Lakewood Ranch's Winterfest announces additions to lineup

   The lineup of acts slated to appear at Winterfest, the new two-day music festival at Lakewood Ranch, is filling up.
   Seven more acts were announced Monday: country star Ty Herndon, The Alabama Blues Brothers, Hotel California, The Backtrack Blues Band, Highway to Hell, Elvis impersonator Joseph Hall and the Mudbugs Cajun and Zydeco Band.
    Except for  Herndon, none have the name recognition of the stars that had previously been announced -- Alabama founder Jeff Cook, Jefferson Airplane's Marty Balin, Rick Derringer and Edgar Winter and "Key Largo" singer Bertie Higgins -- and four are tribute acts.

Ty Herndon

   Country stalwart Billy Dean, 11-year-old guitar phenom Jake Castro and popular locals the Billy Rice Band are also among the acts announced originally.
   More additions are yet to be announced.
   “There are still a few acts we are asked not to announce until later,” said Jim Chiaffredo, the spokesperson for Winterfest.
   The festival is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. March 29-30 at the Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch.
   Winterfest officials predict about 20,000 people will attend each day. They say they plan to make Winterfest an annual event.
   Regular one-day tickets are $11.34 for kids ages 3-10, $16.52 for ages 11-17 with a valid student ID and $26.87 for adults.
   Two-day tickets are also available for $42.39. (No two-day tickets are available for kids or students, at least at this time.)
   You can also get VIP tickets for $259.74 per day, or $363.24 for both days. Those tickets get you into an air-conditioned VIP area.
   You can buy tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/435550, and you can get festival information at www.lwrwinterfest.com.

Tickets for Winterfest at Lakewood Ranch available

    Tickets are on sale now for Winterfest, the new music festival slated for Lakewood Ranch March 29-30.
   Regular one day tickets are $11.34 for kids ages 3-10, $16.52 for ages 11-17 with a valid student ID and $26.87 for adults.
   Two-day tickets are also available for $42.39. (No two-day tickets are available for kids or students, at least at this time.)
   You can also get VIP tickets for $259.74 per day, or $363.24 for both days. Those tickets get you into an air-conditioned VIP area.

Rick Derringer

   The lineup announced thus far includes Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane, Jeff Cook of country band Alabama, Manatee County resident Rick Derringer performing with his former musical partner Edgar Winter, "Key Largo" singer Bertie Higgins, country stalwart Billy Dean, 11-year-old guitar phenom Jake Castro and popular locals the Billy Rice Band.
    There's no word yet on which acts will play which days.

Jeff Cook

   Organizers say more acts will be announced later, and that they'll cover a broad range of genres, from blues and rock to jazz.
   The festival is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. at the Premier Sports Complex in Lakewood Ranch.
   Besides music, Winterfest will include more than 50 vendors and a kids' area.
    Winterfest officials predict about 20,000 people will attend each day. They say they plan to make Winterfest an annual event.
   You can buy tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/435550, and you can get festival information at www.lwrwinterfest.com.
   

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/06/19/4575800/winterfest-brings-major-rock-and.html#storylink=cpy

Jeff Cook (Alabama), Rick Derringer and Marty Balin (Jefferson Airplane) will join forces in Bradenton for Del Couch Music Education Foundation fundraiser

Rick Derringer

Jeff Cook

Jeff Cook, Rick Derringer and Marty Balin will be forming an exciting, unlikely supergroup on May 4 at the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium to raise funds for the Palmetto-based Del Couch Music Education Foundation.

Cook — co-founder, vocalist, guitarist and fiddler for Country Music Hall of Fame act Alabama — played a benefit for Music Education last June. He's currently taking part in Alabama's highly anticipated reunion tour.

Derringer, who has a home in Manatee County, is a Grammy Award-winning producer, singer, songwriter and guitar hero best known for hits such as "Hang on Sloopy" and "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo." Derringer recently returned from world tour with Ringo Starr and the All Starr Band .

Marty Balin

Marty Balin is best known as the founder and one of the lead singers of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act Jefferson Airplane.

Cook and Derringer with be sitting in with Balin's band, Couch said during a recent visit to Herald headquarters.

The Billy Rice Band will also perform plus Music Education student standouts such as 10-tear-old Jack Castro.

Kojak's Palmetto Ribhouse is catering the event.

Details: 6-11 p.m. May 4, Bradenton Municipal Auditorium, 1005 Barcarrota Blvd.
Bradenton. Tickets: $50.00 at the door includes buffet dinner. Information: 941-545-4379 or http://couchmusiceducationfoundation.org.