT. When I walked in Chad was playing a song from our reggae group Roots of a Rebellion. We had quite a long talk about not only festival details but how our local immigrants have added to what makes our community so special. We both agreed we were particularly fans of the evolution in food & music over the past decade. Chad is a big fan of HuDost who has a sound that comes from a talented artist who was turned on to music in Butler county and formed a group with another artist from who came to NY from Egypt by way of Montreal. WCKT is a major media sponsor as well as its sister station WDNS. The stations Tommy Starr always spins some music from our groups on his Homecookin’ show – he’s a tireless supporter of local music! Earlier in the week I got to sit down with Rockin’ Ronda on her show – she, well she just rocks! Always a great time checking in with Ronda.
During my travels I heard many compliments on the great job our volunteers have done putting up posters everywhere in several counties & around BG. Also heard praise for the spots running on Insight cable, another major sponsor and longtime supporter. Same kind of compliments came from spots running on WUHU, another fine radio station and large media sponsor.
I also heard people really enjoyed an article featured in the Daily News, which is a print media sponsor along with its local arts & entertainment publication, The Amplifier. Here’s a link to their feature which highlights the involvement of the India Culture & Heritage organization that recently formed, in part due to their excitement about sharing their culture for several years at the festival through a beautiful performance of classical Indian dance, Bharantanatyam by Rashana Pasupuleti. This year they will host several booths for the first time in addition to her three performances. Here is the article – http://bgdailynews.com/articles/2011/09/22/features/features1.txt
The College Heights Herald has also shown the festival much support over the years & ran an article yesterday here – http://wkuherald.com/news/article_1e509028-e57a-11e0-be28-0019bb30f31a.html
I’m sure I’m leaving out many as the fact is most all area media is very supportive of this event. BG Parent featured information on the festival in their quarterly publication, Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitor’s Bureau featured it in their newsletter, the WKU ALIVE Center for Community Partnerships featured it in their newsletter, WKU Media Relations included the day in their events newsletter and many of the performers and participants have been promoting through newsletters, emails, websites & facebook posts. Thanks to EVERYONE who is helping to spread the word in any way!
Local belly dance troupe Zingara will once again take the stage at this year’s Bowling Green International Festival. This year’s performers include: Lee Anne Bledsoe, Julie Alexander, Kurt Shoopman, Lauren Chorazat, Julie Hadley, Blacke Briscoe, LeOa Day, Jill Spears, Valerie Parrish, Nadia DeLeon, Eddy Skowicz
Zingara
The word zingara means gypsy and like the nomadic people Zingara Bellydance troupe enjoys blending various cultural dances with the beauty of bellydance. Their performance incorporates traditional middle eastern movement with other cultural and modern dance forms for an entertaining and unique performance.
Zingara performs on the World stage from 1:10 – 1:55 p.m.
Look for them online at: www.wix.com/zingarabellydance or www.myspace.com/zingarabellydance
Johnny Thompson, Diversity Stage Manager, will step away from hosting duties to rock the Diversity Stage from 2:25 – 3:25 p.m.
Johnny Thompson
The proprieter and artistic director of Scottsville Conservatory and veteran of countless local bands spanning many genres, has prepared a unique performance which includes musical stylings from around the world. Thompson is backed by some of his most talent students: Sean Rice (drums), Stephen Britt (keys) and Aaron Holder (bass).
Nashville’s premiere SKA/Reggae/Dancehall will take Circus Square by storm with their high energy Jamaican dance music from the 60′s during the Bowling Green International Festival.
Soul Radics
Supplying powerful traditional beats with a hard hitting twist, the band prides itself on bringing a high energy performance that makes it hard to stay still.
The Soul Radics perform on the Diversity Stage from 1:25 – 2:10 and then close the night on the Heritage Stage from 6:15 – 7:00pm.
For more info visit them online:
www.soulradics.com
www.reverbnation.com/soulradics
www.facebook.com/pages/Soul-Radics/211570955553976
Appearing for the first time at the Bowling Green International Festival is the Salsa Rhythms Band. They specialize in traditional dances from Puerta Rico accompanied by heavy Latin rhythms and vocals in English as well as Spanish.
Salsa Rhythms Band
Salsa Rhythms Band plays a wide variety of Latin music including salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton, cha cha and more. For more info visit their facebook page at www.facebook.com/salsarhythmsband or www.mysalsarhythmsband.com
Nashville’s Roots of a Rebellion features a soulful reggae sound that reflects their own humble and carefree lifestyle. This band is as diverse as the backgrounds of its members.
Roots of a Rebellion
Whether it’s a soulful organ groove or an air bending guitar solo, ROAR always finds a way to connect its message to its audience. Their positive vibe can be felt through everyone attending a ROAR show. Visit www.facebook.com/rootsofarebellion for more info.
FlamencoTalk directors Mariya Tarakanova and Brent Del Bianco present a colorful show featuring live musicians, dancers and singers showcasing both contemporary and traditional Spanish flamenco. This year, the company which often collaborates with international flamenco stars will feature flamenco singer Francisco Javier Orozco, known by his stage name Yiyi.
FlamencoTalk
Accolades for the artist include: “With only a splash cymbal, oversized conga and a cajón … his powerful, bone-chilling voice and incredibly fast hands riveted the audience… his playing and singing were nothing short of electrifying.”
Born in Barcelona, Spain. He has toured the world with the leading flamenco dancers and companies and is considered one of the highly sought after young flamenco singers on the scene today. Introduced to flamenco rhythms at the tender age of four by his father, flamenco singer Joselón de Jerez, Yiyi was a “child prodigy” of percussion. He began his professional career at the young age of twelve and by the age of seventeen Yiyi has released his first CD and began his first German tour with the company Flamenco Rubio. Since then he has toured throughout Europe, Japan, Taiwan, South America, the United States, and has performed at the world-renowned flamenco tablao Casa Patas in Madrid. Yiyi has performed with Compañia Flamenca Alhama, María Benitez’ Teatro Flamenco, Domingo Ortega, Jose Greco II, Alejandro Granados, Serranito, Yolanda Heredia, and many others. Critics worldwide have touted Yiyi’s performances as “fiery” and “riveting”, his percussion techniques executed with “machine-gun speed” that possesses and “casts a spell”. www.flamencotalk.com
Grupo Ache returns to the festival with a fusion of Latin rhythms and pop rock in both English and Spanish. They are a heavy hitting 9 piece band with infectious rhythms.
Grupo Ache
Grupo Ache will perform from 10:30 a.m. to Noon on the Heritage Stage.
Visit them on facebook: www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001502184910
Zion Hill Boom Squad is a non-profit drumline associated with Zion Hill Baptist Church. It features 20 youth playing percussion sets influenced by African drum beats and brings a message of unity and service.
Zion Hill Boom Squad will perform twice this year,
10:00 to 10:10 a.m. on the Diversity Stage and 10:40 to 10:50 a.m. on the World Stage.
The Filipino-American Association of Southern Kentucky will present Miss Biema Andales performing a much loved song from the Philippines at this year’s festival from 5:45 – 5:50 on the Diversity Stage. Originally by Bituin Escalante, “Kung ako na lang sana” is an example of the heart of Filipino music centered on on the Filipino’s desire for loyalty and love.
Miss Biema Andales
According to the organization, “Music is central to the culture and way of life in the Philippines. You can hear music everywhere—Jeepneys, buses, shops, malls, business establishments or in the streets. Songs have been written and sung just about every aspect of the Filipino experience—from planting rice (folk songs), to serenading a girl (harana) or expressions of love to a person or family, to expressions of worship and praise, to expressions of social change, or just having fun and making one laugh at the problems of life. The Filipino music has been influenced by local or tribal music, Spanish romantic music, classical music and the pop and rock music of the United States.”
The Filipino-American Association of Southern Kentucky is a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-stock and non-political organization that aims to promote awareness of Philippine culture in Warren County KY and surrounding counties and promote the general welfare and well-being of its members. Membership is open to all persons who believe and adhere to the By-laws of the organization.
