ARTOWN NEWS RELEASE
Go big or go home has meaning in Reno, Nev., when Artown’s Opening Night festivities kicks off 31 days of arts and culture with nearly 500 events – a new record for the 17 year old festival.
Artown’s Opening Night experience starts with a jam session in true Grateful Dead fashion with the legendary percussionist Mickey Hart and a community drum circle – the ultimate experience of synchronized rhythmic pitch. Built on cooperation and groove of hand-held drums and percussion instruments in a circle, it’s an experience in interaction and sound. Participants need to bring their own drums and join Hart in Idlewild Park from 3 – 6 p.m. July 1. Park is available at Idlewild Park.
Following the drum circle, take the short stroll to Wingfield Park for the 7:30 p.m. “An Evening with the Mickey Hart Band,” performance and Artown’s July 1 celebration. Wingfield Park opens at 5 p.m. Local drummers Envision begin the Opening Night festivities with their percussion sounds beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The Mickey Hart Band performs as part of the “Mysterium Tremendum” tour with a mix of new material as well as selections from greatest hits and Grateful Dead songs. Hart is best known for his nearly three decades as an integral part of an extraordinary expedition into the soul and spirit of music, disguised as the rock and roll band the Grateful Dead. As half of the percussion tandem known as the Rhythm Devils, Mickey and Bill Kreutzmann transcended the conventions of rock drumming. Their extended polyrhythmic excursions were highlights of Grateful Dead shows, introducing the band’s audience to an ever-growing arsenal of percussion instruments from around the world. The Grateful Dead was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and in 2007 along with the other members of the Grateful Dead, Hart received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy award.
Opening night is sponsored by City of Reno Arts and Culture Commission, Reno Tahoe USA and Friends of Artown. Official host hotel is John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Bike valet provided by the Reno Bike Project. Free bike valet provided by Reno Bike Project.
For more information on Artown, visit www.RenoIsArtown.com or call the office at 775-322-1538.
Artown, recipient of five consecutive National Endowment for the Arts grant awards, is one of the nation’s most comprehensive arts and culture festivals attracting more than 300,000 people in 2011 for a plethora of events with more than 60 percent offered free to the public. With more than 100 partners, the month-long festival takes place at venues citywide. Artown receives major funding from the City of Reno, and is sponsored by Grand Sierra Resort, U.S. Bank, NV Energy, JLH Inc., Waste Management, Basin Street Properties, Reno Gazette-Journal, KOLO 8 News Now, KTHX-FM and KNPB with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nevada Arts Council.
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