Music By the Lake Announces 2014 Summer Lineup, 6/28-8/17

Outdoor summer entertainment venue Music by the Lake announces the 2014 concert season presenting six artist debuts and a range of musical genres including contemporary, children's music, classic rock and swing. The season, which includes weekend events from June 28 through Aug. 17, features performances spanning the decades from the 1940s boogie-woogie era to today.

Tickets for all summer performances go on sale to festival donors at 10 a.m. on April 15. Public ticket sales begin at 10 a.m. on May 1. Patrons can purchase their tickets at musicbythelake.com or by contacting the Music by the Lake ticket office at 262-245-8501.

"I am especially excited about the 2014 season as we have adjusted the artist's lineup in response to the tastes and recent suggestions of our audience members," said Music by the Lake Executive Director Christine Flasch. "We always focus on quality entertainment and this year we will add

some new features that will make the experience even more enjoyable. Making wonderful memories at the Ferro Pavilion and adding to the overall magic of a summer evening at the lake is what we strive to do."

POPULAR MUSIC TAKES THE STAGE WITH THE BEACH BOYS AND THE MUSIC OF ELTON JOHN AND BILLY JOEL WITH JIM WITTER

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner The Beach Boys make its Music by the Lake debut on Saturday, Aug. 9. Celebrating over 50 years of popular songs, the group has sold albums by the tens of millions and is known as the quintessential summer band. With members Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, the group has penned endless hits such as "Surfin'," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "I Get Around," "Help Me, Rhonda," "California Girls," "Good Vibrations" and much more.

Music by the Lake revels in the songs of the 1970s on Saturday, Aug. 2 with a musical celebration of icons Billy Joel and Elton John in Jim Witter's "Piano Men." GMA Dove Award and Canadian Juno Award nominee, recording artist Witter and his band take fans on a melodic journey saluting two of the century's most popular contemporary singer/songwriters. Featuring hit singles "My Life," "Candle in the Wind," "Rocket Man," "Just the Way You Are" and many more, this multi-media rock show honors the people, events, newspaper headlines and songs that shaped a decade.

CLASSIC ROCK CONCERTS INCLUDE BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS AND BEATLES TRIBUTE BRITBEAT

Music by the Lake opens the 2014 season on Saturday, June 28 with Grammy Award-winner Blood, Sweat & Tears. Joined by singerBo Bice, the group makes its festival debut. For more than four decades the band has toured the world singing hits such as "You Made Me So Very Happy," "And When I Die" and "Spinning Wheel." As the first group to successfully blend rock and jazz into a genre-crossing sound and style, Blood, Sweat & Tears has seen chart-topping and award successes including winning the Grammy Album of the Year. The group continues to create and play music with seasoned and new musicians, reaching beyond a nostalgic audience introducing a new lead singer, Bice, the runner-up to Carrie Underwood on the fourth season of American Idol.

On Saturday, July 19 the summer festival celebrates the 50th anniversary of The Beatles American Invasion featuring premier Beatles tribute band BritBeat, making their Music by the Lake debut. Named as one of Newsweek's best Beatles tribute bands in America, BritBeat will recreate the famous Ed Sullivan Show performance that launched 'Beatlemania' in 1964. The band's theatrical multi-media show features ascending eras of Beatles music history, including albums Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road. Each era is represented with retro costumes, vintage instruments, stage mannerisms and vocal harmonies reminiscent of the original 'Fab Four.'

CHILDREN AND FAMILY CONCERT FEATURES LAURIE BERKNER

Award-winning children's recording artist and preschool television favorite Laurie Berkner returns to the festival on Sunday, July 27. Back by popular demand after last year's sell-out Berkner presents an afternoon solo concert, part of her national "The You & Me Tour." Berkner is widely recognized as a groundbreaker in the progressive "kindie" rock movement. She was the first children's recording artist to appear in music videos on television channel Nick Jr. and was featured regularly on the network's series Jack's Big Music Show. Most recently Berkner created an animated television show for Sprout called Sing It, Laurie! She has released five highly-acclaimed albums, two DVDs and authored Barnes & Noble's first everRead and Play NOOK Kids Book. Berkner will release her first lullaby album Laurie Berkner Lullabies in April.

LADIES FOR LIBERTY BRINGS THE MELODIES OF THE 1940s

Dedicated to performing music of the Andrews Sisters and other patriotic hits, singing troupe Ladies for Liberty promotes the harmonies that defined the swing and boogie-woogie eras of the 1940s. This Sunday, Aug. 17 performance marks Ladies for Liberty's Music by the Lake debut and closes the 2014 summer season. The group presents the songs that entertained soldiers and folks back home during World War II such as "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "Shoo Shoo Baby" and "Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree." The singing troupe also performs iconic patriotic songs such as "God Bless the USA," "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "America - I Gave My Best to You." They are joined by 16-piece big band group the All-Star SUPERband, which also makes its festival debut.

ENHANCED CONCERT EXPERIENCE

Music by the Lake launches a new and improved musicbythelake.com site to provide festival fans with a more interactive experience, including upgraded video capabilities and performance pages and an enhanced ticket-buying process.

The festival introduces new convenient food options for patrons to enjoy snacks or refreshments before or during the show. Easily-accessible food carts will be located outside of the Ferro Pavilion and will feature items, such as freshly made wood-fired pizza, nachos, popcorn, sweet treats including cannoli as well as bottled water and sodas. Other a la carte items such as sandwiches, salads, burgers and ice cream, will be available at the College Inn, located west of the pavilion.

The Music by the Lake festival appeals to music-lovers of all ages in a breath-taking, open-air setting on Wisconsin's Geneva Lake. Summer concerts offered in the Ferro Pavilion on the campus of George Williams College of Aurora University feature big band, family, contemporary, classical, musical theatre, opera and classic rock entertainment. Visit musicbythelake.com for more information.

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