todd snider

by todd snider

i started making up songs in 1986.

i made an album in 1994.

i also started a tour in 1994

and that tour is, in a way, still going.

i never made a record so good

that i could just sit home

or did a show so bad

that i had to.

and man, i've done some shit shows,

shit albums too.

some of them are pretty good though,

but you know,

it's been a while.

i really need to put out a good album soon

or i'm finished.

sometimes these days i sing with a band.

i think we made a good album.

david schools of widespread panic is our leader.

i make up our lyrics....we're a jam band.

our songs only go on about an hour or so but they're still pretty long.

cool people jam with us all the time and we have like a million shirts and shit.

i personally think we're the seventh best band in the whole jam thing.

on this tour i am coming to town with nothing but my guitar and stories

like the old days.

you know...

pick a little

talk a little

pick a little

talk a little

cheap cheap cheap

talk a lot

pick a little more.

and not to brag,

but i also wrote a book that everybody loves

so i am an author now.

plus i play everywhere,

pretty much all the time

everybody shows up

and they pretty much always love it.

MarchFourth is a joy-inducing force of entertainment. The colorful explosion of brassy funk, rock, and jazz is all about the groove. This larger-than-life group of musicians and acrobats tours the country year-round, bringing a spirit of celebration wherever they go. MarchFourth is, in a word, FUN!

With exceptional musical quality and a visual kaleidoscope of performers, MarchFourth is a spectacle of high-energy compositions, colorful costumes, and irresistible charisma! M4 has been seen on stages from ESPN's Espy Awards to festivals like Wakarusa, Bumbershoot, and High Sierra Music Fest, to world-class venues like The Kennedy Center and The Fillmore, and even a cultural exchange tour to China, sponsored by the US State Department.

For their most recent album, Magic Number, fifteen MarchFourth musicians traveled from Portland, Oregon to New Orleans, Louisiana to record with Producer Ben Ellman (Galactic) and Engineer/Producer Mikael "Count" Eldridge (DJ Shadow, Tycho, Trombone Shorty). With local talent at the helm, the album is full of the captivating grooves and brassy swagger you'd expect from MarchFourth, plus a healthy dose of New Orleans magic, with guest appearance by Trombone Shorty, Stanton Moore (drums), and Matt Perrine (sousaphone).

MarchFourth's track "Gospel" (from their self-released album Rise Up, 2009) was featured as the closing credits theme song in the Disney/Pixar animated film, Monster's University. Their next album Magnificent Beast was self-released in 2011, produced by fellow Portlander Steve Berlin (Los Lobos).

"Perfectly merging the artistic spirit of Portland with the musical spectacle of New Orleans, MarchFourth put on one of the most complete shows of any band on any stage. From rocking big band jam tunes, choreography and feats of strength that need to be seen to be believed, MarchFourth entertains on every level every second they are on the stage…or off!" - Live for Live Music

"From the first note to the last, the sound was pumping and the fun never stopped… It's worth noting that there are serious musicians behind all the fun. It's obvious these guys (and gals) have had lots of training and formal practice. Talented band geeks turned rebels." - USAToday

"Just when you think you've heard it all, suddenly a band crosses paths with your ears and changes everything… Full of auditory goodness..."  - NYS Music

"Mighty, Explosive, Carnivalesque Brass Band Funk"  - New York Music Daily

Three-time Grammy Award recipient and 11-time Grammy nominee Steve Earle is a cornerstone artist of Americana music. One of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation, he has released twenty albums. A protégé of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, Earle quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Travis Tritt, The Pretenders, Joan Baez and countless others.

1986 saw the release of his debut record, Guitar Town, which shot to number one on the country charts and immediately established the term "New Country." What followed was an extremely exciting and varied array of releases including the biting hard rock of Copperhead Road (1988), the minimalist beauty of Train A Comin' (1995), the politically charged masterpiece, Jerusalem (2002) and the Grammy Award Winning albums The Revolution Starts…Now (2004), Washington Square Serenade (2007) and Townes (2009). I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (2011) is Steve Earle's 14th Studio Album.

During his four-decade career, Earle has also become a novelist, a film, TV and stage actor, a playwright, a short story author, a record producer and a radio host. He is a longtime activist whose causes have included the abolition of the death penalty and the removal of the confederate flag. Always musically adventurous, Steve Earle has crafted folk, blues, rock, country, rockabilly and bluegrass recordings. His diverse collaborators on disc have included such notables as The Pogues, Lucinda Williams, Patti Smith, The Fairfield Four, The Indigo Girls, Chris Hillman, Sheryl Crow and Shawn Colvin. His new Warner Bros. Records album, So You Wannabe an Outlaw, explores his country songwriting roots and includes collaborations with Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush and Miranda Lambert.

Originally a five-piece blues band influenced by all the old masters and British contemporaries like the Yardbirds and the Stones, The Loading Zone added horns, a powerful female lead singer (Linda Tillery) and morphed into a pioneering psych/jazz/soul band with Fauerso switching to a Hammond B3 organ and sharing lead vocals. After Ms. Tillery left to pursue a solo career, the band morphed again, maintaining the horn section and adding a new bass player, drummer and guitarist. The new Zone was heavily influenced by Oakland funk and some of the free-jazz happening at the time, exemplified by players like John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The new virtuosic drummer/percussionist, George Marsh, was a master of avant-garde improvisation and taught everyone how to play in different time signatures and listen much more deeply.

In 2008, Paul reunited with George Marsh and Mike Eggleston (bass) to record an album entitled "Blue Flame", which features five new compositions and three recordings from a record the Zone released in 1969 called "One For All". Fast forward to NOW and get ready for Loading Zone V.4.0! Paul will again be joined by George Marsh, and a soulful guitarist and Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter from San Antonio named Joe Reyes. Paul and Joe have been playing together for years and Paul and George jam every chance they get.

What happens in Vegas…all started with The Rat Pack. Relive the days of the famous "Summit at the Sands" nights when swingin', ring-a-ding group known as "The Rat Pack" was creating hipster legend with a free-wheeling, no-holds-barred nightclub act starring Vegas' four favorite sons: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop.
 
Produced by Dick Feeney, THE RAT PACK IS BACK features uncanny vocal recreations, unbridled humor, and a hot, live 7.seven-piece orchestra that sends audiences straight back to the coolest time in history. Hits include "That's Amore," "My Way," "Mr. Bojangles," and many more.
 
See why The Las Vegas Sun writes, "This is as close as anyone has come to capturing the feeling of the real thing," and the Chicago Tribune raves, "Classic comic material. Excellent!"

With more than 20 major awards to its credit, the original Broadway and West End production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's iconic musical EVITA embarks on an international tour this year, directed by legendary Broadway director Hal Prince.
 
EVITA charts the story of Eva Peron, wife of Argentine dictator Juan Peron, from her humble beginnings through to the extraordinary wealth, power and status which ultimately led her to be heralded as the 'spiritual leader of the nation' by the Argentine people.
 
Featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "On This Night of a Thousand Stars", "Oh What A Circus", "You Must Love Me", and "Another Suitcase in Another Hall", this smash hit show truly promises to be the theatrical event of the year!

REZA, the world's top touring illusionist returns with an all-new show. You will cross over a threshold of disbelief. You will have your mind blown. Reza will take the Sondheim by storm.

With breathtaking spectacle, mind-blowing sleight of hand and endearing charm, acclaimed master illusionist REZA will captivate you with this astonishing EDGE OF ILLUSION. Once a teen magic prodigy, Reza has joined the ranks of Doug Henning, Kevin Spencer, Penn & Teller, and Chris Angel, being voted "2016 Magician of the Year."
 
Edge of Illusion is a thrilling, ground-breaking and grand-scale production that will leave you amazed, yet baffled, wowed and in a thrilling state of disbelief.
 
Prepare to question reality. You will be mystified and amazed.
 
"World's top touring illusionist!" -  Denver Post

When country music lovers talk about the greatest groups in the genre, the legendary Grammy Award winning SHENANDOAH is always at the forefront of any discussion. Fueled by Marty Raybon's distinctive vocals and the band's skilled musicianship, Shenandoah became well known for delivering 13 number one hits, including "Two Dozen Roses," "Church on Cumberland Road," and "Next to You, Next to Me," as well as such achingly beautiful classics as "I Want to be Loved Like That" and the Grammy winning "Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart" duet with Alison Krauss.
 
Today that legacy continues as original members Raybon and Mike McGuire reunite to build on their 26 singles charted on Billboard's Hot Country Songs list. With their first new album and first release to radio in two decades, the boys from Muscle Shoals, Alabama are ready to launch a new chapter in Shenandoah's storied career.  

Shenandoah takes the Sondheim Stage following the Southeast Iowa Farm Show.

Based  on  the  Emmy-winning  PBS  Kids  show  PEG  +  CAT,  this  totally  awesome  musical  features  wild  comedy,  countless  favorite  songs  from  the  show,  and  Peg's  super  coolest  pal  Ramone!  When  Peg's  Mom  asks  Peg  and  Cat  to  mail  some  really  important  letters,  they  come  face  to  face  with  a  really  big  dog.  Really  big  problem!  To  solve  it,  they'll  need  math—bar  graphs,  size  comparison,  position  words,  fair  sharing,  and  a  whole  lot  of  counting.  They'll  also  need  to  count  on  each  other,  and  the  audience  too,  for  their  problem  to  be  solved.  

The World Famous POPOVICH COMEDY PET THEATER features the unique comedy and world-championship juggling skills of Gregory Popovich, and the extraordinary talents of over 30 furry co-stars including Kurt and Helgo, the goat duo, and Mr. Diamond, the miniature horse.
 
From high-wire balancing acts, juggling and rope tricks to hilarious pranks and high jinks, this cast of adorable pets from animal rescues show off their amazing skills in this performance the whole family will love.  
 
Voted "Best Family Attraction in Las Vegas!" for 10 seasons running.
 
"Genius!" - People magazine

Broadway's Best Party is turning up the volume to ten! The ROCK OF AGES Tenth Anniversary Tour is blazing across North America!
 
Nominated for five Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, ROCK OF AGES captures the iconic era that was the big bad 1980s Hollywood. Know What Love Is, Feel the Noise, and Take Your Best Shot at one of the Sunset Strip's last epic venues, a place where the legendary Stacee Jaxx returns to the stage and rock-n-roll dreamers line up to turn their fantasies into reality.
 
Featuring the music of hit bands such as Styx, Poison, Twisted Sister, and Whitesnake among many others, this Tenth Anniversary production features a dynamic new cast revisiting the larger than life characters and exhilarating story that turned ROCK OF AGES into a global phenomenon.
 

ABBA MANIA is a spectacular musical recreation of the last ever live concert by the Swedish disco sensation, ABBA, with over two hours of uplifting dance inducing hits including, "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," "Super Truper," "Take a Chance on Me," and "Waterloo."
 
ABBA Mania brings to life the 1970s' era with vibrant costumes, extravagant lighting and all the endearing memories of the band that took over the disco world in one unforgettable night.
 
Who would have ever guessed that the little known group ABBA, winners of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, would make such an indelible mark on the pop scene with their smash hit single "Waterloo" ABBA dominated the charts for nearly ten years and became Sweden's highest export earners, amazingly, outselling Volvo cars.
 
ABBA Mania is the perfect excuse to party, reminisce or simply be entertained by some the best music there has ever been.
 
So dig out those platforms, dust down those flares and thank ABBA for the music at the Sondheim!

The sumptuous RUSSIAN NATIONAL BALLET and their 50 dancers bring a traditional staging of the classic fairytale to life with stunning precision and artistry, all set to the timeless Tchaikovsky score. The crown jewel of famed choreographer Marius Petipa's career, Sleeping Beauty tells the magical story of a beautiful, sleeping princess who awaits the kiss of her prince.  

Brought to vibrant life by one of Moscow's finest ballet companies, under the artistic direction of former Bolshoi principal dancer Elena Radchenko, this production's luminous costumes and elaborate sets complement the graceful movements of these gifted Russian dancers, resulting in a sublime performance.

"The Russian National Ballet is a cut above many of its rivals," says The Washington Post. "This is the real thing."

TERRI CLARK emerged from Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, a honky-tonk in Nashville, as a distinctive voice on the country music landscape - driving, passionate, spirited - and every bit her own woman.
 
Terri is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, an eight-time Canadian Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, and has also taken home the CCMA Female Vocalist of the Year award five times. She made her mark on radio with more than 20 hits, including six number ones in Canada and the USA - hits such as such as "Better Things To Do," "Poor Poor Pitiful Me," "Girls Lie Too," and "I Just Wanna Be Mad."  
 
Terri is a dynamic, no-holds-barred live performer and one of the rare female country artists capable of throwing down some impressive guitar work.
 
Ms. Terri Clark…live…alone…on the Sondheim Stage with her guitars circled around her. Get ready for a night of hits.

John Mueller's WINTER DANCE PARTY® is the official live and authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper's final tour and the only show endorsed by the Holly, Valens and Richardson estates.  Each live concert performance includes over two hours of unbridled, high voltage entertainment featuring all the hit songs of the 50's era: "That'll Be The Day," "Peggy Sue," "Oh, Boy," "Rave on," "La Bamba," "Chantilly Lace," and many more hits.

John Mueller, the critically acclaimed former star of the U.S. touring version of the London/Broadway hit musical "Buddy. The Buddy Holly Story," performs as Buddy Holly and Linwood Sasser fills the legendary footsteps of the Big Bopper. Ray Anthony performs as Ritchie Valens and is a renowned star of the "Legends of Rock and Roll" show at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas. The very authentic and energetic four piece band (guitar, drums, stand-up bass and sax) includes Grammy Award winning Mike Acosta on saxophone.

The Winter Dance Party show has performed in front of over 2 million people on national TV for the Jerry Lewis Telethon, has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada at theatres, performing arts centers, ballrooms, corporate events, casinos and even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with John Mellencamp, Marshall Crenshaw and others.

"Flawless….rings as clear and true as a chord from a Fender Stratocaster."  
-The Chicago Tribune

Featuring 20 of the world's most skilled Irish dancers and musicians, including Justin Boros from Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, CAROL OF THE KING, THE IRISH DANCE SPECTACULAR brings an original inspiring Christmas story of love and salvation to life that transports the audience to a mystical time and place of heroes and redemption.

Winter has fallen across the land.  King Solomon and his kingdom prepare for the Christmas season celebration.  While cold winds caress the landscape, one gust brought an unearthly chill not felt before.  The dark sorceress Circe and her ghostly legion known as The Frost are upon the land.  She has trapped the legendary King Solomon under her spell in an attempt to steal the throne and expel Christmas once and for all. Unable to free himself and carry forth the holiday spirit, hope remains lost for all those in the kingdom...until now.

In a brave effort to rescue their king and preserve the spirit of the season, the kingdom has called upon Solomon's loving companion Brighid, his younger brother Aidan and the Guardians to restore harmony to the land.  With the frigid forces attempting to break the will of the crown and banish Christmas for eternity, will darkness reign or will victory be seized from Circe's icy grip in the legend that has come to be known as Carol of the King.

The world-renowned Irish dance troupe performs lighting fast hard shoe rhythms and graceful soft shoe jigs to an original epic orchestral soundtrack featuring many Holiday favorites, while state of the art lighting and Christmas spirit ignite the stage into an explosive display of dance and music.

Strength, agility and precision formulate the fast-paced and breath-taking holiday experience on stage as the cast performs to the heart-pounding and fluid symphonic music that will enthrall the Sondheim audience and all across North America.

JOHN ANDERSON is one of the greatest country music singers ever to step up to the microphone, possessing one of the most instantly recognizable vocal instruments in the history of Nashville music.
 
An influence to many of today's country artists, a colorful character and truly a country music treasure, John Anderson has enjoyed a career of 40 years, garnering seven major awards, including Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year. He has charted more than 40 singles, 20 reaching the top 10 and seven number one hits, including: "Wild and Blue," "Swingin'," "Black Sheep," "Straight Tequila Night," "Seminole Wind," "Money in the Bank," and "I Wish I Could Have Been There."
 
John Anderson is a seasoned and improved model of the same tried-and-true, dyed-in-the-wool country vocalist who has brought a renewed beauty and elegance to the twin-fiddle, steel guitar tradition of the old-time honky-tonk balladeer.   
 
Experience JOHN ANDERSON UNPLUGGED and the pure acoustic country hits that helped change the course of country music for the better.

A Tony Award® recipient for Best Musical, Monty Python's SPAMALOT, brings its search for the Holy Grail to Fairfield. This outrageous musical comedy is lovingly ripped off from the film classic "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."
 
With a book by Eric Idle and music and lyrics by the Grammy Award winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez, Spamalot tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table as they embark on their quest for the Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen, and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences worldwide are eating up Spamalot!

Packed with power, agility and marital arts mastery, the CHINESE WARRIORS OF PEKING deliver a high-intensity exhibition filled with breathtaking acrobatics, set during the Ming Dynasty.  This action-packed display tells the tale of two rival martial arts disciplines and is filled with juggling, acrobatics, weapons handling, and live stage combat, performed by some of the world's most accomplished multidisciplinary artists sporting dazzling costumes.
 
Celebrating 60 years of international acclaim, the Warriors have performed around the globe. This unbridled evening is sure to captivate and entertain as the historical battle between the Shaolin and Wudang warriors unfolds in a captivating display of athleticism and artistry.

The runaway hit of numerous international music festivals is hitting the road for its first U.S. tour! Known across the globe as "the ultimate-feel good show".
 
THE CHOIR OF MAN offers up 90 minutes of indisputable joy! It's a party. It's a concert. It's a pint-filled good time set in a working pub that combines hair-raising harmonies, high-energy dance, and live percussion with foot-stomping choreography. The multi-talented cast of nine handsome blokes sings everything - pub tunes, folk, Broadway, classic rock - all to roof-raising heights. It's the best singing, dancing, stomping, pub crawl of a concert you'll ever attend.  

Cheers!

Famous as a finalist on NBC's "America's Got Talent," CATAPULT is an imaginative combination of dance, story-telling and sculpture that illustrates the human body's ability to transform.
 
The talented Catapult dancers work behind a screen to create seemingly impossible dancing shadow silhouettes of shapes from the world around us. You won't believe your eyes as you watch dancers tell incredible stories by transforming their bodies into dragons, castles, animals and intricate landscapes.
The show, The Amazing Magic of Shadows is packed with hundreds of shape transformations, full of humor, emotion, and engaging stories.
 
A great family show...specially priced for families to enjoy!

Revel  in Indian Culture. Direct from Jaipur, India, THE DHOAD GYPSIES OF RAJESTHAN bring a mesmerizing show of music, dance and fire eating in a boisterous, colorful and joyful affirmation of Indian culture to the Sondheim stage. Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan, have been the guardians of authentic traditional music and dance for more than seven generations and are known as the genuine cultural ambassadors of Rajasthan, delighting audiences at 1,000 concerts in 85 countries over the last 14 years.
 
Rajasthan music is respected for its emotion and unparalleled rhythmic speed and complexity. Evoking a trance-like state for the audience and performer alike, the Dhoad Gypsies embark on a rapturous journey with love, peace and honor at the center of their lyrical message. Passionate and haunting, the group's legendary stamina on stage combines sweeping scales and vocals, a traditional Gypsy Rajasthan dancer and stunts by the group's resident fakir - blended together to create a truly unforgettable experience.
 
From a rich musical legacy that spans seven generations, four brothers from the esteemed musical tribe caste of Rajasthan are at the center of the group.
 
The company has performed, most notably at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebration in London, for the honorable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, the former President of France, François Hollande and at the birthday party of Mick Jagger.

"Watching Ted perform you'll be convinced that John Denver never left us! His look and exact sound are amazing!"
Las Vegas Review Journal
 
Celebrate the life and music of the late John Denver with the beloved songs, "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," "Rocky Mountain High," "Annie's Song," "Sunshine on My Shoulder," and "Take Me Home, Country Roads," and all of Denver's hits in REMEMBERING JOHN DENVER - A Tribute by Ted Vigil.
 
Ted Vigil's remarkable physical and vocal resemblance to Denver will charm you in this inspirational tribute to John Denver and his musical legacy.  Ted wows audiences nationwide and has performed twice at John Denver's "Winstar Foundation." His Las Vegas concerts are continuous sell outs. Last year he was awarded the "Rising Star" award by the National Traditional Country Music Association. In 2010, Ted performed with John Denver's lead guitar player, Steve Weisberg, who remarked, "The look and the voice are uncanny!"
 
The legendary John Denver evokes memories of an era in music which was both inspiring and influential. His music was a combination of romance -"Annie's Song," folk, "Leavin' on a Jet Plane," country, "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," and environmentalist, "Calypso." He recorded nearly 300 songs, 200 of which he composed, which led to 12 gold and 4 platinum albums; he was also awarded an Emmy and two Grammy's.  He was a brilliant song writer and a truly gifted performer.
 
Prepare to travel back to yesterday to experience this magical, marvelous tribute to John Denver at the Sondheim.

Currently celebrating 40 years of success, the BELLAMY BROTHERS have been a picture of consistency in country music; crafting honest, heartfelt songs that have connected with millions of fans around the world. For Howard and David Bellamy, the road that started on the pop music charts in the 70's and took a winding turn into country music in the 80's.
 
This Grammy-nominated duo's patented blend of rock/country music has produced 14 #1 singles, charted more than 25 songs and included such notable classics as "Let Your Love Flow," "Redneck Girl," "If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)," "Sugar Daddy," and "Lovers Live Longer."

Hailed as "among the mostgifted musicians of his generation" with a "dazzling natural keyboard affinity"by The Washington Post, Americanpianist/composer/improviser CHARLIE ALBRIGHT has been praised for his"jaw-dropping technique and virtuosity meshed with a distinctive musicality" byThe New York Times.  Charlie completed a highly successful 48concert tour in the Midwest in the 2013-14 concert season and returns to thrillaudiences that missed him on that tour, plus many who will rebook.