Charleston, SC to Host New Music and Heritage Festival; September Event to Feature Array of Styles; Al Green, Buddy Guy, Drive-By Truckers and Others to Perform

Charleston, SC will host a first-ever music and heritage festival in September, featuring artists as diverse as Al Green, Buddy Guy, Drive-By Truckers, Sam Bush and others. Tickets available now.

Charleston, SC (PRWEB) May 26, 2006 -- September will mark the launch of Charleston’s newest festival, one with roots in the past – and a nod to the future. The first Charleston Music & Heritage Festival – Chazzfest (www.chazzfest.com) -- will take over the Family Circle Tennis Center on September 15 and 16, 2006 with a broad spectrum of acts including rock, blues, jazz, R&B, bluegrass, funk, hip-hop and beach music.

Launched by a team of eminent music, marketing and events professionals, Chazzfest is inspired in part by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which showcases a wide range of musical and visual artists. Organizers see Chazzfest as a showcase of the rich musical heritage of Charleston and the Carolinas – a heritage that until now has not been fully recognized and celebrated.

Headlined by soul legend Al Green, performances will start at noon on September 16 and continue throughout the day on four stages. Southern rockers Drive-By Truckers will close out the Club Court Stage. Also featured are a number of important artists who have created or redefined music genres: Buddy Guy, Sam Bush and Karl Denson. Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and Soul Rebels Brass Band will bring a taste of New Orleans to the festival. The Beach Music & Heritage Stage will include The Drifters and other acts reflective of the history of South Carolina and the Lowcountry. The Locals Only Stage will highlight the Charleston area’s best and brightest musicians.

Tickets are available online at www.etix.com. Beginning June 1, tickets will be available at the Family Circle Tennis Center Box Office, Charleston area Cat’s Music & Movies and by calling 800-514-ETIX.

The first Chazzfest will kick off on Friday, September 15 with a benefit performance by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, playing music of the Carolinas with a guest artist (to be announced). Proceeds from this performance will benefit the Symphony.

In addition to music, Chazzfest will celebrate art – both visual and culinary – through the Heritage Artisans Expo. Numerous regional artists and artisans will be featured on the Festival grounds, where their work will be available for purchase. Food and beverage purveyors will also be on hand, serving items indigenous to Charleston and the broader South. Children will also be entertained all day in the Pirates Playland play area.

The festival is the first to be produced by a joint venture company of leading event marketers. The company is comprised of: Rick Jones of FishBait Festivals & Events, an expert in experiential marketing and promotions whose successes include the creation of the Master's of Music concert in Hyde Park to benefit Prince Charles’ charity The Prince's Trust; Riddick Lynch, former owner/operator of the Music Farm and founder of Shoreline Productions, a producer and promoter of quality music events including a Grammy-winning album by Ricky Skaggs; Rob Lamble of Ear For Music, a producer of major concert events in Charleston and a partner in the Party at the Point concert series, and Grace Bouldin and Paul Chanon, whose Sound Events production and promotion company has created successful events throughout the Southeast, including Wavefest and tours by Second City.

Festival proceeds will benefit a number of charitable endeavors, including the national Save the Music program that benefits public school music programs and the International African American Museum in Charleston. Learn more at www.chazzfest.com.

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