Press Room
SNOWMASS CHILI PEPPER & BREW FEST GOES CAJUN WITH NEW ACT
Legendary New Orleans pianist Henry Butler replaces The Wildbirds
SNOWMASS CHILI PEPPER & BREW FEST GOES CAJUN WITH NEW ACT
Legendary New Orleans pianist Henry Butler replaces The Wildbirds
(Snowmass Village, CO) - The Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest announces that legendary pianist Henry Butler has been added to the music line-up, replacing The Wildbirds. He joins New Orleans luminaries Dr. John and the Neville Brothers on Saturday, June 7.
"Henry Butler is an outstanding addition to the festival line-up and a perfect complement to Dr. John and the Neville Brothers. We're thrilled he was able to perform," says event director Josh Behrman.
Butler, who just released his first-ever live solo album produced by George Winston, is an eight-time W.C. Handy "Best Blues Instrumentalist" award nominee and has been called "the finest all-around pianist in New Orleans" (Jazz Times), "a piano genius" (All Music Guide) and "the greatest living proponent of the classic New Orleans piano tradition" (CMJ New Music Report Issue). Butler plays a rich amalgam of jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues and R&B influences.
Born in New Orleans and blinded by glaucoma since birth, Butler mastered baritone horn, valve trombone and drums in addition to the piano at the Louisiana State School for the Blind in Baton Rouge. He was mentored by legendary Jazz clarinetist Alvin Batiste and went on to study with keyboard players George Duke, Cannonball Adderley's Quintet, Sir Roland Hanna and Harold Mabern and has played with performers such as B.B. King, Dr. John, and Professor Longhair.
The Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest kicks off the Aspen/Snowmass summer festival season June 6-8 and draws over 7,000 people to Snowmass with three days devoted to chili, microbrews, and outdoor concerts. The International Chili Society holds district and regional championships, while an invitational microbrew competition lures brewers from all over the United States. Festival attendees can sample both, along with additional concerts on Friday by Stephen Marley, Lyrics Born, and D.J. Harry and homebrew and local chili competitions on Sunday which are open to all amateurs.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Tickets are now available online at http://www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com/ and at the Daly Bottle Shop, Sundance Drug & Liquor, Great Divide Music, Sounds Easy, Glenwood Music, and participating City Markets between Grand Junction and Breckenridge and Vail. Children 12 and under are free!
Festival Pass: only $15 on Friday or $20 on Saturday. Includes access to the outdoor concerts on Fanny Hill and food, beer, and wine concessionaires.
Party Pass (for ages 21 & up): $25 on Friday and $30 on Saturday. Includes unlimited access to the music, microbrew tastings and to sampling five different types of chili each day.
Weekend Party Pass (the best value): This $50 weekend Party Pass allows unlimited access to the music, microbrews and five chili samplings.
Lodging Specials:
Come for the festival and enjoy a massive mountain of possibilities, from shopping and dining to hiking and mountainbiking. Rent a bike at participating shops, show your festival ticket and receive a free chairlift ticket. Lodging specials start at $40/person at http://www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com/ or by calling 1.800.SNOWMASS.
The resort town of Snowmass Village, Colorado, is located in the heart of the Elk Mountains 9 miles from Aspen, Colorado. Take advantage of Frontier's new five daily flights into Aspen/Snowmass from Denver. Snowmass offers diverse lodging and daily activities for families, adventurers, and couples. For a summer media guide of this popular mountain destination, please visit http://www.snowmasspress.com/. For general information, visit http://www.snowmassvillage.com/ or call 1-800-SNOWMASS.
# # #
Media Contact: Allison Johnson
(970) 309-5485 or aj@snowmasspress.com
