KerouacFest August 22-28, 2011

Kerouac Fest is an intimate, private, week long gathering, for artists by artists.  Its basic structure and theme is based on a pot luck.  As an anchor and starting point the event is inspired by and celebrates the American Beat writers, their work and their friendships.  It's free to attend, but one must absolutely 'request in' ahead of time and must absolutely 'contribute something to the group experience'.  Guests offerings range from performing on stage, offering mini-classes, sending some donation from afar, to simply hosting a dinner with a dish or two.  About a hundred to hundred and fifty artists touch base or visit over the week, some stay the entire time.  Picture camping, indoors, in an old hotel.  Not for everyone, but certainly for some, feel free to send us a letter if this might be something for you.

This year Jack Kerouac's 1957 classic American novel On The Road will finally be released as a major motion picture.  (Tag line: "A young man sets out to travel the roads and railways of America.")  The Executive Producer is Francis Ford Coppola, who created the American Godfather classics.  On the Road has already been projected to be one of the defining lead films for 2011.  We anticipate a small overflow of attention from the film release into our humble event.

For Saturday August 27 we are opening the event to the public.  It will be a grand enchanting evening.  Folks are encouraged to bring their own chairs for a free perfect evening of live jazz music in the park with first hand personal stories of Jack Kerouac.

Starting around 8 PM, Pittsburgh jazz diva Phat Man Dee and her band will be the opening act as she casts her wonderful spell.



For the main event that night, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and living Beat legend David Amram will be our performing guest of honor.  David has played with just about every musician out there from Dizzy Gillespie to Thelonious Monk, even scoring the original Manchurian Candidate movie with Frank Sinatra.  An entire film was recently released about Mr. Amram.  He has many a delightful fascinating story of accompanying live jazz to his old pal Jack Kerouac while Kerouac read.  This evening of Kerouac and Amram promises to be a beautiful, wonderful night in our little town for music lovers as well as literature fans, especially for any younger people who see the On The Road movie and suddenly have new rich context to be excited about.  We're aiming for pure enchantment...



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