SOPTV Presents: Sierra Center Stage™

SOPTV in conjunction with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company proudly presents Sierra Center Stage™, featuring Grammy Award Winning artists in live concerts and interviews from the California Foothills.

Bob Littell, Sierra Center Stage™ Host and Talent Liaison for the Big Room, gives each show an intimate perspective and commentary on why these artists should not be missed.

Filmed with audience participation, each segment is a montage of live performances, interviews, and conversations with and about the featured artist. The concept integrates a few elements of Austin City Limits-style concert footage blended with conversational Charles Kuralt-type interviews with the artists and those working to support them.

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Bela Fleck is considered one of the world's premier banjo players. His critically acclaimed music has been nominated in more categories than any other artist in the history of the Grammy Awards for a total of 22 times! His band includes Victor Wooten (considered by many to be the best bass player alive), Wooten's brother "Futureman," who plays an unusual self-made drum set, and Jeff Coffin, a multi-talented woodwind player.

Tommy Emmanuel
Australia's "Entertainer of the Year" is the hottest new guitarist on the world scene. His skills as a storyteller and teacher are highlighted as he shares laughs, tips on guitar playing, and his unique view on life. Sierra Nevada's own Bob Littell gives a rousing performance on harmonica.
"One of the greatest players on the planet." ~ Chet Atkins
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Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers
The dance floor erupts when Rod Piazza and his band, The Mighty Flyers bring their distinctive West Coast boogie-woogie style to Sierra Center Stage™. Featuring the always entertaining Honey Piazza on keyboards, this band's unique and entertaining blend of swing, jive, and R&B has earned them the reputation as one of the best blues bands in the world today including the honor of "Band of the Year" at the 2006 Blues Foundation Awards gala.

Brubeck Brothers with special guest Dave Brubeck
Drummer, Danny Brubeck, and bass player/trombonist, Chris Brubeck, both well-known performers and composers in their own rights, are joined on this historic television program by their father, Dave Brubeck, one of the most well-known jazz pianists of all time. The senior Brubeck recorded the first ever million-selling jazz tune, "Take Five," has written songs recorded by hundreds of artists, and has scored symphonies performed worldwide. His sons now tour with their own award-winning group which also features pianist Chuck Lamb and guitarist Mike DeMicco.

Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings
Considered one of the modern masters of slide guitar, Roy is an eight-time Grammy nominee and Grammy winning producer (John Lee Hooker, Ramblin' Jack Elliott). Roy is joined by special guests Phil Aaberg, Norton Buffalo, Shana Morrison, and Tom Rigney. This show features interviews with Bonnie Raitt and Sammy Hagar.
"One of the rare guitar heroes who values feeling over flash." ~ Rolling Stone
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Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell is perhaps best known for his string of five straight #1 hits on the Billboard Country Music charts. However, this program showcases Crowell's rebirth as a deeply political, satirical, and clever singer/songwriter in the vein of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Featuring songs from his 3 CD Triology, starting with the "Houston Kid," Crowell rocks the dance floor with a tight band of Nashville virtuosos.
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Marcia Ball
Marcia Ball is an anomaly in the world of piano-based R&B/blues/boogie. A keyboardist who was steeped in and absorbed all the rich traditions of New Orleans, the Austin-based singer/songwriter was nominated for a Grammy Award for a CD release of this Sierra Center Stage™ program. Her album, So Many Rivers, won the 2004 Blues Music Award for "Contemporary Blues Album of the Year" as well as the coveted "Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year" award. In 2005 and 2006, the Blues Music Awards honored Ball as the "Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year." See Marcia captured at the top of the game "live" on Sierra Center Stage™.
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Sonia Dada
Some bands defy categorization on purpose; Chicago's Sonia Dada does it naturally. Songwriter/guitarist Dan Pritzker has taken a trio of African American gospel singers he discovered performing for free at a subway station and blended their sound with a talented jam band to create an intoxicating blend of R&B, pop, and world beat that is truly unique. Lyrics that make you think; a groove that makes you want to dance, this is truly a show you can't miss.
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The Ford Brothers
This program is a reunion of the original family band with brothers Mark Ford on harmonica and Pat Ford on drums rejoining the incomparable Robben Ford (sideman for Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison as well as the leader of his own award winning jazz group) in a rousing road-house dance party. The concert also features a guest appearance by recording artist Chris Cain.
"Playing with the Ford boys took me back to the band with Little Walter and Jimmy Rogers, and that's why I told Chess to sign them up." ~ Muddy Waters
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Richard Thompson
Since Richard Thompson's recording debut in 1968, this singer/songwriter/guitarist has created a body of work unsurpassed in its sheer musical invention and emotional precision. Rolling Stone Magazine named Thompson's album, "Shoot Out the Lights," (recorded with his former wife, Linda Thompson) one of the "100 Best Albums of All Time." Guitar Player Magazine reader's poll named Richard one of the "Top 20 guitarists of all time." From his early days with the influential group, Fairport Convention, to the 21st Century, Richard Thompson's creativity along with his witty, storytelling lyrics and guitar prowess exemplify the British folk-rock troubadour moniker. Being described as "the English Bob Dylan" is a fair comparison.

Guy Clark
National treasure, Guy Clark, is joined by his frequent collaborator, Verlon Thompson, in a rousing performance of the widely celebrated Texas singer-songwriter's most popular tunes, including "L.A. Freeway," "Stuff that Works," and "Homegrown Tomatoes." The show is capped with a surprise appearance by the legendary Ramblin' Jack Elliott.
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Strunz & Farah
Winners of Billboard's World Beat Album of the Year (1992), Strunz & Farah offer their fiery Latin rhythms backed by hot Afro/Cuban rhythm sections and special guest, violinist Charlie Bisharat (Shadowfax).
"Both guitarists are immensely gifted composers, with a masterful grasp of both melody and harmony to say nothing of their phenomenal technique..." ~ LA Weekly
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Sam Bush
Virtuoso American bluegrass musician Sam Bush plays mandolin, fiddle, and guitar as well as being an accomplished bluegrass vocalist. A founding member of the New Grass Revival, Sam has been called a modern day Bill Monroe.