Relax at Ford Arts, Beats, & Eats Events at Royal Oak Music Theatre 9/2-9/5 ROYAL OAK

“COOL” EVENTS FROM FORD ARTS, BEATS & EATS TO INVADE THE ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATRE

Back for its second year at Ford Arts, Beats & Eats presented by Citizens Bank, the Royal Oak Music Theatre (ROMT) will play host to a vastly expanded entertainment lineup during Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-5, 2011. For four straight days and nights, the ROMT will offer festival-goers “beats” from vibrant local and national bands, including headliners Lukas Nelson, Ty Stone, Goober & The Peas and Jason Jones, as well as the chance to browse a sampling of artwork in a mini art fair in the theatre lobby and wings, while providing 80,000 sq. ft. of air-conditioned splendor inside the venue. Visitors also will have the opportunity to showcase their dance moves in a special “Footloose” Dance Contest judged by the October 2011 film’s star Kenny Wormald and writer/director Craig Brewer.

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE WITH $3 ADMISSION TO THE FESTIVAL.

Presented by Michigan Lottery, Heineken, and Jack Daniels, the “cool events at the ROMT” add a whole other level of excitement in downtown Royal Oak for the 14th annual Ford Arts, Beats & Eats, pushing the total number of bands and entertainment for this year’s festival to more than 200 acts performing for crowds on eleven stages. This cool mini-festival inside the ROMT will create the same Ford Arts, Beats & Eats atmosphere, only it will be indoors.

“The Royal Oak Music Theatre has been a key partner, enabling the festival to expand its entertainment offerings by hosting four days of attractions this year,” said Jon Witz, producer of the Ford Arts, Beats & Eats. “Our relationship with the venue demonstrates our synergistic relationship with the Royal Oak business community and is part of our overall strategy to grow the festival.”

The ROMT stage will feature an all day and night lineup of nonstop music and entertainment, with performances from 25 top local bands, including Rock n’ roll bands will take the stage Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and country music enthusiasts will enjoy a full day lineup of country tunes on Monday.

Goober & The Peas

On Friday, Sept. 2, Real Detroit Weekly will present a full day rock line-up with national cowpunk band from Detroit Goober & The Peas closing the show. Goober & The Peas, the seminal band known for blending odd humor to a darker side of country music and for their exciting live acts, has performed with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Bob Dylan, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Morphine, Uncle Tupelo and Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and headlined the Transmusicales Festival in France.

The Gelheads

On Saturday, Sept. 3, the Metro Times Summer Blowout’s rock music makes waves at the ROMT. The beats continue with sounds from The Gelheads with Frankie D’Angelo, hard rock band Taddy Porter from Oklahoma and Detroit’s downriver boy and country crooner powerhouse Ty Stone closing the evening. Stone’s music combines the soul of Motown with southern country influences and his new album American Style, his Top Dog/Atlantic Records debut, is described as a “full immersion in the trials and joys of love in the land of blue collars with the theme of the working man heavily reoccurring in the music.” The album was executive produced by his close pal Kid Rock.

To get the party started and festival patrons hoppin’, the ROMT will be host to a Footloose Dance Contest on Saturday afternoon where aspiring dancers can take to the stage to show off their best moves for the film’s writer/director Craig Brewer (“Hustle & Flow,” “Black Snake Moan”) and Hollywood newcomer Kenny Wormald. Wormald, who plays lead Ren MacCormack in “FOOTLOOSE,” has been dancing since the age of six and has appeared in “Center Stage 2,” “You Got Served,” “Jackass 2” and “Clerks 2.” Contestants will need to pre-register to perform on stage for the judges for a chance to win prizes, including one grand prize. “FOOTLOOSE,” also starring Dennis Quaid and Julianne Hough, is scheduled to hit theaters October 14 and delivers a new take of the beloved 1984 classic film. Details on the competition rules and great prizes will be announced soon.

Lukas Nelson

The rock doesn’t stop on Sunday, Sept. 4, as singer-songwriter-guitarist Lukas Nelson, who is following in the footsteps of his famous father Willie Nelson, will bring down the house as the headliner. Nelson is no stranger to the music scene, and, as some have said, was “born to play music.” He and his is southern-folk-rock group, Promise of the Real, have played with everyone from B.B. King, Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Bachman & Turner, Toots & the Maytals, the Meat Puppets, and, of course, Willie Nelson, among others. He most recently performed as part of this year’s FARM AID in Kansas City, and looks forward to hitting the studio in September to record the band’s next record, which will be co-produced by Promise of the Real and Bob Seger’s guitarist James Moose Brown.

Also performing on Sunday is a bevy of veteran Detroit rock bands formed in the 60s and 70s, including Salem Witchcraft, The Look, and SRC, which was a staple at many local rock venues and will open for Nelson. The theme of the evening is to recreate a classic rock show similar to Detroit’s infamous Grande Ballroom era. The Barbara Payton Band is also on tap to delight crowds. Payton, the legendary Detroit rock singer with the soulful, bluesy voice, is best known as a long-time back-up singer for Bob Seger and has toured with Kid Rock, Pat Benatar and Eddie Money.

Jason Jones

On Monday, Sept. 5, fans can check out a full line-up of country music sensations at WYCD’s Country Music Showcase including Headliner Jason Jones, teen musician Paulina Jayne; Alan Turner, whose traditional country sounds incorporate a rockin’ edge; and Annabelle Road, Michigan’s premiere young country band. Jason Jones, who is signed to Warner Bros. Records Nashville, made his chart debut in May 2011 with the chart-topping single “Ferris Wheel.” Considered a triple threat as a songwriter, guitarist, and singer, Jones’ voice has been compared to that of greats Keith Urban and John Mellencamp. His highly-anticipated debut album is slated to his stores later this year. Annabelle Road was handpicked as "Next Big Star" finalists on Kenny Chesney's "Poets & Pirates" tour for their debut and has performed with country greats like Phil Vassar and Gretchen Wilson.

Visitors to this year’s festival who are looking to take a break from the summer heat can step into the comfort of the theatre’s lobby and browse artwork on display in a spectacular art fair from 18 Michigan-based artists, and enjoy tasty eats from Big Mike’s Southwestern Grill throughout the weekend for patrons wanting to dine indoors.


“Cool Events at the Royal Oak Music Theater” schedule is as follows:

Friday, September 2
5:30 p.m. to 6:30pm StaggoLee
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. American Secrets
8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Muggs
10:00 p.m. Goober & The Peas

Saturday, September 3
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wally Dogger
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Footloose Dance Contest judged by Kenny Wormald and Craig Brewer
5:30 p.m. to 6:30pm The Gelheads
7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Doop & the Inside Outlaws
8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Taddy Porter
10:00 p.m. Ty Stone

Sunday, September 4
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Romeo Flynns
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pasman’s Super Session
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Barbara Payton Band
5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Salem Witchcraft
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Look
8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. SRC
10:00 p.m. Lukas Nelson

Monday, September 5
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Paulina Jayne
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Alan Turner
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 pm Redhill
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Centerville
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Annabelle Road
7:30 p.m. Jason Jones

The 14th annual Arts, Beats & Eats, Oakland County's Taste, Music & Arts Festival, will be held over Labor Day weekend in downtown Royal Oak, September 2-5, 2011. Approximately 423,000 visitors attended the 2010 Ford Arts, Beats & Eats in its new home in Royal Oak. Fan them on Facebook or follow us them Twitter @artsbeatseats. For additional public information, visit www.artsbeatseats.com or call 248-334-4600.

Enjoy!

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