Cottonwood AZ (November 21, 2011) – This holiday season Old Town Center for the Arts will bring four special concerts to the stage. From blues and Bellydance to Nitty Gritty Dirt Band legend John McEuen and the world’s premier Native American Flute Player R. Carlos Nakai, you’re invited to celebrate the season with these outstanding performing artists. Read the short descriptions below and mark your calendars for these special events.
Right in the middle of the holiday season, in the hustle and bustle, take some time to shake your blues with the Holiday Blues Revue, presented by Joe Neri & Blues Dawg, on Saturday, December 3 at 7:00 pm. This concert features some of the best blues talent in Northern Arizona, including Keys Marsh on keyboard, Duane Ewing on sax, Hutch Hutchinson on bass, Robert Church on drums, and Joe Neri on guitar. For this 4th annual Holiday Blues Revue special guest Dan Bresnan, who is known for his wide versatility and tasteful musicianship, joins Blues Dawg. Put down your holiday shopping pack, give your computer mouse a rest and put on your foot stomping shoes – for some pure blues. The Holiday Blues Revue is sponsored by Verde Valley Olive Oil Traders and Ledbetter Law.
On Sunday, December 4th at 3:00 pm Caravan Dreams, a Bellydance Showcase, will be presented at Old Town Center for the Arts. This theatrical bellydance show is produced by Carrie Konyha, one of the best bellydance artists in the Southwest. The show will feature White Lotus Bellydance and other guest performers of Northern Arizona. Always a popular event, see this special holiday event within the pristine lighting and vintage ambience of OTCA.
John McEuen, a founding member of the legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, returns to Old Town for a concert on Saturday, December 10th at 7:00 pm. Here’s an opportunity to see a true folk legend in an intimate setting right here in the Verde Valley. A broad spectrum of music Americana, with a bit of “the old country” music thrown in for good measure, has made John McEuen known as America’s instrumental poet. His musical impressions from over 30 years of worldwide travels are brought to the stage with performing expertise that sets him apart from others, and focuses on acoustic guitar, banjo, fiddle, and mandolin. John’s 3rd performance at OTCA will be a special concert with holiday songs and stories sprinkled in to his entertaining repertoire. John’s son Nathan McEuen, an incredibly talented musician in his own right, joins his father for this not-to-be-missed concert.
R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton and Will Clipman present ‘Winter Dreams’ on Saturday, December 17, at 7:00 pm. This holiday concert features music from Nakai & Eaton’s best selling Winter Dreams album, which includes some of the world’s favorite Christmas melodies, including What Child Is This, Coventry Carol, We Three Kings and Silent Night. The trio will also present music from their Grammy nominated albums: Dancing Into Silence and In A Distant Place, and new music they are working on for tours to Spain and Russia next spring.
Old Town Center for the Arts is located at 633 N. 5th Street (5th Street & Main) in Old Town Cottonwood
Tickets for all Holiday Concerts are available online at showtix4u.com. Tickets are also available in Cottonwood at: Jerona Java Café, Desert Dancer; and in Sedona at: Crystal Magic, and Golden Word Bookstore. This year special holiday gift packages and ‘giving’ opportunities are available. To learn more visit www.oldtowncenter.org or call 928-634-0940.