The Waco Cultural Arts Festival - September 17th, 18th and 19th will begin this year’s musical performances by honoring legendary Jazz musician and Waco native Richard Thomas. Richard, who recently passed away this year, spent the bulk of his life teaching and mentoring his fellow musicians. “It seemed fitting to begin this year’s event by providing an opportunity for local musicians to get some stage experience. I believe that Richard would have wanted it that way.” – Chris Ermoian, WCAF Entertainment Director.
Richard Thomas the "Pied Piper" was an avid supporter of the Waco Cultural Arts Fest. His last performance at the Spats and Spangles Fundraiser in Februrary 2010 benefitted the festival by helping to raise needed funds--money that keeps the festival free to everyone who attends.
DEL CASTILLO- LATIN ROCK/WORLD MUSIC
Del Castillo draws from an infinite well of sonic landscapes, gracefully fusing old world “gitano” with an intoxicatingly rhythmic combination of new world flamenco with rock & blues. Bringing a balanced mix of ballads and higher-intensity tunes sung in English and Spanish, Del Castillo has become a symbol of the cross-cultural power of music with their blend eclectic blend of Flamenco, Rock, Latin, Blues and World Music.
www.delcastillomusic.com
Texas Commision on the Arts (Grant pending)
TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA
Four time Grammy nominee, Trout Fishing in America combines distinctive songs, superb musicianship, intelligence, humor, charm and performance skill to excite and entertain their audience of all ages. Their songs cover a range of topics and themes, from odes to friends whom we love despite the fact they talk too much, to alien nose invasions and snowflakes named Bob.
www.troutmusic.com
Sponsored by
Texas Commision on the Arts (Grant pending)
Smart Start
BONHAM REVUE - BLUEGRASS
The Bonham Revue is carrying on a family tradition now for over 35 years in bluegrass entertainment. Over the years, the Bonham’s have been a part of over 20 records. Their roots date back into the 1970's as the Kiamichi Mountain Boys, then into the 1980's as Signal Mountain and the Bonham Brothers
www.thebonhamrevue.com
Mid American Arts Alliance
National Endowment for the Arts
Texas Commision on the Arts
WAYA INKA – MUSIC OF THE ANDES
Originating in 1984, Wayanay Inka has established an international reputation as among the finest exponents of Andean music playing music from the Peruvian Andes and Latin America using bamboo panpipes and flutes, charangos, guitars, ronrocos, bombo and more, performing original compositions and traditional songs with unique style.
www.waynay.com
Sponsored by
National Endowment for the Arts
Community Race Relations Coalition
Texas Commision on the Arts
CLASSIE BALLOU – LOUISIANA BLUES LEGEND
As a lifelong journeyman musician, Lake Charles guitarist Classie Ballou is a zydeco pioneer who is fluent in musical languages, from blues and R&B to mambo and rock ‘n’ roll. But Zydeco - is the sound he helped put on the map by backing Boozoo Chavis with the recording of the infamous
“Paper in My Shoe”.
www.myspace.com/classieballouband
Sponsored by
Tim and Jo Welter
HORTON DUO - WORLD MUSIC
The Horton Duo plays many different styles of music - Celtic, Spanish, Portuguese, American Jazz Standards, Renaissance, Greek, Christmas and other world music using a variety of instruments including soprano and alto recorders, guitar, lute, mandolin, bouzouki, requinto, flute, and percussion
www.myspace.com/hortonduomusic
MARK WOOD - ELECTRIFY YOUR STRINGS
Violinists, Mark Wood and Bridgid Bibbins, perform with student groups from WISD. Excited about the potential of the electric violin in contemporary music and fueled by his passion for designing newer and better electric violins, Mark devotes full time to following careers in composition, performance, music education, and violin making.
www.markwoodmusic.com
Sponsored by
Waco ISD Foundation
ERIC DOZIER - SING
Eric’s music explores the fusion of Gospel music with Latin and other world music styles. With stylized arrangements and spirited lyrics, Eric Dozier fuses African-American gospel and traditional spirituals with world rhythms into a musical elixir that the New York Times has called “...rousing”..
www.ericdozier.com
Sponsored by
Community Race Relations Coalition
OTHER PERFORMANCES BY:
Dance-A-Thon
Central Texas String Academny