HubArts.com

Newport Folk Fuss?

I have to imagine there will be some lively discussion - or at least some weeping and gnashing of teeth among purists - with the news that The Allman Brothers Band will headline Saturday night Aug. 4 at this year's Newport Folk Festival. Excuse me, that's Dunkin' Donuts Newport Folk Festival. Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello and the North Mississippi Allstars are also on a quite rockin' bill. And then there's this: reserved seating makes its Fort Adams debut. Half of the lawn will be devoted to a no-coolers, no-blankets zone with folding chairs. Come to think of it, that may be even more upsetting to the purists than Gregg Allman growling through "One Way Out." A more traditional sounding bill, lead by Allison Krause and Union Station, performs on Sunday. And of course we only have half the names anyway. Tix go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. through Ticketweb, at www.ticketweb.com or 866-468-7619. You can also mail order; details at the fest web site, www.newportfolk.com. 

UPDATE: Tix also go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. for Allmans gigs Aug. 7-8 at the Bank of America Pavilion on the Boston waterfront. Priced at $35-$50, they'll be available at the Orpheum box office, Ticketmaster and www.livenation.com.

Listen to this

WGBH emails to say that the great Sonny Rollins will be a guest on "Open Source with Christopher Lydon," this Thursday, April 5 at 7pm. The show airs on WGBH 89.7 FM in New England and streams live worldwide at wgbh.org/listen. There should be further info at www.radioopensource.org, although I can't find anything right now.

Mostly edgy, Junkies not, at Pops

Geoff reports that M. Ward and Cowboy Junkies will be the guests for two nights each at the Boston Pops "EdgeFest" in June. M. Ward is edgy and excellent; his "Post-War" album is a HubArts fave. But Cowboy Junkies? Really? I mean, I know they're popular with the NPR set and all, but they basically made one excellent record ("The Trinity Session") back in '88, featuring a lovely, heavily-sedated-sounding cover of "Sweet Jane" that they've been beating to death under a variety of titles ever since. They could pretty well fit into the regular Pops lineup by this time. Edgy? Not unless you think Pops patrons are so ossified that the very name of the band is going to throw them, which is, I suppose, arguable. Maybe the edgiest part of the four bills is a Felix Brenner commission the Pops will perform during CJ nights that will be remixed by DJ Paul Oakenfold during Ward's two nights.

UPDATE: I should have checked my In Box. Here's the Pops release. My favorite line is that the CJs' music is "impervious to trends."

UPDATE#2: I'm having a hella time making the line breaks work, so if you want to read the release, click here:

Download pops text.txt

Not that there's anything wrong with it

Those with deep pockets will get to see Broadway and "Seinfeld" star Jason Alexander perform at the Huntington's annual fundraising gala. The press release:

JASON ALEXANDER HOSTS HUNTINGTON’S 2007 "SPOTLIGHT SPECTACULAR!" GALA

(BOSTON) – Tony Award-winning theatre and television star – and Boston University alumnus – Jason Alexander (“Broadway Bound,” “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway,” and TV’s “Seinfeld”) will host and perform at the Huntington Theatre Company’s 2007 "Spotlight Spectacular!" gala benefit celebrating the company’s 25th anniversary season on Monday, April 30 at the new Westin Boston Waterfront. 

Proceeds from "Spotlight Spectacular!" support the Huntington’s programs, including its award-winning youth, education, and community outreach initiatives.  Last year the gala raised more than $550,000.

This year’s event honors Huntington Board members Sherryl and Gerard Cohen, who have been loyal patrons and significant supporters to the company for many years.  The Cohens will receive The Wimberly Award, named for long-time Huntington Board Chairman J. David Wimberly.  The Award is presented to those who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the Huntington.

Boston University’s 25-year partnership with the Huntington also will be celebrated at the event.  The Huntington was established in 1982 as a professional theatre in residence at the University.  Four years later the company became an independent‚ not–for–profit professional organization with strong ties to the school. As its largest donor, the University provides the Huntington significant financial support and in-kind support in the form of its main performance venue, the BU Theatre.  In return the Huntington provides educational enhancement‚ training‚ and internships to students across the university as well as on-stage and behind-the-scenes opportunities.  Between Huntington shows, the company’s production staff assists in the development of student productions at the Boston University Theatre.

Chaired by Huntington Trustee Kristine Scoon and her husband Davey, the "Spotlight Spectacular!" features an elegant cocktail reception where guests can bid on unique and exciting silent auction items while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and mingling with high-profile Boston VIPs, including stars of recent and upcoming Huntington productions.  A seated dinner, live auction, and entertainment by the Huntington’s special friends follows the reception.

An online auction opens April 4th, allowing Huntington patrons and friends to bid on many items prior to the event.  Among the exciting auction items are a Tony Awards package including tickets to the 2007 awards show and post-show dinner, concert tickets to see The Police at Fenway Park this summer, numerous Red Sox/Yankees tickets, and an Executive Suite for 22 at a 2007 Boston Red Sox game.  The online auction can be found at www.huntington.cmarket.com.

Tables for the Spotlight Spectacular! range from $7,500 to $25,000.  Individual tickets are $500 and $1,500.  For more information about the event, to sponsor a table, or to purchase tickets, contact Michelle Williams at (617) 273-1536 or MWilliams@huntingtontheatre.bu.edu.