Chandler Center for the Arts Announces 2008 Free Summer Concert Series

Five Free Concerts this Summer 
Performances on  July 26, August 2 and 16, September 6 and 19

CHANDLER, Ariz. – The Chandler Center for the Arts, the premier cultural resource that focuses on leading, advocating and advancing arts and culture in the greater Chandler area, announces the return of its annual, free summer concert season beginning Saturday, July 26th.    The 2008 summer series features five family-friendly, free to the public concerts.  Tickets are not required and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.  Foyer doors will open one hour prior to show-time and doors to the theater will open a half hour prior to show-time. 

“The concert series was very popular last summer, and we are delighted to bring the program back again this year,” said Katrina Mueller, General Manager at the Chandler Center for the Arts.  “It’s a fun way for the public to become more familiar with our venue and experience different kinds of music.”

The free summer concert series kicks-off on Saturday, July 26, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. with the Trans Celtic Gala featuring Oceans Apart, the McTeggart Irish Dancers and the Phoenix Pipe Band.

The music is infectious and includes everything from breathless jigs and hornpipes to the more relaxed popular ballads. Oceans Apart band mates John Good and Steve Colby met on a recording session several years ago and since then, have delighted audiences of every imaginable kind with their songs and instrumentals drawn from the inexhaustible wellsprings of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and North America.  For more information, visit their website at www.oceansapartmusic.com.

The series continues on Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 7:30 pm with the Armand Boatman Be Bop Revolution.  The high-energy, daring, crowd-pleasing jazz quintet performs music encompassing the emergence of modern jazz with Be Bop to Neo Traditional original compositions.  The music of pioneering jazz composers Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie, Tadd Dameron and Hank Mobley is the featured repertoire, with original compositions spanning swing, blues gospel and Bop styles.  The personnel is an all star cast from Phoenix, Arizona, all with a long track record of recording dates, appearances with major jazz figures, festivals and tours.

On Saturday, August 16, 2008, the series continues with a 7:30 p.m. performance by Mikioi.  Originally from Hawaii, Mikioi brings their brand of Jawaiian-style reggae together with elements of Hawaiian music and roots reggae, as well as the influence of mainland pop and R&B. The members of Mikioi are now Phoenix-based.  For more information, visit Mikioi on their MySpace page.

The free summer concert series concludes in September after two amazing performances.  On Saturday, September 6, 2008, Susan Artemis will entertain the crowd on piano and with vocals starting at 7:30 p.m.  She plays regularly at Tucson-area clubs and restaurants, as well as in concert and jazz festivals.  She charms audiences with her sultry voice and sophisticated piano interpretations of classic jazz standards by the likes of Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, Cole Porter and others.  For more information, visit her website at www.susanartemis.com.

On Friday, September 19, 2008, Meadowlark will perform at 7:30 p.m.  The duo, guitarist Rick Cyge and flutist Lynn Trombetta, have created music that is as magical and enchanting as it is unsuited to any conventional definition.  According to Cyge, “New World Music” best describes the duo that have created a signature sound all their own.  For more information, visit the website at www.meadowlarkmusic.com.

This series is supported in part by the Ocotillo Tribune and the Ahwatukee Foothills News.

For a complete schedule visit the website at www.chandlercenter.org.

About Chandler Center for the Arts
The Chandler Center for the Arts is jointly owned by the City of Chandler and the Chandler Unified School District.  The Chandler Cultural Foundation was contracted in 1989 by the City of Chandler as a means to facilitate programming and fund development for the Chandler Center for the Arts.

While the Chandler Center for the Arts is a City of Chandler and Chandler Unified School District building, its artistic and outreach programs are privately supported.  The Chandler Center for the Arts receives no direct appropriations for artistic programming.  Its appropriations must be applied only to the maintenance and operation of the actual building. Ticket sales and other earned income cover only part of the Center’s programming expenses, which means it must rely on donations in order to deliver quality arts programs at an affordable cost to the public.  Membership contributions sustain a spectacular array of services and programs.  To become a member or to purchase tickets with no per-ticket fee, visit the website at www.chandlercenter.org.

The Chandler Center for the Arts is located at the northwest corner of Chandler Blvd. and Arizona Ave. in Chandler, Ariz.  For more information call, 480.782.2680.