Chattanooga, Tenn. (August 1, 2012) – The weather might be hot, but the entertainment planned for this year’s Bessie Smith Heritage Festival promises to be even hotter. Now in its 5th year, the music festival has been expanded to a two-day celebration of culture, music, and visual arts.
The following activities and musical performances are planned on Saturday, August 18 and Sunday, August 19 at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center located at 200 E. Martin Luther King Boulevard in the heart of Chattanooga.
Saturday, August 18
10 am – 4 pm – Bessie’s Arts on “9th Street”
Families are invited to stroll on the grounds of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center to view art created by a variety of regionally acclaimed artists. Artists along with merchandisers will offer unique merchandise for sale.
The event will include flavorful food, live musical performances by Chattanooga’s blues band, Rick Rushing and the Blues Strangers.
The Bessie’s Arts on “9th Street” event is free and open to the public.
Bessie Smith Heritage Festival’s Neo Soul Night
6 pm - midnight
The Neo-Soul Night will feature performances by Baton Rouge brass and soul band, The Michael Foster Project, Blues recording artist, DieDra Ruff & the Ruff Pro Band, jazz recording artist & Musical Director, Joe Johnson and New York’s Neo-Soul and jazz recording artist, Rahsaan Patterson.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19
Bessie Smith Heritage Festival’s Free Artists Talk
3 pm – 4 p.m.
Participants will engage in an artist talk back with Grammy nominated jazz pianist, composer, and producer, Jeff Lorber at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center in the Atrium. Reservations are encouraged.
Bessie Smith Heritage Festival’s Jazz Night
6 pm – 11:00 p.m.
The Jazz Night will feature performances by Memphis Neo Soul artist and Apollo performer Karen Brown, renowned jazz pianist, Alex Bugon, Nashville’s jazz recording artist, Joe Johnson, and Grammy nominated Jazz pianist, composer, and producer, Jeff Lorber.
Individual daily general admission ticket prices are $25 in advance and $35 at the door for theatre style seating for the two-day music festival. Reserved tables are also available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.bessiesmithheritagefestival.com or at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center between the hours of 10 am – 5 pm (EST), or on Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 18, 2012 on the lawn - Bessies Smith Heritage Festival presents
Arts on Ninth
featuring
Rick Rushing & the Blues Strangers
2012 Bessie Smith Heritage Festival Line Up (in the building)
Starring - Saturday, August 18, 2012
Rahsaan Patterson
and featuring
The Michael Foster Project
DieDra Ruff & the Ruff Pro Band
Starring - Sunday, August 19, 2012
Jeff Lorber
Alex Bugnon
and featuring
Karen Brown
As always on both nights we will feature the Bessie Smith Heritage Festival musical director
Joe Johnson
with the
Joe Johnson Band
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Bessie Smith Cultural Center
200 East Martin Luther King Blvd.
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Copyright . Bessie Smith Cultural Center. All rights reserved.
