See below for an alphabetical listing and details of the many performers and activities available this year at First Night Raleigh 2007!
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Actor’s Comedy Lab Actor’s Comedy Lab presents “The Diary of Adam & Eve,” adapted from Mark Twain. Actors Comedy Lab was founded in 1998 - a vagabond theatre troupe dedicated to the art and craft of performing comedy. Founders Jack and Bunny Safron, and Rod and Nancy Rich are theatre veterans with experience both on and off stage. Their first production was Neil Simon's "Fools," which played to full houses in July 1998. They've never looked back! |
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Almost Recess Five talented vocalists make up Almost Recess, an a cappella group from the DC area. They create a fresh dazzling sound—just like a band—using only their voices! Their new CD, Full Speed Ahead features the group’s versions of tunes ranging in style from pop rock to Motown classic. After taking in Almost Recess, join in the Early Countdown with Chuck Davis concluding with Fireworks! |
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| Animal of the Hour 3:00-8:00 every hour, on the hour NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Windows on the World – Site 5 |
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Ballroom Dancing & First Night Dance Competition Come and dance the night away with demonstrations in ballroom, swing, Latin and Country Western dance. To participate in the judged First Night Dance Competition at 10:00, be sure to sign up between 7:30 and 8:30. |
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The Bickett Gallery with Magician Tim Dumas Enjoy the new downtown location of the popular Raleigh art gallery and the talents of Tim Dumas. His high energy magic and comedy will delight all ages. |
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Chuck Davis & the African American Dance Ensemble Celebrate community spirit to the beat of ancient rhythms. The choreographic works of the Dance Ensemble depict customs, traditions and occasions of African life. For over a decade, Chuck Davis has taken annual trips to Africa to study African dance and art traditions. “In the village, we humble ourselves as we dance and sing for the elders’ approval which is never readily given. Our knees touch our shoulders as we jump, spin and create new moves from ancient sources trapped in the belly of the drum emitting rhythm after rhythm. And we dance. What I learn I return to the States and share.” – Chuck Davis |
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Columbus Code Exhibit: Invaded By A Pirate Before you solve the Columbus Code—don’t miss a story from a pirate named Cascabel. |
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The “Curators” They may work at a Science Museum, but that doesn’t mean they can’t jam. Doug Pratt (winner of the International Autoharp Competition), Michael Poole (autoharp), Chris Tacker (guitar/slide guitar), Bob Blinn (flat-pick guitar) and others make up this traditional music ensemble. |
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Disco Stage Boogie to the sounds of your favorite 70s Disco divas under the glow of the Disco Ball! With DJ Jeff Simpson and dancers from the NC Dance Institute. |
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80s Music and Movies Enjoy some of your favorite sights and sounds of the 1980s as you stroll down Fayetteville Street! |
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Firestation Nine Rock in the New Year with the Fawcett Brothers—John, Gabe and Curtis—and Graymon and Cameron Ward. Firestation Nine is sure to be a band you will be happy to say you “knew when!” |
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First Night Praise Concert Sing and clap your hands with the Sounds of Creation Choir from Unity Church of the Triangle under the direction of Randy Shepherd, who will be joined by Crazies 4 Jesus, Sandy Hemenway and The Milagro Saints. It will inspire you! |
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Flamenco Guitarist, Ed Stephenson Ed Stephenson and friends invite you to grab a cup of java and relax to their soothing sounds. |
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Gold Leaf Sleigh Rides Catch a ride on John Wesley Smith’s horse-drawn sleigh. Don’t miss this annual First Night favorite! Button is required. |
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Hobex Preparing to celebrate the release their fresh new album “Enlightened Soul,” Hobex is a multi-headed, multi-genre outfit encompassing funk, soul, blues, jazz, and R&B. Since 1996, the band has delighted in-the-know fans around the South and Mid-Atlantic region with several CDs and some 200 gigs each year. “In their looping bass lines, chicken scratch guitar lines and high soaring harmonies you can hear the hit-making instincts of Motown, the loose, raw energy of Stax and the grab-bag influences—gospel, pop, blues, rock—of Sly Stone and P-Funk,” the Memphis Flyer raved. Join Hobex as you take in the very last moments of 2006 and ring in 2007 to their smooth soulful sounds! Ira David Wood III will help you countdown to the New Year, and enjoy dazzling Fireworks sponsored by DowntownRaleigh.com! |
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Ice Sculpture Come see this frozen piece of art created by Todd Dawson of Ice Occasions to celebrate First Night Raleigh’s return to Fayetteville Street. |
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Jackie Tice Raised in a Pennsylvania steel mill town with a family of twelve, Tice grew up fast and with enough songwriting fodder “to last a lifetime,” she says. Forays into social work and college music theory eventually lead her back to performance and songwriting and her strong Native spiritual roots. A Kerrville New Folk Award-winner, the co-mingling of Tice's Native American and Old European roots informs her musical and lyrical points of view, carefully combing through subjects from Shakespearian love to the call of coyotes. With the release of her most recent CD, Second Skin, Tice has made full use of her award-winning performing and song writing skills. Produced by 2005 Native American Grammy Winner, Bill Miller, in a week-long studio marathon in Bucks County, PA, Tice steps up and out with ten songs spanning pop-rock, jazz and folk styles. |
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Josh Lozoff—Deep Magic Regarded by many as the top close-up magician in the Triangle and beyond, Josh Lozoff will wow you with his creative magic. |
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Lenny Marcus Trio Lenny Marcus (keyboards), Rick Eckberg (bass), and Peter Ingram (drums) deliver a cool mix of mainstream jazz standards and hot new original compositions. Ingram has been a part of the Triangle area jazz scene for many years, including recording three albums with Group Sax. He has worked with jazz greats like Stan Getz, Clark Terry, and Charlie Byrd. Marcus lived for many years in New Orleans and had the opportunity to study under Ellis Marsalis. |
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Macarena & Line Dancing Join your neighbors and move your feet for some of the best group dancing around, led by Kim Armstrong’s A Popular Dance. |
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Margaret Morley – Carolina Mountains Photography Don’t miss the opportunity to view this unique collection of Appalachian photography. |
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Night of Renewal Original dance and music theatre piece inspired by two New Year’s Eve Traditions: African American Jonkonnu and the Scottish Highland Oidhche Challuinn. Featuring 2NearTheEdge Dance Company, musician and Celtic Scholar Michael Newtwon, and percussionist Edward Butler. |
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The North Carolina Brass Ensemble The North Carolina Brass is a professional brass ensemble comprised of musicians from the Raleigh, North Carolina area and will provide a great way to welcome in the New Year! |
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The People’s Procession Head down Fayetteville Street with Rhea, created by the Paperhand Puppet Intervention. The NCSU Pipes & Drums, the Helping Hand Mission Band and YOU will lead the way! Destination: 400 Block of Fayetteville Street at the Main Stage for the Early Countdown hosted by Chuck Davis and music from Almost Recess. |
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Pet Rocks Put your artistic skills to the test by designing your own Pet Rock just like in the 70’s! |
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Polecat Creek with Riley Baugus Polecat Creek was the 2006 Winner of the Neo-Traditional Band Contest at the Appalachian String Band Music Festival. Playing original roots country music from the piedmont of North Carolina, they are joined by veteran performer Riley Baugus singing and playing banjo and fiddle. Baugus released a new CD entitled Long Steel Rail on Sugar Hill Records in August of this year. Come tap your feet as you welcome the New Year with some great roots music. |
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Resolution Oak Tree Make a resolution to hang on the First Night Raleigh Resolution Oak Tree, created by local sculptor, Jennifer Van Orden |
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Rubik’s Cube Challenge Test your skills at solving the Rubik’s Cube. Who will finish the fastest? |
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Saludos Compay Hot Latin music fills the air on a cold winter night. Saludos Compay takes the audience on a musical tour that features traditional, contemporary, and original music from Latin America and the Caribbean. This amazingly versatile trio keeps toes tapping. Lead vocalist/guitarist Pablo Valencia, from Chile, sings a wide range of styles. The group performs a number of Valencia’s acclaimed original compositions, such as the romantic Cancion Para Dos, the rumba Bello Amor, and the very upbeat salsa song Entumido. On keyboards, Erich Lieth adds spice to the strong Latin rhythms with improvisational piano solos and bass. Chuck Nolan, lead percussionist, intricately weaves the rhythm patterns. |
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Spoken Word: Favorite Poem Project Bring your favorite poems to read aloud and share with fellow poetry lovers. Original or by your favorite author, sharing poetry will lift your mood. We will have some poems available on site for you to choose from, or bring your own! Led by Greg Kirkpatrick. |
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Strings on Air Cello and violin with Douglass Little and Mary Beth Kaneklids. |
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Transactors Improv Company “Ad-libbed lunacy” by the Triangle’s champions of improvisations theatre. The troop builds musical and sketch comedy from whatever is on the minds of audience members, whether George Bush or the cafeteria line. Imagine a fantastical journey through time, historic events colored by your imagination and whim; or a musical with songs, characters and script composed on-the-spot with your input. Utilizing music, dance, storytelling and their skills as actors, the Transactors have spent over 20 years honing their craft. Their unique hybrid style of improv has earned them a national reputation with appearances from Montreal to Austin and performances on NPR and the Canadian Broadcasting Company. |
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William Weisser Bach to Baroque! Listen to the talented organist William Weisser, a First Night favorite! |
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The Willie Painter Band Join Former Boomer Band Members Willie Painter and Craig Ditmar along with Greg Gelb Band Drummer John Hanks for some great blues/rock tunes to bring in the New Year. In addition to the trio, the band will welcome former Boomer keyboardist, Robert Turner, and Bill Newton, a sax and harmonica player with Rebecca and the Hitones to its First Night performance. |
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