Lawton-Ft. Sill Birthday/Arvel Bird Concert

Lawton-Ft. Sill Birthday Celebration with Arvel Bird, “Many Tribes, One Fire Band” Free Concert

August 2nd

Friendly Reminder

Who: Arvel Bird with “Many Tribes, One Fire Band”,
4-time Indiana State Fiddle Champion,
2006 & 2007 Best Instrumentalist for the Canadian and Native American Music Awards
1st Performance in SW Oklahoma
Last chance to catch him in 2008 OK/TX area

What: Free concert in Elmer Thomas Park on the Lake Helen Amphitheater

When: Saturday, Aug 2
7 pm: Opening Ceremony – Lawton Mayor John Purcell and Major General Peter M. Vangjel, Commanding General United States Army Fires Center of Excellence Fort Sill will provide opening remarks. Soloist, Sabrina Harrell will perform.  Appearance by the Pioneer Women’s Club of Lawton and Lawton Rangers with the South Central District Square Dancers, Mr Mathys to call.

8 pm: Concert - Full band including young American Indian Dancers performing various traditional dance demonstrations
while the band plays

Where: Enter the park from either 6th street & Ferris Avenue on the South or  at 6th & Cache Road on the North.
Parking attendants will assist w/parking once inside the park
The 3rd & Ferris Ave. entrance is by special pass only

Why: Lawton-Ft. Sill 107th Birthday Celebration

Onsite: Water/snow cone vendor
Additional Porta-pottys
Free public parking in park

What to Bring:  Water, Picnic Baskets, Coolers, Lawn Chairs, Blankets
What not to Bring: Please, No pets, only service animals; No Glass Containers, No Fireworks; No Alcoholic beverages

Websites:
www.wimgo.com/events/46906
www.cityof.lawton.ok.us/lahc
www.arvelbird.com
www.myspace.com/arvelbird

Funding and Support for this event provided by the:
City of Lawton
Lawton Arts & Humanities Council
Lawton-Ft. Sill Chamber of Commerce/ Lawton Hotel-Motel Tax Fund
Oklahoma Arts Council
National Endowment for the Arts
With special assistance from the Lawton Marriot Hotels, Springhill Suites, Comanche Housing Authority, and the Comanche National Museum

For Event Information:
Arts & Humanities Division at 580-581-3470 or 581-3471 or by email at [e-mail].

For Arvel Bird Information:
Kimberly Kelley, Artist Manager and Booking Agent, [phone] or [e-mail]

Arvel Bird with “Many Tribes, One Fire Band” Quick Bio
Music is fusion of American Indian Fiddle/flute with Celtic and Jazz
People may know it as “World Music”.  Has several CD’s out.
Visit: www.arvelbird.com or www.myspace.com/arvelbird

Arvel’s heritage is Southern Piaute/Scottish.  His band members include former Oklahoman, Steve Allen, who will be on the guitar that night.  Steve was born and raised in Oklahoma. His sister still lives there and he has many family and friends there and gets back as often as he can. So this gig is like coming home for him. He was taught guitar by Eldon Chamblin of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, a big group in Oklahoma in those days. He attended Oklahoma State University and had his own band there. Eventually he moved to L.A. and now is in Nashville.

Other members include,
Michael Jackson
Brad Bearsheart whose young children will be performing traditional dances while they play.  They are Varinia, Nathaniel, and Ella Bearsheart.

They will do a variety of dances:  jingle, grass and fancy, depending on the type of song.  The kids are experienced dancers.  Native kids whose parents are actively involved in learning their traditions (like Brad and his wife, Gabrielle), learn to dance very young, so they will be a delightful addition to the show!