Advertisement

Contemporary Christian music superstar Michael W. Smith will grace the Showboat stage on Tuesday, July 10. Classic rockers .38 Special and Edgar Winter are on tap for Thursday, July 12. The Spinners, Felix Cavaliere's The Rascals and the Diamonds will provide an evening of golden age hits on Friday, July 13.

Line-ups for Monday, July 9, Wednesday, July 11 and Saturday, July 14 will be announced in upcoming weeks.

Michael W. Smith

Multi-platinum, Grammy-award winning artist, Michael W. Smith has been changing the landscape of Christian music for 20 years. Smith is not only one of the most beloved hit makers on the Christian contemporary music charts, he has earned considerable success as an internationally beloved mainstream artist as well.

A prolific singer-songwriter, he has won both Dove and Grammy Awards, was hailed by Keyboard magazine as one of the top keyboardists in rock, and has sold more than seven million records with 25 number one songs. As the best-selling male artist in Christian music, Smith's string of hits includes Place In This World, I Will Be Here For You, and Somebody Love Me.

.38 Special with Edgar Winter

After more than two decades together, 38 Special is still playing more than 100 shows per year. And at every one of them, thousands of audience members are completely blindsided by the power and muscle of the band's performance. Original members Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant co-founded the band in their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, nearly three decades ago.

In its early days, the band built its reputation with its brand of Southern boogie and blues-rock, before transforming into a more arena-rock-friendly style. In its second decade, the band scored big with a slew of hits, including such rockers as Caught Up in You, Hold on Loosely, If I'd Been the One, and Rockin' into the Night. Since 1975, the band has released more than 15 albums and from the start, they've toured relentlessly.

A child prodigy who achieved international success early on, Edgar Winter's music encompasses many different genres, including rock, jazz, blues, and pop. From his critically acclaimed 1970 debut release, Entrance, he has demonstrated his unique style and ability to cross the genre lines and do the unexpected. In the 1970s, the Edgar Winter Group created such hits as the number one Frankenstein and the ever popular Free Ride and They Only Come Out at Night.

With over 20 albums and numerous collaborative efforts to his credit, Winter has not been satisfied to ride the wave of popular music stardom. His live shows consistently receive rave reviews, and he is a master at stretching his skill and imagination to produce amazing results. Edgar Winter is now at the very top of his game, and his future looks even brighter than his past.

The Spinners, Felix Cavaliere's Rascals and The Diamonds

It should come as no surprise that The Spinners have always made timeless music. Their classic group sound and approach never loses its universal appeal. Throughout the years they have acquired 12 gold records with hits on top of both Pop and R&B charts. Today, original members Bobbie Smith, Henry Fambrough, and Pervis Jackson are joined onstage by lead singer Frank Washington, high tenor Harold "Spike" Bonhart and a soul-infused 5-piece band. Audiences will be transported back into time as these chart-toppers share their beloved hits, including Mighty Love, Then Came You, I'll Be Around, One Of A Kind (Love Affair), Games People Play, Could It Be and Working My Way Back to You.

It's been over fifty years since The Diamonds released an instant million selling hit called Little Darlin'. The song continues to sell worldwide and to date has sold over 20 million copies. Through the years since the release of that memorable melody, The Diamonds have learned one important lesson: the durability of 1950s music is as much about the future as about the past. As a result, this super group continues to expand its audience to this day by performing in a myriad of surroundings, from major concert halls and cruise ships to casinos and state fairs. Fans might find them on tour in England, Ireland, Brazil, Chile, Korea, and Japan or wowing crowds at nightclubs and fundraising benefits. These lifelong music makers have been pleased to find a growing audience among all age groups.

Showboat audiences will experience the great sounds of the super group of the 60's with Felix Cavaliere's Rascals. The Rascals came together in early 1965 and quickly emerged as one of the most soulful creative forces of that era. The band's biggest hit, People Got to Be Free, topped the charts for five weeks, and is one of the Rascals' many beloved chart-toppers, including Good Lovin', Groovin', Lonely Too Long and Beautiful Morning. Hearing Felix and friends perform live is like embracing a long lost friend.

Tickets on sale this weekend

For the first time ever, a limited number of multiple day passes, including a reserved seat to each concert, will be offered to ticket buyers.

Tickets for Smith's show are $39.50, $32.50 and $27.50. Tickets for .38 Special and Edgar Winter are $35.50, $29.50 and $24.50. Tickets for Friday night's ensemble show - the Spinners, rascals and Diamonds - are $36.50, $32.50 or $27.50. Six-day passes are available at the Chesaning Chamber of Commerce Office, (989) 845-3055.

Tickets will go on sale Saturday, April 14 at 9 a.m. at the Chesaning Chamber of Commerce office, 218 N. Front Street. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.chesaningshowboat.org and at all Star Ticket Plus outlets (Meijer locations). Phone sales will begin at noon on Sunday, April 15 - call (989) 845-3056 to place ticket orders.

For more information on the Showboat Music Festival, call (989) 845-3055.