“Rock Around The Park” at Annual Banana Split Festival

05-20-2008

 

Wilmington, Ohio – May 19, 2008 – As always, the 2008 Banana Split Festival will be bringing attendees some of the best talent around, featuring music from the ‘50s and ‘60s.  On Friday, June 13, BLUESTONE IVORY will perform. 

What began as a group of high school grads that played for high school dances and clubs, evolved into a group with a killer horn section that went on to become one of Cincinnati’s premiere bands for the next decade.  As live bands fall out of favor with club owners and band personnel changes, BlueStone Ivory faded from the limelight, but as the alumni prepared for their 30th high school reunion, the committee realized that a DJ playing CD’s for a crowd accustomed to live music was not going to work and the idea of a BlueStone reunion was born. After phone calls were made to persuade members to come out of retirement, the challenge was accepted by the nine-piece group. Their objective was to recreate the thrill of hearing live music of the 60’s and 70’s as it was originally performed almost 30 years before.

 

With the organizational skills of Moeller High Schools class of “69” reunion, they managed to regroup the original members.  Under the direction of keyboardist and music director, original horn parts were written, fingers were callused and voices were rediscovered while horn players endured hours of lip master workouts. After a year of practice and intense rehearsal, the reunion debut was received with the excitement and enthusiasm reminiscent of those earlier club days.  As a result of the overwhelming response from the dancers that evening, the decision was made for the band to continue.  BlueStone Ivory was the 2002 Cammy Award Winner for Best Classic Rock bank in Cincinnati, and the 2003 Cammy Award Winner for Cincinnati’s Favorite Band.  Be sure and catch them on Friday night.

 

Cowboy Mark Wood, of Jackson, OH, who combines comedy, magic, rope spinning, balloons and audience participation in all of his shows, will be presenting two shows on Saturday, June 14.  Woods’s performances are extremely fast-paced, full of high-energy fun. Wood is a full-time entertainer who travels throughout the Midwest. He loves to make people laugh! 

Saturday’s musical entertainment will include Streetwise, a group that has been around a long time and warms the crowd up with a wonderful program of music that spans the decades.  They have an amazing following.  Don’t miss their music.

 

The featured musical group on Saturday, June 14, at 8 pm, is PHIL DIRT AND THE DOZERS.  Their "Rock 'N R'oldies" review (and the most popular vintage rock and roll show in the nation) will help you recapture those wonderful days! With their musical talent, high energy and contagious sense of humor, Phil Dirt and the Dozers will transport you to another time and place. . . namely, the 50's, 60's, and 70's of Rock and Roll! Imagine hearing ‘The Four Seasons' Sherry with the original falsetto vocals intact. . . or the hauntingly beautiful Righteous Brothers' Unchained Melody. Imagine the Platters' Soul-stirring Only You performed with all the scratches and skips found on a well-worn 33 1/3 record, the way the Dozers first learned it! The Phil Dirt Time Machine also stops in the 70's, where you'll experience some of this decade's greatest hits including those from the Doobie Brothers, Eagles and even the O'Jays.
 
The PHIL DIRT AND THE DOZERS' nostalgia show encompasses three decades of great music and is performed absolutely live with a sophisticated yet light-hearted approach that creates an atmosphere all ages will enjoy.

 

The schedule on Friday and Saturday is full.  For a complete listing, go to www.bananasplitfestival.com or call 1-877-4-A-VISIT.

 

 

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