- Also performing free shows are Guster, Robert Earl Keen, and Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars
“We are excited to have Wyclef Jean headline this year’s tour,” said James Deighan of Highline Sports & Entertainment, the event’s producers. “Wyclef and all of the bands are known for their amazing live shows. Vail Mountain is once again offering free concerts, helping make Spring Back the best spring bash in the country. This year’s festival is poised to be the greatest ever.”
The action-packed weekend of music starts on Friday, April 16 with an international flare. Sierra Leone's Refuge All Stars, who formed in a refugee camp during the civil war of Sierra Leone, will kick off Spring Back’s three-night concert series by sharing their incredible story through their reggae-style sound. The band’s concert at Spring Back will be their first public performance in Colorado to date and their first concert to debut songs from their second album, Rise & Shine, which will be released March 23, 2010 on Cumbancha. Their debut album, Living Like A Refugee, is one of the most acclaimed world music releases of the past several years.
“We are thrilled to bring such a diverse, world-class act to Vail for the end-of-season bash,” said Deighan. “We will host a premier viewing of the band’s award-winning documentary, Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, directly before their concert.”
The weekend will continue with singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen bringing his alternative country music to Vail on Saturday, April 17. Known for his sharp ear and catchy melodies, Keen has been performing since 1984 and is best known for favorites like “Merry Christmas from the Family,” “Feelin' Good Again,” “Jesse with the Long Hair,” “The Road Goes on Forever,” “I'm Comin' Home,” and “Gringo Honeymoon.”
Following Keen's performance, Haitian-American multi-platinum musician, rapper and record producer Wyclef Jean will take center stage. Jean broke through the musical scene in the mid-‘90s as a member of The Refugee Camp (The Fugees), a three-member group that included Lauryn Hill and Prakazrel "Pras" Michel. Blending hip-hop, reggae, R&B and folk, Jean broke off on his own in 1997. His show at Spring Back will give a sneak peek into his upcoming self titled album, to be release June 2010.
To close out Spring Back’s three-day concert series, American alternative rock band Guster will perform on Sunday, April 18. With 12 albums and 13 singles, Guster offers a one-of-a-kind sound through the combination of bongos, cymbals and other drums. Performing together for over a decade, Guster’s live shows have a style of their own.
It’s all part of Spring Back to Vail, April 12-18, 2010. Other performing groups include Wycelf Jean and special guest Robert Earl Keen performing on Saturday, April 17 and Guster performing on Sunday, April 18. A detailed schedule of events can be found on the Spring Back to Vail website at www.springbacktovail.com. Spring Back to Vail 2010 is rockin’ your way thanks to Vail Mountain, Bud Light, Town of Vail, Men’s Journal, Captain Morgan, Rockstar, and Skiing Magazine and is brought to you in part by Smith Optics, Macanudo, Vail Daily, KZYR The Zephyr and TV8. The Reverb Eco Village is brought to you by IZSTYLE and Reverb.
For guests wishing to attend for the weekend or the entire week of Spring Back to Vail, there are terrific lodging values to be had. Hotel rates start as low as $99 per night with no restrictions. For guests looking for a ski and stay package, Vail’s legendary Ski Free, Stay Free package is better than ever. With the purchase of two nights lodging and lift tickets, guests can receive the third night’s stay and day’s lift ticket free. Two-night package prices start at $112 per person, based on double occupancy in a standard room. Both offers can be booked by calling Vail Central Reservations at (800) 525-2257 or online at www.springbacktovail.com. Other restrictions may apply.
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, Heavenly Mountain Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and the consumer website is www.snow.com.