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- Rock Gone Wild Adds Candlebox, Saxon, Gypsy Pistoleros
Four days. More than 50 bands. Multiple genres of rock. It's time to get wild. Workaholics Candlebox will rock the main stage at Rock Gone Wild. British Metallers Saxon and the Gypsy Pistoleros have agreed to cross the pond just to party with you at the festival. Rock Gone Wild is slated for August 20-23 in Algona, Iowa. Forming in the early 1990s, Candlebox immediately broke from their Seattle brethren. While many bands from the region followed the grunge path, Candlebox made their own way. Blending modern sound with classic guitar rock, Candlebox created their own unique sound - and gathered an army of fans along the way. The band's self-titled debut became a near instant success, spawning several hit singles including "Far Behind" and "You." Candlebox are currently supporting their newest hit album Into the Sun, released earlier this year. Candlebox is Kevin Martin (vocals, guitar), Peter Klett (guitar), Scott Mercado (drums), Adam Kury (bass) and Sean Hennesy (rhythm guitar). Leading the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Saxon formed at the end of the 1970s and created a signature sound that new bands still attempt to imitate today. Saxon released their self-titled debut in 1979, but it wasn't until 1980 and Wheels of Steel that the band really began to take hold. Since the early years, Saxon has weathered several lineup changes and continued to tour heavily and record new music. Lead singer Biff Byford has remained a constant force in the band, bringing a balls out in-your-face Metal show to each and every paying customer. Be warned! Stand close to the stage when Saxon plays and you will be rocked. Saxon is Biff Byford (vocals), Doug Scarratt (guitar), Paul Quinn (guitar), Nibbs Carter (bass) and Nigel Glockler (drums). The Gypsy Pistoleros are the world's greatest flamenco glam band! If you've never seen the Gypsy Pistoleros perform live...get ready: you'll never be the same again. The band is a mix of Brit charm, Spanish flavor and glam swagger. Lee Pistolero (vocals), Iggie Pistolero (guitar), Nasty Pistolero (bass) and Harri Pistolero (drums) are the Gypsy Pistoleros. Bands already announced for Rock Gone Wild include Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Skid Row, Tantric, Kix, Great White, Hardcore Superstar, Saigon Kick, Tigertailz, Lizzy Borden, Dangerous Toys, Helix, Rhino Bucket and Junkyard with many more to come! Visit www.rockgonewild.com. - Blues Foundation Nominates Castiglia for Song of the Year
"Bad Year Blues," a track written and performed by Miami-based singer/guitarist Albert Castiglia on his 2008 CD release, These Are the Days, was nominated for "Song of the Year" by The Blues Foundation in an announcement made today. Winners in all categories will be announced at the 30th Annual Blues Music Awards Show on May 7, 2009, at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The Blues Foundation nominating committee was obviously taken with the killer guitar hooks and memorable lyrics of "Bad Year Blues," the lead-off track on These Are the Days, a CD that helped launch Albert Castiglia to new heights in both critical acclaim and album sales. In addition to "Bad Year Blues," his latest CD also contains four other original songs written by Castiglia, including "Godfather of the Blues," a tribute to his former boss and mentor, the late, legendary Junior Wells. "Albert Castiglia shows an expressiveness and originality in approach that identifies him as an emerging star within contemporary blues circles," said Nashville's City Paper in its review. Miami's New Times cited the CD as "a worthy platform for his searing vocals, which are authoritative beyond his relatively modest years, as well as his extraordinary performing prowess ... his exceptional solos, sizzling slide guitar, and firebrand execution reflect the thrill of his live sets and make These Are the Days a memorable statement." Blues Revue summed it up best when it said: "This is a flat-out, hands-down, unconditionally great record." Born in New York and raised in Miami, Albert Castiglia began playing guitar at 12. In 1990, he became a member of The Miami Blues Authority and was later voted "Best Blues Guitarist" by New Times magazine in 1997. Shortly thereafter, he was spotted by legendary blues singer/harmonica player Junior Wells, who asked Castiglia to join his band as a guitarist and singer. With Wells as his mentor, Albert performed at clubs and festivals across America, as well as in Canada and Europe. During that time, he also got the opportunity to play and jam with many other blues stars, including Pinetop Perkins, Ronnie Earl, Billy Boy Arnold, Lurrie Bell, Jerry Portnoy, Eddy Clearwater and Otis Clay. After Junior Wells passed away, Castiglia toured with Atlanta blues singer Sandra Hall. In 2002, Albert launched his solo career with the debut CD, Burn, collaborating with his longtime friend, Graham Wood Drout of south Florida band Iko-Iko. Drout's visceral, yet literary songs became the perfect vehicle for Castiglia's soulful vocals, which recall Van Morrison, and stinging guitar playing. In 2006, he released his second album, A Stone's Throw, which included two more Drout compositions, "Big Toe," and the amazing "Ghosts of Mississippi," which has all the earmarks of becoming a blues classic. Castiglia and Drout also released a live CD together, titled The Bittersweet Sessions, in 2005. For more, visit albertcastiglia.com. - TFMF Acquires Kerrville Folk Fest
In a move to preserve, celebrate and educate the public about the original and eclectic fabric of American music, the Texas Folk Music Foundation (TFMF), a 501(c)3 Texas Non-profit Corporation, today announced it has acquired the assets of Kerrville Folk Festival, Inc., including the Kerrville Folk Festival and the Kerrville Wine & Music Festival, two of the premier folk and singer/songwriter festivals in the country. The "Kerrville Folk Festival," will now benefit from the tax-free donation of private and public monies to support and promote songwriters, songwriting, folk music education and live performances of traditional folk, bluegrass, acoustic rock, blues, country, jazz and Americana music. Donations from Foundation and Festival supporters made this transition possible. Since 1972, the Kerrville Folk Festival (KFF) has been known internationally as a mecca for singer songwriters of various musical styles. For 18 straight days and nights each May and June, over 30,000 guests come from around the world to experience the magic of what they simply call "Kerrville". More than just a folk music festival, the event is intended to promote emerging artists as well as recognized, seasoned talent, the likes of which have included musicians such as Peter, Paul and & Mary, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Michelle Shocked, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams, and Nancy Griffith, among others. "The Kerrville Folk Festival is a miracle of plain ole' goodness of spirit, welcoming community and stunningly beautiful hand-made music," said renowned folk singer Peter Yarrow. "The old pros like me are honored and respected in ways that make us feel we are truly coming home when we return, year after year. Thank goodness for those that have kept the faith so that Kerrville not only survived, but remained true to its roots, spiritually and musically. I am personally beyond grateful." "The Kerrville Folk Festival has always been a major part of our Folk Alliance Community and provides a connection between the legendary songwriters of the past and the generations of songwriters to come," said Louis Jay Meyers, executive director of the Folk Alliance. "The art of songwriting should be cherished, respected and celebrated. The Kerrville family makes this a reality every year." The Kerrville Wine & Music Festival has the same musical format as the Folk festival, but with an additional focus on Texas Wines. Held each year over Labor Day weekend, this annual three-day event combines camping, music, and the best wines Texas winemakers have to offer. In addition to afternoon and evening concerts, there are Saturday and Sunday wine seminars which pair food morsels with the vintners' choice of wine. TFMF was founded in 1999 to educate, preserve and promote public appreciation and support for songwriters, songwriting and folk music in all its forms. Since then, the Foundation has worked with KFF to deliver a range of music education programs and workshops that include: • Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters - TFMF's highest profile program has been the springboard for the careers of many well-known artists; 32 Finalists are selected from 800 entries, six of whom are chosen as Award Winners to perform on the second weekend of the Festival. • Summer Youth Music Camp - over thirty children ages 11 to 18 from Texas and across the country participate in programs to "find your voice through music," including song structure, rhyming, rhythm, writing lyric poetry, songwriting and canoeing with a twist. • Songwriter School - accomplished, professional songwriters come from