Trails West!^® 2010

Main Stage          Family Stage           City Stage

2010 Main Stage Artists
 

Trails West!^® 2010 Headliners

British blues-rock star Matt Schofield, country stars Jake Owen and Love and Theft, and legendary 70s/80s star Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx will be the main stage headline acts for the Trails West! ^® arts festival, Aug. 20-22, 2010, at Civic Center Park in St. Joseph.

Friday night blues fans are in for a treat with Matt Schofield, a British guitarist playing rhythm and blues with “New Orleans funk”-- and doing it so well that commentators on both sides of the Atlantic are ranking him among the best in the world. Vintage Guitar, USA calls Schofield "The best of his generation's European players. His feel for the music is incredible." Guitar and Bass magazine says he is one of the "Top ten British Blues guitarists of all time."

 Opening Friday night, Aug. 20th, for Matt Schofield is Johnny Neel - a Grammy award nominee recognized in the music world for his work with the Allman Brothers, Lonnie Mack and Gov't Mule, among others. In addition to his soulful vocals, harp, piano and B-3 proficiency, Johnny is an accomplished songwriter whose tunes have been recorded by artists including Marie Osmond, the Oak Ridge Boys and Travis Tritt. In 1990, Neel joined the Allman Brothers for the chart-topping hit "Good Clean Fun", from the Seven Turns Album, co-written by Neel with Allman and Betts.  Music reviews say “He joins the ranks of multi-talented blind pianists/composers such as Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder - and he's every bit as creative and soulful” and “At times he'll remind you of Springsteen, Bob Seger and Stevie Ray Vaughan.”   
              Jake Owen, named one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men in Country Music,” has recently landed coveted spots on shows with country's kings of the road, including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson. The journey began in 2006 with the release of his debut album, Startin' With Me. The title cut from that project hit the country top ten, leading to Jake's first ACM nomination for Top New Male Vocalist. A hit with Sugarland and Little Big Town on the tune "Life in a Northern Town" garnered the Florida native his first CMA and Grammy nominations in 2008. The first two songs off his sophomore album, Easy Does It, have peaked at No. 2 and No. 10 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart: “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” and “Eight Second Ride.” The first single from Easy Does It, "Don't Think I Can’t Love You," is inspired by his father's devotion to his mother over the years. “It's all about truth. In order for people to gravitate towards your music and buy into what you're saying, they have to know it's true,” says Owen of his high-energy connection to his audiences. Jake Owen takes the stage at Trails West!® on Saturday night, Aug. 21^st.

Opening Aug. 21st for Jake Owen is Love and Theft, the trio who toured with Taylor Swift in 2008 and is currently on tour with Tim McGraw and his "Southern Voice" North American tour, along with Lady Antebellum (stopping in Kansas City, June 27). Their debut album, World Wide Open, recently opened inside the Top 10 on the country albums chart. The band's Top 10 and climbing hit single "Runaway" claims the biggest first week digital single sales for any debut country act this year; music fans will also know “Dancing in Circles.” Audiences have been swept away at first listen by the trio's soaring harmonies and on-stage charisma. “Lyrically," says trio member Eric Gunderson, "we feel like rawness and authenticity is a real driving force behind this band."

             It’s throwback time for festival guests on Sunday night, with the legendary Dennis DeYoung performing 30 years of musical history with “The Music of Styx.” As founder, former singer and songwriter for 1970s-80s champion rockers Styx, DeYoung’s show offers a unique rock experience bringing new power and feeling to such classics as “Lady,” “Babe,” “Come Sail Away,” “Mr. Roboto,” “Grand Illusion,” “Lorelei,” “Don’t Let It End,” and “Show Me the Way,” plus many more, including solo works and new music from his new rock CD, 100 Years From Now. DeYoung’s voice is called one of the most recognizable in the world, and continues to inspire new generations of fans with his 7-piece rock band. Styx was the only band to ever record four consecutive triple platinum albums. With recent stints on Broadway, music for 15 major motion pictures and numerous sitcoms, DeYoung and his band bring a star-studded show. Lead guitarist August Zadra has performed with Boston, the Gin Blossoms and Poison – and is now also touring with his own Journey cover band, Lights. Drummer Tom Sharpe is also the drummer for the Grammy-Award winning Mannheim Steamroller. DeYoung’s keyboardist, John Blasucci, has worked as a composer/producer/pianist for Josh Groban, Celine Dion and N’Sync.

            Admission to the festival will be by souvenir button or 2010 Trails West! ^® t-shirt. The buttons, good for admission to all three days of the festival, will be $6 in advance and $8 at the festival gates. All festival guests over the age of 12 will need a button or t-shirt for admission. Trails West! ^® 2010 t-shirts must be purchased in advance and can be worn to the festival as an alternative option to purchasing an admission button.         
           Trails West!® is an arts festival, celebrating the unique cultural heritage of St. Joseph. A program of the Allied Arts Council, the festival is coordinated by a volunteer steering committee, and receives financial assistance from the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of St. Joseph, and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

Family Stage   

Friday, August 20
5:30 p.m.	New City Seat Indy/Acoustic Rock
6:45 p.m.	Stonelion Puppets
Saturday, August 21
12:00 noon	Sounds of St. Joseph A theatrical retelling of stories about immigrants moving to St. Joseph
1:30 p.m.	Flannigans Right Hook Country/Irish
3:00 p.m.	Brother John Storyteller
4:30 p.m.	Sounds of St. Joseph
6:00 p.m.	Brother John Storyteller
Sunday, August 22
12:15 p.m.	RiverSong
1:30 p.m.	Martin City Melodrama There Was An Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly! (and other heroines who reach for the sky!)©
3:00 p.m.	Rockin Rob Musician, storyteller and FUN Maker!
4:30 p.m.	Martin City Melodrama

City Stage