2007 SoNo Arts Celebration
Schedule of Performers

Saturday, August 4th

WaMu Main Stage (Washington and Water Streets)
The Twinkies,  11 am
Mill River Band,  12:30 am
Mission On Mars,  2 pm
Robert Ross Band,  3:30 pm
PJ Pacifico,  5 pm
Rolla,  6:30 pm
Dar Williams,  8 pm
Otis and the Hurricanes,  10 pm

North Main Street Stage
RheiC,  12:00 pm
Feel Theory,  1:00 pm
Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams,  2:00 pm
Enter the Haggis,  3:00 pm
Fro,  4:00 pm
Cosmic Jibaros,  5:00 pm

Dance Stage
Dre Towey & Little Loomis,  11:30am
Bernier Dance,  1 pm
Synthesis Dance Project, NYC,  2 pm
Jazzart,  3 pm
Sukuki School of Music,  4 pm
Synthesis Dance Project, NYC,  5 pm

Under the Railroad Tressel
Randy Orwig, The Living Statue,  all day

Children's Art Playground
Workshops all day
Infinite Roots,  1pm

The Twinkies
The Twinkies are a great bar band. They are so good in fact, that they are now the house band for The Georgetown Saloon. Leading every open mic night the band can, and does play just about every song known to man. Truly a must see bunch of very talented musicians.

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Mill River Band
"The thing about the Mill River group that you may not even notice as your toe is tapping rhythmically and you're suddenly feeling a whole lot better than you have in a while, is the ease and expertise of their manner. These are deep and long-time musicians who can adjust the balance with a silent nod in the middle of a piece, who ebb and flow with leads and backups and who add grace notes and flourishes that make their music, well, delightful." —Dan England, FAIRFIELD MINUTEMAN

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Mission On Mars
MISSION: ON MARS World Electronic soundtrack mixes live Breakbeat rhythms, Indian sitar melodies, space-jazz guitar, and Middle Eastern drones, into a funk-chilled crater of moon walking beats. Sci-fi fans revel and dream what could be possible one day. MISSION: ON MARS, has been featured in many outdoor festivals such as PS 1 "Warm Up" Series (NY), CMJ Music Marathon (NYC), the JVC Jazz Festival (NYC) and the The Art Wallah: Festival (Los Angeles, CA). MISSION: ON MARS has created the multi-media monthly Liftoff! Series at Knitting Factory in NYC. M:oM has provided tracks for a diverse array of producers & artists including Bellyqueen, inverse cinematics, trixie, alexi delano, and Ming & fs. Members have worked with Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Project, Bill T Jones, embarked on Dept. of Defense tours in Middle East & Egypt, and have spread the drone throughout the Milky Way.

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Robert Ross Band
Robert Ross won a NY Music Award for Best Blues Artist in 1989, an East Coast Rocker "Makin Waves Award" in 1992, and was a NY State Arts Council LCB re-grant recipient in 2005. The singer, songwriter, guitarist, & harmonicist plays blues, jazz & rock 'n' roll. Artists who have recorded Robert's songs include Johnny Winter, The City Boys featuring "Blue" Lou Marini & Tom "Bones" Malone from the Blues Brothers, rockabilly singer Johnny Seaton, and the late great guitarist Danny Gatton. Robert recorded with Big Joe Turner for Spivey Records in 1976, and has worked with John Lee Hooker, Lightnin' Hopkins, Brownie McGhee, Memphis Slim, Sunnyland Slim, Otis Rush, Dr. John, Bobby Lewis, Pinetop Perkins, Charles & Cyrille Neville, Big Mama Thornton, Louisiana Red, J.B. Hutto, Eddie Kirkland, Floyd Jones, Homesick James, etc. The Robert Ross Band tours Europe frequently and has 7 cds out to date including the latest, "What Are We Fighting For?" on Fountainbleu Records.
www.robertrossband.com/    

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PJ Pacifico
After 8 years of touring and co-fronting the Connecticut based band Sunflower, P.J. Pacifico, made his solo debut with the release of "Well I'll Be" on Viper Records. P.J. has been singing since the age of six. He started playing drums at twelve, and picked up guitar in college. "Writing songs and performing is my real passion", says P.J., who wrote almost all of the songs on Sunflower's two albums, and everything on his own debut. P.J.'s musical influences are vast. He couldn't help hearing harmony, as his mother held her barbershop quartet rehearsals in their kitchen. His Aunt introduced him to James Taylor and Simon & Garfunkel, and he found The Police, U2 and R.E.M. on his own. P.J.'s sound has been described as "a jam session between James Taylor, Matthew Sweet and Jason Mraz". Eager to hit the road in support of his new album with songs about everything from love to surviving cancer, P.J. will be making stops in Nashville, Chicago and Atlanta, to name a few. "Well I'll Be" has been getting strong AAA radio airplay across the country, along with satellite and internet radio.
www.pjpacifico.com     Return to Saturday Schedule

Rolla
Fuzz (Tom Tom Club, Deep Banana Blackout) and Carrie Ernst, a singer-songwriter formed Rolla as a result of their love, of music and each other. So it is natural that their first record, La La Land, has a romantic persuasion. Though the musicians' backgrounds encompass jazz, funk, R&B and folk, Rolla draws inspiration from the players' common ground in timeless pop and rock (the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan), and from the contemporary artists they admire (The Shins, Wilco, Modest Mouse). The centerpiece of Rolla's music is Fuzz and Carrie's vocal harmonies, weaving bright, but laid-back pop melodies over clean and to-the-point electric and acoustic arrangements. La La Land resulted in non-stop touring, including opening spots for national acts such as Blues Traveler, Kenny Rankin and the Weepies, and an award, "CD of the Year 2005" by the Indie Acoustic Project.
www.rollaband.com     Return to Saturday Schedule

Dar Williams
Dar Williams has become a major force on the New England folk scene. An idiosyncratic songwriter who writes folk songs from a unique, often insightful perspective, Williams takes pains to avoid the coy, and the quirky; her songwriting and performing style has been compared to that of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez but with a few acidic and, at times, hilarious twists. "Williams has a beautiful singing voice, and most of the tunes, their poetic images and warm melodies effectively demonstrate her talents." - Associated Press
www.darwilliams.com     Return to Saturday Schedule

Otis & the Hurricanes
New Orleans rhythm and blues...Louisiana rock 'n roll. They play the roots of American Rock ‘n Roll influenced by the likes of Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Little Feat, The Funky Meters, Alan Toussaint, Delbert McClinton, and Chuck Berry. The Hurricanes are a group of veteran musicians who will rock the house. Guaranteed to get things movin'.

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RheiC
RheiC is a group effort with a solo artist's name. The band first came together shortly after Rhei left her last band, feeling she had no creative outlet in sight. Their manager organized a meeting of the minds and the resulting songs cover a wide spectrum of emotion including innocence, true love, passion, frustration, grief and longing. You will long to see them again & again.
www.rheic.com     Return to Saturday Schedule

Feel Theory
Feel Theory is no strangers to the New England music scene. They have played shows throughout CT, NY, Maine, Washington D.C., etc. and opened for national acts (i.e. Blues Traveler, Gov't Mule, Galactic, The John Scofield Band, Deep Banana Blackout, Addison Groove Project, The Breakfast, Better than Ezra, and Jen Durkin) both collectively and individually. Strong, catchy lyrics, melodic and intricate guitar playing, and deep grooves set the foundation. Their eclectic mix has helped mold their sound into an ever changing, growing, yet always enjoyable, treat for the ears. With the listener in mind, Feel Theory's ultimate goal is to put a smile on your face.
www.myspace.com/feeltheor     Return to Saturday Schedule

Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams
In 1998 The Circus emerged from the misty hills of Sleepy Hollow, New York and exploded upon the Hudson Valley music scene with their stunning self-produced debut release, "A Good Thief Tips His Hat". The quirky quartet then began touring throughout the northeast and rapidly developed a fiercely loyal, all-ages following. Featured recently in Relix Magazine, the New York Times and on the CBS hit show, Joan of Arcadia, the band's charismatic live performances and whimsical blend of folk, rock, hillbilly and pop have simply captivated audiences and critics alike.
www.slambovia.com     Return to Saturday Schedule

Enter the Haggis
ETH's live show is a musical feast- viscerally dynamic, emotionally uplifting and intellectually stimulating. The band's oeuvre darts effortlessly from the trad strains of, say, The Chieftains and the Pogues to the frenetic pop of early Elvis Costello and even to the Latin-tinged spirit of the Buena Vista Social Club and beyond, complete with Lewington's deftly guitar playing, the reeling of Brian Buchanan's flawless fiddle, the diverse rhythmic machinations of bassist Mark Abraham and drummer James Campbell, an Downie's transporting pipes, not to mention the near-perfect vocal harmonies. The Celtic influence remains palpably intact, which is likely the reason why core fans have stayed so loyal over the past decade. Still, Enter The Haggis continues to break new ground, and the power of the music is only made more significant by their socio-political conviction. ETH is one of those rare jewels that actually pulls it all off as if to own everything.
www.enterthehaggis.com     Return to Saturday Schedule

Fro
Harold Davis Jr. (otherwise known as FRO) is a funky-jazz-rock guitarist, composer and bandleader from Bridgeport, CT. His music blends the funk of James Brown, with the jazz vocabulary of Miles Davis and the rock edge of Metallica. Since 1995, FRO has been bringing his funky-jazz-rock styling's to listeners and has performed around Connecticut, New York and Vermont. He has opened for diverse national acts including Tower Of Power, Toots and the Maytals, Screaming Headless Torsos and others.

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Cosmic Jibaros
Cosmic Jibaros have redefined the Latin rock band, building from Latin and Caribbean rhythms and adding funked-up guitars and accordion flourishes for a sound that is both cross-cultural and highly danceable. There's the irresistible pull of traditional bomba beats in interplays between the congas and timbales mixed with urban elements in the deep drum and bass and effects-laden guitar work. Their songs have lyrics laced with social and political overtones, passionate vocals, and floor-shaking percussion. It's the beats that draw dancers forward to move their hips, whatever their age or ethnicity.

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Dre Towey & Little Loomis
Rowayton's own rock and roll mom, Dre Towey, a.k.a. Andrea Loomis Towey, thrives on kid energy. She writes, illustrates and performs for children, the focus of her own life. Her love of music and young people is obvious in her songs and is sure to delight audiences young and old. A former elementary school teacher and art educator, Dre's myriad experiences with children resonate through her lyrics and music while touching upon a range of subjects ranging from the dog across the street to the harrowing experience of losing a balloon. Hear her perform hits from her upcoming solo cd, Chester the Dog Unleashed, with members from the band King for a Day.

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Bernier Dance
In the past eight years Cindy Bernier has collaborated with her dancers in the creation of 21 contemporary dance works. In addition, Bernier Dance launched The Sister Project, a movement workshop for women in crisis, which is offered free to women in need. In 2005, Bernier Dance established Artists for Peace and the CT MEETS NY DANCEFEST at the Crystal Theater in Norwalk, CT. Cindy Bernier has been performing, teaching and choreographing in the tri-state area for 35 years. Her work has been produced at numerous venues including D.U.M.B.O Festival, Cool New York Festival, The Theater at Riverside Church, WAX, JCC/Manhattan, Nu Dance Festival and the Dancers Responding to Aids Concert at St. Marks Church in NYC and the Rich Forum and Quick Center for the Arts and the Yale Off-Broadway Theater in CT.

Synthesis Dance Project, NYC
Tracie Stanfield's unique dance vision as executed by her technically proficient and emotionally charged female dancers. Her diverse repertoire draws from jazz, contemporary and non-traditional dance styles. Firmly grounded in classical technique and pulling from jazz, contemporary and non-traditional dance styles, the performances reflect connections between movement and emotion. Noted for their athletic ability, technical diversity and emotional performance quality, the core of SDP lies in the capable bodies of its female dancers. Harmonizing and blending movement to gesture, exploring the human experience, each piece invites the audience to personalize the journey and discover the work from their own unique experience.

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JAZZART
Experience the energy, rigors and dynamic of a jazz dance class as presented by Lauri MacLean, director of Jazzworx Dance Center, and several of her advanced dancers. You will see isolations, stretch and strength exercises performed to music culminating in a choreographed sequence. Audience participation is welcome. Members of Jazzart will perform several acclaimed pieces at the end of the demonstration.

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SUZUKI School of Music
Children ages three to sixteen will be sharing their love of music. These talented violinists and guitarists from the Talent Education Suzuki School in Norwalk will play music by Bach, Brahms, Paganini, and more. While they primarily perform as an ensemble, a few advanced students will be featured as well. A must see!

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Randy Orwig
The Living Statue

Infinite Roots (Henry Jones)
Infinite Roots is an organization that focuses on community based cultural development. It is based out of Stamford CT, and lead by its Founder, Master Drummer and multi instrumentalist, Henry Jones. One of the major goals of Infinite Roots is to allow its participants to discover culture through Drum and Dance. While Infinite Roots focuses on African Drum and Dance, the aim is to encourage participants to discover their own ethnic heritage. Infinite Roots currently offers instruction to well over 300 students who come from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. During the Sono Arts Celebration Puppet Parade, Infinite Roots will present traditional African songs, with traditional West African instrumentation, in traditional garments worn by a group as large as 75 musicians.

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