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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tucson: Southern Arizona's Music Sanctuary
Tucson, Ariz., Musicians of all genres - from amateur rockers to masterful symphony orchestras - have found a musical haven in Tucson. The Old Pueblo puts an uncommon emphasis on the importance of local music, calling on rock, folk, classical, bluegrass, Waila and mariachi artists to showcase their talents at a variety of venues - from pubs and street festivals, to concert halls and open-air stages.
Up-And-Coming Rock Stars
Soulful local indie-rock group Calexico blends Tejano with country and rock to produce a haunting alternative sound with a strong Southwestern vibe. A Tucson establishment since 1996, Calexico has produced six albums, and proven popular with the U.S. and European critics and crowds alike. Calexico is arguably one of Tucson's most successful bands, but this low-key group hasn't forgotten its home town, making regular appearances at local clubs and venues. http://www.casadecalexico.com/
Mostly Bears is one of Tucson's most accomplished new bands, featuring pounding drums, bizarre vocals, melodic bass lines and chaotic guitars. This unique trio is a winner of the Best New Band "Tammy" (Tucson's version of the Grammys) and has performed to critical acclaim at South By Southwest (SXSW). Drawing comparisons to Radiohead, Modest Mouse and The Arcade Fire, Mostly Bears' debut full-length album The Ed Mitchell Clinic spent nine weeks in the Top 200, peaking at No. 30.
Perennial local favorite Chango Malo is a high-energy blend of punk, soul, pop, and hard rock, known locally for its intense live performances and opinionated take on pop culture. This six-man band has been winning over fans with its slightly off-key vocals and lovable personalities since 2000.
Local blue-collar pop-rock group The Holy Rolling Empire - whose first full-length album was released in March 2009 - blends smooth vocals with buoyant, psychedelic pop beats. Formerly known as The Crowd, HRE's five-strong group is a local favorite. After successful performances on tour and at SXSW, this native band is gaining fans fast. http://www.theholyrollingempire.com/
The energetic pop-acoustic duo Ryanhood - a consistent Tucson favorite - recently released its fifth album, The World Awaits. The duo's earnest, hopeful, effortless music boasts stellar guitar and smooth, hook-laden vocals with plenty of harmony, à là Dave Matthews and John Mayer. http://www.ryanhood.com/
Classical, Jazz & Bluegrass
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra has captivated classical music enthusiasts in Southern Arizona since 1929. The oldest continuing professional performing arts organization in Arizona, and also the oldest symphony orchestra in the Southwest, the TSO performs a variety of intricate musical pieces - from classics, pops and chamber music, to family concerts featuring world-famous guests performers. In 2008, TSO reached a new milestone with the release of its first commercial recording, which contained three works by the late French Canadian composer André Mathieu, called "Canada's Mozart." The TSO was the first American orchestra to play Mathieu's long-lost compositions; an unheard-of accomplishment for a regional orchestra. http://www.tucsonsymphony.org/
The Arizona Opera - which got its start in Tucson in 1971 and is still headquartered in Midtown - brings professional, first-rate opera talent to Southern Arizona. The Opera - one of few companies in the United States to serve two cities - got its start from a small group of opera enthusiasts, and has now grown to encompass both Tucson and Phoenix, performing five yearly operas in both cities. The company's artistic history is rich with a blend of traditional repertoire featuring baroque, bel canto and verismo works, turn-of-the-century masterpieces, operettas and American operas. Arizona Opera has also presented Wagner's complete Ring Cycle twice, a feat that has only been accomplished in North America by four other companies. http://www.azopera.com/
Arizona Friends of Chamber Music is a decades-old nonprofit organization that brings world-class chamber music to Tucson. AFCM hosts a weekly Evening Series of concerts; Piano and Friends matinee concerts on Sunday afternoons, and for 16 years running, an annual Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival - a series of five concerts and other events the first week of March. http://www.arizonachambermusic.org/
Since 1977, the non-profit Tucson Jazz Society has dedicated itself to promoting and preserving America's original music: Jazz. One of the country's largest jazz societies - with an active membership of more than 2,200 - TJS has succeeded in bringing the best of the best jazz musicians to perform in Tucson, including Tito Puente, Marian McPartland, Clark Terry, Buddy DeFranco, Toshiko Akyoshi, McCoy Tyner, Diane Schurr, Poncho Sanchez and Brian Bromberg. TJS is also committed to nurturing and championing local jazz talent, bringing outstanding national and international artists to Southern Arizona, and providing arts and music education for the next generation. TJS is Tucson's only full-time source for all things jazz, collaborating with local cultural, educational and commercial organizations to ensure Jazz music remains a part of Tucson's music lexicon. http://www.tucsonjazz.org/
The Desert Bluegrass Association was formed in Tucson in 1995 to promote, preserve and perpetuate traditional bluegrass music in Tucson and Southern Arizona. The DBA is an all-volunteer non-profit organization made up of local members and visitors from throughout the United States and Canada. Every fall, DBA hosts its annual Tucson Bluegrass Music Festival, featuring the best pickers, strummers and fiddlers in Southern Arizona. http://www.desertbluegrass.org/
Music Venues
Club Congress is found inside the historic Hotel Congress - located in Tucson's downtown Arts District, in the center of the city's hippest scene. This railroad-era hotel was built 1919 and has been artfully restored to its original Southwestern version of art deco. Famous as the scene where Tucson police captured notorious 1930s gangster John Dillinger and his gang, the hotel offers urban tourism, Tucson-style. The ground floor features a popular local nightclub - Club Congress - which was founded in 1985 and is home to many of Tucson's cutting-edge, up-and-coming musicians. http://www.hotelcongress.com/
Since its opening in 1920, the historic Rialto Theatre has entertained audiences with a variety of acts - from Vaudeville acts and screenings of "talkies," to feature-length films. After decades of varied uses, the theatre was partly destroyed in 1984 when an explosion beneath the stage caused extensive damage. Over the next two decades, the property was fixed up and re-opened, where it now showcases a broad array of performers and talent, including rock bands, jam bands, comedians, heavy metal, hip hop, film, jazz, flamenco, country music and much more. http://www.rialtotheatre.com/
PLUSH is a fantastically "Tucson" venue that boasts a wide variety of live, local music acts - plus two full bars and "Plush" unique décor. PLUSH is dedicated to Tucson's live music scene. Talented local, regional and national touring acts perform five to seven nights a week. http://www.plushtucson.com/
Solar Culture is a performance and gallery space in Downtown Tucson's warehouse district. Since the mid-80s, Solar Culture has provided opportunities for locals and visitors to see local, national and international bands perform in a high-quality, smoke-free, all-ages artistic setting. http://www.solarculture.org/
Music Events
Every year for the past quarter-century, hundreds of students flock to Tucson for an intensive learning experience in traditional mariachi music and baile folklórico dancing at the La Frontera Tucson International Mariachi Conference. The Conference is the largest cultural event in the city, and is widely believed to be the best mariachi conference in the world. At the end of the conference, beginners through seasoned experts take the stage in Downtown Tucson to showcase their new or recently honed skills. http://www.tucsonmariachi.org/
The Desert Bluegrass Association proudly presents the Tucson Bluegrass Music Festival each October at Desert Diamond Casino, featuring all-day performances staged in a beautiful outdoor plaza. Each festival also features a contest in which bands compete for prize money and the opportunity to perform on the festival stage. Workshops help pickers hone their skills, vendors offer crafts and music for sale, and Desert Diamond offers a wide range of dining options. http://www.desertbluegrass.org/
Every spring and fall, the Tucson Weekly - the Old Pueblo's hip local paper - throws two raucous street festivals featuring the best local music acts on dozens of stages throughout downtown. Fall Crawl (October) and Spring Club Crawl (April) take over downtown in Tucson's largest music festival. Outdoor stages and numerous venues pop up in downtown and on 4th Avenue, where 21-and-over revelers wander from stage to stage to catch the hottest up-and-coming Tucson bands. Venues include the Rialto Theatre, Hotel Congress, Vaudeville, O'Malley's, The Hut, The Red Room, Cushing Street, Magpies, Chocolate Iguana and many more. http://www.clubcrawl.net/
Each year, the Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association (TKMA) celebrates the traditions of American folk music at downtown's El Presidio Park during the Tucson Folk Festival. Musicians and songwriters from all over the Southwest gather to perform folk, bluegrass, gospel and blues, and to teach music workshops. Food, craft stands and children's programs will entertain the kids, and everyone with a musical ear is invited to join a Saturday night jam session. Admission is free. http://www.tkma.org/
When the weather turns chilly, it's time for the annual Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival, presented by Arizona Friends of Chamber Music. Every winter, AFCM brings nationally and internationally renowned chamber music groups to perform in Tucson. This world-class, acclaimed musical event ranks among the best music festivals in the country. The week-long festival features five concerts; a spectacular gala dinner featuring music from festival performers, along with champagne and dinner; and master classes for University music students, which are free and open to the public. http://www.arizonachambermusic.org/
Every October, the Tucson Film & Music Festival helps the Old Pueblo celebrate the past, present and future of music and filmmaking in Tucson. The festival focuses on music content, as well as films and filmmakers, with a connection to Arizona or the Southwest. The festival accepts music videos, documentaries, narrative features and shorts, and features live music and music video premieres at popular 4th Avenue venue PLUSH. http://www.tucsonfilmandmusicfestival.com/
One of the Old Pueblo's most unique music celebrations is the annual springtime Waila Festival, an event celebrating the dance music of Tucson's native Tohono O'odham people, called Waila (a word taken from the Spanish "baile"). Waila is a combination of German polka and Northern Mexican norteño music, with an emphasis on accordion. Festival-goers learn more about Waila during the festival, which is held at Bear Down Field on the University of Arizona campus each spring. Aside from music and dancing, visitors can try Tohono O'odham foods, including cholla buds, tepary beans and frybread. Admission is free.
For more information on Tucson's unique local music scene, please visit the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau online at http://www.visittucson.org/, or call the Tucson Visitor Information line at 1-800-638-8350.
The MTCVB is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Tucson area as a convention, visitor, and film production destination. It is financially supported by the City of Tucson, Pima County, the Town of Oro Valley, and its nearly 800 individual and business partners.
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