MLC Hosts Grammy Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, August 24, 2004

For More Information: 570.588.5800

Mountain Laurel Center Hosts Grammy Winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and Grand Ol’ Opry Stars as Opening Commences Labor Day Weekend

Art and Nature Unite as Unity Park Blossoms with Free Live Performances

Contact: Jay Jones, Jim Della Croce, 570.588.5800 x5008

Bushkill, PA (Friday, August 28, 2004)—-Mountain Laurel Center is the place to be on Labor Day weekend as the country’s most scenic concert venue reopens in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. B.B. King’s Blues Festival, The Beach Boys, Don Williams and Ray Price headline the main stage at the Tom Ridge Pavilion, while national and regional acts light up the new Unity Park stage.

The Center’s new management, CEO Richard T. Bryant, developed the concept of Unity Park, opening it to the public during the Labor Day Festival to showcase the stunning natural setting of the park, and emphasizing the full outdoor aesthetics of the performing arts grounds.

“This is truly a unique treasure of a site, where arts and nature come together to create a masterpiece,” Bryant says. “We want to let the public know that we’re taking the first steps towards realizing the full promise of the Mountain Laurel Center.”

Unity Park is built around the main entrance of Unity House, the summer retreat of garment-union laborers from the earliest days of the last century, and the theme of the Labor Weekend Festival is fitting. “The festival pays tribute to the location’s historic past, while looking forward to the Center’s bright future,” Bryant added.

“We are blessed to have the support of the music industry’s standard bearers as we go forward,” Bryant muses. “B. B. King, The Beach Boys, Ray and Don, Dr. John, Elvin Bishop, Shamekia Copeland, Muddy Waters Blues Band, all coming to the Center as a vote of confidence—frankly, I’m humbled,” he states. “The cast of artists we are presenting spans generations as young guns face off with Blues, Rock and Country royalty. The number of “standards” that will be performed on both stages over the weekend is staggering: “The Thrill is Gone,” “Good Vibrations,” “For The Good Times,” “California Girls,” “Tulsa Time,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight,” “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress,” “He Ain’t Heavy (He’s My Brother),” “We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again,” “Carrie Ann,” “Bus Stop,” “I Get Around,” “Kokomo,” “Fooled Around and Fell In Love,” “Right Place, Wrong Time,” “This Masquerade,” “I Believe In Love,” “Don’t Fear The Reaper,” “Burning for You,” “Release Me,” “The Air That I Breathe” and so many more,” Bryant declares.

The Mountain Laurel Center invites residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy several free, live performances in the new Unity Park on Fri., Sept. 3, Sat., Sept. 4 And Sun., Sept. 5. Headlining the outdoor stage on Saturday is The Nashville Songwriters Tour, and on Sunday is The Soft Rock Café. The Nashville Songwriters Tour features Country’s finest songwriters Vince Melamed, Don Henry and Bernie Nelson, performing the chart-topping hits that they wrote for the format’s leading superstars. The Soft Rock Café, is John Ford Coley (of England Dan & John Ford Coley), Terry Sylvester (of the Hollies) and Henry Gross of “Shannon” fame and Sha, Na Na. The trio literally wrote the 70’s book of love. Theirs are the songs that we all fall in love to.

In addition to the free live performances, Unity Park’s continuous family activities and reasonably priced food combine for afternoons of fun, outdoor entertainment in the midst in the lush and shady mountain surroundings. Visitors to Unity Park are invited to bring food picnic baskets.

Parking is $5. Performances in the Tom Ridge Pavilion will continue, rain or shine. Admittance to Unity Park and live performances on the Unity Park outdoor stage is free. For information, call the 24-hour information line: 570-588-5800.

All are invited to come early each day to Unity Park, and stay late for the marquee performances in the Tom Ridge Pavilion. The Labor Day Weekend Festival’s headline entertainment line-up in the pavilion includes: Thursday, September 2, at 8 p.m.: Blue Oyster Cult. Reserved tickets are $19-$35. Lawn tickets are $12. Friday, September 3, at 8 p.m.: B.B. King’s Blues Festival. Reserved tickets are $42-$65. Lawn tickets are $30. Saturday, September 4, at 7 p.m.: Don Williams and Ray Price. Reserved tickets are $25-$45. Lawn tickets are $15. Sunday, September 5, at 2:30 p.m.: The Beach Boys. Reserved tickets are $30-$50. Lawn tickets are $20.

The Tom Ridge Pavilion reserved and lawn tickets are on sale, and can be purchased at the Mountain Laurel Center Box Office, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, from Noon to 5 p.m., via Ticketmaster at 570-693-4100, or by visiting mountainlaurelcenter.org or Ticketmaster.com. For more information, call the 24-hour information line: 570-588-5800.