2007 MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINERS BIOS

The Spongetones
What can one say about the Spongetones?  Quite a lot, actually.  More than I could possibly ruminate on in the allotted space of a measly one-sheet.  Pop Gods?  Certainly.  Merseybeat masters?  Once upon a time.  A fun-loving bunch of good 'ol Southern boys who sound nothing like .38 Special?  You bet your life, Groucho.

I could mention that the 'Tones have been in-crowd with pure pop fanatics ever since the early '80s, when their fab one-two punch of Beat Music and Torn Apart neatly updated the sound and style of the early Beatles without resorting to geeky mimicry.

I could go on about subsequent records, like the cooler-than-cool Where-Ever-Land, whose leadoff tune, the crazy "Forget About May," somehow managed to combine folk, punk and Merseybeat cohesively.  Or maybe their cheekily titled, mid-'90s opus, Textural Drone Thing (which certainly was textured, but minus any measurable drone), which brought some stylistic expansion and echoes of the Zombies to the Spongetones' merry pop party.  Oh yeah, can't forget 1991's Oh Yeah, which saw a slight return to the Beatley days of yore while gently shoving the 'Tones' sound into the here and then.

I could blab about how these four ace musicians---Jamie Hoover, Steve Stoeckel, Pat Walters and Rob Thorne---used to inspire young girls to want to purchase bottles of their perspiration during the band's early days (I don't make this stuff up, folks). Oh, and the four aces write, sing and play pretty damned good, too.

Finally, I could tell you about the boys' new one that you're about to spin, called Odd Fellows.  It rocks.  It pops. It's where old meets new. Where melody and harmony collide, but no one gets hurt.  Where the Spongetones offer you, dear listener, some of the finest songs they've ever tracked. Where four Liverpool-lovin' dudes from the South finally realize a dream and record a song by Sir Paul McCartney himself ("On the Wings of A Nightingale").

Anyway, give Odd Fellows a listen or eight and see if it doesn't grab you like many of your favorite records do.  Me, I'm still listening fervently while trying to imagine what in the name of Ringo anyone would do with Spongetone Sweat.

-John M. Borack
Goldmine Magazine

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Americamanta
The Oldest musical tradition of Latin America are those interpreted by the Indigenous population extended throughout the modern nations currently known as Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and to some extent Colombia.

When the Spanish arrived at the beginning of the 16th century, they found a population ruled by the Inca Empire, on of the most important civilizations of the Americas.

This whole process has continued for hundreds of years maintaining its musical expressions up to the pleasant sounds heard in modern presentations, in which the Indigenous people express themselves in the manner of Latin Jazz accompanied by an insinuating Andean Flavor.  Several musical styles reflect the clarity, profundity and hint of sadness mixed with the happiness found in the Andean Highlands of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, performed at different traditional festivals and seasonal occasions.

Americamanta is an indigenous musical group from Otavalo-Ecuador.  The group has been performing together for the past 15 years in South America, Europe and the United States.  Each member plays a great variety of Native flutes and Andean pan-pipes which will transport you in a visionary manner around mountains and valleys and into the very heart of Pacha Mama (mother earth), projecting the delicate sound of rivers, birds, and waterfalls.

The name “Americamanta” (“of America”) comes from a deep sense of unity of all human beings in one single conglomerate without boundaries or differences of any kind.  Music has become the universal language joining us together, regardless of cultural or national differences.

This is what we say:“Men come and go, but the music is immortal”. Back to top

Little Lotus Troupe
The Little Lotus Troupe, led by He XiaoSong, has been in much demand in Charlotte and surrounding areas since they made their debut in the fall of 2004, with dances and even fashion shows, where they modeled spring fashions or colorful Chinese outfits, including qi paos, a traditional lady’s formal dress.

The performance group was organized to offer a unique opportunity for children of Chinese heritage to learn and enjoy traditional and contemporary dance and other Chinese performing arts.

The Little Lotus Troupe consists of 14 girls ranging in age from 6 to 12 years old.  Classes consist of stretching exercises and warm-ups, followed by instruction in dance technique, and then learning and perfecting their dances.  In addition, several hours were spent learning how to properly walk and model clothing in preparation for their fashion shows, which were displayed at several  Chinese New Year celebrations, the Asian Festival, and the Children’s Arts Festival in uptown Charlotte.

In the past 3 years, they have performed their well-known “Red Handkerchief Dance” in bright red and emerald-green costumes.  It is amazing how the girls can twirl the red handkerchiefs on fingertips even while lying on the floor!

They have also performed  “The Little Mouse Dance,” “Sunlight, Moonlight,” a fan dance called “Happy Girls,” and a drum dance.  For 2007, they are rehearsing a new Lantern Dance. 

Recent appearances include Festival in the Park, Davidson College, several Chinese New Year parties, the ImaginOn Library, Charlotte’s Asian Festival, and United Way’s Campaign Finale Celebration.

In addition to the dance classes and performance opportunities, the girls share pride in their Chinese heritage and a special relationship with each other, much like sisters.  Back to top

Peralta
The future of Latin Music has arrived! The incorporation of culture and sound has produced a defining moment in the direction of Latin music. These four brothers, whose roots stem from South American have been writing, recording, and performing whenever and wherever possible. Their individual influences come together to create a musical distinction that's apparent the moment you hear it. Performing live is their strength as the band adds a vibrant three-piece percussion section to the background. With a hypnotic combination of rhythm and melody, one encounter with Peralta will take you into a new and inspiring realm of entertainment. The numbers speak for themselves, as live performances ranging from Corporate to festivals in the Carolinas to Walt Disney World Resorts in Orlando, FL have boosted CD sales to over 4,500. Back to top

Doug Burns and the From The Top Big Band
The From The Top Big Band is a 17 piece swing band. They play the music of Sinatra, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton and many others. The band includes many of the top professional musicians in North Carolina, including players who have performed with bands such as Natalie Cole, Glenn Miller, Harry Connick, Tommy Dorsey and a host of others. You can dance all night to the great songs of the 1940's big bands. Join us for an evening of swing music you won't forget.

Festival in the Park * 1409 East Boulevard * Charlotte, NC 28203
Phone: 704.338.1060 * Fax: 704.338.1061
E-Mail: festival@FESTIVALinthePARK.org * Site by: EyeBenders