(Houston, TX - March 24, 2014) - Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s challenge to cultivate a new cultural plan for Houston has been accepted by the The Art Colony Association, Producer of the Bayou City Art Festivals. This year, the organization will present a new, expanded main stage on the Bayou City Art Festival site; The 2014 unLimited Stage will host stellar acts from Blues to Adult Contemporary to Rock and Roll. The festival will run from March 28th through March 30th, and mark the biggest ever endeavor to date, with over 400 artists from 19 different art mediums presenting their work. For tickets go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bayou-city-art-festival-memorial-park-2014-tickets-8464855611
The inclusion of a larger music stage with nationally renowned musicians like blues legend Marcia Ball and billboard chart topper Margo Rey will complement the cosmopolitan offerings of the festival, which has grown in the last 43 years to be one of the top ten juried art festivals in the United States.
On Saturday, March 29th, Margo Rey will treat the festival goers to her own brand of adult contemporary music, including her hit songs “Let the Rain,” written with John Oates, and “Habit.” Preceding Margo Rey will be South Texas Bluesman Reno Perez, John Lennon Songwriting Contest Winner Shawn Pander, and violinist Omar Lopez.
Marcia Ball’s special performance on Sunday March 30th comes after a run of concerts from Hawaii to Europe. The Boston Globe described her music as "an irresistible celebratory blend of rollicking, two-fisted New Orleans piano, Louisiana swamp rock and smoldering Texas blues.” Preceding Ball is Hell Bent featuring bluesman Johnny Nicholas with 5-time Grammy winner and steel guitar Hall of Famer Cindy Cashdollar.
Closing the festival on Sunday will be The Soul Supporters featuring Barbara Lynn, the left-handed guitar player who’s song “You’ll Lose a Good Thing” was a number 1 US Billboard R&B chart hit and Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit. Her songs have been recorded by the likes of Aretha Franklin and Freddy Fender, and sampled by Moby. Barbara Lynn was awarded a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY 28 MARCH
12:00pm Guillermo Serpas
1:30pm Cliff DeMarks
2:45pm Merry Miller
4:00pm Heartstrings
SATURDAY 29 MARCH
12:00pm Omar Lopez
1:30pm Shawn Pander
2:45pm Reno Perez
4:15pm Margo Rey
SUNDAY 30 MARCH
12:00pm Festival Award Announcements: Artists
ACA STEAM: Microsoft Middle School Art Competition Winners
ACA STEAM: Emerging Artists High School Public Art Exhibition Winners
12:15pm Lauren Silva
1:30pm Hell Bent featuring Johnny Nicholas and Cindy Cashdollar
2:45pm Marcia Ball
4:15pm The Soul Supporters with Barbara Lynn Joining
5:15pm Barbara Lynn
About Bayou City Art Festival:
Established in 1972, the Art Colony Association (ACA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to producing high quality art festivals and events to provide financial support to local non-profit partners. Over the past 40 years, the Art Colony Association, producer of Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park in the spring and Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in the fall, has raised more than $35 million for local non-profit programs. The Festivals are funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance. Visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com for more information.