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© Copyright DLP Concerts 2008
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Steppin' Out  Two days of continuous live music in Downtown Blacksburg!Friday, August 1st and Saturday, August 2nd This is a Free Event Steppin' Out, Downtown Blacksburg's annual street festival, takes place on the first Friday and Saturday in August from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Steppin' Out features over 150 artists and crafts people from around the United States selling unique handcrafted items - jewelry, pottery, textiles, metal work, basketry, stained & fused glass, yard art, fine art, furniture, toys, artisan foods and so much more! Street performances make the scene magical . . . you could be greeted by a visiting Jedi Master, or have your wishes granted by the Blue Fairy. Downtown Blacksburg merchants also hold their much-awaited, final clearance sidewalk sales during Steppin' Out. Great merchandise goes at bargain-basement discounts. And those festival foods you love are provided by downtown restaurants. Admission is free. Town of Blacksburg metered parking is all free and Blacksburg Transit provides free shuttles to get you there without the hassles. Bring your friends. Bring your family. Don't bring your dog.  2:00 PM - Mood SwingThe local jazz trio, Mood Swing, with Karl Sanzenbach on guitar and wind instruments, Kathy Stell on vocals, and Bob Thomas on acoustic bass, specializes in the wonderful melodies of the Great American Songbook--think of composers such as Gershwin, Porter, and Arlen. Their mellow sound ranges from bluesy ballads to up-tempo swing with some Latin jazz thrown in. You may even hear a jazzy Beatles tune! 3:00 PM - Scott Perry & Front Porch SwingImagine hillbilly act Homer and Jethero jamming with be-bopper Charles Mingus, while Blind Lemon Jefferson and Ukulele Ike take turns sitting in, and you have an idea of FPS's sound. A toe tapping tour of American roots music! 4:00 PM - Wes Tucker & The SkilletsWes Tucker & the Skillets have established a reputation throughout the D.C. and surrounding mid-Atlantic areas as a must-see band. The combination of intelligent songwriting backed by a powerful group of stellar musicians serves to create unique grooves. The band shifts from folk rock, to funk, to gospel, to soulful ballads in the space of a set list, drawing comparisons to artists from Ben Harper and Jack Johnson to Wilco to Stone Temple Pilots to O.A.R. to Bob Dylan.  5:00 PM - Lenny Marcus QuartetLenny hails from Washington D.C. and worked for many years in New Orleans and south Louisiana. While there, he had the opportunity to study with world-renowned jazz educator Alvin Batiste at Southern University, as well as the legendary jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis, among others. Perhaps the greatest influences came, however, from the strong left-handed, blues-oriented pianist Ray Bryant, to whom Lenny grew up listening, as well as the more modern, modal approach of McCoy Tyner. His bluesy, vocal phrasings remind the listener of a young Mose Allison, with a little Michael Franks mixed in. Lenny also brings his own unique style, providing a fresh innovative, and highly creative approach to the jazz listener. 6:00 PM - Barrel House MamasThe Barrel House Mamas, a trio of women from Asheville, NC, conjure the sweet and sultry sounds of the Appalachain mountains they call home in their robust three-part harmonies and original songs. More 7:00 PM - 3 Minute Lovin'Country, rockabilly, surf, rock and roll, swing, western, all points in between and all around. Performing music from artists with names like Buck, Merle, Willie, Cowboy, Elvis, and so on. More 8:00 PM - The Emily Brass BandLike a musical shape-shifter, Emily Brass takes you on a psychedelic hip hop journey, channeling the ghosts of old school rap, rock-steady reggae, ragtime jazz, and 60's rock & soul, while relentlessly keeping you in a sweat-inducing, smile-inspiring trance-dance, all night long. Her lyrical message is empowering, progressive, and poetic, sung through her countless vocal styles, conjuring up the spirits of Zap Mama, Sade, Chrissie Hynde, Erykah Badu, Lauren Hill, Billie Holiday and even John Lennon. Between rapid-fire raps, catchy choruses, and sensuously sung verses, she uses her sax as a wailing, magical wand, causing audiences to lose themselves under the influence of Maceo Parker, Manu Dibango and Dean Frasier-inspired riffs. More 9:00 PM - Fat Daddy BandSince 1995, The FAT DADDY Band from Roanoke, Virginia has been delivering what many call exceptional Blue Ridge Blues to the valley and beyond. The latest rendition of the band is the effect of many strange twists and circumstances that can only happen to, “A Blues Band”. Kerry “Big Hurl” Hurley, Vocals, Greg “Fat Daddy” Desaulniers on bass & Vocals, Hoppie “The Minister of Soul” Vaughan, Guitar & Vocals, Tom “The Hit Man” Hearn, on Drums. More 1:00 PM - Jason ByrdFor over a decade Jason Byrd has appealed to a very diverse audience. Writing songs of hope, peace, and love! Then intertwining them with classic cover tunes from every genre! Blending songs together to tell a story! More 2:00 PM - Mike MitchellMike Mitchell is a singer and songwriter, specializing in the fiddle and violin. Mike plays bluegrass and classical music in the Southwest Virginia area. 3:00 PM - American RootsAn eclectic mix of Appalachian traditional, pre-1940's country, blues, swing, folk, and "folkgrass". More 4:00 PM - Al-HawanimA dynamic ensemble of women playing Middle Eastern music on qanun (78-stringed zither), 'ud (11-stringed lute), violin and percussion. More 5:00 PM - Mac & Jenny TraynhamMac and Jenny Traynham are a husband and wife duo who specialize in the early country duet style of singing and playing old-time country and mountain music. They draw their repertoire from a wide variety of sources from the Appalachian mountains of Virginia and beyond. More3:30 PM - The Young Scientist's ExperienceVisit The Young Scientist's Experience student chemistry demonstrations going on next to the Community Stage. More  5:00 PM - Floyd Music SchoolStudents of the Floyd Music School demonstrate and perform a wide variety of music techniques and songs. More 11:30 AM - Blacksburg Community BandAn all-volunteer community organization formed in 1989. The band plays a wide variety of concert band music. 12:30 PM - Panjammers & Island Pan Steel Pan OrchestraThe PanJammers and Island Pan, from Blacksburg, play handcrafted steel drums, and perform a variety of Caribbean-flavored music including calypso, reggae, classical, jazz, and pop.  2:00 PM - Entre NousAn eclectic blend covering music from pop, rock, funk- old and new - light and heavy, and all points in between. 3:00 PM - Sonic SafariThe area's most diverse Sextet! Sax, trombone, keyboards, guitar, bass and drums blend to play tunes from Liquid Soul to Jean Luc Ponty to Funked up Jazz favorites.  4:00 PM - Blue MuleA unique group of musicians working in a bluegrass context with heavy doses of jazz, rock, blues and country. More 5:00 PM - Melissa ReavesMelissa Reaves has been delighting audiences throughout the U.S. for more than a decade with her rock, funk and rhythm & blues-based sound. Reaves is a powerful vocalist and guitar player whose style ranges from driving rock & roll to a funk and groove sound that lends itself to a diverse repertoire of originals as well as some occasional choice covers. More 6:00 PM - CrosstiesCrossties plays modern bluegrass grounded in tradition. They call it bluegrass from across the tracks. More 7:00 PM - Missy Raines & The New HipA beloved figure in bluegrass and a pioneering force in acoustic music, Missy Raines' adventurous musical spirit has always been her compass. Launching her career with experimental bluegrass outfit Cloud Valley, Raines next toured the country with Eddy and Martha Adcock. Soon she was lending her bass skills to the Masters (Adcock, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves and Jesse McReynolds). Raines joined Claire Lynch's popular Front Porch Band, and developed a successful duo with band mate Jim Hurst. Their CDs and live performances pushed the envelope on how much music two people with acoustic instruments could make. A stint with the Brother Boys opened Raines' eyes to the value of spontaneity and immediacy in her musical approach.Missy Raines is now stepping out to make a longtime dream come true; creating a fusing of bluegrass virtuosity, jazz-tinged groove and a song-driven sensibility with a hot band.  8:00 PM - AfromotiveA fan once said, “It’s sounds like James Brown’s band went to Africa.” Bringing funk music back to its African roots is precisely what the Afromotive is doing with their style of afrobeat music. Based in Asheville, NC, this large ensemble stays true to the elements that started afrobeat music- West African rhythms, song forms, and instrumentation- while bringing the music to the 21st Century through strong song writing, improvisation, and heavy beats.  9:00 PM - Laura Reed & Deep PocketLaura Reed & Deep Pocket fill the stage with captivating, soul shaking, conscious music. The crowd is emerged with lyrics of truth and a voice of intensity backed by bass, organ, and drums, horns, and harmonies reminiscent of the past days of motown and funk.More  1:00 PM - Joel VendittiJoel mostly creates and performs original music, exploring the fretboard on his own terms. What comes out is an acoustic, blues and rock sound unlike any other. More 2:00 PM - David SimpkinsAward-winning original Americana singer-songwriter. More 3:00 PM - MudbelliesThey crawl out of the muddy swamps from time to time to make their eerie sounds, like mating calls of some slimy lizard-like fish. Fingerpickin' acoustic guitar and slide Dobro from Delta and Piedmont blues styles like Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, and Blind Willie McTell.  4:00 PM - Kat MillsKat Mills is a radiant, class-act songwriter showcasing the raw energy of a single voice and acoustic guitar. A powerful range, vintage instruments, and inspiring soulful material combine to produce a clean honest sound that leaves audiences wanting more. Reminiscent of another time, commenting on today, Kat is currently based out of Blacksburg, VA and tours throughout the east and beyond. More 5:00 PM - WindfallA dynamic acoustic quartet featuring beautiful harmonies coupled with hot guitar, mandolin, fiddle and harmonica licks held together with a solid bottom end on acoustic bass and percussion. Specializing in Americana/Roots music, Windfall covers folk, blues, rock, Celtic, as well as many old time and bluegrass standards. More10:00 AM - Abbott's Taekwondo AmericaBlacksburg's only "Full Time" Martial Art School. Ages to begin 3 to 103! The students and instructors of this , family oriented, martial arts studio will demonstrate the techniques they have learned and teach. More  11:00 AM - Henry's Taekwondo & Combative TrainingA demonstration in Taekwondo, the Korean art of self-defense. More12:00 PM - Dance TechStudents ages 3-18 will perform all styles of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and musical theatre. More 1:00 PM - New River StageYoung students perform their monologues learned with the help of Trisoul Productions, Inc, your local year round non-profit community theatre in the New River Valley. More 2:00 PM - Blacksburg Center For Martial ArtsAn impressive demonstration of martial arts students from this area. More  3:00 PM - Sapphire Ballroom DanceDemonstrating the waltz, tango, salsa, cha-cha, Carolina shag, and more! More 4:00 PM - Virginia TechniquesVirginia Techniques Gymnastics' pre-teams and competitive teams will perform and demonstrate their skills.More  5:00 PM - Blacksburg Belly DancersHill & Veil, Sulalita and Mandara are three local belly dance troupes all based in Blacksburg. They will present a variety styles which are all representative of the art of belly dance. At the end of the performances, audience members will have the opportunity to learn some of moves that capture the fun and beauty of these dances. More |
