TICKETS ON SALE FOR 4th ANNUAL RENO-TAHOE BLUES FEST

Gladys Knight, The Whispers and Jonny Lang Headline the Festival

RENO, Nev. —Named “Festival of the Year” by the Bay Area Blues Society in 2005, the Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest continues to earn the title by bringing in some of the biggest names in the business including 2008 headliners Gladys Knight, The Whispers and Jonny Lang to celebrate the history, culture and spirit of the blues.  Tickets are available online at www.RenoTahoeBluesFest.com for the 4^th annual festival scheduled for Aug. 16-17, 2008 at Rancho San Rafael Park in Reno, Nev.  

“Each year the Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest continues to grow, showcasing different artists, more amenities and exciting new opportunities for blues fans to really immerse themselves in music,” said Charles McNeely, president of the Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest and Reno City Manager.  “This year, as in years past, we’re continuing to provide one of the best blues experiences on the West Coast bringing both veteran musicians as well as relative newcomers to entertain and delight Reno-Tahoe audiences.”

The festival’s closes on Sunday with headliner Gladys Knight who has more than four decades of chart-topping hits and is a six-time Grammy Award winner.  Critics applaud Knight’s smooth vocals and heartfelt emotion which lend to a variety of musical styles from rhythm and blues to soul, gospel to Motown and beyond.  Originally singing with her brother and cousins as Gladys Knight and the Pips, Knight earned a level of superstardom with the smash hit “Midnight Train to Georgia.”  Recent album releases highlight her amazing diversity, with ballads, jazz standards and gospel songs all touched on in albums including “At Last” and “Before Me.” 

Veteran R&B group The Whispers co-headline Saturday’s performances bringing more than four decades of hits to the stage including “Rock Steady,” “Lady,” “Let’s Go All the Way” and their biggest hit “And The Beat Goes On.”  Jonny Lang also co-headlines the Saturday festival schedule.  Releasing his solo debut “Lie to Me” at just 15, Jonny Lang shot into the limelight of blues music with what U.S. News and World Report calls “the voice of a grizzled blues veteran.” The Grammy-nominated Lang has polished his skills alongside blues heavyweights B.B. King and Buddy Guy and continues to churn out searing blues and rock and roll including 2006’s “Turn Around,” his fifth album.

In addition to the daily headline performers, the 2008 Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest line-up features Delta-bluesman Bobby Rush, soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples and others including Mel Waiters, Latimore, E.C. Scott, Betty Wright, Ernie Johnson and more. Daily tickets include access to all performances and VIP packages are available to attend both days. 

Annually the festival draws more than 10,000 attendees to Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Park for two days of musical performances beginning at 12 p.m. and continuing into the twilight.  The ongoing entertainment is complemented by a variety of dining options including classic Southern specialties and ice-cold beverages that combine to provide a first-class blues experience.

Tickets for the Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest are on sale now, with one-day tickets starting at just $58 and two-day value tickets from $106.  VIP passes, valid for both days of the Festival, are just $210 and offer premium seating for the entire event.  Tickets purchased prior to June 15, 2008 qualify for a 10 percent early bird discount.  Group pricing and Platinum and Blues Cabana ticket packages are also available. 

For more information, visit the Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest online at www.RenoTahoeBluesFest.com or call 775-857-3378.  Tickets are on sale now, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 775-787-8497. 

The Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest, founded in 2005, was created to bring world-class blues to the Reno-Tahoe region and to celebrate the history, culture and spirit of the blues.   Staged annually at Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Park, the two-day festival attracts audiences from around the country to hear some of the biggest names in blues including Etta James, Clarence Carter, Buddy Guy, Bobby Rush, Keb Mo, Bobby Blue Band and others.  Established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Reno-Tahoe Blues Fest supports music education for youth in the Reno-Tahoe area through a scholarship program and ongoing assistance for school music equipment purchases and jazz band programs. Funds for the festival are raised through corporate sponsorships and ticket sales. 

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