VIP PICNIC WITH MAYOR HANCOCK AND FREE CONCERT – JULY 1st & 2nd
On July 1 and 2, 2014, Levitt Pavilion Denver will be celebrated with two events. The first, on July 1, will be a ticketed VIP event attended by Mayor Michael B. Hancock featuring Denver acts Alpha Schoolmarm Orchestra and Ark Life. The second event, on July 2 will be a free concert open to the public featuring the Levitt National Touring Act, Playing For Change. Both events begin at 5pm and end at 8:30pm. For More information about both events and to purchase VIP tickets visit: http://levittdenver.org/events.
About Levitt Pavilion Denver
Since 2012, a visionary group of local advocates has been on a mission to build a state-of-the-art amphitheater in Ruby Hill Park. This one-of–a-kind economic revitalization project is a unique partnership between the City and County of Denver and the national non-profit Levitt Pavilions.
Levitt Pavilion Denver is among the most exciting philanthropic opportunities in our community and will provide 50 free concerts a year featuring local, national and international musicians, with an emphasis on creative and diverse programming. This dedicated crew has reached an incredible milestone in the development process, and it’s time to celebrate!
An extremely limited number of tickets are now on sale for a one-of-a-kind VIP event on Tuesday, July 1. Special guests will dine outside with Mayor Hancock and be treated to the first official Sounds of Levitt Concert featuring Denver favorites Ark Life and Alpha Schoolmarm Orchestra, complemented by delicious fare by Occasions catering and flowing libations. The tireless Levitt leadership team will update the crowd with their progress, what’s to come in the next two years, and how others can get involved with this future Denver cultural institution.
On Wednesday, July 2nd, the party continues with a free concert in the park featuring the Levitt national touring act, Playing for Change. A prelude of what’s coming to Ruby Hill, the event also features a free drum circle, Q&A with the band, popular local food trucks and more information about Levitt Pavilion Denver. Bring your blanket and picnic baskets and enjoy meeting new neighbors!
VIP tickets for July 1st are on sale now and come with some extraordinary benefits for future Levitt Denver events. For more information about both events and to purchase tickets visit: http://levittdenver.org/events
Directions to Ruby Hill:
Conveniently located on South Platte River Drive, Levitt Pavilion Denver is minutes from downtown, the Highlands and Broadway corridor. The park is ¼ mile from the Evans Light Rail station and a beautiful 20-minute bike ride from downtown on the Platte River Trail. Driving? Parking is a breeze (and free!) and the views spectacular.
About the Music:
Sounds of Levitt – VIP Event on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 in Ruby Hill Park. 5:00-8:30 p.m.
The Alpha Schoolmarm Orchestra – opening Act
The 14-piece Alpha Schoolmarm Orchestra (ASO), based on early ’60s Jamaican Ska music, is conducted by Denver music veteran Chad Aman. This talented wall of sound truly dishes up an original musical experience. The show takes the audience on a roller coaster ride from ingenious Ska-inspired arrangements of standards (ranging from Lady Gaga to Rossini) to innovative orchestral originals. At points throughout the show, Aman literally “plays” the orchestra like an instrument, resulting in a remarkable feat of improvisation. You do not want to miss this one-of-a-kind musical tour de force!
http://www.alphaschoolmarmorchestra.com
“With Aman as maestro, the Alpha Schoolmarm Orchestra is spectacle for the eyes as well as the ears — an exhilaratingly modern variation on symphonic music.” –Laura Bond, Westword
Ark Life: Mile High Western Rock and Soul – Closing Act
The 3-part harmonies of pianist Lindsay Giles, bassist Anna Morsett, and guitarist Natalie Tate blend perfectly with veteran Denver drummer Ben Desoto (Nathaniel Rateliff, The Czars). With the addition of songwriter Jesse Elliott, the result is a mile high ocean of uplift, equal parts mischief and heartthrob, that pulls as much from contemporaries like The Mynabirds, Cotton Jones, and Sallie Ford as from the band’s enduring loves for CCR, Motown, Tom Petty, and the classic campfire sing-a-long. http://www.arklifemusic.com/
“Ark Life draws its biggest comparison to The Band … endlessly listenable folk-rock that would even make Bob Dylan proud. Fused with a little bit of soul, the group has a classic rock sensibility, but the taste of modern musicians.” –THE DENVER POST
Sounds of Levitt – Free Concert in the park Wednesday, July 2 in Ruby Hill Park – 5:00-8:30 p.m.
***Drum circle and Artist Q&A starts at 5:00 p.m.
Playing for Change – Main Performance: Dedicated to positive social change through music. The inaugural Levitt National Tour will feature critically acclaimed World music sensation Playing For Change. Co-founded in 2005 by GRAMMY-winning producer Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, Playing For Change is dedicated to positive social change through the universal language of music. Comprised of musicians hailing from six countries, representing four continents, the Playing For Change sound is a fusion of global influences. The band’s “Songs Around the World” videos catapulted them to the international stage in 2009. Playing For Change recordings feature the talents of hundreds of artists including U2’s Bono, Keb Mo’ and Manu Chao, among others. The band has appeared in concert and on recordings with such celebrated artists as Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Patti Smith and Vusi Mahlasela. With over 150 million YouTube views, Playing For Change has performed at legendary venues and festivals in Europe, the U.S. and Canada, Japan, Latin America and Africa. http://playingforchange.com/
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