Boz Scaggs and Michael W. Smith Headed to Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 5/20 & 6/13

Today, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts announced two new performances for May and June at the Ruth Finley Person Theater (50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa) featuring American singer and songwriting legend Boz Scaggs on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 8pm, and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at 8pm.

Tickets for Boz Scaggs are $69 and $49 (all seats reserved) and tickets for Michael W. Smith are $55 and $40. Boz Scaggs' performance will also feature a VIP Merchandise Package for $219 and a VIP Front Row Package for $244. Tickets for both shows go on sale Friday, March 20 at noon and will be available online at wellsfargocenterarts.org, by calling 707-546-3600, and in person at the box office at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa.

Touring behind his brand new release, "A Fool to Care," Boz Scaggs comes to Santa Rosa with carefully handpicked songs from Al Green to The Band, plus many more hits from his incredible career. "I'm at a point where I'm having a lot of fun with music, more than ever," Boz Scaggs says about his spellbinding new album, "A Fool to Care". "It's like I'm just going wherever I want to go with it." The inspirational heart of his new album lies in the sounds of Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma that played such a vital role in shaping Scaggs' musical sensibility, but they venture forth boldly from there, ranging from the seductive New Orleans rumble of the title track to the wry social commentary of "Hell to Pay" and a heartbreakingly wistful interpretation of The Band's "Whispering Pines."

Fans who have followed Scaggs' remarkable career dating back to the late Sixties with the Steve Miller Band; his solo triumphs with such classic albums as "Silk Degrees" (1976) and "Middle Man" (1980); and the splendid assurance of late-period high points like "Some Change" (1994) and "Dig" (2001), will instantly appreciate Scaggs' characteristically deft touch as a singer when he comes to Santa Rosa this May.

Michael W Smith returns to Wells Fargo Center for the Arts with a new album "Sovereign," with a sure to be incredible performance by one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music history. "Sometimes you've just got to shake things up," Michael W. Smith says with a smile. After selling more than 15 million albums, scoring 28 No. 1 hits, earning three GRAMMYs and more than 40 Dove Awards, no one would blame the Christian music icon if he decided to coast just a little bit, but that's just not in his nature. On "Sovereign," Smith's first worship album since 2008 and his first project since signing with Capitol Christian Music Group in 2013, he deliberately steps into a new creative chapter to craft a vibrant collection of vertically focused songs with a fresh sense of musical innovation. "I feel like it's a good season," Smith says, leaning forward in a comfortable chair in the 1940s Tennessee farmhouse he's converted into a studio. "I'm pretty passionate. I have lots of energy and I'm probably enjoying making music more than I ever have in my entire life. I'm having fun and I'm excited about this record and this next chapter."

Smith has always had a gift for delivering songs that capture the hearts of the listener and give voice to their thoughts and feelings. During his three-decade career, the Kenova, West Virginia native has shaped the Christian music landscape with such classic songs as "Friends," which was named the No. 1 Song of All Time by CCM Magazine and "Healing Rain," a powerful anthem that remains one of the best-loved songs in his extensive repertoire. Whether sharing the gospel on foreign soil or mentoring artists that seek his counsel on balancing family and music, Smith has long had a passion for serving God and serving others. It's a fire that continues to burn brightly with no sign of abating. "I don't see retirement anywhere in the Bible," Smith says with a grin. "It's a calling. I love to write. I love to play. It's still the most beautiful place."

Tickets for Boz Scaggs are $69 and $49 (all seats reserved) and tickets for Michael W. Smith are $55 and $40. Boz Scaggs' performance will also feature a VIP Merchandise Package for $219 and a VIP Front Row Package for $244. Tickets for both shows go on sale Friday, March 20 at noon and will be available online at wellsfargocenterarts.org, by calling 707-546-3600, and in person at the box office at 50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa.

About Wells Fargo Center for the Arts - A 501(c)(3) non-profit arts and events center, Wells Fargo Center for the Arts is home to world-class performances, nationally recognized education programs, contemporary visual art, and many popular civic events. The Arts Center is located in the heart of the Sonoma wine country and ranked among California's top performing arts presenters. Together with its resident companies, the Center presents more than 100 performances in music, dance, theater, renowned speakers, and comedy; provides education programs serving 30,000 children and adults; and hosts more than 1,000 community events a year. Owned and operated by the Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation, the Center relies on charitable community donations to achieve its mission - to enrich, educate, and entertain. www.wellsfargocenterarts.org

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