Virginia Cool Meets Kentucky Thunder in Garde Premiere

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2007
Media Contact:
Amy Moum, 860-444-4406;
amy@gardearts.org

(New London, CT) RICKY SKAGGS & BRUCE HORNSBY will appear at the Garde Arts Center on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 8:00 pm in an event sponsored by Smith Insurance and co-presented with Kitchings Productions.

Oct 10, 2007 12:26 PM - The debut collaboration of country and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs with renowned pianist and songwriter Bruce Hornsby is a self-titled album mixing Skaggs' traditional bluegrass instrumentation with Hornsby's piano virtuosity. Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby draws from deep roots in mountain music, adding piano and Hornsby's inimitable songwriting to the core bluegrass lineup of mandolin, guitar, bass, fiddle, and banjo. While bluegrass traditionalists might shy away from this unusual coupling, the resulting album is sometimes playful, often moving, and always musically impeccable.

"It's one of the most memorable projects I've ever done," raves Skaggs. "The cross pollination was a great gift to both of us."

Hornsby agrees. "Ricky Skaggs is a deep musical soul, one of the great keepers of the traditional and mountain music flame. It was so inspiring (and educational) to make this record with these virtuoso musicians [Skaggs and the musicians of Kentucky Thunder]."

Eleven time Grammy Award-winner Ricky Skaggs is affectionately known as one of bluegrass music’s most recognized ambassadors. His stamp on the mainstream country format has resulted in twelve #1 hits and eight Country Music Association Awards. Now in his 36th year as a professional musician, he continues to record and tour with his band Kentucky Thunder as one of music’s most sought after live performers. Also a Grammy-winner with sales of more than ten million albums to date, Virginia-native Bruce Hornsby has been praised as a virtuoso pianist, singer-songwriter, and band leader for more than two decades. Known as a "musician’s musician", Hornsby has collaborated with artists from Roger Waters and the Grateful Dead to Bob Dylan, Branford Marsalis, and Chaka Khan.

Tickets for Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby ($38 - $65) are now on sale to the general public through the Garde Box Office, (860) 444-7373 or 325 State St., New London, or online at www.gardearts.org.

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CALENDAR LISTING

What: RICKY SKAGGS & BRUCE HORNSBY
Virginia cool meets Kentucky Thunder in a unique collaboration between bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs and genre-bending pianist Bruce Hornsby. A Garde premiere. Event sponsored by Smith Insurance and co-presented with Kitchings Productions.

When: Thursday, October 25, 2007 | 8:00 pm

Ticket Prices: Orchestra $45, Garde Circle $65, Loge $52, Balcony $38

Box Office: (860) 444-7373

Online Ticketing: http://www.gardearts.org/

MEDIA INFO

For photos and interviews, please contact Amy Moum, (860) 444-4406.

ARTIST WEBLINKS

www.skaggsfamilyrecords.com
www.brucehornsby.com

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Now in its eighty-first season, the Garde Arts Center is southeastern Connecticut’s non-profit center for the performing arts. The Garde owns and operates the historic Garde Theatre where it presents musicals, opera, orchestras, contemporary music, dance, and family events. The Garde produces the annual New London Film Festival, and provides after-school programs and matinee performances to more than 10,000 young people. Under the leadership of Steve Sigel, Executive Director, since 1988, the Garde has become a major catalyst for the cultural and economic revitalization of New London.

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