Brave Combo Opens Summer Breeze 2012 Concert Series
DUE TO WEATHER, THE CONCERT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL JULY 8
Two-time Grammy award winners Brave Combo will kick off the 2012 Summer Breeze free concert series on Sunday, May 20, in Norman’s Lions Park at the corner of Symmes and Flood. This first concert is part of a collaborative arts festival presented by the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, the Firehouse Art Center, The Jacobson House, The Norman Arts Council, and the Performing Arts Studio. The third annual Luncheon on the Grass hands-on arts activities and entertainment will take place in the park from 4 pm – 6:30 pm. At 6:00 pm the Norman Public Arts Board will dedicate Douglas Shaw Elder’s original sculpture being placed in Lions Park. The group’s latest public arts project will be made from this original sculpture. Brave Combo will take the stage at 7 pm. Bring seating and refreshments for a full afternoon and evening of art, music, and fun in the park!
Brave Combo has perfected a world music mix that includes salsa, meringue, rock, cumbia, conjunto, polka, zydeco, classical, cha cha, the blues and more. They are America’s Premier Dance band and a rollicking, rocking, rhythmic global journey -- offering what one critic recently wrote, “Even if you come for the party, you'll leave with something of a musical education.”
Keyboardist, guitarist, accordionist, and singer Carl Finch founded the band in 1979. Alongside Finch for most of Brave Combo's 30 years has been multi-instrumentalist Jeffrey Barnes, who joined in 1983. Barnes is known for his lively and imaginative stage wear, as well as playing an array of reeds and woodwinds, harmonica, pennywhistle, guitars, you name it, sometimes in multiple, simultaneous combinations. Rounding out the current line-up are trumpet player Danny O'Brien, drummer Alan Emert and Little Jack Melody on electric bass.
For additional information contact The Performing Arts Studio, 405-307-9320.
Summer Breeze Concerts are produced by the Performing Arts Studio and are made possible in part by grants from the Norman Arts Council, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and from businesses and individuals including: Michael Miller; Jamie Belknap, DDS, Norman Smile Center; Andi Berry, Wyoming Art Therapy; Skye Diers, Gingerbread Nursery School; and Republic Bank and Trust. Additional support comes from Cardinal Engineering; David Fries Roofing; Tom McAuliffe, Don Cies Real Estate; Old Republic Title Company of Oklahoma; The Spirit Shop; Dale Wares,Wares Properties; The Earth Natural Foods; The Montford Inn; and City of Norman Parks and Recreation Department.
