Center City, MN (April 13, 2017)—For its fifth anniversary, HazelFest has booked rising star Lizzo to headline what has become a one-of-a-kind highlight in Minnesota's summer concert calendar.
Exciting and acclaimed artists Har Mar Superstar, Sonny Knight and the Lakers, and Communist Daughter will also perform at the unique and inspiring outdoor festival, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 5, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the campus of Hazelden in Center City.
Lizzo has skyrocketed to national attention on the strength of powerhouse live performances and a stellar major label debut showcasing her own combustible blend of pop, soul and hip-hop. A Los Angeles resident who came to prominence in Minneapolis, she has made a steady string of appearances on national television and, last summer, even co-hosted the MTV Video Music Awards pre-show.
"Lizzo is the most electrifying, buzzed-about young talent to come out of Minnesota in the past 25 years," said local celebrity David Campbell, the former Twin Cities radio DJ who now works for the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and will emcee HazelFest for the fourth time. "We've worked hard to pull together artists who are exciting, and who also care about what we're doing to help people live better lives."
HazelFest brings together people affected by addiction and the general public to celebrate recovery, spread hope and smash the stigma associated with substance use disorders and mental illness. Once a year, the serene campus of the nation's leading nonprofit provider of addiction treatment and recovery resources transforms into a spirited summer bash.
"I don't know of another festival like it in the country, where 100 percent of the talent and the audience is completely sober," Campbell said. "It's powerful to be with a few thousand people who are all present and connected in the moment, learning to have fun and be healthy together."
"Everyone can benefit from the principles and lifestyle of recovery—whether you've experienced addiction or mental illness, or like all of us, sometimes struggled with the everyday challenges of life," Campbell continued. "HazelFest is about being human, healthy and together. And who doesn't like music? This is a party for one and all."
Presented by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and sponsored by 89.3 The Current, this year's event promises even more than music, including a #LifeTake2 recovery speaker tent; Yoga on the Lawn with national yoga and recovery expert Tommy Rosen; Clifford the Big Red Dog, courtesy of Twin Cities PBS; some of the area's best food trucks; many recovery-focused and art exhibitors; and other fun family-friendly activities.
The #LifeTake2 tent will feature speakers like Rosen, award-winning songwriter/producer Kevin Bowe; and authors Rosemary O'Connor and Michael Graubart, as well as a Drum Circle hosted by Don Karsky and Hal Sanders. And making a return appearance to HazelFest will be DJ LAST WORD, performing between sets.
Tickets are just $15 in advance and available now. They will be $25 at the door, and children 12 and under can attend for free (no ticket required). For more information, please visit the HazelFest website.
Lizzo – Bold and brassy one minute and devastatingly sincere the next, Lizzo is an artist who defies easy definition. She's a gifted rapper, a hair-raising gospel singer, a razor-sharp wordsmith, a classically trained flautist and a passionate advocate for feminism and black empowerment. She's a hard-touring road warrior who is equally capable of winning over audiences in London, Paris, New York and her hometown of Minneapolis.
Har Mar Superstar – Sean Tillmann (aka Har Mar Superstar) is an American songwriter and performer who makes R&B / Pop / Soul music. What started as a one-man show in 1999 has grown into a full-band revue. Often noted as a premier live act, Tillmann works the crowd and earns his keep with sweat equity. A grueling tour schedule has made this Minneapolis outfit a show not to miss.
Sonny Knight and The Lakers – Vitality is defined as the power to live or grow, and perseverance pertains to the qualities of moving forward when an obstacle stands in your way. The music of soul man Sonny Knight brims with these essential life traits because he exudes them. Along with his seven-piece powerhouse band, The Lakers, the 69 year-old retired truck driver has created a sound that extends much deeper than throwback soul.
Communist Daughter – A few years ago, Johnny Solomon walked away from music. After a long struggle with addiction and a brief stint in jail, he broke up his band and moved to a small town, and supposedly that was that. But facing his demons brought him back to music with the help of his new band Communist Daughter. Garnering praise from far flung sources including Rolling Stone and FADER, Communist Daughter returns with a second album that cements them nationally as a band on the rise.
About the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a force of healing and hope for individuals, families and communities affected by addiction to alcohol and other drugs. It is the nation's largest nonprofit treatment provider, with a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding of the Betty Ford Center. With 17 sites in California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado and Texas, the Foundation offers prevention and recovery solutions nationwide and across the entire continuum of care to help youth and adults reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. It includes the largest recovery publishing house in the country, a fully accredited graduate school of addiction studies, an addiction research center, an education arm for medical professionals and a unique children's program, and is the nation's leader in advocacy and policy for treatment and recovery. Twitter@hazldnbettyford