May 7, 2007
For more information, contact:
Jane Beal,
617-349-4381, jbeal@cambridgema.gov
Sonia Tsao, 617-349-4380, stsao@cambridgema.gov
Twist and Shout along the Charles River
A Collage of Dance, Music & the Arts – The 28th Cambridge River Festival
June 16, 2007
Cambridge, MA –C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon, baby, now! The 28th annual Cambridge River Festival is back to kick-off summer along scenic Memorial Drive between Western Avenue and JFK Street, Saturday, June 16, noon– 6 p.m. This year’s theme, Twist and Shout, celebrates the arts loudly and proudly along one of Cambridge’s most idyllic spots, the Charles River. Presented by the Cambridge Arts Council, the Cambridge River Festival brings a rich array of culture and arts to over 100,000 people of all ages.
Enjoy a day of music, dance, poetry, visual art, hands-on art activities, international food, and handmade arts & crafts for sale. The multiple stages feature a bevy of amazing artists, including an exciting line-up of talent from The Regattabar (The Charles Hotel, Harvard Square), the leading jazz club in the New England area.
This event is FREE and held RAIN or SHINE.
MAIN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
The 28th Cambridge River Festival is all about movement: bodies twirl on the Twist stage, voices carry on the Shout stage, little ones bounce and burble on the Wiggle & Giggle stage, and festivalgoers will be “moved” by the various art installations that populate the mile-long site.
One of the hallmarks of the festival has been the range of music showcased ~ from the sublime sonics of gospel music to the traditional tones of folk tunes, embracing the avant-grade, eclectic jazz and world rhythms ~ the Cambridge River Festival has something for every musical taste. With an eye towards celebrating the rich diversity of Cambridge creativity, movement arts and temporary art installations have also had an important role for over two decades.
Performance Stages
Three stages envelop the river banks in global sounds of music and dance ranging from the graceful melodies of traditional Cambodian song to the driving energy of Brazilian dance-music. And the ever-popular Kid’s Area offers dance workshops throughout the day.
Regattabar Stage – By the Weld Boathouse at JFK Street
Hosted by Eric Jackson and Ron Gill of WGBH Radio
Performers are selected by the Regattabar located at the Charles Hotel in the heart of Harvard Square. Since its opening in January 1985, Regattabar has become the leading jazz club in New England.
| 12 noon & 4pm | Maya Azucena | Indie soul songbird combines raw vocal power with intelligent lyrics and urban beats |
| 1pm | GospeLive Revue | A journey through the evolution of Gospel music in a high-energy cabaret show |
| 2pm | Robin Eubanks & EB3 | Premier trombonist and his electric jazz trio, featuring Kenwood Dennard and Michele Rosewoman, fuses jazz, funk and rock. |
| 3pm | Obbini Tumbao | Afro-Cuban jazz with infectious rhythms and smooth vocals |
| 5pm | Forro in the Dark | High-energy, percussion-driven Brazilian dance music group inhales new life into traditional Forro |
Twist Stage - Across from Plympton Street
Hosted by Alice Hunter, Artistic Director of On·e·on, Contemporary Dance Theatre.
A colorful range of classical, urban and modern movement grace this stage and a leading choreographer invites audience members to be part of the performance process.
| 12 Noon | Somaly Hay | Traditional Cambodian Dance |
| 1pm | OrigiNation | High-energy musical theatre showcasing hip-hop, modern dance and poetry |
| 2pm | Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre | Young Dancers Program |
| 3pm & 4pm | Caitlin Corbett Dance Company | Corbett and members of her company will teach the audience - that means you! - a dance that will be performed on-the-spot |
Shout Stage - Across from Flagg Street
A third stage will send voices soaring with an outstanding display of vocal stylings from choral and gospel groups. Celebrating both the historical meaning of shout as call and response songs as well as the hip hop term of shout-out as acknowledgement, the dexterity of the human voice will reign.
| 12 Noon | Bongo Love | Dance-inducing music merges Zimbabwean call-and-shout vocal styles with globally inspired melodies |
| 1pm | Rev. Tracy Gibbs | |
| 1:30pm | Angels Without Wings | |
| 2:00pm | New England Gospel Ensemble | |
| 2:30pm | St. Paul Liturgical Dancers | |
| 3:00pm | Boston Children's Choir | Featuring children grades 2-12 |
| 4:00pm | Bobby Tynes & Company | Renowned saxophone player and music educater performs with his resident band |
| 4:30pm | Berklee City Music All Stars | City Music Scholarship graduates showcase powerful tunes from across multiple genres including jazz, pop, hip-hop and blues |
| 5:00pm | Gospel Corinthians | Southern-styled female gospel quartet |
Kids Area
Welcome to a world of imagination and creation. The Kid’s Area is dedicated to interactive, educational activities that are bound to keep little hands, feet and minds busy. Community schools, non-profit groups and cultural institutions offer a range of options with the emphasis on Try It – You’ll Like It!
Wiggle and Giggle Stage – Memorial Drive near JFK Street
Hosted by ToRena Webb.
Get up and move! Dance workshops for kids in every style.
| 12 Noon | OmBellyCo | American tribal belly dancing |
| 12:30-1:45pm | Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre | Three ballet workshops designed for children ages 4-9 |
| 2pm | Performance Project | Featuring students from Fletcher-Maynard Academy led by ToRena Webb |
| 3pm | Rosalba Solis & La Pinata | Central and South American folk dance |
| 4pm | Chhandika | Indian Kathak Dance |
| 5pm | School of Groove presents Stompt! | Percussion and urban dance styles |
Art Installations
What would a community arts festival be without the showcase of local artists? Since its inception, the Cambridge River Festival has proved a fascinating laboratory for experimental public art. This year local and regional artists’ work is spread throughout the festival site.
Moving Art
Responding to a challenge to create temporary mobile structures, five artists/teams were selected whose works interact with the surroundings and the audience in a way not possible in the confines of a gallery space.
| Public Art Youth Council | Suspended sculptures incorporating four elements of the festival environment (light, sound, wind and water) |
| Ken Reker | Gilded floating frame that offers an ever-changing "picture" as it moves with the river currents |
| Mitch Ryerson | StarWheel, a human powered wooden sculpture |
| Skraeling Scavengers | A trio of artists invite you to add on to their Mastodon-shaped sculpture made entirely from found objects |
| Kris Wills | A traveling Japanese-inspired pagoda vehicle with an interactive theatrical scooter drill team |
Cambridge Cityscapes - Weeks Footbridge
While Moving Art will stun the audience with their visual impact, sound designers Ben Emerson and Jeff Jones will capture the ears of festival-goers through their installation along the Weeks Footbridge. An aural journey through Cambridge using the MBTA Red Line as an anchor, each subway stop serves as a collection point for the iconic sounds that represent the distinctive neighborhoods of Cambridge. All sound material used in this piece has been collected by Emerson and Jones over months of field recordings and research. As pedestrians cross the 300 foot span of the Weeks Footbridge, they will travel through an aural landscape of Cambridge. How well do you know the sounds that surround you?
Silver Swimmers
Butoh inspired silent dance trio will “swim” through the festival crowd. Their mesmerizing slow-motion, underwater movements create an other-worldly experience that contrasts with the busy festival atmosphere and offers a sense of calm and mysterious magic.
Sponsors
The Cambridge River Festival, an annual event since 1974, happens each year with the generous funding of donors and sponsors. Cambridge Arts Council gratefully acknowledges the generous support of its sponsors: Novartis, Burt's Bees, Microsoft, Dunkin' Donuts, Draper Laboratory, Wrigley’s, WGBH 89.7FM, Harvard University and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
QUICK FACTS:
| WHAT: | Summer kicks off with the 28th Cambridge River Festival, a FREE one-day celebration of the arts along the banks of the Charles River, featuring:
|
| WHEN: | Saturday, June 16, 2007 - Rain or Shine! 12Noon - 6pm |
| WHERE: | A mile-long stretch of Memorial Drive between JFK St. and Western Ave.
Between Harvard Square & Central Square on Memorial Drive Nearest T station: Harvard Square Handicapped accessible |
| ATTENDANCE: | 100,000+ annually |
| TICKETS: | Event is FREE |
| PRODUCER: | Cambridge Arts Council - an award-winning city arts agency founded in 1974
Website: www.cambridgeartscouncil.org ~ Phone: 617-349-4380 |
| CONTACTS: | Jane Beal 617-349-4381 jbeal@CambridgeMA.gov
Sonia Tsao 617-349-4380 stsao@CambridgeMA.gov |
| PHOTOS: | 300 dpi photos are available -Click “Download large version” at: http://www.cambridgema.gov/gallery/?AlbumID=119 |