COUNTDOWN BEGINS TO THE OPENING NIGHT OF THE 2010 WASHINGTON PARK SUMMER FESTIVAL ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 5
Posted: July 29th, 2010 4:37 PM
- Free performing arts festival opens with an explosive night of international drumming -
What: Opening night of the free 2010 Washington Park Summer Festival, featuring Portland Taiko and The Lions of Batucada
When: Thursday, August 5
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Washington Park Amphitheater (adjacent to the International Rose Test Garden)
The popular annual Washington Park Summer Festival opens on Thursday, August 5 with an evening of Japanese and Brazilian drumming and choreography featuring Portland Taiko and The Lions of Batucada—a powerful and dramatic kick-off to the Festival.
Presented free to the public, the Festival runs through August 14 and features a diverse array of music, from world beat to classical. [see full schedule below]
The Festival is the highlight of Portland Parks & Recreation's "Summer Free for All." Featuring free movies and concerts in neighborhood parks from late June through early September, the Summer Free for All is presented provided to the public free of charge each year through the support of corporate sponsors and grants.
Daimler Trucks North America returns as the presenting sponsor of the 2010 Festival. "Daimler Trucks North America is excited to again be able to support the Washington Park Summer Festival," says Dave Wiederrich, Manager of Internal Communications for Daimler. "We believe it is important to support the communities in which we operate and are proud of the enjoyment the Festival brings to the many people who attend - many of which are our own employees."
Additional support is provided by the Mark Spencer Hotel, Safeway, Wells Fargo, US Bank, Key Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Portland Trail Blazers, and Star Park/Schlesinger Company.
Beginning Thursday, August 5 with Drums From Two Continents, the concerts run through Saturday, August 14. Presented with free admission, all concerts begin at 6 p.m. in the Washington Park Amphitheater, adjacent to the International Rose Test Garden.
Picnics are welcome and there will be food vendors on site at the Amphitheater. Alcoholic beverages for personal consumption are permitted in the park only during the concerts.
To avoid parking hassles, concertgoers are encouraged to take TriMet Bus #63 or ride the MAX Blue Line to the Oregon Zoo and take the Rose Garden Shuttle to the performances.
For more information, visit portlandparks.org or call 503.823.5446. Concerts will not be cancelled except in case of serious rain.
2010 Washington Park Summer Festival Schedule:
Washington Park Amphitheater Stage, 6 pm
Thursday, August 5: DRUMS FROM TWO CONTINENTS
An explosive evening of Japanese and Brazilian drumming and choreography featuring Portland Taiko and The Lions of Batucada—a powerful and dramatic kick-off to the Festival.
Friday, August 6: PORTLAND SUMMERFEST OPERA IN THE PARK
A Washington Park Summer Festival regular, presenting a concert performance of Verdi's Il Trovotore featuring rising stars from across the country including SummerFest favorites Richard Zeller as Il Conte di Luna and Mark T. Panuccio as Manrico.
Saturday, August 7: JAZZ WOMEN
A collection of unforgettable musicians, celebrating the enormous power of Portland's female jazz singers and instrumentalists. The Quadraphones, Janice Scroggins, Ward Griffiths and Leah Hinchcliff will be joined by some of Portland's best female vocalists.
Sunday, August 8: PORTLAND FESTIVAL SYMPHONY
Familiar to Washington Park Summer Festival audiences, Portland Festival Symphony, under the inspired baton of Maestro Lajos Balogh, celebrates 30 years of free park performances introducing generations of children to the joys of classical music.
Monday, August 9: TY CURTIS BAND
Rockin' blues from one of Portland's rising stars. Powerful original music and an instant connection with the audience – young Ty Curtis and his band just won this year's Muddy Award for Best Regional Band.
Tuesday, August 10: CARRIE CUNNINGHAM & THE SIX SHOOTERS
Vivacious, magnetic singer-songwriter Carrie Cunningham will make you a fan in less than two hours. Her high-energy brand of down home country can range from bluegrass to alt country to western swing and keep people of all ages dancing.
Wednesday, August 11: APPLE JAM
An uproarious and tuneful trip down a different sort of memory lane. This Seattle sensation offers up a portfolio of all the Lennon/McCartney songs the Beatles never recorded themselves. You'll swear it's 1964 all over again!
Thursday, August 12: LOVENESS WESA, KGOTSO AFRICAN DANCE
and THE BANTUS BAND
Rooted in the irresistibly danceable music of Southern Africa, particularly her native Zimbabwe. Loveness Wesa's original Afro-pop blends the past with the present. Traditional African dancers and drummers will highlight the roots of this beloved marimba tradition.
Friday, August 13: DO JUMP!
Under the creative direction of founder Robin Lane, the Do Jump "actorbats" offer up a unique blend of extremely physical theatre, dance, acrobatics, dynamic visuals and live music by Klezmocracy, a trio with its own following, that defies categorization, but always wows their audience.
Saturday, August 14: FELICIDADES
It's become a tradition for closing night — Salsa and Calypso get the whole crowd up and dancing to close out the Festival. Felicidades brings together a collection of Portland's most masterful musicians for a stunning finish to the 2010 season.
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