Summer Fest Headliner Announced
Summer Fest Headliner Announced
Former Members of Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire to Perform July 4th Weekend
As ski season winds down and the snow melts away, the anticipation of who’s playing Summer Music Festival runs high amongst both the locals and visitors who have made it a tradition to spend the July 4th holiday here in Ellicottville. The Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, which produces the three-day music event, has finalized an extraordinary lineup for this year’s slopeside concerts at Holiday Valley.
"The Players" featuring Grammy awarded and top former members of Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire will headline this year’s music festival Saturday evening, July 1. Bill Champlin (two-time grammy winner and member of Chicago for 28 years) will be joined by Keith Howland (former guitarist of Chicago), Jeff Coffey (former lead vocalist of Chicago), and Gorden Campbell (former drummer of Earth, Wind & Fire). With hits like “If You Leave Me Now,” “You’re the Inspiration” and “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” from Chicago, coupled with the likes of “Shining Star”, “Boogie Wonderland” and “September” from Earth, Wind & Fire, this legendary group of musicians will no doubt have everyone dancing the night away.
To add to an already stellar bill, Barracuda-America’s Heart Tribute will perform the opening act, rocking the audience to their feet. Hailing from Music City (Nashville, TN), each highly talented member is world traveled with an impressive number of years of experience. The band is known for their monster vocals, brilliant musicianship and unceasing over-the-top performances which has created a solid foundation for this fabulous tribute to HEART. Taking everyone on a musical journey back in time, Barracuda-America's Heart Tribute articulately recreates the phenomenal songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s that are still loved by loyal Heart fans around the world.
The following evening, Sunday, July 2, Holiday Valley’s slopeside stage will host the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. As guests of Summer Music Festival year after year, the BPO performance is a stunning celebration of the Independence Day holiday, as their finale is performed in unison with an extravagant fireworks display that can be viewed throughout the valley.
“This is an amazing weekend that always brings a great crowd to our town,” stated Brian McFadden, Executive Director of the Chamber. “We’ve been hosting Summer Music Fest for over 25 years now and it never disappoints. One of the things our guests love about this event is that you can bring your own chairs, blankets and picnic baskets into the concerts, and there are no parking fees. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience and very family-friendly. Kids love it just as much as adults!”
Pre-sale tickets for both concerts are now available and can be purchased directly at ellicottvilleny.com. VIP packages and sponsorship opportunities are also available; contact the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce at 716-699-5046 for more information.