50th Anniversary Celebration Friday, Saturday & Sunday February 4, 5 & 6

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Arhoolie Records throws the party of a lifetime, with three days of panels, discussions, fantastic regional foods, a "second line" parade Saturday 4:00 pm with the Tremé Brass Band, plus three amazing concerts, all with proceeds benefiting the Arhoolie Foundation. Among the weekend's lineup are musicians from far and near, including Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, Santiago Jimenez Jr. & La Familia Peña-Govena, Campbell Brothers, Savoy-Doucet Band, BeauSoleil Trio, Barbara Dane, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, and more, with emcee work by Nick Spitzer, host of the popular public radio program American Routes. Panel discussions (free to any ticket holder, $5.00 for general public) range from Linda Ronstadt and Eugene Rodriguez on Mexican music and Paul Oliver's recordings of music and interviews from the south in the 1960s to documentary film maker Les Blank and a star-studded discussion of Cajun & Creole Music.

Founded by Chris Strachwitz, Arhoolie Records is America's premier roots record label, offering the best in blues, Cajun, Zydeco, Tex-Mex/Tejano, gospel, jazz, country, bluegrass, and regional music from around the world. Through the years, Arhoolie has brought us notable musicians including Big Mama Thornton, Flaco Jimenez, Clifton Chenier, Lightning Hopkins, Del McCoury and Rose Maddox.

Proceeds from the three-day celebration benefit the Arhoolie Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the documentation, preservation, and dissemination of authentic traditional and regional vernacular music while recognizing the sustaining role this music plays in local communities.

Friday, February 4 concert - 8:00 pm
Santiago Jimenez Jr. w/ La Familia Peña-Govea, Los Cenzontles, Ry Cooder & Co., Any Old Time String Band, Michael Doucet & BeauSoleil Trio, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum w/ special guest Peter Rowan

Saturday February 5 - Noon
Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
Mexican Music and beyond: Nick Spitzer (moderator) with Linda Ronstadt and Chris Strachwitz. With previously unseen film clips from Linda's Mariachi period.

Saturday February 5 - 1:30 pm
Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
Chris' film adventures with Les Blank, Maureen Gosling and other guests. with film clips from Chulas Fronteras & Del Mero Corazon, Jai Ete Au Bal, & Down Home Music 1963, etc.

Saturday, February 5 - 4:00 pm
Civic Center Park to the Freight
"Second Line" Street Parade
With the Tremé Brass Band from New Orleans.

Saturday, February 5 concert - 8:00 pm
Goodtime Washboard 3, Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, Barbara Dane w/ Bob Mielke Jazz All-Stars & Lars Edegran, Toni Brown & Terry Garthwaite Creole Belles, Tremé Brass Band

Sunday February 6 - Noon
Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave.
Evolution of Cajun/Creole Music: With Chris Strachwitz, Marc, Ann, Wilson, & Joel Savoy - MC'd by Nick Spitzer.

Sunday February 6 - 1:30 pm
Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave.
The steel guitar in Gospel music with the Campbell Brothers and Bob Stone - author of the new book: "Sacred Steel".

Sunday, February 6 concert - 8:00 pm
Los Cenzontles, Suzy & Eric Thompson, Country Joe McDonald, Campbell Brothers, Savoy Family Band, Taj Mahal

To learn more about the Arhoolie Foundation, visit www.arhoolie.org.

All panels and afternoon events are FREE for any evening ticket holders and $ 5.00 for the general public.