(Wilmington, DE) –  On the green grass where soon, some of the nation’s top musical talent will assemble, the Light Up the Queen Foundation hosted a press conference today to unveil the legendary line-up for Bromberg’s Big Noise in the Neighborhood Festival, Presented by AAA. 

 Renowned guitarist David Bromberg and Grammy winning artist, John Hiatt, will headline the daylong outdoor event, scheduled for Saturday, May 15, 2010.  The show will benefit ongoing efforts to restore the historic Queen Theatre in downtown Wilmington, slated to be Delaware’s home for WXPN and a branch of the World Cafe Live. 

 In addition to Bromberg and Hiatt, the lineup features bluegrass innovator Sam Bush; former founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, Jorma Kaukonen; jam-band favorite Railroad Earth; and the eclectic, original sounds of Angel Band.

 “This event, unprecedented in Delaware, is a celebration of not only of our country’s finest music, but the rebirth of a great city,” said Bill Taylor, festival co-founder and executive director of the Light Up the Queen Foundation.  “We are setting the bar high. The quality of music will be matched by the fantastic food from area restaurants and homegrown beer from local breweries.”

 Taylor was joined at the press conference by festival headliner and host David Bromberg; Wilmington Mayor Jim Baker; Terry Rubritz from AAA Mid-Atlantic; Tom Houlihan from ING DIRECT; and Roger LaMay, General Manager of WXPN.

 “Bromberg’s Big Noise in the Neighborhood is a shining example of the exciting transformation taking place in Wilmington,” said Mayor Baker. “The event’s impressive line-up is just a small taste of what’s to come once the renovation of the Queen Theatre is complete and WXPN and World Cafe Live come to town. Now more than ever, Wilmington is truly ‘in the middle of it all.’”

 The Festival will be held at the Riverwalk at Justison Landing Park, along the scenic Christina River in Downtown Wilmington.  Local vendors will include Dogfish Head and Twin Lake Breweries; wines by Wente Vineyards; and food from Harry’s Seafood Grill; Orillas Tapas Bar & Restaurant; Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats; and Fat Rick’s BBQ.  Family-friendly activities will be available in a children’s tent operated by the new Delaware Children’s Museum.

 Gates will open at 11:00 a.m.  The musical line-up is as follows:

12 Noon          Angel Band

1:00 p.m.          Jorma Kaukonen

2:15 p.m.          Railroad Earth

3:35 p.m.          Sam Bush Band

5:10 p.m.          John Hiatt

6:50 p.m.          David Bromberg Big Band

7:45 – 8 pm      Big Noise Jam

 Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.lightupthequeen.org.   General Admission tickets are $32. In addition, two premium ticket packages are available: a $100 VIP ticket is available, which provides special VIP access and seating at the festival, and a $150 Super VIP ticket which includes VIP access and seating at the festival and admission to the Kick-Off party on May 14^th at 605 Market Street, featuring music by Big Chief Monk Bourdreaux & the Golden Eagles, presented by Light Up the Queen Foundation and WXPN Radio. 

 Two dollars of every ticket will be donated to Haitian earthquake relief efforts, through the Art Creation Foundation for Children (www.artforhaitianchildren.org), which is based in Jacmel, Haiti and the Benjamin Harris Josephson Fund www.overlookfoundation.org), which sends health care workers to disaster areas.

 The festival will be broadcast in its entirety on Philadelphia-based public radio station WXPN (88.5 FM) and online at XPN.org. 

 Festival sponsors include AAA Mid-Atlantic, WXPN, World Cafe Live, ING Direct, Mobius New Media, Buccini/Pollin Group, Twin Lakes Beer, Dogfish Head Beer and Wente Vineyards.

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The Light Up The Queen Foundation, a Delaware non-profit corporation, is dedicated to the revival of the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, and to assuring that The Queen becomes a catalyst for building community by engaging diverse populations through high quality programs in music, education, workforce development and mentoring.

About the Queen Theatre: Fifty years ago, the lights went out and the doors closed on the majestic Queen Theatre in downtown Wilmington. Today, the Light Up the Queen Foundation is thrilled to announce that the Queen is ready to rise up and reclaim her former glory—but not without your help. In partnership with Philadelphia's World Cafe Live and public radio station WXPN, construction is now underway to reclaim the Queen as a spectacular music venue, restaurant, broadcast studio and event complex showcasing performers from across the musical spectrum. Now all we need is the funding to finish the job. With your donation, World Cafe Live at the Queen will light up in spring 2011. And music and harmony will reign.

BROMBERG’S BIG NOISE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRESENTED BY AAA

Talent Detail

Grammy-nominated David Bromberg is the quintessential musician's musician. His command of the American songbook and myriad musical styles -- from blues to country to rock to folk -- have made him a musical partner to such artists as Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson.

One of the most celebrated singers and songwriters in American music, John Hiatt has had his songs covered by Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton and Aaron Neville. This inimitable, epic performer has been nominated for 11 Grammys.

Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist Sam Bush is alternately known as the King of Telluride and the King of Newgrass. He has been honored by the Americana Music Association and the International Bluegrass Music Association. He's the co-founder of the genre-bending New Grass Revival and is an in-demand musician who has played with everyone from Emmylou Harris and Bela Fleck to Charlie Haden, Lyle Lovett and Garth Brooks.

In a career that has already spanned a half-century, Jorma Kaukonen has been the leading practitioner and teacher of finger style guitar, one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and Americana, and at the forefront of popular rock-and-roll. He was a founding member of two legendary bands, The Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna, a Grammy nominee, a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the most in-demand instructor in the galaxy of stars who teach at the Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp that he and his wife operate in picturesque Southeastern Ohio.

Based on the strength of a demo tape, Railroad Earth was booked at the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival before they’d even played their first gig. After five albums, this genre-straddling band has built a following of bluegrass fans, jam-band fans and everyone in between.

Angel Band makes big noise. Loud noise. Boisterous, sad, sweet, goofy, glorious and angelic. The difficult-to-pigeonhole sound that emanates from the band roams from old time "mountain" music to contemporary rock and roll influenced originals.