SCOTTSDALE – Arizona Musicfest kicks off its second quarter century presenting wide-ranging musical artists with the first-ever Fall Fest, a four-concert schedule featuring Melissa Manchester, Musicfest competition and scholarship winners, two of America’s hottest bluegrass bands and The Midtown Men: The Original Cast of Broadway’s Jersey’s Boys, from Oct. 28 through Nov. 7 in Scottsdale.
The inaugural Fall Fest “reflects our commitment to our growing and engaged patron base to expand both our schedule and concerts by major artists and Arizona’s incredible young talent,” said Executive and Producing Director Allan Naplan. During the past three years under Naplan’s direction Arizona Musicfest attendance has grown from just under 7,000 in 2013 to nearly 16,000 in 2016.
The Fall Fest schedule includes:
• Prolific American singer/songwriter Melissa Manchester, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. Tickets: $34 to $76.
• The Young Musicians Fall Concert, featuring the best young musical talent in Arizona, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. at the Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. Tickets: $20.
• Bluegrass Duet: Featuring The Lonely Heartstring Band and Mipso, two of the genre’s hottest bands, Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, 25150 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. Tickets: $35, $59.
• The Midtown Men: The Original Cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys, featuring Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer, Michael Longoria and Daniel Reichard, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Highlands Church. Tickets: $34 to $76.
The 26th annual Arizona Musicfest Winter Festival opens Jan. 27 with Grammy Award-winning trumpet sensation Chris Botti and runs through March 10 when Decades of Divas: From Billie and Aretha to Celine and Barbra closes the season. In between, among the special guests are legendary multiple Grammy Award-winning Manhattan Transfer, vocal powerhouse Cantus, world renowned classical violinist Midori, Kennedy Center Honoree Mavis Staples and Grammy winner Patti Austin with The Festival Orchestra celebrating Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th birthday. The Festival Orchestra is under the direction of Maestro Robert Moody.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.azmusicfest.org or at the venues.
