[Dixielandjazz] George Wein's New Festivals

[Stephen G Barbone]

The old man isn't letting any grass grow under his feet. You go,  
George. If you present the stars, the audience will come. But will  
they come on short notice?

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband


April 18, 2009 - NY TIMES - by Dave Itzkoff
New Festivals From George Wein

George Wein, the music impresario and longtime producer of the JVC  
Jazz Festival and the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals, has announced  
the initial lineups for two new eponymous festivals that will run this  
summer in Newport, R.I. In a release, New Festival Productions said  
George Wein’s Folk Festival 50 would run from July 31 through Aug. 2  
and feature performers includingPete Seeger (right), the Decemberists,  
Arlo Guthrie, Fleet Foxes, Joan Baez, Neko Case and Judy Collins;  
George Wein’s Jazz Festival 55 would run from Aug. 7 through 9 and  
include Tony Bennett, Branford Marsalis, Etta James, Esperanza  
Spalding and theDave Brubeck Quartet. In 2007 Mr. Wein, 83, sold his  
company, Festival Productions, to Festival Network. Rhode Island  
officials said they had canceled Festival Network’s contract to  
present events at Fort Adams State Park, where the festivals have been  
held, because of late payments.