(845) 254-5600 ext. 1344
email: festival@catskill.net

Press Contact:

Brian Sweeney,
Locust Grove Enterprises
Phone: (845) 586-4655
Fax: (845) 586-4460
E-mail: locustgrove@catskill.net

Belleayre Music Festival
Highmount Road, Box 198
Highmount, NY 12441
(800) 942-6904
www.belleayremusic.org

July 3

k. d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang and The Belle Brigade

concert page: k. d. lang and The Siss Boom Bang
Special Guests The Belle Brigade

artist website: www.kdlang.com
artist website: www.thebellebrigade.com

Click here to download k.d. lang's new song "Sugar Buzz" mp3!

Multi-Grammy winner k.d. lang launched her career with a blend of countryrock stylings and a playfully punk-like attitude, by turns whimsical and subversive. Back then, she practically put the alternative in alt-country.

Her bravura singing has always belied her kitschy cowgirl outfits and spiky hair. Despite the quirky facade, k.d.'s superlative vocal prowess has always been her true calling card. Tony Bennett calls k.d. "the best singer of her generation."

k.d.'s first taste of commercial success came with the release of the elegantly sensual "Constant Craving." She has continued to add legions of fans through a body of work that continues an adventurous exploration of musical genres.

As with so many of her recordings, her new release "Sing It Loud" is burning up the charts. Her interpretation of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is understatedly stunning, and thrilled a worldwide audience when performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The Belle Brigade Inspired by siblings Barbara and Ethan Gruska's love for Fleetwood Mac, Simon & Garfunkel and The Beatles, The Belle Brigade's show is chock-full of artfully arranged, freewheeling songs brimming with breezy, California melodies and bracing pop harmonies, fueled by Barbara's driving drumming rhythms.

July 8

Jim Caruso's Cast Party

concert page: Jim Caruso's Cast Party

A Broadway Benefit Weekend
for The Belleayre Music Festival &
The Roxbury Arts Group

artist website: www.castpartynyc.com

A Broadway Benefit Weekend for The Belleayre Music Festival & The Roxbury Arts Group

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is a wildly popular weekly soiree that brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in NYC every Monday. Now, the party is coming to Belleayre.

It's a cool cabaret night-out enlivened by a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle. Caruso guides the entire affair, and the audience never knows who will show up to participate in the festivities.

July 9

Tommy Tune in "Steps in Time"

concert page: Tommy Tune in "Steps in Time"

A Broadway Benefit Weekend
for The Belleayre Music Festival &
The Roxbury Arts Group

artist website: www.tommytune.com

A Broadway Benefit Weekend for The Belleayre Music Festival & The Roxbury Arts Group

Broadway's legendary song and dance man, Tommy Tune, hits the stage high-stepping through his nine-time Tony Award-winning career. From "My One and Only," with Twiggy, to "Nine," "Grand Hotel" and "Will Rogers Follies,"namong others, he sings, dances, directs, and laughs his way through those glorious musical moments that have made him a theater icon.

Backed up by the multi-talented Manhattan Rhythm Kings, audiences are treated to a unique and masterful evening that leaves crowds standing, cheering and dancing in the aisles.

Known as one of the most prolific director/choreographers of the twentieth century,
Mr. Tune was designated as a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy in 2009, and this year Mr. Tune marks his 50th year in show business with his latest work, "Steps In Time, A Broadway Biography in Song and Dance."

July 16

Creedence Clearwater Revisited

concert page: Creedence Clearwater Revisited

artist website: creedence-revisited.com

Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famers, Stu Cook and Doug "Cosmo" Clifford, the original rhythm section of the legendary Creedence Clearwater Revival, hit the Belleayre stage with a hit-filled show from start to finish.

Listeners are sure to know every tune as Creedence Clearwater Revisited cranks up its signature sound on classics like "Proud Mary," "Heard it Through the Grapevine," "Fortunate Son," "Who'll Stop the Rain" and a string of other hits that helped define an era.

Sit back and enjoy a rocking ride through some of rock's most timeless and important songs. Rounding out the band, along with Creedence founding members, will be vocal powerhouse John Tristao, multi-instrumentalist Steve Gunner and guitar wizard Kurt Griffey.

July 23

La Traviata - Belleayre Festival Opera

concert page: La Traviata - Belleayre Festival Opera

artist website:

Mara Waldman, Music Director / Conductor
Donald Westwood, Stage Director

Starring Diana McVey
as Violetta Valery

Mathew Edwardsen
as Alfredo Germont

Stefanos Koroneos
as Giorgio Germont

Featuring the Community Chorale of the Catskills
Richard Tucker, Director

performed in Italian with English SuperTitles

A company of 50 singers and musicians will perform this fully-staged production of Verdi's tragic masterpiece of love, self-sacrifice and redemption. Donald Westwood, Artistic Director, Producer and Stage Director of the Belleayre Festival Opera, returns for his 13th year, putting his unique interpretation on Verdi's timeless classic.

During his impressive four-decade career, Donald Westwood has consistently garnered rave reviews for applying a fresh perspective to the world's greatest opera classics. His productions have been called "exemplary" by THE NEW YORK TIMES, "very special" by THE NEW YORK POST and "a dynamic alternative to the giants at Lincoln Center" by OPERA NEWS Magazine.

Our opera performances have become established as an annual festival highlight. Whether you are an opera buff or a newcomer, you will find this performance a memorable night of music theater.

Pre-Opera discussion with director at 7:30

July 29

KJ Denhert

concert page: KJ Denhert

artist website: www.kjdenhert.com

Singer and guitarist KJ Denhert returns to the Belleayre Jazz Club where she gave a spellbinding performance with her unique blend of "urban folk and jazz" in her first visit to the venue three years ago.

KJ's music will move you to laugh, to dance and even to cry. Her special talents have earned her four Independent Music Award nominations and in '09, she was named as one of Jazz.com's top female vocalists. She has appeared at scores of festivals and has residencies at the '55 Bar', Smoke in NYC, at the Baz Bar in St. Barth's and the prestigious Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy.

Her latest release, "Album No. 9," is a collection of '60s jazz, pop and rock standards. Consistently praised for her pathos, originality and impeccable musicianship, KJ is a one-of-a-kind songwriter, guitarist and performer, not to be missed.

July 30

Global Noize

concert page: Global Noize

artist website: www.globalnoize-epk.com

Global Noize is a hip and eclectic musical journey that blasts away all boundaries-an organic, free-spirited sonic brew of some of the best elements of jazz, funk, electronica and world fusion. This glorious amalgamation is truly music without borders. The Jazz Club has never heard anything like this.

Cooking up this wild concoction are keyboardist extraordinaire and veteran of Miles Davis' and Luther Vandross' bands Jason Miles and turntable guru DJ Logic, who has collaborated with such diverse artists as Phish and Vernon Reid. In addition, the group now has Indian vocal diva Falu as a full-time member.

Global Noize takes listeners on an imaginative, free-wheeling journey into musical exploration. Enjoy the ride.

August 5

Ravi Coltrane Quartet

concert page: Ravi Coltrane Quartet

artist website: www.ravicoltrane.com

It's never easy to follow in the footsteps of a musical legend, but Ravi Coltrane has methodically carved his niche in the upper echelons of today's jazz scene.

The son of jazz giant John Coltrane, Ravi has evolved into a powerfully mature artist with a richly diverse, yet highly distinctive concept as both a saxophonist and a composer.

His longtime quartet-pianist Luis Perdomo, bassist Drew Gress and drummer E.J. Strickland-has established itself as one of the most consistently thrilling and acclaimed groups in jazz today. Led by Coltrane's blistering sax work, the quartet continues to carve out its own signature sound.

August 6

The Music of Miles Davis

concert page: The Music of Miles Davis

Celebrating 50 Years of "Kind of Blue"
Jimmy Cobb's "So What Band"
Featuring: Larry Willis, Buster Williams, Javon Jackson, Vince Herring & Christian Scott

artist website: www.jimmycobb.net

In the church of jazz, Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue" is one of the holy relics. Critics revere it as a stylistic milestone and it is still the bestselling jazz album of all time, certified quadruple platinum in 2008. "Kind of Blue" is so wide-reaching in its scope that musicians in both the rock and classical genres have cited it as an influence and have recorded hundreds of versions of the music on the album.

In more than a half century since the album's release, many things have happened-not the least of which is the passing of Miles Davis and most of the original musicians who contributed to that recording. However, original drummer Jimmy Cobb has been touring the last two years with his So What Band, bringing these classic tunes to a whole new generation of fans in every corner of the world.

August 13

Belleayre Car Show

concert page: Belleayre Car Show

artist website: www.belleayre.com

August 13

Clint Black

concert page: Clint Black

artist website: www.clintblack.com

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Clint Black has long been heralded as one of country music's brightest stars. He has transcended categorization to become one of the most successful artists in the entire music industry.

Clint has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, starting with his 1989 smash debut, the critically acclaimed, triple-platinum selling "Killin' Time." The album boasted five No. 1 hits and won Clint a collection of awards that included: Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year and the American Music Awards Favorite New Male Country Artist.

Since then, Clint has had nearly two dozen No. 1 singles, and almost as many Top 5 and Top 10 hits. His sizzling live shows, backed by a top-notch band, are always something special.

August 20

Mary Chapin Carpenter

concert page: Mary Chapin Carpenter

artist website: marychapincarpenter.com

Mary Chapin Carpenter celebrates her latest album, The Age of Miracles, which was released last spring to widespread critical acclaim. Over the course of a 12-album recording career, Carpenter has won five Grammy Awards and sold over 13 million records. Of the new music, The New York Times heralds, "...quietly spellbinding...the music of of Ms. Carpenter is an unclassifiable hybrid of pop, folk, and country..." Carpenter has always professed a love for all kinds of music, and those influences come together in songs that speak to the most personal of life's details as well as to the most universal.

August 27

The Punch Brothers
Jessica Lea Mayfield

concert page: The Punch Brothers
Jessica Lea Mayfield

artist website: www.punchbrothers.com
artist website: www.jessicaleamayfield.com

The Punch Brothers, featuring Chris Thile, former front man of Nickel Creek, have collected their five singular abilities and viewpoints into one musical force. They have established their place among the most dynamic and talented presences across the full range of contemporary musicmaking, pushing the boundaries of possibilities way beyond Bluegrass.

Indie folk rocker Jessica Lea Mayfield is another barrier-breaking artist. She was recently hailed as "the Next Big Thing for 2011" by Spin magazine and in choosing "Our Hearts Are Wrong," as the song of the day, NPR said, "The strength of Jessica Lea Mayfield's voice isn't in its power; it lies in the haunting cool she conveys."

September 3

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
The Original Lineup

concert page: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
The Original Lineup

artist website: www.flecktones.com

Bela Fleck is arguably the world's premier banjo player, but his extraordinary musical talents transcend any simple description. As a result, Bela has been nominated in more different Grammy categories than anyone in history (27 nominations and 11 wins). For their first major concert tour in eight years, Bela will be joined by the Flecktones' original line-up of Howard Levy, Victor Wooten and Future Man.

When Bela takes the stage with the "Tones," audiences are treated to a sonic adventure that melds superb technical skills, improvisation and the love of playing into an unforgettable concert experience.

Bela and the Flecktones have garnered a strong and faithful following among jazz and new acoustic fans and they have shared the stage with icons such as the Dave Mathews Band, Sting, Bonnie Raitt and the Grateful Dead.