Main Stage

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 7:30 P.M.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy presented by 97.3 KBCO

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy arrived on the music scene in 1993 in a legendary residency at Los Angeles’ Brown Derby nightclub, a swing scene hot spot.  The seven-man group, founded by Scotty Morris and Kurt Sodergren, forged a successful fusion of classic American sounds from a variety of musical genres — and producers and labels took notice.  The band was approached by Brad Benedict and Gary Stamler, co-owners of the label, Coolsville, and quickly signed.  
    
The popular swing band rocketed into notoriety when “You & Me and the Bottle Makes Three (Tonight)” and “Go Daddy-O” were featured in the 1996 indie film, “Swingers.”  In 1998, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy made their major-label debut with “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy,” also known as “Americana Deluxe.”  The group joined Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan as part of the National Football League's 1999 Super Bowl halftime show.  The band also performed at a variety of other entertainment events, including the Billboard Music Awards, CableACE Awards, and the opening of the Getty Center art museum in Los Angeles.
    
In 2003, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy released a New Orleans-inspired album entitled “Save My Soul.”  The group began playing in theaters and performing arts centers and sold out shows at venues that included the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Chastain Park Amphitheater, and DAR Constitution Hall.
    
The band’s eighth studio album, “How Big Can You Get?  A Tribute to Cab Calloway,” aims to capture the essence of the legendary jazz bandleader in a rowdy celebration of musicianship, mischief, genius, street smarts, and fun.
    
Today, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s songs have passed into the classic American songbook, playing alongside pop standard songs in film and television, and even on reality competitions, including “Dancing With the Stars.”

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1:00 P.M.
Dave Mason presented by 103.5 The Fox

Dave Mason, at age 18, teamed up with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, and Chris Wood to form the legendary band Traffic.  One year later, Mason wrote and produced the song, “Feelin’ Alright,” which has since become a rock ‘n roll anthem.  The tune has been recorded by more than 48 artists, the best-known version by Joe Cocker.

In 1969, Mason departed from Traffic after their second album to pursue a solo career in the United States.  He found widespread success with the album, “Alone Together,” widely considered a rock classic.  “Alone Together” was followed by five albums for CBS/Sony Records, including “Dave Mason” and “Mariposa De Oro.”  Four out of the five albums became gold records.  “Let It Flow,” which has gone well over platinum, contained the classic, “We Just Disagree,” a top ten single.

Mason has produced with a number of acclaimed artists throughout his career including performances on The Rolling Stones album “Beggars’s Banquet,” George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass,” Paul McCartney’s “Listen To What The Man Said,” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland.”  One of the songs from the “Ladyland” record, “All Along the Watchtower,” written by Bob Dylan, featured Mason playing acoustic guitar and remains a popular performance in Mason’s live shows.

In October 1993, Mason teamed with Fleetwood Mac and spent two years touring the world with the legendary rock group.  While on tour, the band produced an album for Warner Brothers called “Time,” which features Mason’s lead vocals on several songs.

Today, Mason is a member of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is considered one of rock’s great guitar players.  In 2005, he became an official supporter and honorary board member of “Little Kids Rock,” a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and lessons to public school children throughout the United States.  The singer, songwriter, and guitarist continues to produce and tour, immersing himself in his love for rock ‘n roll.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 7:30 P.M.
Gregg Rolie Band presented by KOOL 105

Gregg Rolie is widely recognized as the cofounder of two popular, multi-platinum selling groups, Santana and Journey.  Rolie began to gain notoriety in 1969 during Santana’s first wave of success, which included a breakout performance at Woodstock and several hit albums.  Rolie is best known for Santana’s hits, “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va,” and “Evil Ways.”

In 1972, Rolie and ex-Santana guitarist, Neal Schon, formed Journey.  Rolie co-wrote and co-produced the band’s first seven albums.  He credits the Journey era with substantially improving and refining his songwriting skills.  Rolie left the hugely successful band in 1981 after the release of their live, double-album, “Captured.”

During the 1980’s, Rolie played, wrote, and produced the Santana albums, “Shango” and “Freedom.”  He released his debut, self-titled solo album in 1985, featuring the hit song, “I Wanna Go Back,” and its 1987 follow-up, “Gringo.”  

Rolie went on to form The Storm in 1991. The Storm released two albums, including their 1992 self-titled disc that claimed the #13 Billboard Hot 100 hit, “I’ve Got A Lot To Learn About Love.”  That same year, Rolie, along with five other original Santana members, formed Abraxas Pool, a collaborative production that resulted in a 1997 critically-acclaimed album.

Rolie was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 as part of the original Santana band.  2001 marked the release of his third solo album, “ROOTS,” featuring the lead track, “Give It To Me.”  Today, the Gregg Rolie Band plays between 40 and 50 shows a year.  The group, too, is a supporter of the nonprofit organization, “Little Kids Rock.”

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1:00 P.M.
The Groove Hawgs presented by 103.5 The Fox

The Groove Hawgs were formed in 1997 by Denver radio personalities Rick Lewis and Michael Floorwax of 103.5 The Fox.  Throughout the early 1990s, Lewis and Floorwax performed stand-up comedy throughout Colorado.  Their comedy show, which was considerably successful at pulling in large, often sold-out crowds, typically opened their show with a band.  Lewis and Floorwax would join the band and perform a few songs with them, another successful venture that crowds enjoyed.  The duo soon decided to start their own band, handpicking some of the state’s best musicians to form The Groove Hawgs.

The Groove Hawgs first performance together was opening for Creedence Clearwater Revival and The Doobie Brothers at Red Rocks Amphitheater in July 1997, gaining the attention of both music fans and promoters.  Since then, The Groove Hawgs have shared the stage with legendary bands like The Allman Brothers Band, James Brown, Ted Nugent, B.B. King, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Winter, George Thorogood, Def Leppard, Buddy Guy, The Who, and many more.

The current Groove Hawgs lineup includes Rick Lewis, Michael Floorwax, Steve Crenshaw, Joe Sellars, Kara Hesse, and Kerwin Brown.  The band continues to entertain crowds throughout the region and is proud to give all of the proceeds from CD and merchandise sales to the Lewis and Floorwax Kid’s Fund, which supports children in need in the local community.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 7:30 P.M.
Bret Michaels presented by 103.5 The Fox

As front man for the infamous rock band Poison, Bret Michaels has had quite a career over the past two decades - from fifteen Top 40 singles to reality television to a solo career.  Michaels began playing the guitar as a teenager and formed the group Paris with friends Rikki Rockett, Bobby Dall, and Matt Smith.  The group moved from Michaels’ home state of Pennsylvania to Los Angeles in the mid-’80s to pursue their rock ‘n’ roll dreams.

Local publicity about the band eventually led to a record deal with Enigma Records and their first album, “Look What the Cat Dragged In.”  The music video for the song “Talk Dirty to Me” helped propel the group into the spotlight during a period when music videos were still considered unconventional marketing tools.  The band subsequently decided to change their name to Poison for an “edgier” feel.

Throughout the ’80s and early ’90s, Poison became one of the biggest glam metal bands in the world, recording their second album, the multi-platinum selling “Open Up and Say…Ahh!” and their third album, the popular “Flesh & Blood.”  One of the most successful songs released during this time was the 1988 single, “Every Rose Has its Thorn,” a heartfelt ballad about the struggle to find balance between success and personal relationships.

In the mid-’90s, Michaels formed a film production company with actor Charlie Sheen.  The partnership ultimately led to Michaels writing, directing, and starring in several films, including “A Letter >From Death Row,” which he executive co-produced.  As an actor, Michaels has made regular appearances on television shows, including “Yes, Dear,” “Martial Law,” and “The Chris Isaak Show.”  He has also   co-hosted “Access Hollywood” and was a judge on “Nashville Star” in 2005.  Michaels has starred in several incarnations of the top-rated VH1 reality dating show “Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.”

This year has been eventful for Michaels, winning “Celebrity Apprentice 3” on NBC; filming another reality show for VH1 to air in the fall, “Bret Michaels:  Life As I Know It;” and releasing a third solo studio album, “Custom Built.”  In the midst of all these projects, Michaels was rushed to the hospital in April, where an emergency appendectomy was performed.  Less than two weeks later, he suffered a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage, or bleeding at the base of the brain stem, but was expected to make a complete recovery.  In May, it was discovered that Michaels had a hole in his heart, an “operable and treatable” condition.  After a brief hospitalization, he resumed his “Roses & Thorns World Tour 2010,” performing at venues throughout the country.

Michaels is an active supporter of the American Diabetes Association, having been diagnosed at age six, as well as Armed Forces Entertainment, visiting the U.S. bases in Iraq.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1:00 P.M.
Steve Azar presented by 98.5 KYGO

Azar’s love for music began at an early age.  He grew up in Greenville, Miss., where he was tutored by local blues musicians and developed as a guitarist.  By age 14, Azar had completed his first recording session in Nashville.  He continued to actively pursue music throughout his teenage years.  One of his most notable early performances was when he sang “Livin’ Life to its Fullest” on a national telethon for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.  Although he hoped to pursue music full time after high school, his parents urged him to go to college.  
    
Life at Delta State University quickly became all about music and performances.  Azar was playing 200 shows a year by the time he graduated and was a regional headliner at some of Delta’s biggest clubs and festivals, one of which included the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans.   
    
In 1993, Azar moved to Nashville.  He was offered three song-publishing contracts within his first few days there; however, finding a recording contract took longer.  Although he sang and produced with Mercury Records, Azar considers his first album to be 2001’s “Waitin’ on Joe.”  Azar made headlines with this album when Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman agreed to guest star in the 2002 video for the title-track song, “Waitin’ on Joe.”  The hugely successful “I Don’t Have to Be Me (‘Til Monday)” became a hit single on that record as well.  

In 2006, he formed his own independent label, Dang Records.  That same year, he recorded “You Don’t Know a Thing,” which put Azar and his record label in the spotlight again.  The song also appeared on his 2008 CD, “Indianola,” which reached number one on XM Radio’s “Country Outlaw” channel.

In addition to touring in support of his latest album, “Slide On Over Here,” Azar stays busy with a host of other projects.  He continually donates his time and talent to numerous charity events across the country.  In 2006, he and his wife founded “The Steve Azar St. Cecilia Foundation” to assist charitable organizations in providing aid to disadvantaged, sick, and abused children, particularly in the Delta and Nashville areas where he and his family resides.  In the past two years, Azar has opened shows for Bob Seger, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Hootie & The Blowfish, and Montgomery Gentry.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 5:30 P.M.
The Four Tops presented by KOOL 105

Levi Stubbs, Renaldo ‘Obie’ Benson, Lawrence Payton, and Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir, the original Four Tops, performed together for the first time at a party in Detroit in 1954.  Since their inception, the group has had considerable success and a long-running history.

Between 1954 and 1962, The Four Tops steadily entertained the Detroit club scene.  In 1963, the group signed with Motown Records’ jazz subsidiary, Workshop, and had their big break.  They began working with the label’s writing and production team of Holland/Dozier/Holland, who became synonymous with creating the Motown sound.  The initial collaboration between The Four Tops and Holland/Dozier/Holland was “Baby I Need Your Lovin’.”  The song showcased the group’s strong harmonies and reached Top 20 on the charts.  The following year, another Holland/Dozier/Holland song, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” topped the charts and established The Four Tops as one of Motown’s most successful groups.  The band continued to work with Holland/Dozier/Holland until 1967.  The peak of their collaboration was the song, “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” a 1966 sensation.

By 1970, The Four Tops sought a resurgence of their classic Motown style, and producers such as Smokey Robinson and Frank Wilson helped them regain their hit status.  One of the songs that put the group back on top was a rendition of Tommy Edward’s hit, “It’s All In The Game.”  Around this same time, The Four Tops also teamed up with the Supremes and co-wrote Marvin Gaye’s hit single, “What’s Going On.”  

The group relocated from Detroit to California in 1972.  Throughout the ’70s, The Four Tops continued to produce and tour.  In 1983, they resumed collaboration with Holland/Dozier/Holland but later left Motown and signed with Arista Records.  In 1988, the group found success with the singles “Indestructible” and “Loco In Acapulco.”  Two years later, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Throughout the ’90s, The Four Tops continued to perform and produce until the death of group member Lawrence Payton in 1997.  Payton was replaced by former Temptations vocalist Theo Peoples.  Ronnie McNeir took over Levi Stubbs position when Stubbs fell ill.  In 2005, Obie Benson succumbed to lung cancer and was replaced by Roquel Payton, Lawrence Payton’s son.  

Today, The Four Tops continue to bring their signature style to venues and crowds throughout the country.