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March-April newsletter
CD Reviews
Ann Rabson Returning for April 2006 BITS Programs!
Ann at Our Community Concert April 2005
Ann Rabson will return to the Rockford area on April 13th for four BITS programs and an evening community concert. Rich Gordon has just finished up negotiating with Ann’s staff and we are proud to have her coming back to support our BITS efforts and to also entertain the community. Thanks to Rich for the great job in getting this set up!
Ann was here for our BITS program last year and impressed both us and the four schools with her music and enthusiasm for education. We are working with schools in and around Rockford to set up a program schedule for the two days in the schools. Tentatively, we are trying to schedule West Middle School and Auburn High School on the 12th and Highland Elementary School in Stillman Valley and one of the Belvedere Schools on the 13th.
There will be an evening community concert at the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center at 7:30 PM Thursday night, April 13th. Opening for Ann will be the acoustic duo of Steve Ditzell and Bob Levis. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Students through High School are admitted free. Tickets are available in advance through Charlotte’s Web for the Performing Arts. Tickets for the show can be purchased at the Rockford Area Arts Council, 713 E. State, 963-6765; The Postal Shoppe in the Edgebrook Center, 397-7301; and The Tin Whistle, N. Main & Auburn, 963-0270; or by mail by sending a check and a S.A.S.E. to 10928 N. Main, Rockton, IL 61072. Web info call 964-2238.
We are looking forward to working with Ann again and she expressed her delight in coming back to work here in Illinois. Don’t miss out on the evening show- it should be great! Last year’s show was outstanding and we expect no less this year.
Ann and her two partners in Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women have just released a “Deluxe Edition” compilation CD on Alligator Records that highlights the best songs from their long career together. Ms. Rabson’s solo album “In a Family Way,” released early last year on the Emit Doog Music label (reviewed in our April 2005 Special Edition Newsletter), was very well received and has gotten a lot of airplay both in the local area and nationally. Ann and Saffire were at Mississippi Valley last July and put on a super evening show and some well-attended afternoon workshops; Ann also appeared at Chord On Blues in St. Charles last spring.
We are proud to have worked with and to continue to work with such a talented musician, educator and fine women. We thank her for supporting us and our BITS programs. Thanks also go out to all the volunteers in the club who make our BIT programs a huge success!
Supported by a grant from the Community Arts and Humanities Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Rockford Area Arts Council which receives support from the City of Rockford, the Illinois Arts Council, and its members. |
