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March 21, 2007
Snowmass Village announces Chili Pepper & Brew Fest headliner
Here is the latest press release from Snowmass Village:
Snowmass Village announces Chili Pepper & Brew Fest headliner
Hot music, cold microbrews and spicy chili return to "Pepper Hill" June 8-10, 2007
Snowmass Village, Colo. -- Snowmass Village is thrilled to announce that Grammy Award-winning artist Ziggy Marley will headline the fourth annual Chili Pepper & Brew Fest on "Pepper Hill" Saturday, June 9. This three-part festive fusion of spice, ale, and music officially kicks off the Aspen/ Snowmass summer season June 8-10 with prestigious microbrew and International Chili Society competitions and tastings in addition to hot music acts like Marley.
"Ziggy Marley is probably the most prolific reggae artist of our time and an ideal headliner who will appeal to festival attendees of all ages," says Town of Snowmass Village Marketing Director Susan Hamley. ""The Chili Pepper & Brew Fest is a spectacular mix of music, food & fermentation that just keeps getting better every year."
Four-time Grammy Award-winner Ziggy Marley, who won his first solo Grammy for Best Reggae Album in 2007, is a native of Kingston, Jamaica, and son of reggae legend Bob Marley. He spent two decades as the driving creative force behind The Melody Makers, a triple Grammy-winning act with his siblings before releasing his first solo album in 2003. His style crafts a soulful blend of blues, R&B, hip-hop, and reggae and highlights his skills as a singer and songwriter. In addition to contributing on a variety of soundtracks and even venturing into acting as Bernie, the Jamaican jellyfish in the animated movie A Shark's Tale, Marley is the founder of U.R.G.E., a non-profit organization benefiting charitable children's causes in developing nations.
Music is just one component of the Chili Pepper & Brew Fest's feast of the senses, and over the past three years since its inception, the festival's popularity has skyrocketed, drawing crowds of 5,000 to Snowmass. Previous acts have included Jonny Lang, Medeski, Martin & Wood and Michael Franti & Spearhead.
"The festival is unique in that in addition to the incredible music, it offers three full days of chili tastings and two major microbrew tastings," says event founder and organizer Josh Behrman.
The festival kicks off on Friday afternoon with the sanctioned Front Range District Chili Cook-off held by the International Chili Society, the world's foremost authority on chili. While the cooks vie for entry to the world championships in the categories of Chili Verde, Chili Red, and Chili Salsa, attendees can sample these spicy creations that often can include as many as 600 spices and specialty ingredients. The elite and invitational microbrew portion of the festival also begins on Friday with a "Best Summer Ale" competition and tasting, while an outdoor concert concludes the first day.
NEW! On Saturday, the International Chili Society kicks it up a notch with the 9th Annual Hot Times Regional Championship and chili tasting that was formerly hosted in Cripple Creek, Colorado. A grand tasting with over 40 of the nation's top microbreweries follows with Ziggy Marley's performance capping off this full day.
Sunday is free to the public as a Local's Day, where local cooks get to strut their spicy talents for judges and local bands perform on the Snowmass Village Mall. Additional bands playing at the festival, including Friday night's headliner, will be released soon.
One of the best reasons to start the summer with the Chili Pepper & Brew Fest is the cost: tickets are only $15 on Friday or $20 on Saturday and include access to the outdoor concerts on Fanny Hill and food, beer, and wine concessionaires. For only $10 more ($25 on Friday and $30 on Saturday), a party pass for ages 21 and older allows unlimited access to the microbrew tastings and to sampling different types of chili each day. This festival is expected to sell out, so attendees are advised not to wait until June to purchase tickets.
Tickets for the festival go on sale April 1 online and all information is available at www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com. To download photos of Ziggy Marley, go to http://www.wma.com/ziggy%5Fmarley/summary/
Allison Johnson, PR Director
Snowmass Village Marketing & Special Events
Cell: 970-309-5485
Email: aj@snowmasspress.com
For more information on Snowmass Village Chili Pepper & Brew Fest
Posted by jmidthun at March 21, 2007 11:45 AM
