Britt Announces Epic 2015 Season – by Lee Greene

Britt Classical Conductor Teddy Abrams at podium discussing 2015 Britt Classical Festival during Season Announcement Party

of the Louisville Orchestra to participate in the Season Announcement ceremonies. It’s unusual for the Classical Festival Conductor to attend the Season Announcement festivities, because the Classical Season is announced well in advance – this year the Classical Festival line-up was announced on February 5, more than two months before the rest of the Britt Festival line-up. But Abrams, in his sophomore year as Classical Conductor, and Briggs, who took over as Britt executive in 2011, are bringing some fresh, welcome changes and energy to the 53 year old music and arts festival. Addressing the curious attendees, who were surprised by his appearance at the event, Abrams exclaimed, “There’s just one Britt” (leaving unsaid the obvious corollary that he, and the Classical Festival, are an important part of it).

When Ms. Briggs took the stage as Britt spokesperson to present the 2015 lineup, Abrams joined her on stage, seated at an electronic keyboard beside her, and played an active role in the announcement ceremonies. For several of the acts that were announced as part of the 2015 season, the pair led a “Name That Tune” contest, with Mr. Abrams playing a very passable cover of a popular recording by the artist to be announced, and audience members vying to guess what the tune and who the artist were, with the first correct responder awarded a pair of tickets to the Britt concert of their choice.

As for that “epic season”, the phrase was first used by Abrams in February to describe the seven 2015 Classical Festival orchestral concerts. Midway through the Season Announcement Party, Abrams left the keyboard to step to the podium and talk about the Classical lineup, again describing it as “an epic, exciting season”. The Classical Season will begin on Friday, July 31 with a performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with guest artists Baritone Hugh Russell, Soprano Celena Shafer, Tenor Javier Abreu, the Southern Oregon Repertory Singers, the Rogue Valley Chorale and members of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. That will be followed the next night by the very first ever Britt performance of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and also guest artists the Dover Quartet joining in a performance of John Adams’ Absolute Jest. The subsequent five classical concerts include a folk-inspired set featuring fiddler Jeremy Kittel and vocalist Aoife O’Donovan on Friday August 7, followed the next night by a set with the Sixth Floor Trio (formed when the members were all at the Curtis Institute of Music), featuring Britt’s own Teddy Abrams, Harrison Hollingsworth, Johnny Teyssier and special guest Gabriel Globus-Hoenich, and then on August 9 an all-Bernstein Symphony Pops concert featuring the Broadway and recording artist Morgan James. The third week of the classical festival will feature the return of violinist James Ehnes on Barber’s Violin Concerto on Friday August 14, and the classical festival will close with an orchestra showcase on August 15, consisting of an all-French program with works by Debussy, Dukas, Ravel and contemporary composer Guillaume Connesson. Abrams commented that this epic classical season included something for everyone – a very diverse and all inclusive series of classical concerts.

And that is also an apt description – very diverse and all inclusive, for the rest of the Britt season, the 30 additional concerts at the Britt Pavilion sandwiched around the Classical Festival, beginning on Saturday, June 20 (with the Pink Floyd cover band, Brit Floyd) and ending on Wednesday, Sept. 16 (with PRIMUS & The Chocolate Factory with The Fungi Ensemble performing the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory soundtrack in its entirety). Ms. Briggs borrowed Mr. Abrams phrase, “epic” to describe this season and the, well – epic, concerts being presented. Again, there was something for everyone, and some truly special, notable, and rare treats. Perhaps at the top of the list is a one-time-only pairing of Grammy Award winning bluegrass-country singer Alison Krauss and music icon Willie Nelson on Wed., June 24.

Other season highlights include Britt favorite, Michael Franti, appearing here for the 10th year in a row on Thurs., Aug. 20, 60’s legends The Turtles on Friday, Sept. 11, Grammy, Emmy & Academy Award winner Randy Newman on Thurs., Aug. 27, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at the Best of Britt Benefit on Thurs., July 2, most Grammy winner ever Vince Gill on Sun., Aug. 30, country legend and film actor Dwight Yoakum on Sat., Aug 22, “Weird Al” Yankovic on Wed., Sept. 2, Boz Scaggs on Mon., July 6, duo Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo on Fri., Sept. 4, master showman Chris Isaak on Friday, Aug. 21, and legendary rock and roll band Chicago on Tues., June 23.

There will be at least two concerts featuring four performing acts: four bands from the South will each perform in the Tour De Compadres concert on Thurs., July 16: NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and Colony House. And on Thurs., July 23 the Under The Sun Tour will present a four hour concert featuring Sugar Ray, Better Than Ezra, Uncle Kracker and Eve 6.

Another unusual event will be hosted on the Britt stage on Sept. 12, when NBC’s The Last Comic Standing television competition will present the top 5 comedians remaining, out of 100 contestants, for a night of laughs.

And there is a long list of additional artists performing at the 2015 Britt Festivals, announced at the Season Announcement Party. The full list of events for the 2015 Britt season is:

June 6: Taste of Summer (celebration in downtown Jacksonville)
June 20: Brit Floyd – The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show
June 21: Smash Mouth / Toad the Wet Sprocket / Tonic
June 23: Chicago
June 24: Willie Nelson / Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
July 2: Best of Britt benefit featuring Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
July 2: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
July 5: Ben Folds
July 6: Boz Scaggs
July 14: The Decemberists / Calexico
July 16: NEEDTOBREATHE presents Tour de Compadres featuring NEEDTOBREATHE, Switchfoot, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors and Colony House
July 23: Under the Sun Tour: Sugar Ray / Better than Ezra / Uncle Kracker / Eve 6
July 24: Easton Corbin
July 25: John Butler Trio
July 26: G. Love & Special Sauce / Big Head Todd & the Monsters
July 31: Britt Orchestra / Opening Night – Carmina Burana
August 1: Britt Orchestra / Dover Quartet
August 7: Britt Orchestra / Aoife O’Donovan & Jeremy Kittel
August 8: Britt Orchestra / Sixth Floor Trio
August 9: Britt Orchestra / Symphony Pops / Morgan James
August 14: Britt Orchestra / James Ehnes
August 15: Britt Orchestra / Closing Night
August 18: The Devil Makes Three / Trampled by Turtles
August 20: Michael Franti & Spearhead
August 21: Chris Isaak
August 22: Dwight Yoakam
August 27: Randy Newman
August 30: Vince Gill
August 31: The Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes and Tonio Ballardo
September 1: Rebelution
September 2: “Weird Al” Yankovic
September 3: Kacey Musgraves
September 4: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
September 5: Punch Brothers
September 11: The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie
September 12: Last Comic Standing
September 13: Brandi Carlile
September 16: Primus & The Chocolate Factory with The Fungi Ensemble

Newest addition to the Britt Gardens: “Brittilaria” sculpture by artist Cheryl D. Garcia

In addition to the thorough review of the extensive lineup of concerts for summer 2015, another highlight of the Season Announcement Party was discussion of the newest addition to the Britt Gardens this season, an eye-catching giant metal sculpture depicting five “Brittilaria” by artist Cheryl D. Garcia, celebrating the natural, cultural and historic treasures of Jacksonville, Oregon. Ms. Briggs introduced the artist, who was present, to the audience, who responded with an enthusiastic indication of their approval of this newest artwork addition. Be sure, when you get to one of the epic Summer 2015 concerts, to find an opportunity to stop and take a look at this new epic piece of Britt art.

For more complete information on the concerts and events, performers’ biographical info, videos, links and more, go online to http://www.brittfest.org/performances. Tickets for the Classical Festival have been available for purchase since early February. Tickets for the rest of Britt’s 2015 season go on sale beginning April 10 to Britt members and on May 15 to the general public. Britt’s box office is now open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday at 216 West Main St. in Medford. For full information about Britt’s 2015 season and membership, visit http://www.brittfest.org or call 541-773-6077 or 1-800-882-7488.