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EPCOT FLOWER POWER CONCERTS 2009
It was quite by chance that we first visited the annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, which takes place over several weeks from March 18th through to May 31st, 2009. It was an unexpected pleasure as the park was even more beautiful than ever, with wonderful tableaux of flowers and plants, intricate topiaries, and a myriad of exhibitions and activities related to gardening and the outdoors. However, it was the fantastic Flower Power concerts which really made it an exceptional visit. These take place each weekend at the America Gardens Theatre in the World Showcase, just opposite the American exhibit.
These concerts generally take place at 5. 15, 6. 30 and 7. 45 pm each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. However, times are subject to change, so do check before you go, as on March 20th, 27th and April 3rd the concerts are half an hour earlier. Amazingly, these concerts are included in your normal admission charge.
This is the line-up this year – and WHAT a line up, especially for us ‘oldies’ who remember enjoying this music in our teens!
March 20-22: Davy Jones – remember the Monkees? Well Davy Jones is of course one of the original group, which was assembled in 1966 for the Amerian TV series called ‘The Monkees. ’ You may well remember ‘Day Dream Believer, ’ ‘Last Train to Clarksville’ and my personal favourite, ‘I’m a Believer. ’
Of course, Davy Jones was born in Manchester and appeared in episodes of Coronation Street, and in the role of the Artful Dodger in ‘Oliver, ’ both in London and on Broadway, where he received great acclaim. His fellow group members were Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork. As a teenager, I can remember rushing back to watch the TV programme each week.
March 27-29: Paul Revere and the Raiders – another 60’s and 70’s hit American rock band – remember ‘Indian Reservation’ which was a hit in 1971?
April 3-5: The Turtles, featuring Flo & Eddie – an American pop and folk rock band led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. They became famous for their cover version of Bob Dylan’s ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ in 1965. Flo and Eddie – aka Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman - are a comic musical duo who were the original founding members of the Turtles pop group. After the group dissolved they were prevented from using the name ‘The Turtles’ due to contractual restrictions.
April 10-12: Herman' s Hermits, starring Peter Noone. Who could forget this British group, which originated in Manchester in 1963. Their first hit was ‘I’m Into Something Good, ' which got to number 1 in 1964 and even reached number 13 in the US, a great achievement at the time. Peter Noonan was the lead vocalist, and he, too had appeared in Coronation Street as Stanley Fairclough.
April 17-19: The Ventures. An American instrumental rock band formed in 1958, they are, to date, the best selling instrumental band of all time.
April 24-26: Harold Melvin' s Blue Notes. This American singing group, and you can’t fail to have heard of one of their most famous hits, ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now. ’
May 1-3: Chubby Checker and the Wildcats. Chubby Checker was born in 1941 and is best known for popularising ‘The Twist. ’
May 8-10: Ricky Nelson Remembered, featuring The Nelsons. Ricky Nelson sadly died in 1985 in a plane crash on the way back from a concert, but his fame and his music live on. This American singer, musician and actor had more than 50 top 100 hits, and was said to have been second only to Elvis Presley as the most popular rock and roll artist of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Remember ‘Hello Mary Lou? ’
May 15-17: Jose Feliciano. Born blind as a result of glaucoma, this Puerto Rican singer and virtuoso guitarist had a huge hit with ‘Light My Fire’ in 1968
May 22-24: The 5th Dimension is a Grammy winning American pop vocal group, who were best known in the late 1960’s and early 197 0’s for such hits as ‘Up, Up and Away’ and ‘Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In. ’
May 29-31: Tony Orlando. This singer had a string of successes, including ‘Halfway to Paradise’ in 1961, and ' Tie A Yellow Riibbon Round the Old Oak Tree. '
What a fantastic line-up! I just hope I get to see at least some of them in concert.
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