Street Beat resumes Wednesday with Rebirth Brass Band

VAIL - For those who aren't quite ready to put away the Mardi Gras beads for another year and plunge headlong into Lent, Vail Village will be the place to be Wednesday night as the Budweiser Street Beat free concert series ushers in the second half season with the funky French Quarter sounds of the Rebirth Brass Band.

Formed in 1983 while its members were still in high school, the Rebirth Brass Band quickly became well known around New Orleans, soon becoming an annual favorite at the Jazz and Heritage Festival. The nine-member band has made the commitment to uphold the tradition of brass bands while at the same time, incorporating modern music into its shows.

The group's signature brand of heavy funk has placed it among the world's top brass bands and they are the hands-down favorite among the younger generation. With 10 albums under their collective belts, members of the Rebirth Brass Band have performed at virtually every major festival in the U.S. and Europe, as well as with the likes of the Grateful Dead, George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars. They also did a six-week tour with Ani DiFranco.

Two of the group's compositions also appeared on the soundtrack of Eddie Murphy's film "Boomerang."

Along with the return of the Budweiser Street Beat free weekly performances, concert goers will have an additional reason to celebrate as the Vail Valley Foundation will unveil this season's grand prize - a 2005 Volvo S40 sedan. The Foundation recently concluded an agreement with Volvo Cars of North America for the Swedish-built automobile to become the official car of the nonprofit organization.

"This is not only a great opportunity for the Vail Valley Foundation," said Ceil Folz, the group's president. "But it is clearly an equally great opportunity for the community, especially those that attend the Budweiser Street Beat concerts and give themselves a chance to win a Volvo."

Residents of Eagle and Lake Counties are eligible to register once each week for the opportunity to drive away in the new Volvo at the final Street Beat show on April 13. Proof of residence is required for each entry and the more Street Beat concerts attended, the more entries an individual will have in the final drawing.

With the resumption of the Budweiser Street Beat series tonight, the free concerts will run on a weekly basis for the remainder of the winter, through April 13.

The Budweiser Street Beat free concert series is a project of the Vail Valley Foundation. For additional information on Street Beat or the Vail Valley Foundation, contact 970- 949-1999 or visit www.vvf.org.

Vail Colorado