Something special brewing on Festa’s Spiked Island Adult Lemonade Stage
Plain White T’s, Colt Ford, Matt Nathanson and country superstar to be revealed July 1 among headliners from page 1 tracks such as “Ride Through the Country,” “Cold Beer,” “Chicken & Biscuits,” and “Country Thang.” Ford takes the Spiked Island Stage at 9 p.m., July 19. Opening for him at 6 p.m. is Bella Cain, a newly-formed, young, high-energy six piece Top 40 country group that delivers a nonstop and explosive performance. Based in Kenosha, the group has experienced success playing at local venues and is quickly gaining a following across the Midwest. With a “big” guitar sound, they also bring five-part harmonies, fiddle, steel guitar, piano, banjo, a solid rhythm section and both male/female vocals to provide a full and dramatic sound. Festa attendees seeing Bella Cain can expect the hottest new country music, along with a few age-old favorites. Keeping the crowd entertained and on their feet after Bella Cain and before Colt Ford and after Festa fabulous fireworks show will be top-touring DJ/remixer/producer Dee Jay Silver. Playing at premiere venues in major markets around the world, his unique brand of “party-rock” country style of music has landed him on show packages with the likes of Jason Aldean, Luke Bryant and Rascal Flatts. Other Friday acts on the Spiked Island Adult Lemonade Stage include the Milwaukee-based rockin’ rhythm and blues band The Noyz Boyz & Gyrls at noon, the Italian-harmony group Tre Bella (“Three Beauties, One Voice”) at 1:30 p.m., The A-Sides, performing the quintessential hits of favorites Motown & R&B artists at 3 p.m., and the eight-piece 52nd Street – Playing the Music of Billy Joel at 4 p.m. Both The ASides and 52nd Street are based in Milwaukee. Plain White T’s, Nathanson and other July 20 acts One of the summer’s hottest touring acts, the Plain White T’s, having released the single and EP
bearing the same name – “Should’ve Gone to Bed” – on Apr. 9 and having appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on Apr. 23, perform at 9 p.m. on the Spiked Island Adult Lemonade Stage. Did you catch band member Tim Lopez on Eva Longoria’s NBC dating show “Ready for Love” this spring? Lopez was one of the handsome bachelors. As their many fans know, the Plain White T’s have already experienced much success with platinum-selling hits including “Hey There Delilah” (which reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and topped 13 international charts), “Hate (I Really Don’t Like You),” “1,2,3,4” and “Rhythm of Love.” The group was nominated for two 2008 Grammy Awards for “Song of the Year” and “Best Pop Performance for a Duo or Group with Vocals.” The mega-hit “Hey There Delilah,” which became the fourth song in history to sell over three-million digital downloads, also earned the group an MTV Video and American Music Awards and Teen Choice and People’s Choice nominations. Known for singing songs about love, heartbreak and everything in between, the Chicago-based poprock band draws inspiration from the likes of The Beatles, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp, but their care-free vibes and unique sound are all their own. “Should’ve Gone to Bed” is the group’s seventh studio album. The co-headliner on Saturday night is Matt Nathanson, taking the stage at 7 p.m. Nathanson treats audiences to acoustic and electric guitar during his captivating live performances. Fans of his work – including the charttopping hits “Come on Get Higher,” “Faster” and “Run” – know Nathanson as a storyteller, joyful, complex and bold. His latest single, “Mission Bells,” off his upcoming ninth studio album (due out this summer), finds him singing about a girl who got away. His songs have
Matt Nathanson
made appearances on notable TV shows such as “NCIS,” “Private Practice,” “Vampire Diaries” and “90210,” helping in some instances to shape the plot lines, have been heard on “Good Morning America” and sung by aspiring artists on “American Idol” and “X Factor.” The Saturday lineup also features The Noyz Boyz & Girlz at noon, rising country star, 17-year old Charissa Mrowka at 1:30 p.m., Tre Bella at 3 p.m., the Milwaukee-based rock band 76 Juliet at 4:30 p.m. and Greg Koch Quartet with John Sieger at 10:30 p.m. Koch is an internationally recognized blues guitarist. Sieger is the former lead vocalist of Semi Twang. Sunday shows Sorry, folks, but we can’t give you any more clues on who’s the Sunday night’s headliner (in the 9 p.m. slot). Be sure to check www.FestaItaliana.com on July 1 for the official announcement. Opening for the the mystery country star at 7 p.m. is Old Dominion, a band based in Nashville and comprised of four Virginians, one Michigander and one bearded keyboard player whose place of origin remains a mystery. On the busy country music scene, Old Dominion has managed to carve its own territory with original songs as well as to play songs of today’s top artists including Steve Holy, Chris Young, Taylor Swift and others. Completing the Sunday, July 21 lineup on the Spiked Island Stage are: The Noyz Boyz & Gyrlz at noon, Charissa Mrowka at 2 p.m., and teen-age country singer, 15year old Carley Wilemon with Chasin’ Mason, the popular Wisconsin-based country band at 4 p.m. Chasin’ Mason has been performing country music with a rockin’ edge since 2003. Please check our next issue for more details on these acts. Spiked Island Adult Lemonade Gina Spang, president of the Italian Community Center, which produces Festa Italiana, thanked Spiked Island Adult Lemonade for returning a second consecutive year to be a major sponsor of the festival.
THE ITALIAN TIMES
Colt Ford
“We’re extremely grateful to Spiked Island Adult Lemonade for its sponsorship,” said Spang, who is also the general chair of Festa 2013. “With the well-known acts performing on the Spiked Island Stage, we’re expecting large turnouts each of the three days. My advice to everyone is get your advance tickets now.” “We are excited to partner with Festa Italiana again this summer,” said Tim Kezman, president of Calypso Brands, the maker of Spiked Island Adult Lemonade. “We believe the entertainment on the Spiked Island Stage enhances and broadens the festival’s already outstanding entertainment offerings.” Spiked Island Adult Lemonade, which will be available at Festa, is produced by Milwaukee’s own King Juice Company. Unlike other companies that take their product and flavor it like lemons, King Juice uses the same flavor systems and methodology that is used in its category leading Calypso Lemonades. These processes use the finest ingredients to create the highest quality lemonade before alcohol is added. This method creates refreshing adult lemonade without the excessive sweetness and beer taste. Spiked Island Adult Lemonade is available wherever the finest alcoholic beverages are sold. For more information, visit www.spikedisland.com or www.calypsobeverages.com. Follow the company on Facebook or Twitter @Calypso_Brands. The entertainment schedule is subject to change. * * * This article was written by Times Editor Thomas Hemman with significant collaboration from Jessica Vollrath and Julie Caan of Vollrath Associates.
JUNE 2013 – PAGE 9