Thursday, March 29, 2012

TOBY KEITH HITS THE ROAD LIVE IN OVERDRIVE Ford F-Series Presents North American Tour Beginning June 14




(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) When singer, songwriter and entertainer Toby Keith tells his fans, "Let's have a party!" he doesn't mess around ... especially when it comes to his acclaimed, standing-room-only live shows. This year is no exception as the Toby Keith Live In Overdrive Tour Presented by Ford F-Series kicks off June 14 in Salt Lake City, UT.

One of North America's top live draws for more than a decade, Toby is set to fill another summer with chart-topping hits including his recent smash "Red Solo Cup." Hard-charging newcomer Brantley Gilbert will open the throttles each night before Keith comes on to kick things into top gear.

Nominated for three 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards, Keith is as hot as he's ever been ... which is saying something in a career as accomplished as his. He'll be performing on CBS's April 1 ACM Awards telecast, and his recent appearances include Ellen (March 15), the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (March 16) and Chelsea Lately (March 27). The night before the ACMs, Keith is nominated with Usher, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber for Favorite Male Singer at Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards.

A share of credit for his current momentum certainly goes to "Red Solo Cup," which has logged more than 15 million online views in becoming the biggest viral sensation in country music history. The song has helped propel the No. 1 album Clancy's Tavern, which also spawned the chart-topping single "Made In America."

Last week, on the nationally syndicated morning radio show “On-Air With Ryan Seacrest,” Toby chatted live with Seacrest about “Red Solo Cup,” who proclaimed it “THE spring break song of the year.” The host went on to say, “the song [is] such a huge cross over record. It’s taken the world by storm.” He also tweeted that it’s the official spring break anthem.

Meanwhile, his I Love This Bar & Grill restaurants continue to be well regarded, earning the Minneapolis location an ACM nomination as "Nightclub of the Year." His recently launched signature spirit, Wild Shot Mezcal, has earned raves in its own right and deemed the number one premium mezcal in the U.S., leading growth for the category. And now, the rubber is about to meet the road again as Keith's longstanding association with Ford F-Series begins its next chapter ... this time Live In Overdrive.

At just 27 years old, rising star Brantley Gilbert already has an impressive list of industry accolades. He was most recently nominated for the 2012 ACM New Artist of the Year after earning his first-ever nod in the Song of the Year category at the 2011 CMA Awards. His sophomore project, HALFWAY TO HEAVEN DELUXE, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart in September 2011. Collectively, the standard and deluxe versions of the album have already sold over 500,000 albums. Gilbert’s first single on The Valory Music Co., “Country Must Be Country Wide,” recently scored the #1 spot at Country radio making Brantley the only new artist in 2011 to have a #1 hit. The single was also certified GOLD by the RIAA. As a celebrated songwriter, he has also penned three #1 hits – “My Kinda Party,” “Dirt Road Anthem,” and most recently, “Country Must Be Country Wide.”

TOBY KEITH LIVE IN OVERDRIVE PRESENTED BY FORD F-SERIES

Tour dates (subject to changes and additions):

6/14 – Salt Lake City, UT

6/15 – Denver, CO

6/16 – Albuquerque, NM

6/22 – North Platte, NE

6/23 – Manhattan, KS

6/29 – Detroit, MI

6/30 – Indianapolis, IN

7/4 – White Sulphur Springs, WV

7/12 – Sarnia, ON (Canada)

7/13 – Cleveland, OH

7/14 – Washington, DC

7/15 – Raleigh, NC

7/21 – Monticello, IA

7/22 – Twin Lakes, WI

7/26 – Virginia Beach, VA

7/27 – Pittsburgh, PA

7/28 – Cincinnati, OH

7/29 – Darien Lakes, NY

8/2 – Sparta, WI

8/3 – Detroit Lakes, MN

8/4 – Camrose, AB (Canada)

8/8 – Lake Tahoe, NV

8/9 – San Diego, CA

8/10 – San Bernardino, CA

8/11 – Las Vegas, NV

8/12 – Mountain View, CA

8/17 – Holmdel, NJ

8/18 – Philadelphia, PA

8/19 – Saratoga Springs, NY

8/24 – Atlanta, GA

8/25 – Charlotte, NC

9/1 – St. Louis, MO

9/2 – Chicago, IL

9/7 – Dallas, TX

9/8 – Houston, TX

9/14 – Tampa, FL

9/15 – West Palm Beach, FL

9/21 – Hartford, CT

9/22 – Boston, MA

Thursday, March 15, 2012

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK’S FIRST ORCHESTRAL WORK “SYMPHONY 10: AFFIRMATIONS FOR A NEW WORLD” BY COMPOSER BILL BANFIELD TO PREMIERE WITH NSO POPS NATION




SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK’S FIRST ORCHESTRAL WORK “SYMPHONY 10: AFFIRMATIONS FOR A NEW WORLD” BY COMPOSER BILL BANFIELD TO PREMIERE WITH NSO POPS NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AT THE KENNEDY CENTER, WASHINGTON, DC, APRIL 13-14, 2012



March 15, 2012, New York...Iconic and Grammy Award-nominated a cappella ensemble SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK will premiere their first ever orchestral collaboration, “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” with music composed by William C. Banfield and lyrics written by the ensemble members: Ysaye M. Barnwell, Carol Maillard, Nitanju Bolade Casel, Aisha Kahlil, and Louise Robinson at the prestigious National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC, on April 13-14, 2012. The premiere performances will be conducted by Thomas Wilkins with the Morgan State University Choir, directed by Eric Conway. Both shows are slated to begin at 8 PM.

“Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” was co-commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra (Christoph Eschenbach, Music Director), and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC; the Minnesota Orchestra, (Osmo Vänskä, Music Director); and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Millennium Park, Chicago. The Minnesota Orchestra will present the work at the Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis on April 21, 2012. It will be conducted by Mark Russell Smith with the Vocal Essence Choir, directed by Philip Brunelle. The Harris Theater for Music and Dance will present the work with the Sphinx Orchestra in Chicago, on October 3, 2012. It will be conducted by Bill Banfield with The Children’s Choir of Chicago, directed by Josephine Lee.

SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK and Banfield began collaborating on “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” five years ago. The final thirty minute work comprises five movements including: “A Higher Note” by Aisha Kahlil, ”Dreams,” by Carol Maillard, “The Day the World Awoke,” by Nitanju Bolade Casel, “Discourse of Change,” by Ysaye M. Barnwell and “Yes,” by Louise Robinson.

“Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” is a labor of love and one of the most challenging and adventurous projects we've undertaken as a group," stated Ysaye Barnwell. "It has been a dream to one day blend our unique sound, artistry, and lyrics with a symphony orchestra, and we're very fortunate to have fulfilled it by partnering with such a gifted and talented composer as Bill Banfield,” she added. “We thank the National Symphony Orchestra, The Minnesota Orchestra, and the Harris Theater for Music and Dance for co-commissioning, “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” and we are delighted to be performing it with each of them.”


Banfield cited some of the musical inspiration and concept for the score by offering, "Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World," affirms every human power we have: love, imagination, fear and courage, will to change, dreaming, to ask the question and to touch someone else's soul. It is stepping out as the text asks for ‘a higher note,’ to redefine the traditions in our art that need new fueling.”


While “Symphony 10: Affirmations for a New World,” represents SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK’S first foray as an ensemble writing lyrics for an orchestral score, they have previously collaborated as composers and performers with dance companies (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Washington Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance and Step Africa), instrumentalists (Wynton Marsalis), as well as noted poets (Sonia Sanchez, Alice Walker, and Maya Angelou).


Bill Banfield is a noted composer, author, recording artist, musical director, performer, and currently serves as a Professor of Africana Studies/Music and Society, and Director of Africana Studies Programs at Berklee College of Music. His works have been commissioned, performed and recorded by orchestras including: the National, Atlanta, Dallas, Akron, Detroit, New York Virtuoso, Grand Rapids, Akron, and many others.


Tickets for both performances can be purchased online by going to http://www.kennedy-center.org/tickets, or by calling the Box Office, (202) 467-4600, toll-free (800) 444-1324, or TTY, (202) 416-8524.


SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK®

www.sweethoneyintherock.org


CONTACT: RAMON HERVEY II

herveyco@aol.com





COUNTRY SINGER ANN CLAIRE TEAMS WITH ONEHOPE WINE FOR TOUR DATES A Portion Of The Proceeds Will Go To Supporting Our Troops



NASHVILLE – New country artist Ann Claire and ONEHOPE Wine and The ONEHOPE Foundation have teamed up for a unique partnership to help spread some good spirits at her current tour dates.

ONEHOPE Wine has signed onto sponsor Ann Claire’s residency tour at Belcourt Taps & Tapas in Nashville, this Wednesday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 14 from 6-8 pm. Concert-goers will be able to purchase one of the company’s wines at a special price during the night of her shows and/or participate in a special tasting of all their varietals, paired with special tapas created by Belcourt Taps and Tapas’ renowned chef specially for the events, for a set price. 50% of the wine sales at the venue throughout the night will go toward the ONEHOPE Foundation with 100% of those sales being donated to Support Our Troops, Ann Claire’s charity of choice within the ONEHOPE Foundation’s portfolio of charities. Since ONEHOPE’s launch in 2007, they have donated more than $750,000 to their partner charities.

ONEHOPE Wine and The ONEHOPE Foundation has been a proud supporter of numerous artists and athletes that have built their career and mission on something greater than themselves. Ann Claire has worked hard and faced many challenges, but has never lost sight of the greater purpose that she has committed her life and career to. At ONEHOPE Wine our goal is to use award winning California wines as a platform allowing other partners to raise money and awareness for many great causes. We at ONEHOPE are thrilled that Ann Claire has partnered with the Belcourt Taps and Tapas and the ONEHOPE Foundation to raise money and awareness for worthy local causes,” says Jake Kloberdanz, CEO of ONEHOPE.

“I am extremely proud to be able to bring these beautiful wines from my home state of California to Nashville and all over the country this year on my tour,” Ann Claire enthuses. “Wine, women and song have always gone together perfectly, and it’s exciting to be able to have my Honkytonk Princess show be a real way to give back to a country and community I care so passionately about.”

Ann Claire is touring in support of her recently released debut CD, Honkytonk Princess, on Prosody Records. The album is receiving rave reviews, including this one by Music News Nashville: "Her enthusiasm is apparent on tracks like 'Lucky Me' and 'Better Girl,' both of which exude the word personality. She also handles the beat of the up-tempo title cut, as well as the breezy 'Let’s Go To Mexico,' which soars with its message of casting worries to the side of the road for a while. Ann Claire also proves adept at handling a ballad, with her warm touch on 'Here To Home,' as well as 'Somewhere.' Kudos to her as well for tackling a cut like Amanda Marshall’s 'Dark Horse,' and rising to the challenge."

The official ONEHOPE mission statement for Supporting our Troops reads as follows: “Military families have always paid a steep price. Their sacrifices and the loss of their loved ones serving in our armed forces should be honored. One in 75 American troops who have gone to war has never returned. 4,735 (according to WashingtonPopst.com) souls have perished in the struggle for peace and security in the war in Iraq. Those heroes leave behind more than a legacy of honor and courage. In many instances, children are left without moms and dads, some never even getting to know their fallen parents.”

ABOUT ANN CLAIRE: Many country girls grow up with dreams of being a real princess. But there’s only one genuine princess who grew up to be a country singer and songwriter: Ann Claire. She was born in the Middle East to a father who was a pop and R&B songwriter in London’s music scene, and as the great-niece of the late Shah of Iran is a bona fide princess. Ann Claire, now an American citizen, grew up in both London and Los Angeles, and was schooled in England, Switzerland, and Spain before attending the University of Southern California to major in film and television and minor in sociology and graduate with honors. She followed that with studies in theatre and voice at San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre, where she appeared in a number of plays. She starred in her own reality series, Love Is In The Heir, which ran for 10 episodes on the E! Network in 2006, earning strong ratings around the world as it aired to millions in more than 50 nations. Her debut CD, Honkytonk Princess, was released on Feb. 21, 2012 on Prosody Records and was co-produced by Travis Howard (Nashville Star, Miranda Lambert) and Maxwell Abrams (Muzik Mafia). She co-wrote eight out of the 12 songs on the record.

ABOUT ONEHOPE WINES: In a short period of time ONEHOPE Wine has become one of the most recognizable cause brands in the United States of America. The charitable company has grown rapidly over the past three years due to a respected and positive presence in all charitable fields. ONEHOPE has become the socially conscious wine of choice at several hundred premier events including the Grammy’s, The American Red Cross Gala, the BAFTA’s, Sundance Film Festival and VH1 Save the Music. The tireless efforts over the past three years from the dedicated ONEHOPE team have ensured that the brand is a familiar and respected concept in most households and businesses. This commitment and dedication to “making a difference” is what has spearheaded the astonishing company to great heights in such a short time. The hard-working and dynamic team strives without limits to create a global brand that promises to make a better future for all.



For more information:
princessannclaire.com
ONEHOPEWINE.com