at El Casino Ballroom, 437 East 26th Street

on Friday August 10th, 8pm

El Casino dance floor, courtesy of KXCI radio

91.3 KXCI Community Radio returns to its roots with a “House Rockin’” party at historic El Casino Ballroom on Friday, August 10th at 8pm. KXCI’s popular concert series in the 1980′s helped get the station on the air beginning with the very first “Blues Review” benefit to raise scratch to buy the initial broadcast equipment.

On Friday, August 10th, KXCI pays tribute to this rich heritage with a “House Rockin’ Blues Review.” Confirmed artists include: Tom Walbank and Stefan George teaming up with a rocking rhythm section. Three members of Kings of Pleasure swing into blues with The Mike Hebert Band featuring vocalist Katherine Byrnes and saxophonist Jeff Grubic. (Mike Hebert first performed at El Casino with Billy Bacon and the Forbidden Pigs.) The evening culminates with The Bad News Blues Band backing up Arizona Blues Hall of Fame members such as Hans Olson, Tony Uribe, Danny Krieger, Mike Blommer, Hurricane Carla, Steve Grams, Alex Flores, John Strasser, and Heather Hardy. Expect some smoking blues with tasty licks from an All Star line up.

The show starts at 8pm with doors at 7pm. $10 advance tickets are now on sale at KXCI, Antigone’s, The Folk Shop, The Parish Gastropub and www.kxci.org. $8 KXCI member discounted tickets are available at the KXCI Studios (Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm) $12 tickets will be available at the show. Local food trucks will have delicious cuisine available for purchase in the parking lot.

KXCI’s early years were peppered with House Rockin’ shows at El Casino with artists such as Queen Ida, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Lonnie Mack, Marcia Ball, Beausoleil, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and many more. El Casino’s renowned dance floor provided the perfect atmosphere for these adrenaline fueled and dance crazed shindigs.

Filmmaker Daniel Buckley approached KXCI about producing a “House Rockin” in conjunction with the release of “Tucson’s Heart and Soul – El Casino Ballroom.” The documentary is set to premiere on August 5 at 2 p.m., Fox Theatre, Tucson, 17 W Congress St. $3 suggested donation.

http://www.danielbuckleyarts.com/el-casino-ballroom-documentary/

Early KXCI Staff Member and concert promoter Jeb Schoonover teamed up with current KXCI Blues Review host Marty Kool to curate an evening of exceptional local blues music which celebrates the unique cultural crossroads of KXCI, Tucson and El Casino. Marty Kool’s Blues Review features 4 hours of blues music every Saturday from 5-9pm on 91.3 KXCI Tucson or www.kxci.org.

Daniel Buckley was a journalist/videographer at the Tucson Citizen newspaper before it shut down in May, 2009.

Contact Jeb Schoonover at 520-795-1420 or jebby137@yahoo.com or

Randy Peterson KXCI GM at 520-623-1000 ext. 12 or randy@kxci.org

–

Amanda Shauger
Community Engagement Director
Producer 30 Minutes
KXCI Tucson
220 4th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-623-1000 ext 17 office
520-990-3623 cell
amanda@kxci.org

More on Mexican-American civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Chavez, who was born on March 31, 1927. He would have been 85 years old on March 31, 2012, but died at age 66. Additional info below on a March 30 special program on Chavez on KXCI radio.

And if you want to learn more about Chavez listen to KXCI radio:

Tune in to 91.3 KXCI Community Radio on Friday, March 30th from 7am to 6pm as we commemorate the life and legacy of labor and civil rights leader César Chávez.

Throughout the day, we’ll feature the voices of local educators, community leaders and activists who continue to be inspired by César E. Chávez. The historic struggles of César Chávez are still relevant today and many people in our border community are motivated by his work.

Arizona born César E. Chávez was a second generation American born in Yuma on March 31, 1927. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa, Chávez and Dolores Huerta organized farm workers throughout California. They fought for better working conditions, better wages and for just treatment of workers by striking, boycotting and marching for the United Farm Workers Union. César E. Chávez died peacefully in his sleep on April 23, 1993 in in San Luis, Arizona.

Amanda Shauger
Community Engagement Director
Producer 30 Minutes
KXCI Tucson
220 4th Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701
520-623-1000 ext 17 office
520-990-3623 cell
amandas1@mindspring.com