MONROE - Headline concerts by Livingston Taylor and the BoDeans are scheduled to take place in June as part of the Monroe Arts Center's Wisconsin Music Arts Festival.
In addition to the concerts, the three-day festival will feature presentations by music industry professionals, music workshops, and late-night entertainment on Monroe's Square.
Livingston Taylor will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Friday, June 21 at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center, 1600 26th St. Taylor's 40-year career has encompassed performance, songwriting, and teaching. From top-40 hits such as "I'll Come Running" and "Boatman," both recorded by his brother James, Taylor's creative output has continued unabated. His range of musical genres and vast musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire. He is equally at home with a range of musical genres - folk, pop, gospel, jazz - and from upbeat storytelling to touching ballads. Born in Boston and raised in North Carolina, Livingston is the fourth child in a very musical family.
In addition to his performance on Friday evening, Taylor will conduct a "Stage Performance" class from 10 to 10:50 a.m. Saturday, June 22 at Monroe High School. As a full professor at Boston's Berklee College of Music since 1989, Taylor shares his experiences and knowledge of professional touring through the popular class. He has taught thousands of musicians how to take the stage without fear and deliver a rewarding performance. Actors, as well as those who do public speaking, will benefit from the information. Taylor will assist participants learn the right way to begin and end a performance and how to understand and conquer stage fright.
BoDeans, the second headline concert of the festival, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at the PAC.
"I've always thought of the BoDeans as a truly American band," said Kurt Neumann, the founder, primary writer and frontman of the veteran Milwaukee-based group. "We were blue-collar kids straight out of the heartland - how could we be anything else? 'Roots rock' was a label I fought when I was younger, but I came to realize that if by 'roots' you meant blues, rock, country and soul all slammed together into one sound, then I'd say yes-that is the sound of American-made music."
Thanks to Neumann's renewed passion and determination, the BoDeans are still going strong a quarter century after their debut album led them to win a Rolling Stone readers' poll as Best New American Band and nearly 20 years after their "Closer to Free" became a massive hit and the theme song of the television sitcom "Party of Five." BoDeans continue to tour the U.S. year-round, exposing the kids of their longtime steadfast fans to heartfelt, trend-free, American-made music.
To purchase tickets to any of the festival events or for more information, contact MAC at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; at the box office, 1315 11th St.; or
online at www.monroearts center.com.
In addition to the concerts, the three-day festival will feature presentations by music industry professionals, music workshops, and late-night entertainment on Monroe's Square.
Livingston Taylor will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Friday, June 21 at the Monroe High School Performing Arts Center, 1600 26th St. Taylor's 40-year career has encompassed performance, songwriting, and teaching. From top-40 hits such as "I'll Come Running" and "Boatman," both recorded by his brother James, Taylor's creative output has continued unabated. His range of musical genres and vast musical knowledge has inspired a varied repertoire. He is equally at home with a range of musical genres - folk, pop, gospel, jazz - and from upbeat storytelling to touching ballads. Born in Boston and raised in North Carolina, Livingston is the fourth child in a very musical family.
In addition to his performance on Friday evening, Taylor will conduct a "Stage Performance" class from 10 to 10:50 a.m. Saturday, June 22 at Monroe High School. As a full professor at Boston's Berklee College of Music since 1989, Taylor shares his experiences and knowledge of professional touring through the popular class. He has taught thousands of musicians how to take the stage without fear and deliver a rewarding performance. Actors, as well as those who do public speaking, will benefit from the information. Taylor will assist participants learn the right way to begin and end a performance and how to understand and conquer stage fright.
BoDeans, the second headline concert of the festival, will take the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at the PAC.
"I've always thought of the BoDeans as a truly American band," said Kurt Neumann, the founder, primary writer and frontman of the veteran Milwaukee-based group. "We were blue-collar kids straight out of the heartland - how could we be anything else? 'Roots rock' was a label I fought when I was younger, but I came to realize that if by 'roots' you meant blues, rock, country and soul all slammed together into one sound, then I'd say yes-that is the sound of American-made music."
Thanks to Neumann's renewed passion and determination, the BoDeans are still going strong a quarter century after their debut album led them to win a Rolling Stone readers' poll as Best New American Band and nearly 20 years after their "Closer to Free" became a massive hit and the theme song of the television sitcom "Party of Five." BoDeans continue to tour the U.S. year-round, exposing the kids of their longtime steadfast fans to heartfelt, trend-free, American-made music.
To purchase tickets to any of the festival events or for more information, contact MAC at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; at the box office, 1315 11th St.; or
online at www.monroearts center.com.