Press Release - Armory Arts and Music Center Kicks Off 100th Birthday Celebration with September 6th Duluth Armory Music Fest at Leif Erikson Park

Free Concert – Sunday, September 6th, 3:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Leif Erikson Park

(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Duluth, MN) - The ARMORY ARTS & MUSIC CENTER, in association with KUMD 103.3 FM and MAGIC MARC PRODUCTIONS, announced today that the COURTNEY YASMINEH BAND out of New York City will headline a September 6th lineup of six stellar musical acts assembled to kick off the celebration of the historic Duluth Armory’s 100
birthday. “Although she currently makes New York her home, Courtney has deep connections to the North Country, as do most of the artists assembled for this celebration of one of Duluth’s defining buildings,” said Nelson French, Vice President of the Armory Arts and Music Center Board, “Courtney spent her senior year of high school on Lake Vermilion and graduated from Tower-Soudan High School. It is very special that she is returning to grace the stage for our first
outdoor music fest. She has a great passion her music and for our mission to preserve the rich heritage of the Duluth Armory.” 

The Armory Arts and Music Center announced today that a development agreement for the building is in the works and the parties are hopeful there will be a big announcement close to the actual Armory birth date of November 22nd.

“This will be an historic outdoor event in our neighborhood and is not to be missed,” said Mark Poirier, Project Manager Consultant to the Armory Arts & Music Center. “This is a tremendous opportunity for the community to celebrate the Armory and its rich history, and the right time to look forward to the redevelopment and revitalization of this great community space so it will be a vibrant component of our community for the next 100 years. 2015 will be as big a year as 1915 was for the Armory!” 

The Armory has been a site of great inspiration throughout its history – truly the building that made Duluth famous. It was built in 1915 at roughly five times the average cost of other armories of that era. It served as a military training facility for the Minnesota National Guard and Naval Militia. The building also played an important role as the cultural and entertainment hub of Duluth. National and international acclaimed artists appeared at the Armory over the years – Harry Truman, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash, Bob Hope, Liberace, Lonnie Knight, and Buddy Holly to name a few.

Also joining COURTNEY YASMINEH on stage will be Minnesota rock legend LONNIE KNIGHT & FRIENDS (Minneapolis). Lonnie played the Armory 4 times with a group called Jokers Wild back in 1969, singer songwriter SARAH BURTON (Toronto) and local North Country artists RICH MATTSON & GERMAINE GEMBERLING (Sparta), GENE LAFOND & AMY GRILLO (Silver Bay) and
THE BOOMCHUCKS (Duluth).  KAYLEE MATUSZAK, a student at the Armory Arts and Music Center’s Music Resource Center® Program, will also perform.

The Armory Arts & Music Center's Music Resource Center® Duluth Program is a cutting edge music education program where teens can learn music technology, creation, and performance and production techniques. 

MISSION
To preserve the Duluth Armory and its historic value to American culture and the arts, while encouraging its reuse, placing emphasis on arts and education.
1626 London Rd #779 - Duluth, MN 55812
Contact: Nelson T. French, 612.237.5171
http://dulutharmory.org/