2012 Flights & Sounds Summer Festival Showcases Made in America Weekend August 23 – 25

Three-nights of musical Americana filled with great guitars, rock, blues, swing and more

IRVINE – The Orange County Great Park’s 2012 Flights & Sounds Summer Festival delivers three evenings of musical Americana with a special Made in America Weekend, August 23 through 25.

“Our Flights & Sounds Summer Festival musical tour around the world returns home with a very special Made in America Weekend,” said Beth Krom, Chair of the Orange County Great Park. “Visitors to the Great Park will have a unique opportunity to experience a wide range of American music, including classic rock, blues, swing and Motown.”

Made in America Weekend kicks off Thursday, August 23 at 8:15 p.m. with Jim Washburn’s Guitar Picks, a one-of-a-kind guitar program featuring the John Jorgenson Quintet and bluesman Junior Watson at the Palm Court Arts Complex. Guests will enjoy Jorgenson’s dazzling guitar work and his mastery as a clarinet player and vocalist. Also performing is Junior Watson, who delights with a unique guitar voice that melts diverse styles into one all his own.

Visitors can get swinging on the dance floor with the popular Pete Jacobs Band on Friday, August 24 at 8:15 p.m. at the Great Park Dance Concourse. Famous for his Wartime Radio Review, local bandleader Pete Jacobs mixes big band swing with Motown and classic rock in a multi-generational dance party. Arrive early at 7:45 p.m. for free dance instruction by Atomic Ballroom.

Back by popular demand, the Grammy Award-winning Del McCoury Band headlines Made in America Weekend with McCoury’s high, lonesome vocals and a knife-sharp band that keeps the bluegrass flame alive on Saturday, August 25 on the Runway Stage. For fifty years, McCoury’s music has defined authenticity for hard core bluegrass fans as well as a growing number of fans that are new to the genre.

The annual Flights & Sounds Summer Festival originated in 2008 as part of the Great Park’s commitment to delivering top-quality arts and culture programs to Orange County. Curated in association with Irvine Barclay Theatre, the Festival has evolved into a signature event in the Southern California arts landscape.

The Hangar Café opens Friday and Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and will feature a fresh selection of delicious food and beverages. On Thursday, light refreshments and beverages will be available for purchase in the Palm Court. Admission is free. Parking is $10.00.

Unforgettable Experience in Unique Venues

Beyond the varied and rich musical line up, the Great Park Flights & Sounds Summer Festival provides a unique setting that adds to the visitor experience. The musical performances take place in three specially-designed iconic venues at the Great Park this weekend.

• New this year, the Palm Court Arts Complex venue will feature a place to mix and mingle under 54 illuminated Canary Island Palm Trees delivering an outdoor club-like setting unequaled in Orange County.
• The Dance Concourse venue features the iconic black and white checkerboard dance floor and includes dance instruction from Atomic Ballroom at 7:45 p.m. under the glow of the Great Park Balloon.
• The Runway Stage venue will showcase the Festival headliners and offers concert seating and spacious lawns for those bringing their blankets and chairs.

Upcoming Festival Schedule and Featured Musicians

Summer’s End Weekend – Dance Your Way into Labor Day – August 30-31

• The Aquabats: Thursday, August 30, Palm Court Arts Complex – The first all-crime fighting all-surfing rock supergroup in history! High-energy New Wave and SKA for rock and roll lovers of all ages.
• Lavay Smith and Her Red-Hot Skillet Lickers: Friday, August 31, Dance Concourse – Bay Area blues and swing, hot and sweet!

The Palm Court Arts Complex Open During Summer Festival

The Palm Court Arts Complex will be open during the Flights & Sounds Summer Festival with exciting and diverse opportunities to view exhibitions and engage with artists in the creative process. Be sure to check out the following on view at the festival:

• Farmers to Flyers Exhibition in the Great Park Gallery
• Artist-in-Residence Andre Woodward Open Studio Hours in the Artists Studios
• Artist-in-Residence Amy Catarina Fiber Art Installation in the Palm Court Plaza
• Contemporary Artists Depict 1942 Exhibition in the Artists Studios

The Orange County Great Park is located at Sand Canyon and Marine Way, and can easily be reached by the 5 or 405 freeways.

For more information, visit, please visit www.ocgp.org or call 866-829-3829.

About the Orange County Great Park

Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Southern California enjoy the OrangeCountyGreatPark’s array of recreational and educational opportunities, including panoramic views from the iconic Great Park Balloon that rises 400 feet in the air. Other GreatParkfeatures include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Historical Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244. In addition to free sports clinics, gardening workshops, weekly Farmers Market and other community events, the Great Park hosts an annual series of special events that provide unique experiences for the entire family, including the Growing the Park: Anniversary Celebration, Great Park Pumpkin Harvest, Great Night! Family New Year’s Eve, and the Flights & Sounds Summer Festival. With its approximate 1,300-acre master plan, the GreatParkis the centerpiece of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. For more information, please visit www.ocgp.org.