Walla Fest Joins Montgomery County Arts Festival

Walla Fest continues in Downtown Norristown with its fourth evening of local music. This time, the Walla Flowers: Yesenia Bello, Anthony Bui and Makeba Robinson are expanding the event featuring two regionally recognized bands as well as their standard local music fair. The Music, presented in a coffee house environment on the Centre Theater's fourth floor theater is accented by a full art show, featuring local artists, in the first floor lobby.

Walla Fest has partnered with Iron Age Theatre and The Centre Theater to manifest their musical vision on January 7 2012 at 6pm. The event will cost only $5.00. Doors open at 5:30 and guests will be able to peruse the art show on the first floor of the Centre Theater. At 6, performers will take the Centre Theater stage. This event is part of the Centre Theater's Independent Voices Festival.

Opening the show will be the Norristown native rock ensemble, Forgetting Persephone. Light punk and pop rock populate the set list of the female fronted band. The Sound of the Shorelines are a hip trio using guitar and percussion to create a smooth and stylish sound. Sound of the Shoreline were the standout at Walla Fest 2 in August. The again native trio Keba, Pablo & Raz bring a singer songwriter feel along with some experimental sounds to the event. This group has performed at every Walla Event and are the "house band."

The Walla organizers are expanding their horizons by bringing two other bands on board as headliners. "This is the next step in the development of the Wall Fest events" stated Anthony Bui.

The Jawnettes are a group of musicians who have been playing together for ten years but who have only recently established their signature style with The Jawnettes. They have a bluesy, Latin flavored sound which people normally describe, whether they've been asked or not, as fun, tight, and exciting. Biting licks and grooving riffs are served courtesy of Guitarist Justin Goncalves and Christopher McManus providing the driving backbeat. The Jawnettes have already played at some of Philadelphia's sickest venues.

Hailing from Philadelphia, PA, Satellite Hearts are a three piece band that combine both the raw, unpolished, and unapologetic sound of today, with the soul of true classic rock. Featuring J.M. Pellecchia on guitar, vocals, and harmonica, Lucas Rinz on bass and vocals, and Keaton Thandi on drums, percussion, and vocals; they create a sound that mixes the best of classic and alternative rock and roll, with elements of soul, funk, and R&B that give them a unique and explosive resonance that is hard to find in today's music scene. In short: if you are a lover of rock and roll, or you're simply looking for a good beat, strong lyrics or just a good time, then take a listen to Satellite Hearts and take a trip to sonic euphoria

The art show on the first floor will feature current Norristown Area School District students and alumni. This time Kristen Haines, Marcus Branch, Molly Lichtner and Walla organizer,Yesenia Bello will be sharing their work.

The Centre Theater at the Montgomery County Cultural Center, located in downtown Norristown, provides affordable, quality professional theater and arts education. By providing quality programs we are bringing the arts to Norristown and the Greater Delaware Valley area.

The Centre Theater is one of the most critically acclaimed companies in the area for over fifteen years. The Philadelphia City Paper called the companies, The area's most under-appreciated theater company. Receiving Barrymore nominations for a number of their productions the companies have also premiered nine plays in the past two years including "The Life of John Henry," Jeffrey Hatcher's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and "Molumby's Million." The Centre's musical theatre repertoire includes "High School Musical," "Oliver," "Man of LaMancha" and more.

The Centre's Independent Voices Festival presented 16 performances by 11 regional companies. Shows include a re-imagining of Dracula, a One woman show about Sojourner Truth, Irish theatre, Native American Stories, Puppetry with Ursinus professor Domenick Scudera, a bilingual play from Bsomeday productions in Philly and much more. Working in collaboration with Iron Age Theatre, the Centre is planning a massive renovation of its theater and building. Phase Two of the capital development will include a new larger first floor venue for theatre and other performance.

The Centre Theater is in the Montgomery County Cultural Center at 208 DeKalb Street in Norristown. It is easily reached via routes 202, I-76, I-476 and Ridge Pike. There is plenty of free parking and the theater is one block from Septa's Norristown Transit Center on the Manayunk/Norristown line.

For tickets and more information call 610-279-1013 or purchase online anytime at thecentretheater.ticketleap.com.

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