Word x Word – 2009’s “hottest summer party,” – announces its
2010 Festival Line-up
Headliners include musical acts Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, Langhorne
Slim, Mike & Ruthy, and spoken word performers Derrick Brown and Rives.
“Words are under assault and we’re here to defend them,” – Ben Knox Miller of The Low Anthem, 2009 Festival Headliner.
PITTSFIELD, MA – Word x Word Festival headliners have their verbal armories at
the ready. This year’s line-up includes Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, Langhorne Slim,
Mike & Ruthy, New England Americana Festival performers, and spoken word artists
Derrick Brown and Rives.
They all are among the 60 plus performers who will be in downtown Pittsfield Aug. 21-
29 for the second annual festival, a celebration of words written, spoken, and sung.
“There are only a handful of urban festivals in the country and most are staged in large
cities,” said festival founder and director Jim Benson. “The thing about Word x Word is
it’s new, edgy, and fun as hell but rooted in the Berkshires.”
Word x Word gathers emerging singer-songwriters, spoken word poets, and actors on the
cutting edge of their craft. Media have recognized the gathering of singer-songwriters,
poets, and playwrights as a “lyrical feast,” the “Berkshires’ hottest summer party,”
and “literate-but-edgy.”
“As someone who makes his living with words, I can’t believe it’s taken this long for
there to be a festival entirely devoted to it: The Word,” said Taylor Mali, 2009 festival
headliner. “I would travel across the country to witness this festival, but I don’t have to
because it’s here!”
This year, the festival gets started with a gala roof top party, Aug. 21 at 6 P.M., featuring
Christine Ohlman, known as the “The Beehive Queen” and vocalist of the Saturday Night
Live Band. DJ Ryan Brown, a Pittsfield native turned Bostonian, will spin dance beats
before and after her set atop the Greystone Building.
The festival will be bookended by performances at the Colonial Theatre featuring
nationally and internationally recognized artists. Still, the festival remains committed to
showcasing and nurturing local performers.
For the second year, Mission Bar + Tapas will host an evening of music devoted entirely
to local talent, both emerging and established in the industry. Tuesday, August 24 will
be “local night” across the board with not only local music but spoken word and theater
performed by talent hailing from Berkshire County as well.
August 22nd’s opening concert at the Colonial features headliners Stephen Kellogg and
the Sixers, spoken word artist Derrick Brown and Mike & Ruthy. Langhorne Slim, New
England Americana Festival performers, and poet Rives will help bring the festival to a
close at the Colonial on August 28.
Regarding the opening night performers, The Sixers are an exceptional live act, given to
high-energy showmanship. They were recently recognized by the New York Times as
one of the few performances that stood out at a the Simon and Garfunkel tribute concert
in NYC and named one of the “Top Five Dream Drinking Companions” by USA Today.
Derrick Brown’s spoken word artistry has been likened to “a Christmas present you can’t
wait to open up, and when you do, there’s blood,” by fellow tour mate and actress Amber
Tamblyn.
The music of Mike & Ruthy, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal, embraces “acoustic
instruments, songs with stories, songs with meaning, not just techno-blabber aimed at an
instant-gratification society that shuns depth.”
The festival has seven venues – the Colonial Theater, The New Stage, Micro Theater,
Shawn’s Barber Shop, The Lantern, 305 North, and its host venue Mission Bar and
Tapas.
“Pittsfield is thrilled to host this creative explosion of words written, spoken & sung,”
said Megan Whilden, Pittsfield’s Director of Cultural Development. “The Word x
Word Festival not only entertains, enlightens and inspires, it brings more visitors
and performers into town and helps get the word out that Pittsfield is a creative city
welcoming innovative artists, writers, musicians & more!”
Word x Word is sponsored in part by Berkshire Living Magazine, The Massachusetts
Cultural Council, Narragansett Beer, Cultural Pittsfield, Mission Bar + Tapas,
The Market, Garnish Design, Harrison Design Associates, and CompuWorks.
Tickets to performances at The Colonial will be available July 19 both online at
www.thecolonialtheatre.org and through the box office by calling (413) 997- 4444. All
other passes and tickets can be purchased in-person at Mission Bar + Tapas, 438 North
Street, Pittsfield, and The Market, 391 North Street, Pittsfield.
For more information about the festival check out the web site – wordxwordfestival.com.
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