Blues Legend Marcia Ball and Billboard Chart Topper Margo Rey to Rock Houston’s Bayou City Art Festival in Memorial Park

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(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.

SINGER-SONGWRITER SHEILA SWIFT TO RELEASE HER MUCH ANTICIPATED EP "THE STRIVING IS OVER"

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AVAILABLE ON ITUNES AUGUST 13

August 9, 2013 (Los Angeles, CA) - Six years after her highly praised album, "The Shape of Things", the release of two singles, and a recent 5-week tour in Europe, Sheila Swift is ready to release her much anticipated EP, "The Striving is Over". In this new EP, Sheila proves that she is not just a one trick pony coming from "Daisy", but a well-rounded, all natural musical artist.

 

 "The Striving is Over", is Sheila Swift's most personal album yet.  The EP presents three original tracks by Swift, written throughout her life that have been long waiting to be released. The musically talented songwriter uncovers herself in this album, presenting songs inspired during personal life experiences. In her EP, each track delivers its own uplifting positive message.

This album holds themes revolving around life. The songs in the album cover themes such as tension in marital life, letting go of the past and moving forward, while remembering about the good in life and reconnecting to one's own roots.  Sheila Swift proves her artistic creativity by adding a natural flow in the order of tracks in "The Striving is Over". Track after track, the three song EP tells a story. From the first track to the last, the emotional and powerful lyrics, that Sheila's vocals give life to, depict defining moments for her.

 In "Stay", the beautiful, acoustic guitar solos build while harmonizing with Swift's powerful vocals. There is no doubt her southern roots are portrayed in this EP. Swift intertwines a touch of arousing country with rock into both other tracks, "Let Go" and "Home". It is in both tracks where Swift releases positive and inspiring messages to her listeners. Lyrics such as, "you got to let it go", speaking of the past, Sheila encourages moving forward in life. Sheila depicts fond memories of the south in "Home”, a reminiscence of her life growing up in the south, Sheila sings, "take me home".  Each track with its very own personal touch and artistic expression, Sheila portrays her love for music and life.

Following "The Striving is Over", Sheila Swift has more musical endeavors up her sleeve with a vinyl album release by the end of the year.

Sheila Swift has evolved into a fully-fledged rock singer, largely leaving behind the pop-rock leanings of her previous work in favor of a more pure rock sound which shines through on the new material. Sheila played at the South By Southwest Music Festival, in Austin, Texas, as well as a showcase at House of Blues Houston and has finished a 5 week European tour in Germany and the Netherlands, with guitarist Ben Jarrad, where ecstatic fans described her as a mix of Gwen Stefani and Neil Young. A multi-talented artist, Sheila also incorporates her passion for the arts in her music.

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Sheila Swift links: Website - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube

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