Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Andrew Kracht (925) 583-2314
Kick Off Your Weekends at The Bankhead with February Friday Nights Full of Music
Livermore, CA – (February 6, 2024) – As the New Year settles in, Livermore Valley Arts will be kicking off each weekend in February with a celebration of music, with a little something for all tastes and genres to launch Tri-Valley audiences excitedly into their weekends. Starting with the
definitive Johnny Cash Tribute at Folsom ’68 on Friday, February 9, The Bankhead will be kicking off February with some exciting nostalgia. Followed up by The Immediate Family, a unique supergroup of iconic musicians who have played together for decades but never as their own band, on Friday, February 16, and the annual favorite and usual Bankhead sellout International Guitar Night on Friday, February 23, LVA brings a month full of exciting music to thrill and delight Livermore patrons. These unforgettable Friday evening performances will all be at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
JC Cole and Folsom ’68 will be bringing the premier and definitive Johnny Cash Tribute to the Tri-Valley in early February. So realistic in both sound and look, this show has been endorsed by the Cash family members and former members of Johnny’s own band. Charismatic, engaging, and nostalgic, seeing this show is akin to re-visiting a special time in history with one of the legends of music and pioneers of both country and rock, performed live again with perfect detail. Prepare to experience the legendary music of Johnny Cash like never before; with their authentic sound and powerful performances, audience members will feel like they’re at an actual Cash concert in the ‘60s, reliving the music that defined a generation, live and in person. Tickets for this extraordinary tribute performance on February 9 are already selling fast.
Before the Presidents’ Day holiday, a night of true rock’n’roll and accomplishment is in store for the Tri-Valley with a supergroup of epic proportions. Magic will be in the air with The Immediate Family, a unique group of iconic musicians who have played together for decades
but never as their own band. Known for their long, illustrious careers backing up Hall-of-Fame artists such as James Taylor, Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Stevie Nicks, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, guitarists Danny Kortchmar and Elliot Easton, drummer Russ Kunkel, and bassist Leland Sklar have together, along with guitarist Steve Postell, performed their own songs as The Immediate Family, a band that can legitimately be called a supergroup. Livermore audiences will not want to miss their chance to witness this unique and iconic band perform live at The Bankhead on February 16.
The final Friday of February, the 24th edition of International Guitar Night (IGN) will bring together a stellar ensemble of globally renowned guitarists right to Downtown Livermore, a lineup including three IGN favorites and an exciting newcomer to the roster. Since its conception in Northern California in the late 90’s, IGN has been at the forefront of showcasing the world’s most exceptional guitarists. Founded by Brian Gore, IGN has become a celebrated platform for both established virtuosos and rising stars, consistently providing audiences with an unparalleled musical experience. Curated by Gore and the Herschel Freeman Agency, this year’s lineup of the annual Bankhead favorite features the amazing acoustic rock interpreter Luca Stricagnoli (Italy), Thu Le (Vietnam), whose nylon string artistry stretches from classical to contemporary, the master composer and performer Marco Pereira (Brazil), and the irrepressible blues slide guitarist and singer Minnie Marks (Australia). From classical guitar to modern fingerstyle, Brazilian guitar, and blues, IGN 2024 is a mind-bending, instrumental guitar extravaganza, wowing Tri-Valley audiences on February 23. Detailed biographies on the featured artists are:
Luca Stricagnoli, hailing from Italy, is considered one of the most interesting acoustic guitarists on the planet, a world-renowned guitarist known for his innovative fingerstyle techniques and genre-blending musical arrangements. Stricagnoli’s jaw-dropping virtuosity includes playing up to 5 guitars simultaneously. His repertoire, performed on double and triple neck guitars he designed, includes a blend of popular songs from contemporary rock, film scores, and originals, earning him over 100 million views on his YouTube channel. Using up to five guitars in the same piece, modified capos, and self-conceived stratagems, Luca continually leaves his audiences in awe, wondering what’s next for the up-and-coming guitarist. In addition to his musical abilities, Luca brings an enthusiastic energy to the stage, making him a true entertainer. His performances
with unique instruments have been featured in magazines everywhere and even grabbed the attention of famous bands such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Luca has played in more than 20 countries and in front of audiences of up to 12,000 people. Stricagnoli returns to IGN for the 4th time this year.
Thu Le’s love affair with the guitar began at the age of four, thanks to her father, Le Hanh. Giving her first public performance in Vietnam under his tutorship at five, Thu entered the National Conservatory of Music in Hanoi at seven, the youngest ever student admitted to this prestigious establishment. Her passion led her to countless critically acclaimed solo concerts worldwide, and she further enhanced and developed her talent by taking master classes with world-renowned guitarists such as Manuel Barrueco, Nikita Koshkin, Hubert Kaeppel, Pavel Steidle, Thomas Offermann, Marcin Dylla, Denis Azabagic, Judicael Perroi, and Gabriel Bianco. In addition to playing music reflecting her cultural roots in Vietnam, she includes classical and contemporary composers in her repertoire, including a piece in memory of her father, Lới Lơ, composed especially for her by Sergio Assad. An international award-winning classical guitarist and certified guitar teacher, her passion for guitar has seen her perform solo as well as hosting a series of successful master classes across several continents. Thu stays close to her cultural roots, performing regularly in Vietnam, her beloved country of birth. In 2018, she performed and held master classes at the prestigious Guitar Federation of America (GFA) Convention held in Louisville here in the US. She was additionally a performing artist and jury member at the 2018 Alma Hanoi International Guitar Festival, also performing regularly at the famous Joaquin Rodrigo Guitar Festival in Spain and the renowned International Guitar Festival in Kolkata, India. Besides her solo career, she also collaborates and performs with orchestras, string quartets, vocalists, violinists, flutists, and in a guitar duo. Le was previously on the IGN 2022 tour.
Marco Pereira, an internationally renowned Brazilian composer, guitarist, and university professor, is a living legend, and IGN 2024 is privileged to host such an esteemed musician. Hailing from Brazil, he has performed and recorded with top popular Brazilian singer/composer superstars like Gal Costa, Milton Nascimento, Tom Jobim, Edu Lobo, Paulinho da Viola, Gilberto Gil, and Wagner Tiso, and countless others. Marco was born in São Paulo and got classical guitar lessons with the Uruguayan master Isaias Sávio and music theory lessons at
the Music and Drama Conservatory of São Paulo. He lived in France for five years and received a classical guitar master’s degree in performance from the Université Musicale Internationale of Paris and a master’s degree in Musicology from the University of Paris-Sorbonne with his thesis Hector Villa-Lobos and his guitar work (Editora Musimed – Brasília – Brasil). In Paris, he was
strongly influenced by jazz and Latin-American music, which characterizes his compositional work, in addition to Brazilian styles. He performed with great success at 9ème Festival de Jazz de Paris that allowed him to perform in Germany, France, Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Canada, and the United States. Through his exquisite interpretations and solo performances, he contributed significantly to the global appreciation of Brazilian guitar music. Pereira’s original compositions are considered modern masterpieces for classical guitar, and his performances are marked by their emotional depth and technical brilliance. His compositions and playing have won awards in important international contests, such as Spain’s Concurso Andrés Segóvia in Palma de Mallorca and Concurso Francisco Tárrega in Valencia, and he has recorded over a dozen albums. In addition to performing internationally, Marco is a professor in the Composition Department at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. His compositions are published by Editions Lemoine, Paris, and GSP (Guitar Solo Publications), San Francisco, and have been played and recorded by important guitarists worldwide. Pereira first toured with IGN in its early days and returns for his final go-round in 2024.
Minnie Marks is not just some blazingly electrified guitar-playing freak of nature. She is also a rare and triple threat: singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. From winning the world-renowned ‘Bluesfest Busking Competition’ in 2011 to earning the winning place of ‘Best Guitarist’ at the Open Arms Festival competition and to taking out the People’s Choice Award at both Blues At Bridgetown and Nannup Music Festivals, it is safe to say she is a dynamic force in Australian music. She is an exploding powerhouse of guitar talent and energy with a fearless approach to performance that includes accompanying herself on drums while playing guitar. She effortlessly blends blues, rock, and roots music into a style uniquely her own—one that has gained her a wide following globally. Relentlessly performing across the globe, equipped with an old Goldtop in her hands and a revolutionary Farmer Foot Drum at her feet, Marks consistently pushes musical limits with her mind-blowing, dynamic guitar wizardry and her insanely powerful voice, that roars out her truth through song as if her own life depended on it. And, if
that is not enough, she simultaneously creates bone marrow-shaking grooves with spare limbs on her Foot Drum kit. Finally, all three beasts are married together to forge a mammoth-sized wall of sound; as Kim Churchill said, “Minnie Marks, she plays guitar like nothing I’ve ever seen before, she sings like Janis Joplin, she’s going to blow the world apart.” Over the past twelve years, Marks has paved her musical journey worldwide with three studio albums and one live album recorded in Stuttgart, Germany. The award-winning troubadour shows no sign of slowing down; her new twelve-track album was released in 2022. Marks is not only new to IGN but will be making her North American debut this year.
Tickets for all shows in the 2023-2024 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows. For a complete list of events, visit livermorearts.org.
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Livermore Valley Arts is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit offering wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Bankhead Theater and Bothwell Arts Center are home to eight resident performing arts companies and over 40 studio artists and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: Folsom ’68—The Johnny Cash Tribute
Date/Time: Friday, February 9, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Tickets: $25—$65 ($25 student/military personnel) Almost Sold Out!
Show: The Immediate Family
Date/Time: Friday, February 16, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Tickets: $25—$85 ($25 student/military personnel)
Show: International Guitar Night
Date/Time: Friday, February 23, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Tickets: $25—$65 ($25 student/military personnel) Past Bankhead Sellout! Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
