DiverseCITY Pittsburgh Festival Announces Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples Headline Entertainment

Pittsburgh, (PRWEB) June 8, 2007 -- Blues guitarist Buddy Guy, soul and gospel diva Mavis Staples, Latin rock band Del Castillo and Jamaican reggae stars The Wailers headline the entertainment for the first-ever DiverseCITY Pittsburgh Festival this August, it was announced today.

The festival, designed to celebrate diversity in Western Pennsylvania, is scheduled Aug. 16-19, beginning with an International Business and Workforce Diversity symposium. The weekend entertainment and family festivities will be held in the First Avenue neighborhood downtown, including the newly opened PNC Firstside Park, the 1.5-acre park between Grant and Ross streets.

This ethnic mix of musical performances by these internationally renowned stars will be free and open to the public. The lineup includes:

* Saturday, Aug. 18 at 1 p.m.: The Wailers open the entertainment at an innovative space one block up Ross Street between 3rd and 4th avenues. With Bob Marley at the helm, the Wailers sold in excess of 250 million albums worldwide. The band continues with Al Anderson, who played with both Bob Marley & the Wailers and Peter Tosh throughout the seventies, and Yvad, a gifted singer/songwriter from Jamaica.
* Saturday, Aug. 18 at 8 p.m.: The legendary Buddy Guy takes the stage. Renowned for his colossal musical resume and hard-earned accolades, Guy is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. He is cited as having influenced rock greats Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan. A multiple Grammy winner, Guy continues to generate enthusiasm for his music with last year's release, Everyday We Have the Blues.
* Sunday, Aug. 19 at 1 p.m.: Del Castillo at 1 p.m. Having begun as a latin flamenco-style project between brothers Rick and Mark del Castillo, the band evolved into its current sound by drawing from an infinite well of sonic landscapes, gracefully fusing old world "gitano" and new world flamenco with rock & blues. Popular in the Austin music scene, the band was awarded 2007 album of the year for "Brotherhood" at the 2007 Austin Music Awards.
* Sunday, Aug. 19 at 4 p.m.: Mavis Staples closes the festival with her signature voice that has been an inspirational force in modern popular culture and music. 2007 saw a renewed interest in Staples with her release "We'll Never Turn Back." From her early days sharing lead vocals with her groundbreaking family group, The Staple Singers, to her powerful solo recordings, Staples is responsible for blazing a rhythm and blues trail while never relinquishing her gospel roots.

The scheduled weekend events include fun and informational activities for adults and children. The new location at PNC Firstside Park, built by The PNC Financial Services Group on the site of the former Public Safety Building, offers convenient access with the adjacent Port Authority T-stop and City of Pittsburgh parking garage. Activities will include:

• Youth & Children's Activities - Paint a City of Color, Government by the People Interactive Exhibit, Sesame Street's Rosita, entertainment, crafts, and more.
• Community Services Tent - Meet many of the non-profit and community services organizations that help make Pittsburgh a wonderful place to live.
• Global Market Tents - showcase the best of Pittsburgh's business community.
• Shopping & Dining Around the Globe

Business & Diversity
During the two days prior to the entertainment, symposiums are scheduled at the Westin Convention Center Hotel to explore a variety of business topics built around the strengths of diversity. A chief executive officer panel opens Thursday's "The Business Case for Diversity" session with a welcome by James E. Rohr, chairman and chief executive officer of PNC, and keynote address by Sunil Wadhwani, iGate co-founder, chairman and CEO.

Additional plenary and breakout sessions with professional and business leaders will explore best practices in expanding international business, recruiting and retaining diverse workforces, and associated policy issues in trade and immigration.

The exchange of ideas is intended to foster discussion about the changing face of the business world and the value of understanding and developing a more global presence for businesses in the Pittsburgh region. The two-day symposiums will be capped off with a gala dinner dance on the evening of Friday, August 17. For more information about these events visit the festival's website.

Exhibitor applications are now being accepted for Saturday and Sunday's events. Presenting sponsors for the festival include: PNC Bank, a member of The PNC Financial Services Group; the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; the City of Pittsburgh; Allegheny County; WTAE-TV; and K & L Gates. Additional information is found at the DiverseCITY Pittsburgh Web site.

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