2008 City Stages
The 2008 City Stages will be the 20th annual edition of "Birmingham's World-Class Music Festival". The festival is scheduled to take place on nine stages around Linn Park and 5th Avenue North on June 13-15, 2008.
For 2008 festival organizers inked a three-year deal with Knoxville, Tennesee's AC Entertainment, a co-producer of the successful Bonnaroo festival to serve as booking agent, instead of Red Mountain Entertainment. Ticket prices are $28 for a day pass and $37.50-$50 for a three-day pass (compared to $45-50 in 2007).
Among the changes taking place in 2008 are an expanded band merchandise tent and the barring of re-admittance after 6:30 PM.
Texas folk-rocker Alejandro Escovedo was originally scheduled for Saturday's line-up. He cancelled in late May because he had signed on to open for the Dave Matthews Band during their summer tour.
Line-up
Friday
- Ledisi
- Sean Kingston
- Diana Ross
- Galactic with Chali 2na
- Citizen Cope
- The Roots
- L'Angelus
- Carolina Chocolate Drops
- Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
- Old Crow Medicine Show
- Billy Bacon and the Forbidden Pigs
- Tyron Lyles and the Modern Eldorados
- Anthony Hamilton
- Joe Giattina Dance Orchestra
- The Legendary Pineapple Skinners
- Carolina Chocolate Drops
- Joe Bonamassa
- M.J. & Jasean
- Red Halo
Saturday
- Mind Dynasty
- Blues Old Stand
- Ronnie Barnett & Rhonda Chandler
- Jacqueline Leary-Warsaw
- Brantley Gilbert
- Erin McCarley
- Sterner & McCombs
- Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
- Griffin House
- Doug Singleton
- 4 Guys with Guitars featuring Eliot Morris, Jon Black, Ryan Horne and Micha Dalton
- Ingrid Michaelson
- Classical Blues Cabaret
- Drew Mays
- Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys
- Beyond Me
- Will Hoge
- Chris Miller & Bayou Roots
- Janet Hall & Dan Farmer
- Nick Moss & the Flip Tops
- Landon Pigg
- Blind Melon
- Dave Barnes
- Marc Broussard
- Buddy Guy
- Al Green
- Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
- Act of Congress
- Jon Black
- Ford Turrell
- Jon McLaughlin
- Nick Moss and the Flip Tops
- Rocket City Jazz Orchestra
- Righteous Bastards
- Notorious
- Chris Miller & Bayou Roots
- TekNeek
- Andrew Bird
- Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals
- North Mississippi Allstars Hill Country Revue
- Blue Moon
- Mad Skillz
- Michael Saab
Sunday
- Blues Old Stand
- Toubab Krewe
- The Wailers
- Michael Franti and Spearhead
- The Flaming Lips
- Birmingham Mass Community Choir
- UAB Honors Jazz Combo
- Soto Voce
- Martha Munizzi
- Israel and New Breed
- Jamie McLean Band
- Notorious
- Monte Montgomery
- Neo Jazz Collections
- Birmingham Seven
- Marian McKay and Her Mood Swings
- Jon Mclaughlin
- Elizabeth Cook
- Sweet Licks
- Pieta Brown
- The Basement
- Hackensaw Boys
- The Basement
- Within Reason
- Michael Warren
- Fredy Omar con su Banda
- Big Daddy's New Band
- Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie
- Feufollet
- Shooter Jennings
- Robert Earl Keen
Finances
As of November 2007, City Stages was carrying $230,000 in debt, of which $186,000 represented the deficit from the 2007 City Stages. The festival budgeted $2.7 million for production of the 2008 event, of which $1.1 million is earmarked for talent booking. Despite increasing the budget to $2.85 million, organizers expect the festival to break even by a small margin this year, poising it be able to pay off its debts through fundraising in time for the 2009 City Stages. Public funding came in the form of a $500,000 payment from the City of Birmingham (up from $300,000 in 2007) and $5,000 from the discretionary fund of Jefferson County Commission member Jim Carns (the County contributed $105,000 in 2007). $85,000 of the overall budget, plus incentives, goes to AC Entertainment for helping book the festival.
References
- Colurso, Mary (November 18, 2007) "Birmingham's City Stages organizers hire Bonnaroo co-producer." Birmingham News
- Colurso, Mary (March 30, 2008) "City Stages concert festival in Birmingham, Alabama announces Diana Ross, Flaming Lips." Birmingham News
- Colurso, Mary (May 4, 2008) "Additions enhance City Stages lineup." Birmingham News
- Colurso, Mary (May 23, 2008) "Alejandro Escovedo changes plans, not playing at City Stages." Birmingham News
- Colurso, Mary (June 8, 2008) "City Stages looking to break even this year, eliminate debt in 2009." Birmingham News
External links
- City Stages website
- Performer database at al.com
- Festival map at al.com
- City Stages photos on Flickr.com
Preceded by: 2007 City Stages |
City Stages 2008 |
Succeeded by: 2009 City Stages |