FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joe Austin
Tanya Gonzalez
231-722-6520
info@summercelebration.com
www.summercelebration.com

MUSKEGON, MI, March 11, 2008 – The Muskegon Summer Celebration, The BIG Party, presented by Esurance, announces the first round of acts appearing on the Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge Main Stage for this year’s event, June 26 – July 6. The first Miller Lite Headline Artists to be announced are The Steve Miller Band with special guest Joe Cocker, The Whispers appearing with Morris Day and the Time, Montgomery Gentry, and Sammy Hagar. “With the rising cost of entertainment our job becomes more difficult, but we feel these first four concerts indicate the financial commitment we have made to the festival,” said Chair Bryon Mazade. “Our goal is to build value into the 11-day pass. At only $9 per night, the Summer Celebration remains one of, if not the biggest entertainment value anywhere in the Midwest this summer.”

The festival will open with a bang on Thursday, June 26, when Summer Celebration favorites The Steve Miller Band and Joe Cocker appear. Despite appearing just two years ago MSC officials felt this package was too good to pass up. “The Steve Miller Band sold out two years ago and since Joe Cocker appeared in 2003 we’ve had numerous requests to bring him back,” said Joe Austin, Executive Director. With a recording career spanning four decades, the 1970’s proved to be the springboard for The Steve Miller Band’s success and continued popularity. The Joker and Fly Like an Eagle were the two huge albums that put the band over the top. To date they have sold tens of millions of records around the world and continue to draw huge crowds wherever they perform. Some of The Steve Miller Band’s more recognizable singles include, “Fly Like An Eagle,” “The Joker,” “Swingtown,” “Jungle Love,” “Wide River,” “Abracadabra,” and “Take the Money and Run.” A star, a rock legend, and a survivor are all words used to describe Joe Cocker. He has had charted hits in the 1960's, 70s, 80s, and 90s including "Feeling Alright," "When the Night Comes," "Unchain My Heart," "You Are So Beautiful," and his first American number one, "Up Where We Belong," the theme from An Officer and a Gentleman. With six platinum albums under his belt and a stellar reputation for putting on great live shows, Joe Cocker is sure to thrill Summer Celebration fans again. Opening night will be a spectacular night of music.

Two R & B acts new to Summer Celebration perform on Sunday, June 29, when The Whispers and Morris Day and the Time take the stage. The Whispers came together in 1963 led by twins Walter and Wallace Scott in LA. With over forty years producing pop and R&B favorites, they stand out as one of the most beloved and consistently popular groups in the “old school” arena. The Whispers have produced seven gold albums, two platinum albums, twelve top 20 singles, and over forty charted hits. Some of their more popular songs include “One For the Money (Part 1),” “And the Beat Goes On,” “It’s a Love Thing,” “Rock Steady,” “In the Raw,” and “Lady.” Opening for The Whispers will be Morris Day and the Time. With his dynamic dancing and smooth vocals, Morris Day was instrumental in the development of the dance/club sound of the 1980’s. He was an original member of Prince’s band, the Time, until 1984 when he launched his solo career. He later returned to the Time and performs with them to this day. Morris Day has also dabbled in the acting world appearing in Prince’s autobio-pic, Purple Rain and New Attitude. A few of his best known songs include, “Fishnet,” “Jungle Love,” and “The Oak Tree.”

Country music super duo, Montgomery Gentry returns to the Summer Celebration on Wednesday, July 2. Since first appearing at Summer Celebration in 2001 when they were just starting their career, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry have gained millions of fans across the country and beyond. Their straightforward lyrics about the realities of life sung with a southern rock edge have catapulted them to the top echelon of the country music world. The Montgomery Gentry hit list boasts twenty charted singles, half of which have landed in the top 10. Some of their more popular hits include, “Lonely and Gone,” “She Couldn’t Change Me,” “My Town,” “Hell Yeah,” “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something To Be Proud Of,” and “Lucky Man.” This high energy show will surely entertain country and rock fans alike.

Long before the traditional grand finale fireworks signal the end of another festival, there will be plenty of fireworks earlier when the Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar, explodes onto the stage on Sunday, July 6. After seeking this booking for the past several years, Sammy Hagar’s Summer Celebration debut will undoubtedly thrill the audience. Sammy Hagar began his career as a member of Montrose back in 1973. He went solo in 1976 and produced several successful albums including Standing Hampton, Three Lock Box, and VOA. In 1985 Hagar replaced David Lee Roth in Van Halen. During his tenure the band had four multi-platinum albums and became one of the biggest rock groups of all time. After leaving in 1996, Sammy resumed his solo career producing five more albums from 1997 through 2006. Some of the bigger hits include, “I Can’t Drive 55,” “Give to Live,” “Mas Tequila,” “Little White Lie,” “Your Color Is Driving Me Crazy,” “Winner Takes It All,” and “Marching to Mars.”

The general on sale date for single day tickets for the concerts announced today will be Saturday, April 5 at 9:00 AM. Summer Celebration will also be offering one of the summer’s biggest entertainment values anywhere in the Midwest with the return of the Sappi 11-Day Pass. With this pass you can attend any and all of the Miller Lite Headline evening concerts on the Chrysler Jeep Dodge Main Stage. The passes will first be available at the Sappi 11-Day Pass Party on Friday, May 16, at the LC Walker Arena. Prices for concerts announced today, pass prices, and any additional confirmed acts will be announced Thursday, April 3. Information regarding several new seating options is available at www.summercelebration.com. Individual tickets will be available at all Star Tickets PLUS outlets which include most Michigan Meijer Stores and the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are also available on-line at www.starticketsplus.com or by calling (616) 222-4000 (in Grand Rapids) or toll free at 1-800-585-3737.