Sunday Lounge Stage Preview
Since Sunday tends to be our busiest day at the festival as eager attendees flock to Sam Houston Park to see the finished (or almost finished!) artwork, we like to start things off a bit earlier to pack as much fun as possible in to our last day of Via Colori. Come early, stay late and most importantly, have a great time soaking in the sights and sounds of the festival.
Get to Via Colori early on Sunday, November 20 to see our first Lounge Stage act Ancient Cat Society, who will be getting our day started on a high note (no pun intended) at 11:45 A.M. Comprised of Haley Barnes, Austin Sepulvado and Sergio Trevino, three of the six members of beloved local Americana band Buxton, Ancient Cat Society is quieter and more contemplative than their larger, more well-known counterpart. Featuring a stripped-down sound and beautiful three-part harmonies, Ancient Cat society will set a seriously high standard for the acts that follow. Buxton’s new album with New West Records is dropping early next year, so don’t miss this chance to catch Ancient Cat Society before they hit the road again and gain the national notoriety they deserve.
What can I possibly say about one-man wonder Benjamin Wesley that I didn’t say last year? As amazing as his studio recordings are, his live shows are an experience that you absolutely do not want to miss. According to Benjamin, his solo project is an exercise challenging his capabilities to see how many elements of a performance may be manipulated on stage, alone. Turns out he can manipulate an insane number of elements, from instrumental to vocal, during a single performance all by himself. And he does so with a striking amount of ease and expertise. Catch him at 1:00 P.M. to see for yourself why the Houston Press called him “one of the most gifted, eclectically minded musical catalysts in town.”
Next up at 2:15 P.M. is Two Star Symphony, who we’re thrilled to be having at Via Colori again this year. This inimitable 4-piece ensemble composes and performs all original music, bringing modern instrumental music to a wide range of audiences, from classical music enthusiasts to first time listeners. The group has earned numerous Houston Press Music Awards, performed at SXSW the past two years and were featured on PBS in 2010. Two Star Symphony released their first album in three years, Titus Andronicus, earlier this year to widespread acclaim. The album is an original score the group composed for Dominic Walsh’s Dance Theatre’s production of Titus Andronicus and we cannot wait to hear some of it performed live at Via Colori.
And last, but certainly not least, is Andrew Karnavas at 3:30 P.M. Andrew has performed at Via Colori a couple times with his fantastic blues-rock band, Runaway Sun, but this is his first time at the festival as a solo act. His 2010 solo release, Film Noir, received a lot of well-deserved critical acclaim as he established himself as a musical force to be reckoned with in his own right. Andrew’s acoustic melodies are a blend of straightforward chord progressions and slow finger-picking that combine elements of blues and folk. In addition to his solo work and fronting Runaway Sun, Andrew also has a children’s music project called AndyRoo. It’s well known he’s one of the hardest working, most dedicated musicians in Houston and we’re thankful to have his continued participation at Via Colori.
Hope you’re all ready for our Via Colori Main Stage previews, which will be up on the website next week. In the meantime, have a great weekend!
Annie Barrera
Via Colori Entertainment Chair
