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The Islip Arts Council Free Summer Sunday Concert Series proudly presents
The WES HOUSTON BAND
at Bayard Cutting Arboretum
Sunday August 17, 2008 at 2:00 PM
This year, the Islip Arts Council celebrates its milestone 32nd season of presenting fine music in its Free Concert Series. On August 17th, 2008 at 2:00 PM, the acclaimed roots and Americana ensemble The Wes Houston Band will be performing on the lawn at beautiful Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River . You can find out more about Wes and the Band by visiting www.weshouston.com Admission to the concert is free, but there is a $6 per car parking fee. The concert area is handicapped accessible, and concertgoers should bring their own chairs.
Three weeks after this concert, on September 6th at Brookhaven Amphitheater,
Wes will be honored by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame for his many significant contributions to Long Island ’s musical landscape.
Wes Houston has been creating vintage American music for more than four decades. His style is a uniquely American combination of blues and folk, and you can hear the influences of rock, country, jazz and even gospel stirring in his songs. Wes’ music has always reflected the heart and soul of ordinary people, and he finds timeless inspiration in the day-to-day striving through life. Starting out in the turbulent 1960’s, Wes injected his unique view into the soundtrack for the changing social consciousness of America . Along the way, Wes’ recordings became part of the legendary Broadside anthology albums, which featured Pete Seeger, and introduced Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Eric Andersen, and other seminal denizens of Greenwich Village to the world. In 2001, the Smithsonian Institute released a 5-CD boxed set entitled The Best of Broadside, which includes Wes’ songs, guitar playing and reminiscences, and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Wes’ penchant for working with great musicians led to a succession of notable bands, and Wes Houston’s All-Star Space Band was Long Island’s premier homegrown musical circus during the “Golden Era” of Long Island music during the 1970s. They racked up a slew of milestones including being the very first band ever to play at New York’s legendary CBGB’s and the very last band to play at New York’s equally legendary Max’s Kansas City. Their single “Wandering” became a turntable hit in college towns all over the Northeast.
Today the Wes Houston Band is as rock solid as ever: Wes on guitar and lead vocals; three-decade sidekick George Christ with his bandolero of harmonicas; long-time rhythm section Ray Forgione on drums and Demos Manolis on bass; and keyboard wiz, Fred Piscop. Of this combination The Musician’s Exchange said, “The Wes Houston Band is a genuine piece of Americana right in our own backyard.” Wes is also the host of his own critically acclaimed television show, Wes Houston Presents… broadcast weekly in Nassau , Suffolk and Queens Counties on Public Access networks.
The Islip Arts Council is proud to present The Wes Houston Band as part of the Free Summer Sunday Concerts on the lawn at beautiful Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Montauk Highway, Great River , on Sunday, August 17th, at 2:00 PM.
Filed under: events, Long Island Music, More Events Calendars, original music, Recommended Music
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