Lake Champlain Maritime Festival Drops Anchor on Burlington Waterfront

 BURLINGTON, VT—The Lake Champlain Maritime Festival sails into Burlington’s Waterfront Park on Thursday, August 12 through Sunday, August 15, 2010! Lake Champlain Maritime Festival daytime admission is free (admission charged for nightly concerts). The celebration promises exciting events and activities within a spectacular setting on the shore of Lake Champlain.

Community Sailing Center presents the First Annual Run for the Lake 5k and Fun Race on Saturday, August 14 at10:30am, Waterfront Park at the Lake Champlain Maritime Festival! Enjoy refreshments, award and ribbon ceremonies. For more information and to register: info@communitysailingcenter.org.

This year, the Festival premiers the Lake Champlain Eco-Zone, an area for non-profit organizations that support the message thatLake Champlain is a beautiful and environmental treasure to be cherished and protected into the future. In addition, theNorthern New England Chapter of the ALS will host a silent auction to benefit their annual Walk to Defeat ALS (on September 26 at Dorset Park, this year). For more information, please contact AKUZMA@alsanne.org.

Also, appearing at this year’s Festival will be Nightmare Vermont’s troupe of pirates, who will be swashbuckling and roaming the waterfront.

 (Photo credit: Rick Levinson)

The Festival joins again with the venues/attractions of the Lake Champlain Burlington Waterfront, including, Perkins Pier, Lake Champlain Transportation King Street Ferry Dock, ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington Community Boathouse, Waterfront Park, The US Coast Guard, The Community Sailing Center, The Lake Champlain Antique Boat Show and Dragonheart Vermont.

A sample of the many Festival activities includes boat building, classic boats, long boats, canoe, kayak and Dragon boat demonstrations. The community is invited to sample fare at the International Food Court and peruse local craft vendors, enjoy daytime music and evening concerts, take a free boat ride and bring the children for entertaining and educational hands-on exhibits. ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain will feature more than 70 live animals with more than 100 interactive exhibits, Eclectic Gift Shop and Think! Café. The Green Mountain Volleyball Quad Tournament will net some spectators on August 14 at9:00am (contact Vball@gmvb.com). There will be plenty of kids’ activities, sponsored by Price Chopper. Sail or learn how to tie nautical knots at Lake Champlain Sailing Center. Take a ride on the "Spirit of Ethan Allen" Cruise Ship or the "Friendship" Classic Sailing Vessel Charter and visit the Lake Champlain ACBS Vintage Boat Show. The U.S. Coast Guard will also host an Open House.

“The Waterfront comes alive with enthralled crowds and the sights and sounds of summer on the Lake, underscoring the transformation of the Waterfront from an industrial site to a beautiful, active recreational site,” says Mike O’Brien, Festival Director.

NIGHTLY CONCERTS

This year’s Festival returns with an exciting concert series, presented by Higher Ground. Thursday, August 12, MGMT (recently featured on SNL) will headline the concert main stage with opener VIOLENS (gates at 6:00pm; show at 7:00pm). GOV’T MULE performs Friday, August 13 with opener JACKIE GREENE (gates at 6:30; show at 7:00). GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALSperform Saturday, August 14 (gates at 6:30; show at 7:30 pm). DARK STAR ORCHESTRA, featuring Zen Tricksters’ front man, Jeff Mattson, Sunday, August 15 (gates at 5:00pm; show at 6:00pm). Tickets on sale now. Purchase atwww.highergroundmusic.com, charge by phone at 888-512-SHOW or in person at the Higher Ground box office. For ticket prices/details, call (802) 652-0777 or visit www.highergroundmusic.com.

DAILY MUSIC FEATURED ON FESTIVAL STAGES

Friday, August 13

Robert Resnik and Marty Morrissey take the stage from 11:00am to 12:45pm; Ringbone, 1:00pm to 2:45pm and The McLovins, 3:00pm to 5:00pm.

Saturday, August 14

Tribe of Light will perform from 11:00am to 11:45am; Jen Crowell and Steve Hartmann, noon to 1:00pm; Waylon Speed, 1:00pm to 2:30pm; Joshua Panda Band, 2:30pm to 4:30pm

Sunday, August 15

Mike Colbourn/John Tower Project 11:00am to 11:45am; Mia Adams and the Scenic Roots, featuring Patrick Fitzsimmons and D. Davis (bass), noon to 1:45pm and The Martin Guigui All-Star Band featuring: Kip Meaker, Russ Lawton, Aaron Hersey, Joe Moore and special guests, 2:00pm to 4:30pm.

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

Veteran Vermont folk musicians, Marty Morrissey and Robert Resnik have been playing Celtic for more than 20 years. They performed as members of Highland Weavers for 18 years and have released two critically acclaimed CDs. Their performance will feature songs about Lake Champlain and Vermont played on more than a dozen instruments! 

Ringbone is a high-energy dance band from Vermont. With their large catalog of original songs and a few tasty covers, Ringbone mixes rock, reggae, trance, ska, Latin and other world beat sounds to form their own exciting sound. The line-up features members of Smokin' Grass and Motel Brown.

The McLovins have been praised by Rolling Stone, Relix Magazine and Jamptopia. A trio of musicians from Connecticut, the band has become a viral sensation, packing music halls to capacity. With a frenzied energy level, an amazingly talented drummer and bassist, along with a 17-year old guitar prodigy, the McLovins are sure to impress.

Tribe of Light is made up of veteran musicians Alex Pastewski (vocals, rhythm guitar), Jeff Messina (vocals, lead guitar), Brian Harris (bass) and Joe Samuelian (drums). Their high-energy, positive sound blends rock, blues, funk, ska and reggae into a live show that will make you dance.

Jen Crowell: been a rising star in New England since playing a series of opening dates for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (of which she was previously a member). Crowell released her debut CD, Cold Front, in 2009, which David Schultz of Earvolution.com praised for its "ethereally warm vocals and wonderfully dreamy melodies." Steve Hartmann started his musical journey at age 12, taking classical piano lessons. After picking up a hand-me-down guitar from his mother at age 15, it’s been a passion bordering on addiction. Sharing the stage with the likes of Jeffery Gaines and Dispatch, playing venues such as The House of Blues (Boston), The Elbow Room, (NYC), The Tin Angel (Philadelphia), Passim (Boston) and Higher Ground (Burlington, VT), Steve has played every sized room there is and captured them all.

Waylon Speed is the convergence of four musicians from Burlington, Vermont, bringing their unstoppable no frills country-metal blend of rock to a rapidly growing horde of devoted fans nationwide.

Joshua Panda Band features Joshua Panda, a twenty-five year-old singer/songwriter from Charlotte, North Carolina, and an exceptional combination of folk and soul, Bob Dylan and Otis Redding. The band has traveled with this unique sound to a Vermont. Members include Joshua Panda, Lowell Thompson, Ed Grasmeyer, Brian Axford, Dan Davine and Brett Lanier.

Mike Colbourn and the JT Project will be playing a mix of original and eclectic covers, all-American based story telling music.

Mia Adams and the Scenic Roots, Mia Adams, Patrick Fitzsimmons, D. Davis (bass) blend a funky folky jazzy sultry pop rock &Americana. The band earned 2008 Finalist at the Great Waters Folk Fest Songwriting Competition and 2010 Falconridge Emerging Artist Showcase Performer.

Martin Guigui was born in Buenos Aires Argentina and is son of Famed Symphony Orchestra Conductor Efrain Guigui, Martin grew up in New York, Puerto Rico and Vermont.  As an accomplished pianist and Hammond B-3 organ player, he has performed and recorded with John Lee Hooker, James Cotton, Joan Osborne, Bo Didley, Laverne Baker, Sandra Wright, Bill Sims and Don McClean. He has opened with his own group for Eddie Money, Talking Heads, Mathew Sweet, Steve Forbert and NRBQ and has produced The Slip, Jim Infintino, Jamie Lee Thurston, Gordon Stone, Kip Meaker, Chad Hollister and classical pianist Fritz Steinegger. 

Visit www.lcmfestival.com for full schedule and updates. Thursday, August 12: 6:00pm to 10:00pm; Friday, August 13: 11:00am to 11:00 pm; Saturday, August 14: 10:00am to 11:00pm; Sunday, August 15: 11:00am to 10:00pm.