The ART in FIRE

HARPER SIMON plays VISALIA this DECEMBER!

Sound Tracks
by Aaron Gomes

Thursday, December 17, 2009
HARPER SIMON (son of PAUL SIMON)
The Chapin Sisters
$10, 21+, 9:30pm
The Cellar Door
101 W. Main St., Visalia CA

Having one of America’s best songwriters as your father can surely be viewed as a blessing or a curse when trying to launch your own career as a songwriter and musician.  But Harper Simon (son of Paul Simon) has meticulously cultivated an album of songs that prove to the world that though the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, Harper Simon definitely uses the blessings of his voice and musical talent to perform his own unique music.  Harper Simon is stepping into the spotlight as his own man.

At the experienced age of 37, Simon just released his debut album titled “Harper Simon” this past October to much critical praise.  After Rolling Stone Magazine gave the album 4 1/2 out of 5 stars, and a stellar performance on the “Late Show with David Letterman”, Harper Simon is now set to tour the nation. The tour will make a highly anticipated and modest stop at Visalia’s Cellar Door on Thursday, December 17th.

This Harper Simon performance is particularly special due to the fact that he and his full band will be accompanied by the lovely and talented Chapin Sisters.  The Chapin Sisters are a Los Angeles trio that blends beautiful vocal harmonies with folk instrumentation.  At this Cellar Door performance the girls will kick off the evening by playing some of their own original music, and then later join Harper Simon on stage to sing along with his music.

Don’t miss this exciting and intimate Visalia concert experience!

Much love,
Aaron Gomes

January Concert Features African Children’s Choir

Since 1984 the African Children’s Choir has been the ambassador for Africa’s neediest, most vulnerable children.  This inspiring choir is composed of children between seven and twelve years of age who come from three countries in East Africa – Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Through funding generated by the choir’s touring, schools and educational programs throughout Africa are maintained and provide their service to over seven thousands African children.  Food, medical care, and counseling programs are also funded by the Choir for families throughout the villages.

Recent African Children’s Choir performances have taken place at The White House and on television programs such as “Good Morning America”, “American Idol”, “Ellen”, and “The Tonight Show”.  The choir has performed alongside Sir Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, Josh Grobin, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, and for Bono of U2.  The group also sang on the sound track of Oprah Winfrey movie “Beloved”.

Fox Theatre employee Ryan Stillwater saw the outreach of the program first hand while in Africa.  Ryan Stillwater said, “I was talking to a principal while visiting a Uganda school funded by the Choir.  The man pointed towards a barren field at a young boy amongst broken down shacks.  He then told me that the impoverished-looking child’s family was too wealthy to receive aid.  The Choir works with the poorest of the poor children.  Many of the children that have sung in the choir have lost their parents to AIDS or hunger.”

Ryan Stillwater continued, “At that moment raising money for the African Children’s Choir became a priority for me.  Not only is ALL of the ticket money for this concert going back into the villages, but even the costs of sound production, feeding, and housing of the thirty children has been paid for by the Visalia community to maximize our donation.  The Marriott and the Sound N Vision Foundation have generously funded this event.”

For more ACC info: www.africanchildrenschoir.com

Tuesday, January 19, 2010
AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR
$12, All Ages, 7:30PM
The Fox Theatre
300 W. Main St., Visalia

Tickets:
Fox Box Office
308 W. Main St., Visalia
559-625-1369
Online: www.foxvisalia.org