CHRYSLER ARTS, BEATS & EATS FEATURES FRESH, NEW SOUNDS AND FAMILIAR FAVORITES AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL, SPOTLIGHTING LOCAL AND NATIONAL MUSICAL GUESTS

Metro Detroit’s largest summer entertainment event displays more than 150 musicians and entertainers

PONTIAC, Mich. – CHRYSLER ARTS, BEATS & EATS plays host to a hot line-up of national and local musical acts on Labor Day weekend, August 29 through September 1, 2008. In its eleventh year, CHRYSLER ARTS, BEATS & EATS promises the “beats” will reflect the true heart of the metro Detroit area with sounds from nearly every musical genre. With more than 150 local bands and entertainers performing for crowds free of charge on six stages, and well-known acts taking to the Million Dollar Madness Stage, the 2008 musical line-up caters to festival attendees of all ages and musical tastes.

The Million Dollar Madness features high-profile, up-and-coming national acts as well as established international stars. Located again this year on Pontiac’s Phoenix Plaza, the official list of confirmed national acts includes headliners Blues Traveler, Rusted Root and Hard Lessons on Friday; Hunter Brucks, Marcel, Stephen Cochran, Billy Currington, Tim Bowman, and Boney James on Saturday; Leighton with special guest Steve Kostan, Beatlemania Live, Loverboy, Back in the Day Band and Chaka Khan on Sunday; and Critical Bill, Rev Theory and Puddle of Mudd on Monday.

Detroit’s best local bands are also featured on five additional music stages, with a quality mix and variety of music that is unchallenged by any other festival. The local stages include the Dodge Americana Stage, Miller Lite Rock Stage, Flagstar Acoustic Stage, Diet Pepsi R&B Stage and The Detroit News Stage.

“This year, Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats offers an eclectic lineup, certain to entertain fans of all music genres. Year after year, this free event attracts a diverse group of well-known national and local musical acts,” said event producer Jon Witz. “Chrysler Arts, Beats and Eats has earned a reputation among artists and fans as a premiere music festival.”

CHRYSLER ARTS, BEATS & EATS will host nearly every musical style over the four-day weekend—from country, Caribbean, Celtic, rockabilly, and rhythm & blues to gospel, swing, rock, funk, metal, jazz and reggae. Visitors will be treated to continuous, free musical entertainment beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, August 29 and culminating Monday evening,
September 1. Performance schedule subject to change.

The annual Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats, Oakland County's Taste, Music & Arts Festival, is held over Labor Day weekend, August 29-September 1, 2008, in downtown Pontiac. The four-day Festival will be open from 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Labor Day Monday. For additional public information, visit www.artsbeatseats.com, or call (248) 975-8850.

The full schedule for national and local artists is as follows:

Million Dollar Madness Stage

Friday, August 29:
5 pm Harmonic Joe
6 pm Monkey Jacket
7 pm The Hard Lessons
8:30 pm Blues Traveler
10 pm Rusted Root

Saturday, August 30:
4 pm Hunter Brucks
5 pm Marcel
6 pm Steve Cochran
7 pm Billy Currington
9 pm Tim Bowman
10 pm Boney James

Sunday, August 31:
4 pm Leighton wsg Steve Kostan
5 pm Beatlemania Live
7 pm Loverboy
8:30 pm Back in the Day Band
10 pm Chaka Khan

Monday, September 1:
2 pm Arts, Beats and Eats Best of the Beats
3 pm Avienne, winner of The Detroit News Battle of the Bands
3:30 pm Critical Bill
4:30 pm Rev Theory
6 pm Puddle of Mudd

Dodge Americana Stage

Friday, August 29
4 pm The Urban Nomads (rock)
5:30 pm The Random Family (pop)
7 pm The Tim Diaz Band (Americana)
8:30 pm Barbara Payton (rock)
10 pm The Twistin’ Tarantulas (rockabilly)

Saturday, August 30
10 am Longneck Strangler (country)
11 am Longneck Strangler (country)
12:30 pm Phil Treais (pop)
2 pm Domingo (Latin)
3:30 pm Billy King and the Idylls (country)
5 pm Redhill (country)
6:30 pm The Basiks (reggae)
8 pm
9:30 pm Sunkwa (afro pop)

Sunday, August 31
10 am Cowboy Alan & The Steel Horse Band (country)
11 am Cowboy Alan & The Steel Horse Band (country)
12:30 pm TJ Kelly (country)
2 pm The Robin Horlock Band (Americana/rock)
3:30 pm Superdot (SKA)
5 pm Manna & Quail (melodic pop)
6:30 pm Back Forty (funk-grass/country)
8 pm The Marcy Levy Band (blues rock)
9:30 pm Impact 7 (Motown)

Monday, September 1
10 am Quincy Stewart (R&B)
11 am Cowboy Messiahs (melodic rock)
12:30 pm David Shelby (country)
2 pm Alyssa Simmons (pop)
3:30 pm Persuasion (R&B, country, Motown, rock)
5 pm Nadir Distorted Soul (funk)
6:30 pm The Orbitsuns (psychobilly/country)

Flagstar Bank Acoustic Stage

Friday, August 29
4 pm Hawks & Owls (Appalachian)
5:30 pm Jimmy Atto (Pop)
7 pm Matt Ratza (Americana)
8:30 pm The Mickeys (Celtic)

Saturday, August 30
11 am Rachnee (Folk Pop Rock)
12:30 pm Rude Dog (jam rock)
2 pm Chris Bathgate (Indie Folk)
3:30 pm Frankie D’ Angelo (Rock/Alternative)
5 pm Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings Brass Quintet (Classical)
6:30 pm Brandon Calhoon (Rock/Alternative)
8 pm Mary McQuire (Folk Rock)

Sunday, August 31
11 am Dave Stoddard (pop)
12:30 pm Andru Bemis (Folk/Oldtime)
2 pm Jen Cass (Folk)
3:30 pm SCStrings (Classical)
5 pm Annie Capps (Folk)
6:30 pm Emily Rose (Folk)
8 pm The Harvestmen (Country Swing, Bluegrass)

Monday, September 1
11 am Julie Nager (Pop)
12:30 pm Golden Rain Percussion Ensemble (Classical)
2 pm Ian Thomas (Country Blues) from Virginia
3:30 pm Mo’ Kauffey & Harmonica Buzz (Roots & Blues)

Miller Lite Rock Stage

Friday, August 29
4 pm Bear Lake (pop)
5:30 pm The Offramps (rock)
7 pm The Killer B’s (classic rock)
8:30 pm Band B (rock)
10 pm The Howling Diablos (funk rock)

Saturday, August 30
11 am View (rock)
12:30 pm Shoe (rock)
2 pm Schaeffer (pop)
3:30 pm Liquid Motor Commission (rock)
5 pm Nuroksol (rock)
6:30 pm Monkey Jacket (rock)
8 pm Flophouse (funk rock)
9:30 pm The Universal Temple of Divine Power (rock)

Sunday August 31st
11 am Twin Pigs (classic rock)
12:30 pm Guitar Army (rock)
2 pm The Cult Heroes (Detroit rock)
3:30 pm Smokin’ Moses (rock)
5 pm Broadzilla (rock)
6:30 pm StellarDrive (rock)
8 pm The Muggs (rock)
9:30 pm Rev RightTime (funk)

Monday, September 1
11 am Whack The Mole (classic rock)
12:30 pm The Ragbirds (global groove)
2 pm The Tom Butwin Band (rock)
3:30 pm Hotness (rock)
5 pm Jill Jack (country rock)
6:30 pm The Reefermen (classic rock)

Diet Pepsi R&B Stage

Friday, August 29
4 pm Pete “Big Dog” Fetters (blues)
5:30 pm Darnell Kendricks (smooth soul)
7 pm Joey Spina (blues)
8:30 pm Pricilla Price (R&B)
10 pm The McKinney Zone (jazz)

Saturday, August 30
11 am Jesse Palter (jazz)
12:30 pm David Gerald & Insurrection (blues)
2 pm CEL (neo soul)
3:30 pm Moment Notice (R&B)
5 pm Thornetta Davis (blues)
6:30 pm The Fffellaz (jazz)
8 pm JStokes (R&B)
9:30 pm Tumbao Bravo! (Latin jazz)

Sunday, August 31
11 am Charlie Kemp Ensemble (Jazz)
12:30 pm Doc Holiday (neo soul)
2 pm Nite Flight (calypso jazz)
3:30 pm Rev. Marc Falconberry (blues)
5 pm Billie Holiday Review featuring Sky Covington (blues)
6:30 pm Midtown Underground (R&B)
8 pm Sky Covington (neo soul)
9:30 pm HotSauce (R&B)

Monday, September 1
11 am Paul Miles (acoustic blues)
12:30 pm Julie Nager (pop)
2 pm Pathe’ Jassi World Experience (Trinidad jazz)
3:30 pm The Chunky Funk Band (R&B)
5 pm Eric Tessmer (blues)
6:30 pm Laith Al-Saadi (blues)

Detroit News Stage

Friday, August 29
5 pm Sworn Rival
6 pm Stolen Liberty
7 pm Seven Story Fall
8 pm – 11 pm Detroit Techno Militia (electronic, house, techno)

Saturday, August 30
Noon Cajun (country)
1:30 pm Cowboy Alan & The Steel Horse Band (country)
3 pm Whitey Morgan & The 78’s (country)
4:30 pm Justine Blazer (country)
6 pm Austin Scott (country)
7:30 pm Anabelle Road (country)
9:30 pm Willie Nash (country)

Sunday, August 31
Noon The Phage
1 pm Desolation Angels
2 pm The Hadituptoheres
3 pm Solitary States
4 pm Love Meets Lust
5 pm The Questions
6 pm Brave Rifles
7 pm Dutch Pink
10 pm The Orbitsuns

Monday, September 1
11:30 am Overloaded
12:20 pm Pistol Day Parade
1:10 pm 60 Second Crush
2 pm Matt Austin
2:50 pm Core Effect
3:40 pm The Unheard
4:30 pm Paper Street Saints
5:20 pm Dirty Americans

The annual Chrysler Arts, Beats & Eats, Oakland County's Taste, Music & Arts Festival, is held over Labor Day weekend, August 29-September 1, 2008, in downtown Pontiac. The four-day festival will be open from 4 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Labor Day Monday. For additional public information, visit www.artsbeatseats.com, or call
(248) 334-4600.