AFF 2010 Wraps!

The Miranda Lambert crowd...



And the Nickelback crowd...


Well it was a long 18 days, but with 59 ticket concerts and over 60 bars featuring live local entertainment during AFF, it was worth it! Thanks for helping to make it a success!

Alltech Fortnight Festival TICKET GIVEAWAYS!

THIS WEDNESDAY, July 27th, we will be giving the first pair of tickets away to an Alltech Fortnight Festival (AFF) show! Accompanying the tickets will be some AFF merchandise and some other fun stuff. Now, here's how you enter for your chance to win:

Every Wednesday from July 26th through October 6th, 2010 we will be giving away tickets to the best AFF shows. We will post a question on our facebook (facebook.com/alltechfestival) and our twitter account (twitter.com/alltechfestival) at 12pm on those Wednesdays. Everyone that responds to that question within 24 hours will be entered in a pool to win the prize. The drawing will take place on Thursday at 12pm and will be announced immediately. **IN ORDER TO WIN, you must "like" our facebook page or follow us on Twitter.**

We are excited about these shows and hope you guys are too!

Wednesday July 27th GRAND PRIZE:
2 Tickets to see Charlie Daniels Band at the Lexington Opera House October 8th, 2010
PLUS Alltech Fortnight Festival Gear

GOOD LUCK!!

WHAT? You Haven't Seen Our Lineup Yet?

Here it is, folks. The 2010 Alltech Fortnight Festival lineup. Shows all over the state of Kentucky during the Alltech World Equestrian games this fall. We will be adding a few more big shows and announcing those closer to the time of the festival. For all kinds of information including tickets and event details, visit www.alltechfortnightfestival.com!

GET THE GOOD SEATS WHILE THEY LAST, THESE VENUES ARE SELLING OUT QUICK!

9/23 – Little Feat @ Opera House

9/24 - Wynonna Judd @ Paramount Arts Center Ashland
Christ the King Oktoberfest: Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys

9/25 - The Temptations @ Grand Theatre Frankfort
Christ the King Oktoberfest: Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band

9/26 - The Temptations @ Grand Theatre Frankfort
Tim Brumfield @ First Presbyterian Church Lexington

9/27 - Vienna Philharmonic with Gustavo Dudamel @ Norton Center Danville
American Spiritual Ensemble @ First Presbyterian Church Lexington

9/28 - Chubby Checker @ Kentucky Theatre Lexington
Bo Skovhus @ Singletary Center Lexington

9/29 - American Spiritual Ensemble @ First Presbyterian Church Lexington
Ronan Tynan @ Lexington Downtown Hilton
Tim Brumfield @ First Presbyterian Church

9/30 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy with Lexington Philharmonic @ Singletary Center Lexington
La Boheme @ Lexington Opera House

10/1 - La Boheme @ Lexington Opera House
Arnett Hollow @ Louisville Glassworks
Louisville Trolley Hop (Various Locations in Louisville)

10/2 - Marvin Hamlisch and UK Symphony Orchestra @ Singletary Center Lexington

10/3 - La Boheme @ Lexington Opera House

10/4 – Tony Bennett @ Norton Center Danville

10/5 – John Lithgow @ Lexington Opera House

10/6 - Beach Boys @ Singletary Center Lexington
Lexington Bach Choir @ First Presbyterian Church

10/7 - Kenny Rogers @ Lexington Opera House

10/8 - Charlie Daniels @ Lexington Opera House
Loretta Lynn @ Renfro Valley

10/9 – Dave Sanborn @ Singletary Center Lexington
Loretta Lynn @ Renfro Valley

Again, visit www.alltechfortnightfestival.com for more information and tickets!

Top 30 "Summer" Songs of All Time

Billboard.com recently hit the worldwide web with their choices in the best 30 summer songs of all-time. Here's how they messed up, the songs had to have lyrics about summer and the top 30 songs are ranked by a point system for their performance on the billboard chart. Music isn't about math, and it's summer time, nobody does math during summer. The only summer school requirement is looking at the summer reading book list and going to Joseph Beth and grabbing the sparknotes for it.

I will say that there are some classic hits on Billboard's best summer songs, but just because every one of the beach boys songs was about surfing and California doesn't make them all the best summer songs of all time. You can find Billboard's list at http://www.billboard.com/#/features/top-30-summer-songs-1004101310.story?page=1

Now, more importantly, I present to you my "I Went On Vacation Last Week and These Songs Were Amazing While I Was Laying on the Beach" Top 30:

30. "Tell Me Something Good": Rufus and Chaka Khan
29. "I Just Want You Around": Anuhea
28. "Sweet Inspiration": The Derek Trucks Band
27. "And the Birds Sing": Tyrone Wells
26. "Kiss Me When You Come Home": Hanson
25. "Good Life": OneRepublic
24. "Dancing In The Moonlight": Toploader
23. "Put Your Records On": Corrine Bailey Rae
22. "Little Secrets": Passion Pit
21. "Hot Air Balloon": Owl City
20. "My Time": Minus The Bear
19. "The Frog Prince": Keane
18. "Still": Matt Nathanson
17. "'Til Summer Comes Around": Keith Urban
16. "Sunday Morning": Maroon 5
15. "The Songbird Athletic": Lushlife
14. "Revelry": Kings of Leon
13. "You Make My Dreams": Hall & Oates
12. "These Are The Days": Jamie Cullum
11. "Good Vibrations": Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
10. "Dreamgirl": Dave Matthews Band
9. "What's The Drawback": The Silver Seas
8. "Hurricane Waters": Citizen Cope
7. "Little Lies": Dave Barnes
6. Entire Vampire Weekend album, "Contra"
5. "I'm Yours": Jason Mraz
4. "Africa": Toto
3. "Traffic In The Sky": Jack Johnson
2. "Is This Love?": Bob Marley
1. "Summer Breeze": The Isley Brothers

-JAI

100 DAYS AWAY!

Come enjoy "A Taste of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games"- an all-day celebration featuring live music, The Alltech Experience, equine exhibits, and Ariat fashion show, food and Kentucky Ale and much, much more.

Thursday, June 17th 11:00am-4:30pm
Fifth Third Pavilion
Downtown Lexington

SEE YOU THERE!!

Are We Watching the CMA's?

So the Country Music Awards went off without a hitch, however the guys in charge or censoring the show had a tough job keeping up with Kid Rock hosting! The smoking and drinking wasn’t the best image to put out there to the public either. Kid Rock tried to bring humor to the awards show and threw out a warning to the crowd that there were to be no Kanye West stunts pulled, but there was no fear of that, being as Taylor Swift did not win any awards that night.


Carrie Underwood had a fantastic evening walking away with Video of the Year and CMT Performer of the Year, Lady Antebellum also had a big night with the year's best-selling album to date, and they won Group Video of the Year. However, they were the target of one of the sharpest lines of the night made by Kid Rock, "Lady Antebellum is like the hillbilly Fleetwood Mac, but I suspect they don't do drugs or sleep with each other." Yet another great example of the kind of host Kid Rock was!


Performers for the night included Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban joined by John Mayer, Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and the Zac Brown Band. Those were the good performers, but overall the Country Music Awards were a disappointment. Where did the real country music go? Why were Paula Deen, Snookie and Tyrell Owens on the show? The so called “country roots” that’s the CMA’s use to embody have officially been lost…

Do the Waka Waka

Music and sports go hand in hand. It’s an interesting phenomenon; they always seem to amplify one another increasing the drama before a big game. Can you honestly imagine the sports world today with Queen anthems like "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions"? Just like these old school songs The Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling" has recently become a modern day sports theme.

So, what’s the newest song to join the ranks? "Waka Waka" by Shakira, the official song of the 2010 World Cup. Shakira is scheduled to kick-off the opening ceremonies tonight with an exciting performance rocking the Waka Waka—now the official World Cup dance. Check out the video to learn it yourself.

So you may be wondering, will AFF and the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games have an official music video and theme song? Not as of yet, but we’re open to suggestions…

Go Team USA!



-ERB

Too Old Too Fast?

Yet another one of the Disney Channel stars has grown up and stepped into a different persona. Miley Cyrus is following in the footsteps of Brittney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. Miley grew up in front of America on the television screen as Hannah Montana, now as her new music video is released “Can’t Be Tamed” Miley is jumping into adulthood. With millions of little girls looking up to Hannah Montana, it is if left to be questioned on how the public feels about her latest transformation. In her video Miley is dressed in a scandalous, shredded black leather jumpsuit dancing in a bird cage, surrounded by seductive dancers. What happened to the fresh faced teen idol? There are many mixed emotions about the music video and Mileys’ new look. I personally think that being so young the sex appeal could be taken down a notch especially with so many young girls looking up to her, but then again with celebrities like Lady Gaga setting the stage the music industry seems to be changing itself.

-LCJ

Calling all Glee fans!!!!

Calling all Glee fans!!!! The Lexington Opera House has revealed its 2010-11 Broadway Live season! Glee has amped up the interest in Broadway shows everywhere, and luckily Lexington has a ROCKIN’ six show season that includes something for everyone.

Series subscribers will have the first opportunity to buy tickets for Tony and Emmy Award winner John Lithgow's one-man show, Stories by Heart, as part of the Alltech Fortnight Festival! Stories by Heart has received rave reviews in NYC and is a show not to be missed!

2010-2011 Broadway Live season:

The Color Purple, Sept. 10-12: experience Steven Spielberg's movie on Broadway brought to you by Oprah Winfrey.

Spring Awakening, Oct. 29-31: 2007 Tony Award winner for best musical, Spring Awakening is cited along with Hair and Rent as musicals that changed Broadway. Glee’s Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff starred in the original Broadway production!

A Chorus Line, Nov. 19-21: The revival of the 1975 hit stayed true to the show's origins and time. A must see!

Spamalot, Jan. 14-16: Killer bunnies, knights who say "Ni", the Lady of the Lake and other favorite Monty Python bits make the stage version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail HILARIOUS.

Fiddler on the Roof, Feb. 11-13: Including the classic show tunes “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “If I Were A Rich Man” the 1964 musical about Tevye the Milkman struggling with changes big and small in his Russian village is a timeless favorite.

Legally Blonde, April 15-17: Bend…and SNAP! This show made Lexington Catholic High School graduate Laura Bell Bundy a Broadway star as she originated the role of Elle Woods in NYC!

And your 2010 American Idol is...

Well, you all know it now. Lee Dewyze is the official American Idol. We, as the AFF team here, are pretty split down the middle on this one. Some wanted Crystal, some were pulling for Lee, and some were rooting for both (to the point where it didn't really matter who won anymore, I mean, we all know they are BOTH going to be recording albums). This leads me to, my question I want to pose: Is it better to win Idol or to be runner-up? Automatic album is good of course, but how much control do these Idol winners get over their own sound? It is hard to say. Many break away shortly after to do their own thing. So let's hear your thoughts on the big finale last night.

Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert

June 22nd the stars will align, and I'm not talking about Ursa Major and Minor, I'm talking everyone's favorite country stars. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn and Miley Cyrus are among the artists who will perform at a benefit to assist victims of the middle Tennessee flooding. The benefit was organized by McGraw and Hill and will benefit the Community Foundation which provides philanthropic services that enhance the Middle Tennessee area. Also featured at the event at Bridgestone Arena (formerly Sommet Center (formerly Gaylord Arena)) will be artists like Luke Bryan, Amy Grant, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes and Michael W. Smith.

Tickets go on sale May 14th at 10am on ticketmaster.com and range from $25-$75. Visit nashvillerising.org for more information!

Betty White Boosts SNL

This weekend, over 510,000 facebook fans got their wish as 88 year-old Betty White hosted Saturday Night Live. It all started with a group called "Betty White to Host SNL (please?)!" on this popular social networking site and it ended in a victory for NBC and facebookers nationwide. Saturday Night Live picked up a rating of 8.8, the highest rating for the show in 18 MONTHS! The highest since the always popular pre-presidental election.

Jay-Z was brought in as the musical guest, so there was not a dull moment throughout the show. Jay even dedicated his performance of his latest hit, Young Forever to the "Most Incredible Betty White".

Betty kept the audience on the edge of their seats from the very beginning with help from an entourage of former SNL lady favorites Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch and Maya Rudolph.

Next week, this season closes with host Alec Baldwin and musical guest Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. We'll see if they can top last week's 8.8 rating....(I'll bet against it)

-JAI

"I Gotta Feeling" It Broke A Record

The Black Eyed Peas slide into the number one spot, declaring their hit single, " I Gotta Feeling" the #1 most digitally downloaded song of all-time. With over 5.56 million downloads, this single just slipped past Flo Rida's "Low" (5.53 million downloads) to claim the top spot.

Flo Rida has enjoyed holding down the #1 most downloaded spot since March 2008, when it passed Soulja Boy Tell'em's 2007 hit "Crank That."

The BEP are not only sitting pretty at #1, but their song "Boom Boom Pow" from the same record is in fourth place with 5.29 million downloads.

So the current top five most downloaded songs of all time are:

1. I Gotta Feeling: Black Eyed Peas (5,561,000)
2. Low: Flo Rida (5,536,000)
3. Just Dance: Lady Gaga (5,364,000)
4. Boom Boom Pow: Black Eyed Peas (5,298,000)
5. Poker Face: Lady Gaga (5,131,000)

So it looks like if you're planning on making it into the top five one of these days, you better write a song with some thumping bass, a heavy beat and a catchy, repetitive chorus.

-JAI

Can HANSON Make the Greatest Comeback Of All-Time?

They've changed their look, cut their hair and even had a few babies along the way. Most people probably don't even kow that HANSON has released four albums since their debut smash album, "Middle Of Nowhere" that featured songs like "MMMBop" and "Where's The Love". Already chalked down as the biggest one-hit-wonder ever, HANSON has a final chance to make the greatest comeback of all-time.

HANSON announced the release of their new record, Shout It Out, on June 8, 2010. It’s a fantastically infectious collection of finely crafted, R&B-flavored pop-rock -- an homage to the music that inspired the band when they started out. The album was recorded in a studio on a 2,000-acre pecan farm in El Paso, Texas, and was produced and written exclusively by HANSON, augmented with special guests: Funk Brothers bassist Bob Babbitt, who played on some of Motown’s greatest hits, as well as horn arranger Jerry Hey, who worked with Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind and Fire and many more.

They released their first music video from the upcoming album today and can be found here:

http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.videos&videoId=104317949

And yes, that is Weird Al playing the tambourine. I'm diggin' the old school, funky motown sound and would love to see HANSON top the charts again!

-JAI

AFF Social Media Fun

We are doing some fun stuff on our Facebook and Twitter accounts: trivia prize packages, ticket giveaways, scavenger hunts, and much more! Don't miss out, only 172 days left!

Follow us on Twitter: @alltechfestival
Fan us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/alltechfestival

Get ready for this week's AFF Friday Giveaway!

Study Estimates $167 million in Economic Impact to Kentucky from Alltech World Equestrian Games..WHAT!!!!

Kentucky could realize a $167 million economic benefit from the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, a significant increase from early projections of $150 million, organizers said.

The 2010 Games will be held for the first time in the United States at Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park. The world championships in eight equestrian sports will be contested from September 25-October 10, with as many as 60 countries represented.

The study, conducted by Dr. Paul Coomes, Professor of Economics at the University of Louisville, shows a direct impact to state and local governments through payroll taxes and taxed purchases by spectators in regional hotels, restaurants, retailers, and car rentals.

Current ticket sale projections estimate that more than 85 percent of Games spectators will come from outside Kentucky, bringing new dollars into the region’s economy. Current ticket purchasers are averaging five days of attendance, and the lodging that comes with those visits could account for more than $20 million in spending on accommodations alone.

In addition, the study estimates significant employment opportunities, bringing employees and payroll taxes into the state and local economies.

The study also noted impacts that world-wide television exposure, branding, advertising, and media coverage would bring to Kentucky for years to come.
“An event such as the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games is extremely rare for a destination, because the Games represent a huge economic engine fueled by out-of-state and international visitors and exposure, yet are fully accessible and affordable for state and local residents,” said Hank Phillips, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Travel. “The combination of high economic impact and affordability for the state and local community is indeed rare.”

The Games will be broadcast on NBC Sports, which has marked the largest commitment to network coverage of equestrian sport in U.S. television history. Current sponsors include Alltech, Rolex, John Deere, Ariat International, Inc., Meydan and Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. For more information on the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, please visit www.alltechfeigames.com.

Kentucky is indeed on its way to being a SUPERBRAND.

Three Hour Radius Concerts

4/2 Train @ The Ryman, Nashville
4/5 Vampire Weekend @ The Ryman, Nashville
4/8 Miranda Lambert @ Taft Theatre, Cincinnati
4/10 Zach Galifianakis @ Singletary Center, Lexington
4/11 David Gray @ The Ryman, Nashville
4/19 Vince Gill @ The Ryman, Nashville
4/21 My Morning Jacket @ Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville
4/21 Bon Jovi @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
4/23 Hank Williams Jr. @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
4/25 Aretha Franklin @ The Ryman, Nashville
4/25 Angels & Airwaves @ Bogarts, Cincinnati
4/27 Drake w/ Special Guests @ UK, Lexington
4/28 George Straight & Reba @ Bridgestone, Nashville
4/29 Taylor Swift @ Rupp Arena, Lexington
5/6 Jason Castro @ Rocketown, Nashville
5/14 Norah Jones @ The Ryman, Nashville
5/17 Jimmy Buffett @ Riverbend, Cincinnati
5/22 James Taylor & Carol King @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
5/23 Alan Jackson @ Rupp Arena, Lexington
6/13 Carrie Underwood @ Rupp Arena, Lexington
6/15 Dave Matthews Band @ Riverbend, Cincinnati
6/26 Justin Bieber @ US Bank Arena, Cincinnati
9/4 Kings Of Leon @ Riverbend, Cincinnati

AFF Friday Giveaways

Hey all! Just letting you know that if you're not a fan of us on facebook (www.facebook.com/alltechfestival) or if you don't follow us on Twitter (@alltechfestival), then you'd better get on the ball!

Every Friday we'll be giving away free Alltech Fortnight Festival stuff; t-shirts, drumsticks, guitar picks, sunglasses, koozies, frisbees, hats, beach balls, glow sticks, bottle openers, all kinds of cool things.

Here's how to play:
Each Friday a trivia question will be posted on our facebook page and our twitter account, the first person to answer the question wins a prize package with assortments of the prizes listed above inside.

We'll announce the winner each Friday and ship your package straight to your place! So fan us at www.facebook.com/alltechfestival and follow us at twitter.com/alltechfestival and WIN!

Tomorrow is our first installment, good luck!

-JAI

KENTUCKY ARTISTS WANTED!!!

The 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games are only 189 days away. So what's that mean for musicians? It means the chance to expose your music and talent to over 700,000 expected visitors! The Alltech Fortnight Festival Team is looking for talented artists to perform all over the Bluegrass; from bars and restaurants to pavilions at the Alltech Games and all other kinds of exciting events we have planned for our state and our worldwide visitors.

So, how do you get to perform for the 2010 Alltech Fortnight Festival?

Send your music samples, pictures, bios, contact information, ANYTHING that shows us who you are as an artist to:

Alltech
Attn: Fortnight Festival Team
3031 Catnip Hill Pike
Nicholasville, KY 40356

We look forward to listening to you!

-JAI

St. Patrick's Day....what are we celebrating again?

If I asked you to tell me why we celebrate St. Patrick's Day, what would you say? To wear green or get pinched? To have an excuse to dress your little kid up like a leprechaun? To drink a bunch of green colored beer? All great answers (except for dressing your kid up, that's kind of weird folks) BUT, let's get real for a minute.

There was a patron saint of Ireland named Patrick born around 387 AD. As a teenager he was taken captive as a slave to Ireland. According to the legend, he was told by God in a dream to escape from his enslavement and head to back to Britain. So he did, and studied to become a priest. Now a bishop, he was called by God back to Ireland to save the Irish people where he often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity to the people (three leaves representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit). He died about 30 years after spreading the Word and is known as the principal champion of Irish Christianity and is recognized as so in the Irish Church.

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by some as a one day break during Lent, traditionally feasting and drinking. Most commonly in the US, people dress in green and are punished by a pinch if they lack the color. The Chicago River in Illinois is also dyed green for the day, as ssen above, and is quite a sight to see.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

-JAI