Art on the Green performers
MILONGA
Milonga brings the heat to the Spokane music scene via live original Latin music. Local fans, press and musicians have hailed the act as the hottest Latin band in town. Milonga's sound is deeply rooted in the traditional sounds of countries like Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Colombia and the United States. Milonga blends these dialects with more contemporary styles of jazz, funk, rock and hip hop, creating an original vibe that satisfies the craving for a hot new sound.. The word "Milonga" translates as "party and dance," and has its roots in more urbanized Latin countries like Spain, Argentina and Cuba, where late parties are a tradition. Milonga has been the front runner in catalyzing the local music scene by combining a packed dance floor with an ethno-musical experience, authentic to their Latino roots. This multi-cultural group focuses on a Pan-Latin sound, representing the musical dialects of countless regions throughout the Spanish-speaking Empire. In a world of salsa, Milonga is the whole enchilada.
ARTE de FLAMENCO DANCE THEATRE
The Arte Flamenco Dance Theatre, is a professional touring dance company, that performs rarely-seen and reconstructed historical Spanish Classical pieces, regional folk dances, and of course, fiery, passionate Flamenco. These programs are filled with castanets and beautiful authentic costumes that are representative of the many regions of Spain. Artistic director Clarita has performed on the Emmy Award winning television program "Starting Over." Clarita brings to Arts on the Green a group of renowned artists. Collectively, these artists have performed in Europe and the United States. Clarita and The Arte Flamenco Dance Theatre are thrilled to return to celebrate the Art on the Green Festival.
AGELESS JAZZ
Ageless Jazz is made up of the following musicians: Piano, Bill Reid; vocals, Maria Larsen; tenor-sax, Doug Nustad; bass, Kyle Pugh; and drums, Tom Schager. The group has been performing in night clubs and for special events throughout the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene areas for a number of years with success.
ARVID LUNDIN & DEEP ROOTS
Arvid Lundin is a master folk fiddler, with a repertoire that spans his Swedish and Irish heritage, as well as Old Time American tunes. Deep Roots draws from all of these musical traditions to produce exciting richly textured musical flights of fancy, blending traditional and original tunes.
BETH PEDERSON & BRUCE BISHOP
Beth Pederson and Bruce Bishop have spent a lifetime exploring different sides of the same musical equation. Beth's background as a singer-songwriter with the Wild Roses contemporary folk duo and Bruce's deep rooted blues and jazz history in live performance and studio recording have brought together a winning combination. Their exceptional talents as singers and players bring a new twist to old standards and moving interpretations of life stories. These two unassuming musical giants will delight audiences everywhere. More than just being a listener you will feel a part of their sincere outpouring of human experience, heartfelt story-telling, and humorous look on life
BIG RED BARN
This is a head-bobbin', feet-movin', get-out-of-your-seat-and-dance band. The groove-heavy Big Red Barn performances offer a nice alternative to all those other 'by-the-book' bluegrass bands that can pick faster, dress better and tell more banjo jokes. The band's repertoire includes forgotten blues and jug-band gems from the 30s, 40s and 50s, bluegrass and country standards done with a heavy dose of backbeat, creative arrangements of instrumental classics drawn from bluegrass, old-timely and jazz, and a growing number of solid originals that are becoming audience favorites. Based in Spokane this quartet has forged their unique sound at various festivals and events across the Inland Northwest over the past six years. Big Red Barn's infectious sound has been captured on its self-titled debut CD released November 2005.
BLUE CANOE
Bob Gallagher, Greg Kaine and Mick May. The long running Spokane folk rock trio's original music stretches across Rock Folk Blues Country & Jazz. With emphasis on songwriting and harmony, Blue Canoe travels the Americana road with roots in Northwest & classic rock to Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan & Gram Parsons. Recently opened for Ray Wyle Hubbard and Grammy Award winner Dave Alvin at the Bing Theater.
CHERYL BRANZ
Armed with an acoustic guitar and an engaging personality, Cheryl performs original folk-pop songs. She released her first CD, "Disappear," in 2006 featuring the song "Flip Flops" which received local and national airplay. In 2008 she released her second cd, The Christmas Gift, which received airplay all over the world. With her skillful vocals, honest lyric style and silly chit-chat between songs, Cheryl's entertaining performances continue to draw new fans.
COEUR D'ALENE OPERA
A variety of Opera Coeur d'Alene artists will be performing on Sunday Aug. 1 from 11 a.m. to noon on the main stage. A variety of opera arias will be performed and La Boehm tickets will be available
COEUR D'ALENE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
For 30 years, the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra has brought the best in musical entertainment to the people of this region. This season's offerings feature a variety of regional groups and music selected to please a wide range of tastes ranging from Beethoven to modern composers. The many faces of the Orchestra include the full orchestra of approximately 70 musicians, the Chamber Orchestra with 15 to 40 musicians, and smaller groups from trios to octets. David Demand is artistic director.
COEUR D'ALENE YOUTH ORCHESTRA
The Coeur d'Alene Youth Orchestra was founded in 1997 by a group of interested parents, music educators and citizens who wished to offer talented young musicians an opportunity for a quality orchestral experience. The Coeur d'Alene Youth Orchestra consists of over 50 school-age students who rehearse weekly. The youth orchestra plays a variety of music, from the pops to the classics. This group is also conducted by David Demand.
COEURIMBA
The musical group Coeurimba has brought exciting Zimbabwe-style marimba music to thousands of people around the Pacific Northwest for more than two decades. The players create intricate polyrhythmic patterns on large wooden xylophones called marimbas. On the impressive bass and 8 mid-sized instruments, Coeurimba achieves a full range of resonating sound to entertain listeners of all ages with their fascinating African music. The high energy tunes get toes tapping, people dancing and kids playing on the rhythm shakers.
HANDFUL OF LUVIN'
Handful of Luvin' is a four-piece folk/rock group from Seattle. The musicians are David John lead vocals, acoustic guitar, Andrew Jocelyn on the five-string electric violin, Patrick Files on bass guitars and vocals, and Mike Knight on drums, vocals. Handful of Luvin' is an eclectic blend of harmony and considerate lyrics. Spawned from Seattle H.L.J., it is one of the city's most adored live bands. The band is a unique blend of writing, juices and over all emotion. Together Handful of Luvin' fashions music into an adaptation of magic.They have been named in the top five best local bands of 2008 and 2009.
INLAND N.W.
DANCE ASSOCIATION
The Inland Northwest Dance Association Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the art of dance in the Inland Northwest. Members are dance instructors, studio owners, and dance educations from Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Canada. Inland Northwest Dance Association Inc. was established in 1991. In association with National Dance Week representing the state of Washington and Idaho INDA host DanceFest. This successful free festival features all forms of dance under one roof at the same time. See amazing dance routines, and help celebrate National Dance Day in an audience participation with the dancers.
JAMIE ESLER
Jamie Esler was born and raised in Illinois, where he began writing and performing his own music in 2003. Since that time, he has continued to write and perform while traveling and living between McCarthy, Alaska, Missoula, Montana, and now North Idaho. The many ways in which these places and experiences shape Jamie's life are captured in the tangible and family-friendly lyrics that he crafts about the times in which we live. His songs serve as an ongoing journal for his life. Each entry a unique, creative, and poetic reflection. Jamie has been featured on the Alaska Public Radio Network program "AK", as well as Sandpoint's 95.3 KPND
"Homegrown" program. Currently, he resides in Post Falls with his wife, Brandi, and his daughter, Shantaya Rai. To learn more about Jamie's music, or to contact him for bookings, please visit www.myspace.com/jamieesler or email him at jamieesler@hotmail.com.
JOHNNY D. & MARGERY
Let Johnny D. and Margery entertain you with their selection of Classic Rock, Folk, Original works and some old favorites. Margery Christensen on flute, vocals and rhythm blends with Johnny Davis on acoustic guitar, vocals and harmonica.
KATHY COLTON & THE RELUCTANTS
Kathy Colton & the Reluctants have performed around the local area and the region for several years. The Reluctants consist of Denise Bartlett, Maxine Whiteside, Carla Grant and Kathy with lead vocals and guitar. These women form a strong and dynamic group with powerful harmonies, strong messages of love and a great time on the stage.
LAKE CITY PLAYHOUSE
The Lake City Playhouse is community theatre in Coeur d'Alene. It is the only community theater located in Kootenai County. The Lake City Playhouse has been providing affordable access to quality theatre productions, and performance opportunities to local talent since 1961. The Playhouse produces upwards of eight main season shows per year and also hosts children's theater workshops and special engagements.
MIGHTY SQUIRREL
Mighty Squirrel is a Washington state based acoustic quartet that draws on musical traditions such as Appalachian old time, classic country, Yiddish, Celtic, French Canadian, Ladino-Sephardic, and more - creating a unique world music string band sound. Mighty Squirrel presents a friendly, engaging, high-energy show those appeals to a wide range of music fans, introducing them to international musical traditions along the way.
MON CHERI
Hailing from Spokane, Mon Cheri members have their hearts set on making every show a memorable experience. Since its inception as a two-piece in 2008, Mon Cheri has blossomed into a full four-piece indie-pop band that knows how to have fun. In 2009, Mon Cheri was named one of the Inlander's "Bands to Watch." Mon Cheri plays a unique brand of indie-pop, with plenty of nods to the oldies that has tinges of jazz and folk. Constantly writing songs, Mon Cheri has dozens to choose from.
NORTHWEST SACRED MUSIC CHORALE ENSEMBLE
This mixed vocal ensemble features 18 of the Inland Empire's most talented and versatile musicians whose repertoire includes a wide variety of music such as classical sacred, American spirituals, contemporary, pop, and vocal jazz. The Ensemble has been featured in Spokane at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, Art on the Green, the Block Party of First Presbyterian Church, as the carolers for the Coeur d'Alene Symphony's Christmas Concert, and at the Kroc Center Opening Gala. The Ensemble is a featured performing group at Northwest Sacred Music Chorale performances It is accompanied by Marietta Hardy and directed by Gaynell Coppess For information call 208-772-3491 or www.nwsmc.org on the web.
SAN FRANCISCO SCOTTISH FIDDLERS
The San Francisco Scottish Fiddlers will take you on a lively musical journey to Scotland, Cape Breton, Appalachia, and other points on the fiddling map. With deep roots in Celtic music, the group fills their performance with music, dance, song and energy, and has been aptly called "a wild bunch of anarchistic, rabblerousing musicians." Varying widely in age and backgrounds, the fiddlers are drawn together by their love of Celtic traditional music. Prized in the group is the ability to play by ear, to feel the music deep in one's soul, and be enough 'in the moment' to follow spontaneous changes of direction during performances.
SCOTT KIRBY
Pianist/composer Scott Kirby specializes in distinctly American musical styles, which include Classic Ragtime, New Ragtime, Creole Music and Terra Verde As a performer his is also an education providing historical context and musical insight into the program as it unfolds. Whether on the concert stage or in the classroom Kirby offers a musical experience which is informative and intimate, educational yet highly personal. Each presentation may include examples from North America, South America and the Caribbean.
SWING STREET
The Swing Street Combo has been performing in the greater Spokane area since 2005. Featuring Mardi Loopert on keyboards and vocals, Clint Perry on guitar and vocals, Doug Nustad on saxophone and Tom Schager on drums and percussion, they are regulars at the Southside Senior Activity Center, Cascade Mobile Home Community, numerous senior centers, private parties and other venues. Their vast repertoire includes music from the 20s to the 80s, featuring all styles, including pop, swing, fox trots, bossa novas, rumbas, tangos, cha chas, Polkas, rock, and country as well as those great "oldies but goodies".
THE CLUMSY LOVERS
The Clumsy Lovers have brought its mix of fiddle and banjo-fuelled, bluegrassified Celtic rock to North American audiences for more than a decade. With more than 2500 performances under its belt, the band's high-energy shows have worn out dance floors and created a loyal following in 49 states and across its homeland of Canada. In addition to live shows, the band has also released a series of award-winning and critically acclaimed recordings. But Clumsy Lovers is still, first and foremost, a live band. The fusion of bluegrass and Celtic with a rock attitude is the soundtrack for a kinetic show that has helped the band become a favorite of the roots music crowd. With a little something for everybody, the one consistent element the Lovers bring to every show is a riotous good time.
TY KOVATCH
Ty, a Coeur d'Alene native, is a singer songwriter who began his music career in High School He has recently released his third CD of soft rock music in which he has written, sung, and played his acoustical guitar. Ty currently resides in Portland, Ore., with his wife and son.