Joe Walsh To Headline The 2012 Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival
(Sioux Falls, SD – 4/6/2012) Guitarist Joe Walsh will headline the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival – JazzFest at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls on July 28, 2012. Walsh, a member of the super group Eagles and successful solo artist, will perform on Saturday evening of the annual summer festival.
“This opportunity to bring an artist of the caliber of Joe Walsh would not be possible without the support of Midcontinent Communications,” said Robert Joyce, executive director of Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues. “This elevates our event to a new level and provides the city and region with an opportunity to see a legendary musician and guitarist.”
The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival, JazzFest 2012 is a free three day event held annually in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This year’s event is July 26-28, 2012 at Yankton Trail Park. Past performers include Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, The Neville Brothers, Robert Cray and Taj Mahal.
“As a supporter and sponsor for over 15 years, Midcontinent Communications is pleased to partner with the Jazz and Blues Society in bringing a true master of guitar leads and off the wall lyrics, the incomparable Joe Walsh to the JazzFest stage,” said Tom Simmons, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Midcontinent Communications.
JazzFest features a children’s area, food, booth and art vendors, fireworks and 2 stages of live music over three days. It is a free event, with support coming from donations, sponsorships, and the sale of beer and beverages.
JazzFest attracts an average of 85,000 people each year and is considered one of the major events of the Sioux Falls summer. The festival is organized by the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society and a group of 60 local committee members. Over 800 volunteers assist with JazzFest each year along with the support of various city departments.
About the headliner:
Eagles front man and former member of The James Gang, Joe Walsh has been performing, producing and writing since
1968. Walsh made a name for himself as a solo artist with the hit “Rocky Mountain Way” off of The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get in 1973. Adding a more rock-oriented edge to the Eagles in the place of Bernie Leadon’s more country-flavored style, his contributions to the guitarwork of the title track and the famous riffs of “Life in the Fast Lane” are especially notable. Walsh toured with Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band in 1989; reunited with The Eagles for the Hell Freezes Over tour in 1994 and most recently joined Sir Paul McCartney for a performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards. He has had numerous successful songs in the Top 40, such as Life’s Been Good, Rocky Mountain Way, In the City and others. His music has also been featured in several motion pictures such as Heavy Metal and Urban Cowboy.
Walsh will be hitting the road in May 2012 for a Spring US solo tour in support of his upcoming album, Analog Man.
About Midcontinent Communications:
Midcontinent Communications is the Upper Midwest’s leading provider of wideband Internet, video, phone, and cable advertising services for over 275,000 residential and business customers in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
The Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Festival, JazzFest is organized by Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues, a non-profit arts organization.
For interviews, photos or bios, please contact Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues at 605-335-6101 or info@sfjb.org.
Watch for the full 2012 JazzFest line up very soon!
