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BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY, RAUL MALO, MARTIN SEXTON & RICKY SKAGGS COMING TO MUSIKFST CAFÉ

DATE: March 10, 2011
CONTACT: Mark Demko, ArtsQuest, 610-332-1300, ext. 342, or mdemko@artsquest.org

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY, RAUL MALO, MARTIN SEXTON & RICKY SKAGGS COMING TO MUSIKFST CAFÉ

2 New Comics Join 'Two Laugh Minimum' Lineup at ArtsQuest Center

BETHLEHEM, PA— Swingin' septet Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, former Mavericks frontman Raul Malo, singer-songwriter Martin Sexton and 14-time Grammy Award winner Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder are the latest acts set to perform at the Musikfest Café presented by Yuengling, located at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Tickets for the shows will go on sale starting Tues., March 15, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and Fri., March 18, 10 a.m., to the public. They will be available at www.artsquest.org or by calling 610-332-3378.

Raul Malo – May 26, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $45 VIP Box/$32 Cabaret

Considered to be one of the finest singers in the world, Raul Malo has always crossed cultures and blurred musical boundaries, breaking new ground with his distinctive balance of vintage sound and contemporary attitude. Born in Miami of Cuban parents, Malo is best known as the founder and frontman of Grammy-winning, multi-platinum band the Mavericks. He made his mark in the country music world and then drifted into the Latin and jazz arenas via rock 'n' roll. Malo's set includes stunning acoustic renditions of several of the best-loved songs from the Mavericks' catalog, signature hits like "What A Crying Shame," "Dance The Night Away," "Here Comes The Rain" and "All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down." Staggeringly powerful live, he is just as likely to break into Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual," as the Cuban standards "Guantanamera" and "Siboney," then follow with Merle Haggard's "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down" or Rodgers and Hart's "Blue Moon."

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – May 29, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $49 VIP Box/$39 Cabaret

Since its arrival on the music scene in 1993 in a legendary residency at Los Angeles' Brown Derby nightclub, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has entertained listeners throughout the nation with its fusion of classic American sounds including jazz, swing, Dixieland and big band. Over the years, this seven-man group has built its own songbook of original dance tunes, and, 16 years later, is a veteran force that to this day adds new fans by the roomful every time it plays. BBVD's originals rocketed the group into its first phase of stardom when "You & Me and the Bottle Makes Three (Tonight)" and "Go Daddy-O" were featured in the 1996 indie film "Swingers." The group sold more than two million copies of the albums "Americana Deluxe" and "This Beautiful Life" while earning widespread critical acclaim. BBVD career milestones have included appearances in the Super Bowl halftime show, writing theme music for ESPN and network television, and performing for three American presidents. The group has appeared numerous times on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brian" and "Live with Regis & Kelly," and its music has been in more than 60 movies and television shows.

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder – June 10, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $55 VIP Box/$45 Cabaret

This year marks the 52nd year since Ricky Skaggs struck his first chords on a mandolin, and this 14-time Grammy Award winner continues to do his part to lead the recent roots revival in music. With 12 consecutive Grammy-nominated classics behind him, all from his own Skaggs Family Records label, the diverse and masterful tones made by the gifted Skaggs come from a life dedicated to playing music that is both fed by the soul and felt by the heart. Born July 18, 1954 in Cordell, Ky., Skaggs received his first mandolin at age 5 after his father, Hobert, heard him harmonizing with his mother from across the house as he played with his toys. By age 7, Skaggs had made his Grand Ole Opry debut and performed with bluegrass legends Flatt & Scruggs on their popular syndicated television show, and in 1971 he joined bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley's band. More than five decades later, this amazing artist is still creating his own special blend of music that moves the spirit and touches the heart.

Martin Sexton – June 16, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $40 VIP Box/$32 Cabaret

A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Martin Sexton fueled his dreams on the timeless sounds of classic rock 'n' roll. He eventually migrated to Boston, where he began to build his following singing on the streets of Harvard Square and gradually working his way through the scene. Happily and fiercely independent, Sexton launched his own label, KTR, in 2002. Since then, his continual success through his diversity infiltrates many musical worlds – ranging everywhere from Jam Cruise to Denver's Mile High Fest to Mayercraft Carrier to Carnegie Hall. Sexton's songs have been featured in film and television including on NBC's "Scrubs" and Showtime's hit series "Brotherhood." In 2007, he released the album "Seeds," which debuted at No. 6 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart and reached No. 17 on the Top Independent Albums chart.

JOE MANDE & DEAN EDWARDS ADDED TO 'TWO LAUGH MINIMUM' LINEUP

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Dean Edwards and Comedy Central performer Joe Mande are latest acts announced for the "Two Laugh Minimum" Wednesday night comedy series in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Tickets for each show are $10 for ArtsQuest Members and students with ID and $15 for the public. They will go on sale starting Tues., March 15, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and Fri., March 18, 10 a.m., to the public and will be available at www.artsquest.org or 610-332-3378.

Joe Mande - May 11, 8 p.m.

With credits on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham" and VH1's "Best Week Ever," the New Mexico-born and Minnesota-raised Joe Mande is a rising star in the world of comedy. A graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Mande was named Time Out New York's "Best New Comedian" of 2009. He performs at clubs throughout New York City and co-hosts Totally J/K, the award-winning stand-up comic show that takes place at UCB Theatre.

Dean Edwards - June 1, 8 p.m.

Comedian Dean Edwards has been making his mark in comedy following two successful seasons as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live." He performs at comedy clubs and festivals throughout the nation and has made several late night appearances, including "The Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and "Last Call with Carson Daly." Edwards is also a favorite and frequent guest on Byron Allen's "Comic Unleashed" and frequently provides comedic commentary on VH1 programs.