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Family Stone Project Kicks Off Series
Aug. 23 at County Amphitheater
Clark County’s 13th annual Moonlight Concert Series cools the summer with an eclectic selection of funk, a cappella, blues and country music Aug. 23, Sept. 13, 20 and 27 at the Clark County Amphitheater, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. This year’s lineup includes The Family Stone Project, the a cappella virtuosity of Rockapella, blues guitarist Joe Bonomassa and the new country sounds of The Lost Trailers and Trent Tomlinson. Doors open at 7 p.m. This is a free event.
The Family Stone Project kicks off the series Aug. 23 with messages of peace, love and social consciousness presented through funk and harmony. Sly & the Family Stone original members Jerry “Papa J” Martini and Cynthia Robinson join vocalist and keyboardist Robert Brookins and Las Vegas residents bassist Blaise Sison, lead guitarist Nate Wingfield, drummer and local resident Frank Klepacki and vocalist Trina Johnson. Martini and Robinson, R&B Pioneer Award winners and Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductees, collected a group to carry on the raw Family Stone sound to original and new fans alike.
Rockapella, appearing Sept. 13, laid the groundwork for many pop a cappella groups today. The group’s most recognizable appearances came in the 1990s with its appearance in Folger’s commercials and the popular PBS geography series Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? The group began performing together on New York City street corners in the 1980s. As the 1990s arrived, Spike Lee and Debbie Allen took notice of the group for their PBS show Spike & Co.: Do It A Cappella. Rockapella took its act to Japan and added a “vocal percussionist.” Since then, the quintet has enjoyed an international and homebred following and released 10 domestic albums, 11 international.
Dubbed “the new king of blues” by Guitarist Magazine and “a bold talent” by Billboard, Joe Bonomassa brings his blend of blues and rock to the series on Sept. 20. Bonomassa, 31, began playing guitar at age 4, mastered licks by Stevie Ray Vaughan by age 7 and began his professional career at age 10, where he caught the eye of the late B.B. King. By the time he was 12, he was touring with King, which led to opening performances for Buddy Guy, Foreigner, George Thorogood, Joe Cocker and Gregg Allman. Bonomassa’s recording career launched in the early 1990s as a member of Bloodlines. He made his solo debut in 2000 with the top 10 CD A New Day Yesterday. Bonomassa released his seventh CD, Sloe Gin, in 2007.
The Lost Trailers and Trent Tomlinson turn the series country for the last concert on Sept. 27. Ryder Lee and Stokes Nelson met in a church band as teens and have been making music together ever since. They formed The Lost Trailers and played honkeytonks, bars and roadhouses and later moved up to open for Kenny Cheney and Sugarland. The band’s first top 20 single Holler Back is the title track of its first CD set for release Aug. 26. Tomlinson joins The Lost Trailers for a Moonlight concert with a little self-described “open a beer, sit in a lawn chair, let’s have a party” country music. The singer-songwriter hails from Kennett, Missouri and has written songs for Emerson Drive and Blue Country before setting out on his own. Tomlinson released his first CD, Country is My Rock, in 2006.
Blankets and low-back chairs are welcome, but pets and outside food and beverages are not permitted. Food and drinks are available on site for purchase. Ample free parking is available.
The Moonlight Concert Series is sponsored by Clark County Parks and Recreation, CW Las Vegas, MY LV TV, Miller Genuine Draft, The Las Vegas Review Journal and the View Newspapers.
Those interested can find addition information on the Web site at www.accessclarkcounty.com/parks or by calling Clark County Parks and Recreation at 455-8200.
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