Pittsburgh, PA (Top40 Charts/ PNC/ www.pnc.com) - Blues guitarist
Buddy Guy, soul and gospel diva Mavis Staples, Latin rock band Del Castillo and Jamaican reggae stars The Wailers headline the entertainment for the first-ever DiverseCITY Pittsburgh Festival this August, it was announced today.
The festival, designed to celebrate diversity in Western Pennsylvania, is scheduled Aug. 16-19, beginning with an International Business and Workforce Diversity symposium. The weekend entertainment and family festivities will be held in the First Avenue neighborhood downtown, including the newly opened PNC Firstside Park, the 1.5-acre park between Grant and Ross streets.
We'll Never Turn Back.
This ethnic mix of musical performances by these internationally renowned stars will be free and open to the public. The lineup includes:
* Saturday, Aug. 18 at 1 p.m.: The Wailers open the entertainment at an innovative space one block up Ross Street between 3rd and 4th avenues. With Bob Marley at the helm, the Wailers sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide. The band continues with Al Anderson, who played with both Bob Marley & the Wailers and Peter Tosh throughout the seventies, and Yvad, a gifted singer/songwriter from Jamaica.
* Saturday, Aug. 18 at 8 p.m.: The legendary Buddy Guy takes the stage. Renowned for his colossal musical resume and hard-earned accolades, Guy is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. He is cited as having influenced rock greats Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. A multiple Grammy winner, Guy continues to generate enthusiasm for his music with last year's release, Everyday We Have the Blues.
* Sunday, Aug. 19 at 1 p.m.: Del Castillo at 1 p.m. Having begun as a latin flamenco-style project between brothers Rick and Mark del Castillo, the band evolved into its current sound by drawing from an infinite well of sonic landscapes, gracefully fusing old world "gitano" and new world flamenco with rock & blues. Popular in the Austin music scene, the band was awarded 2007 album of the year for "Brotherhood" at the 2007 Austin Music Awards.
* Sunday, Aug. 19 at 4 p.m.: Mavis Staples closes the festival with her signature voice that has been an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music. 2007 saw a renewed interest in Staples with her release "We'll Never Turn Back." From her early days sharing lead vocals with her groundbreaking family group, The Staple Singers, to her powerful solo recordings, Staples is responsible for blazing a rhythm and blues trail while never relinquishing her gospel roots.
The scheduled weekend events include fun and informational activities for adults and children. The new location at PNC Firstside Park, built by The PNC Financial Services Group on the site of the former Public Safety Building, offers convenient access with the adjacent Port Authority T-stop and City of Pittsburgh parking garage. Activities will include:
* Youth & Children's Activities - Paint a City of Color, Government by the People Interactive Exhibit, Sesame Street's Rosita, entertainment, crafts, and more.
* Community Services Tent - Meet many of the non-profit and community services organizations that help make Pittsburgh a wonderful place to live.
* Global Market Tents - showcase the best of Pittsburgh's business community.
* Shopping & Dining Around the Globe
