Press Release- For immediate release

August 2008 www.hooliefest.com

Hooliefest comes to Sonora with great bands, magicians, and Vikings!

On Saturday September 13^th, 2008 the Mother Lode Fairgrounds (Sonora California) will become the host site for one of the wildest festivals of its kind, the 2008 Hooliefest. Featured will be unique high energy Celtic & Cajun Bands, Viking & Dark Ages living history groups, top rated magicians & fire-eaters, belly dancers, specialty artisans & craftsmen, and themed food & drink. The word hoolie comes from the Irish and means a get together with lots of music and dance. The timing is perfect because the date is almost halfway to St. Patrick’s Day. Take the Celtic Faire mixed with Carnival, then add to it a bunch of Vikings, and now you have the Hooliefest! The folks that started the original Celtic Faire of 23 years are the producers.

Music is one of the most important parts of the Hooliefest. Headlining will be Mumbo Gumbo, Brother, and Sonic Impulse. Mumbo Gumbo blends many genres, from rock to soul, afropop to lush balladry, zydeco to country, into a celebratory, danceable noise. Over nearly 20 years, on the septet’s eight albums and during countless gigs around their native Northern California, Mumbo Gumbo has created something that is less a specific style than a particular feeling: The sound of sheer joy.

Brother hails from Australia and has toured internationally for over a decade. Along the way the band has performed alongside some of the biggest names in music, from the likes of the Eagles’, Joe Walsh and Jon Entwhistle of The Who, to superstars Alicia Keys and Linkin Park. Soundtrack credits include BARAKA (Australia’s longest running feature film), the Twilight Zone and a cameo appearance on NBC’s ‘ER’. Band leader Angus and his brothers first came to Los Angeles from Australia as little more than fresh-faced farm boys after leading their high school pipe band to successive Australian championship crowns. The band has released 12 albums, sold more CDs in the USA than any other independent Australian act and is now regularly cited as a role model within the independent scene.

Sonic Impulse is an intense and explosive fusion of various musical influences centered around the highland bagpipes. Hard hitting techno and hip-hop beats meet lush, ethereal soundscapes and driving dance rhythms to support innovative bagpipe melodies. The project, the brain child of Los Angeles musician Blake Pullen, draws from his varied experience as a piper, composer, singer, and instrumentalist. Although the bagpipes are well known, they are seldom used in conjunction with other instruments and musical styles. Sonic Impulse combines the timbre of this ancient instrument with the new and modern vibes of hip hop, electronica, rock, jazz, techno, and various other world genres, resulting in a unique tapestry of audio textures..

Also on the bill is the high energy San Francisco based Celtic Band, Culann’s Hounds. This young group has been known to drive crowds into a frenzy with their hard driving sounds. The 20-year Americana group the Irish Band will also appear along with hard rockers Crazy Ivan.

Besides music the festival will boast a village of Vikings and Dark Ages living history performers. The public will step back in time and be entertained by these costumed warriors who will ask, “What’s in your Wallet”! They will be joined by roaming magicians and jugglers who will juggle balls, torches, knives, bowling balls, crystal balls, full glasses of water, clubs and about anything you can think of. They also will be eating fire and doing special tricks that have never been seen before! National touring solo performer Thomas Woods will trill the audience with his pyrotechnic juggling and magic tricks. Woods is considered one of the best fire-eaters in the world and has a large following.

The event also will host a themed marketplace featuring crafts & arts, special food & drink, and a special stage for belly dancing. There will also be lots of Guinness!

Wear a costume, bring a low back chair, drink and be merry, it’s that simple!

Tickets are just $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door. The great part about the Hoolie is, kids 10 and under are free and need no ticket at all, they just need to have a paid adult with them! Gates open at 11:30am and the festival closes at 10pm.

For more press information and high res pictures call 209-532-8375 or www.hooliefest.com