Paramount to offer a taste of the world

Published 11:18 am Sunday, June 1, 2014

Keith Knight and Don Alder will open the World Concert Series on . Photo provided

Keith Knight and Don Alder will open the World Concert Series on June 11. Photo provided

Music from different parts of the world is coming directly to Austin.

The Paramount Theatre is partnering with Riverside Concerts to bring four worldwide artists and one dance troupe to the Paramount Theatre for the World Music Series this summer.

Rochester Music Department/Riverside Concerts General Manager Steve Schmidt is excited for the concerts and the partnership, which has been going on about six years.

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“The Paramount is just a beautiful space,” he said. “It’s a great relationship; we both benefit from it greatly.”

He’s excited that each artist brings something different from all over the world

Executive Director of the Paramount Theatre Jennie Knoebel is also looking forward to the artists this summer.

“I haven’t heard any of them perform yet, so I’m really excited,” Knoebel said.

She said people enjoyed the series last year, so she is excited to see what this year brings.

Schmidt also said the series has been well received. He recalled the positive reception Columbian artist Locos Porjuana a few years ago. Schmidt remembered how “danceable” the contemporary Latin group’s music was.

“We had people up and dancing in the aisles that night,” he said.

According to Knoebel, the concerts are meant to be educational, since the artists talk about their culture and style along with performing.

“It’s been a great learning experience for me,” Knoebel said. “The comments I received from the show last year, people were just blown away.”

The countries and the style of the artists are different every year. She said the shows are free and each last about an hour long, which make them easier to attend since they are during the summer, and many people want to be outside enjoying the warm weather.

The concerts

Noura Mint Seymali

Noura Mint Seymali

• Keith Knight and Don Alder will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 11. The duo features acoustic guitars, mandolin, fiddle, violin, dobro, harp guitar, resonator guitars and vocals.

• Noura Mint Seymali will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 16. She’ll play more modern orchestra pieces, and she favors the international festival circuit.

Moscow Nights

Moscow Nights

• Moscow Nights, joined by dance troupe Golden Gates, will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 30. The group features balalaikas, bayan accordion, trashotky and loshky, dances and vocals. The group offers a glimpse into Old Russia through music, song and dance.

• Calle Sur will perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13. They have four different programs options, including “Latin Collage” as a duo, “Latin Fiesta” as a septet, “Viva Mexico!” as a quintet and “Cowboys of the Americas” with a symphony orchestra. Ed East, who is Panamanian, is combined with his music partner Karin Stein, who is Colombian, to create a very unique sound.

 A short drive up I-90 for more music

If you want more concerts to enjoy this summer, head up to Rochester for their Riverside Concerts and check out these groups.

1. Rochester Concert Band

6 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, Civic Center Drive Stage

Rochester’s 50-piece symphonic wind ensemble will perform under the direction of Chuck Blattner. The concert is entitled “Summer In Our City” and features Otto Schwartz’s “Roller Coaster”, Stephen Reinecke’s “Main Street Celebration”, John Warrington’s “Original Dixiland Concerto”, and Carl Strommen’s “Waterdance.” The event is free and open to the public.

2.Rascals

7 p.m. Sunday, July 13, Mayo Park

Led by founder and vocalist Felix Cavaliere, Rock-N-Roll Hall Of Fame inductees The Rascals ruled the airwaves during the late ‘60s with hits like “Good Lovin’”, “Groovin’”, “A Girl Like You”, “A Beautiful Morning”, and “People Got to Be Free” as they evolved from blue-eyed soul to pop psychedelia and jazz fusion. The opener will be Ali and the Scoundrels. The event is free and open to the public.

3. Rochester Concert Band and Choir

7 p.m., Sunday, July 20, Mayo Park

Rochester’s own 50-piece symphonic wind ensemble and 50-voice concert choir, under the direction of Chuck Blattner, will perform Leroy Anderson’s “Blue Tango” and “Bugler’s Holiday,” Andy Clark’s “Woodwind Marmalade, plus selections from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” The event is free and open to the public.

4.Charlie Worsham

7 p.m., Sunday, July 27, Mayo Park

This multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter has shared stages across the country with the likes of Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert. Catch Hot Country’s latest rising star, hot off the release of his debut album “Rubberband”, featuring a pair of top 40 hits with “Could It Be” and “Want Me Too.” The opener will be Hope Country. The event is free and open to the public.

5. Cracker

7 p.m., Sunday, August 3, Mayo Park

During their ‘90s heyday, alt-rock pioneers Cracker became a minor commercial sensation, complete with then-significant MTV exposure, releasing irreverent, buzzworthy ‘90s anthems such as the No. 1 Modern Rock hit “Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now),” “Get Off This,” “Eurotrash Girl,” and the era-defining hit single “Low.” The opener will be The Modern Era. The event is free and open to the public.

6. Lost Lonely Boys

7 p.m., Sunday, August 10, Mayo Park

This Grammy winning Texican/Blues/Rock sibling trio have opened for the Rolling Stones, performed with legends like Carlos Santana and Willie Nelson, and scored a number of hit singles including “Diamonds,” “More Than Love,” and the No. 1 radio hit “Heaven.” The opener will be The Swamp Kings. The event is free and open to the public.

7. J.Roddy Walston and The Business

7 p.m., Sunday, August 17, Mayo Park

Think “AC/DC fronted by Jerry Lee Lewis” in a performance that “makes James Brown look lazy.” Appearances on Letterman and Conan, tours with The Black Keys and The Lumineers, and performances at Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo have catapulted tracks like “Marigold,” “Take It As It Comes,” and “Heavy Bells” into significant AAA radio airplay. The opener will be La Madness. The event is free and open to the public.

8. Grand Funk Railroad

7 p.m., Sunday, August 24, Mayo Park

The fact that Grand Funk Railroad’s legacy still reigns over the Classic Rock landscape forty-five years after its birth is a testament to the group’s influence and staying power. Mega-hits “We’re An American Band,” “Closer To Home,” “Bad Time’, ”Walk Like A Man,” “Footstomoin’ Music,” “Locomotion,” and “Some Kind Of Wonderful” still receive continuous airplay on Classic Rock radio. The opener will be Ball ‘N Chain. The event is free and open to the public.