NEWPORT, RI, March 18, 2009 -- The Newport Yachting Center announces that three Grammy recognized headliners have already been secured for this summer's 12th Annual Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series.  Tiered pricing tickets, new to the Sunset Music Series this year, for Los Lobos, Susan Tedeschi and The Robert Cray Band are currently available for purchase on-line at www.newportwaterfrontevents.com by using the ClicknPrint system which offers the benefit of “at home” ticket printing.  In addition, those interested in tickets can call the Newport Yachting Center Box Office at (401) 846-1600.

Dates, times and ticket prices for the three concerts are as follows:

DATE   MUSICIAN   TICKET PRICING

Fri., June 26            Los Lobos            $30 preferred/$20 standard

Opening Act: Santa Mamba.  Festival Stage: TBD.

Over the past 35 years, the East L.A. five-piece band know as Los Lobos has notched a #1 single with the 1987 sensation, “La Bamba”, won three Grammy awards, sold millions of records and shared Rolling Stone’s “Artist of the Year” honors with Bruce Springsteen.  Their major label debut, How Will the Wolf Survive?, made Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and their most recent effort, The Town and The City, drew four-star reviews from innumerous industry trades.  Since the early 1990s, the band has won two more Grammy awards, released six studio albums, a box set and a Greatest Hits package which led Rolling Stone to write, “with the exception of U2, no other band has stayed on the top of its game as long as Los Lobos.”  And they aren’t slowing down anytime soon, working on another album and touring extensively, including the nationally acclaimed “Brotherhood” tour with Los Lonely Boys last year.

Sat., June 27            Susan Tedeschi            $40 preferred/$30 standard

Special Guest: Shemekia Copeland.  Festival Stage: TBD.

Growing up in the Boston suburb of Norwell, Massachusetts, Tedeschi began singing with local bands at the age of 13, and subsequently pursued her passion for music while studying at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.  After establishing herself as one of New England’s top–drawing live acts, and making her recording debut with her embryonic 1995 album Better Days, Tedeschi achieved an impressive musical and commercial breakthrough with her 1998 indie release, Just Won’t Burn.  The album became a massive grass–roots success, achieving Gold sales status and earning Tedeschi a Grammy nomination for “Best New Artist.”  Her next release, 2002’s acclaimed, Grammy–nominated, Wait for Me, was produced by legendary studio veteran Tom Dowd.  Tedeschi says of her new Verve Forecast release, Back to the River,  “I think it’s a pivotal record for me – I like this one a lot.  I think it’s really emotional, but it’s not really a blues record.  The blues is still in there, but there’s a lot of other stuff too.”

Sat., July 25            The Robert Cray Band            $40 preferred/$30 standard

Opening Act: Kristin Diable.  Festival Stage: TBD.

Bluesman Robert Cray is back by popular demand thanks to a memorable performance at the 2007 Sunset Music Series.  Cray was first signed to Mercury Records in 1982 after years of regional success on the West Coast.  After winning the distinguished W.C. Handy Blues Award in 1985, Cray’s fourth release, Strong Persuader, received one of his five Grammy Awards a year later while the crossover single, “Smokin' Gun,” gave him wider appeal and name recognition.  By the early Nineties, Cray’s name was immediately associated with his soothing, soulful voice, crisp guitar work and modern blues sound.  Most recently, Cray appeared multiple times on Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival and supported “Slowhand” on his 2006-2007 world tour.  Cray’s latest release is Live From Across The Pond.

“With Los Lobos, Tedeschi and Robert Cray, we’ve booked quite a triple threat for the first three confirmed concerts of the Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series,” said Michele Maker Palmieri, General Manager of the Newport Yachting Center.  “We’re also having ongoing discussions with more headliners in the hopes of securing a total of 6 to 9 concerts sure to satisfy the eclectic tastes of one and all throughout the upcoming summer.”

The Newport Yachting Center is located on the waterfront in the heart of historic downtown Newport right off America's Cup Avenue.  For each night of the Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series, the gates will open at 5:30 p.m., music starts on the Festival Stage at 6:00 p.m., the opening act/special guest begins at 7:00 p.m. on the Main Stage, and the headliner starts at approximately 8:00 p.m.

In addition to Nantucket Nectars, the Series’ other major sponsors include: Miller Lite, Dunkin’ Donuts and Sovereign Bank.

For more information on the Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series, please go on-line at www.newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact Michele Maker Palmieri, General Manager at the Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf in Newport, at (401) 846-1600, Ext. 222.

“It’s all here!” at the Newport Yachting Center with a 2009 Newport Waterfront Events line-up which includes the 35th Annual Newport Spring Boat Show (May 15-17), the 28th Annual Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off (June 6), the 12th Annual Nantucket Nectars Sunset Music Series and the 9th Annual Newport Comedy Series (both held throughout the summer)), the Newport Arts Festival (August 29-30); the 12th Annual Newport Waterfront Irish Festival (September 5 -7), the 39th Annual Newport International Boat Show (September 17-20), the 21st Annual Stop & Shop Taste of Rhode Island (October 3-4) and the 17th Annual International Oktoberfest (October 10-12).  All the events are held at the Newport Yachting Center in the “city by the sea” where beach-going, shopping, dining and enjoying the nightlife are often a part of the pre- or post-Newport Waterfront Events activity.