The motion picture some see as foreshadowing the lively style of MTV music videos was the Beatles’ first movie, and it’s showing at downtown Peoria’s nonprofit Apollo Theater on Saturday, August 22.

Starring John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, the 90-minute “day in the life” of the Fab Four, circa 1964, was nominated for two Oscars. It was the first feature film directed by Richard Lester, who went on to direct the Beatles’ “Help!” plus “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “The Three Musketeers,” two movies in the Christopher Reeve series of “Superman” films and other movies.

Longtime Beatles producer George Martin supervised the music, which includes “She Loves You,” “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “I Should Have Known Better” and others in addition to the title tune.

Showtime is at 7 p.m., and the suggested donation is $5 and $4 for kids, students and seniors. For details call (309) 673-4343.

Dear RCBS members and Blues fans,

The River City Blues Society continues “Bringin’ The Blues To You” with our Wednesday Blues series. On Wednesday August 12th, we present or final show of the four part Bluz Guitar Gurlz series with a show by Californian Laurie Morvan.

“Where are the girls with guitars?” Laurie Morvan sings on her CD “Cures What Ails You”. That CD was a finalist in the Blues Foundations 2008 “Best Self Produced CD” competition. Hailing form Long Beach, California, Laurie and her band made it all the way to the finals of the 2008 International Blues Challenge, an event normally dominated by male guitar players.

On most numbers, the energized, leg kicking, stage pacing Morvan plays the guitar intensely hard. It is obvious she likes being on the edge of all that amplified power sort of like a surfer riding on the edge of a huge wave. Laurie’s guitar playing has been featured by both Guitar Player Magazine and Modern Guitar Magazine. http://www.lauriemorvan.com and http://www.myspace.com/lauriemorvanband

The Wednesday Blues series at the Dragon’s Dome in Pekin is designed for those who want to catch some great Blues artists midweek and still make it to work the next day. These early shows start at 7:00pm and are open to the public with a budget price of only $4.

Details of shows coming up in the next few weeks are below. We are adding shows to the weekly lineup all the time so check our website at  http://www.rivercityblues.com frequently for updates.

Also please attend our monthly Blues society meeting on Thursday August 13th, 2009 at 7:00pm at Goodfellas Pub & Pizza – 1414 N 8th St Pekin, IL. Please join us and provide your input and help in bringing more Blues music to the Peoria area. The meeting is open at members and the general public.

Thanks for your support of the River City Blues Society!

Bob Kieser
President

Also:

Wednesday Blues shows currently scheduled. For updates check www.rivercityblues.com

August 19 – Levee Town is a radiantly hot rockin’ Americana foursome out of Kansas City. Their music ranges from covers of Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Bob Dylan, and Big Joe Turner, to originals like Go to Heaven, The Winter song, and Forgive the Intrusion. The sound is a searing mix of traditional rock‘n’roll, blues, and rockabilly. Levee Town was a finalist in the 2007 International Blues Challenge. www.leveetown.com

August 26th – Vernon Ray Harrington – Vernon Ray Harrington is a 38-year west side Chicago blues veteran. In 1964, Harrington’s Uncle Earnest introduced him to Magic Sam (Sam Maghett). This meeting inspired Harrington to play guitar. He frequented west side blues clubs sitting in with first cousin Eddie Clearwater . Soon after, Harrington joined relative Lovie Lee’s band and later backed Willie Kent and Johnny B. Moore for many years. Harrington career highlights include performing at the Berlin Jazz festival in 1977 with other Sons of Blues founders including first cousin Lurrie Bell and virtuoso harp player Billy Branch. Harrington also headlined The Chicago Blues Festival in 1993, 2007, and 2009. His latest CD, “West Side Blues” was released in June of 2009. www.myspace.com/vernonharringtontheatomicbluesband

http://www.2009peregala.com/

$150 per person gets you in the door and provides you with a five course dinner, open bar, and entertainment by SNZ.  There will be a live and silent auction that night.    The event benefits the Junior League of Peoria and our Peoria PlayHouse project, our volunteer effort to bring a children’s museum to Peoria.  You can learn more about the PlayHouse at www.peoriaplayhouse.org

If you would like to preview the show, send an email to katrina@theartistfarm.com and we’ll coordinate setting up an interview time with the band.  To contact the Junior League email Emily at emcahill@mchsi.com

FULL PRESS KIT (17MB), including 2 popular songs: “Hell” (a top 10 radio hit) the swinging “Bad Businessman”, photo, bio, and press release can be found here:
www.theartistfarm.com/SNZ/Marketing-Kit.zip

The press release is also written below:

Squirrel Nut Zippers – American Vaudeville

Considering the current economic turmoil, it only seems appropriate that the Squirrel Nut Zippers are finding audiences enthusiastically embracing their music and live shows.  Often credited with introducing depression era jazz to a younger generation, once again The Zippers’ music is right on time.  ”People are anxious to get out and escape their troubles for a night…and that’s what we help them do,” says drummer Chris Phillips. “We’re escape artists.”

Performing a mix of authentic, eclectic American Vaudeville in their live show, Squirrel Nut Zippers gleefully serve up material from their entire catalog. With crowds sharing their fervor and dancing in the aisles, every concert becomes an event. “We love that people actually ask each other out on honest-to-god dates when they come see us.  Its just wonderful to see them dressed up and making a night of it,” says Katharine Whalen.

“The day after the Squirrel Nut Zippers show I received numerous emails from excited patrons thanking me for the event.  Everyone was blown-away by the powerful, high-energy show the band gave us.  Their blend of quirky showmanship and professional musicianship is a show unlike all others.”                                                               Scott Hayward – Tupelo Music Hall, NH

Aptly tagged “30’s punk” by one critic, the band moves between raucous and smoldering; audiences crave this type of eclectic, funky music.  Led by founder Jimbo Mathus the group centers itself around the beguiling vocals of Katharine Whalen.  Chris Phillips, Stuart Cole and Je Widenhouse carry on as the bands muscle.

New arrangements have been so well received the band is releasing a much-requested live album titled “You Are My Radio”, due out in Spring 2009.  Work has also begun on a highly-anticipated studio album set for release in Fall 2009. In support of both recordings, The Zippers will tour throughout the year and continue their quest to locate all the earth’s forgotten fishing holes and beer bars.  Squirrel Nut Zippers are clearly on the road to a strong year.  Sweet Confection.

For photos, interview requests, or more information contact: katrina@theartistfarm.com
Visit the myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/snzippers

Dear RCBS members and Blues fans,

The River City Blues Society continues “Bringin’ The Blues To You” with our Wednesday Blues series at the Dragon’s Dome in Pekin. This week we feature André Howard Band – André Howard is a veteran Chicago blues musician who often plays bass for Lonnie Brooks. André’s love of music began more than 30 years ago, when he was a young boy growing up on Chicago’s notorious south side. In recent years, André has had the enormous pleasure of working for Chicago finest blues singers! This list includes, Lucky Peterson, Nellie Tiger Travis, Grana’ Louise, Big Time Sarah, Zora Young, Carlos Johnson and Pat Scott. www.andrehowardband.com

The Wednesday Blues series is designed for those who want to catch some great National Blues artists midweek and still make it to work the next day. These early shows start at 7:00pm and are open to the public with a budget price of only $3. Food and beverages are available at the shows. Details of shows coming up in the next few weeks are below. We are adding shows to the weekly lineup all the time so check our website at http://www.rivercityblues.com frequently for updates.

Thanks for your support of the River City Blues Society!

Bob Kieser
President

Filmmaking giant Alfred Hitchcock is again featured at downtown Peoria’s Apollo Theater on Friday, June 6, when his 1940 thriller “Foreign Correspondent” will start a summer season featuring monthly Saturday matinees.

Starring Joel McCrea and Laraine Day, the two-hour classic is a tale of espionage and danger in London during World War II – before the United States entered the conflict.

McCrea is an American newspaperman assigned to cover a peace conference in Great Britain, where he befriends an elderly diplomat and also falls in love with the daughter of the peace group’s founder. When the diplomat is abducted, the reporter exposes a Nazi spy ring headed by … his lover’s dad!

Co-starring George Sanders, Edmund Gwenn and Albert Bassermann, the Oscar-nominated movie features a small role by humorist Robert Benchley, who co-wrote the screenplay.

Meanwhile, starting at noon on Saturday, June 6 with the comedy “Galaxy Quest,” the Apollo will host summer matinees at discounted prices. Other matinee films will be the great western “Shane” at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 12, and classic comics including W.C. Fields, Laurel & Hardy, and Harold Lloyd at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 2.

Admission at the nonprofit Apollo is $5 and $4 for kids and seniors, $3 for matinees. Shows start at 7 p.m.; for details call (309) 673-4343.