Nellie McKay Kicks Off 2005 Sparta Summer Concerts

SPARTA-The Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee will present Sony recording artist Nellie McKay to kick off the Sparta Summer Concerts. The concert will take place starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 24, at Dykstra Park. Nellie McKay's credits include opening for Cyndi Lauper in a series of concerts, appearances on numerous national television shows including "The View," the "CBS Early Show," "Live with Regis and Kelly," and the "Late Show with David Letterman" and appearances with Sting in Switzerland, France, Spain and Germany. Her debut album, "Get Away From Me," received tremendous international critical acclaim. Other artists to appear this summer on the Sparta stage include Nashville singer songwriter Peter Karp; internationally renowned bassist and composer Mark Egan, who will be joined by Clifford Carter of the James Taylor Band, Joel Rosenblatt of Spyro Gyra fame and Dave Mann of Tower of Power; blues rocker Billy Hector; The David Munnelly Band on tour in the U.S. directly from Ireland; a benefit performance by the Karl Latham Group including guitarist John Hart, trumpeter Vinnie Cutro and world renowned bassist Kerrmit Driscoll (Bill Frisell); and a Sparta Teen-Rock-A-Thon on June 25th featuring performances by local teen bands. The Sparta Summer Concerts are presented admission free by the Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee in conjunction with the Sparta Township Recreation and Parks Department. Funding for the Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee events and the Sparta Summer Concerts is provided by Sparta Township and through the support of local businesses and local patrons of the arts. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor of the Sparta Summer Concerts can send a tax deductible donation to the Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee, 65 Main Street, Sparta, NJ 07871 or visit the Sparta Cultural Affairs Committee Web site for further information on sponsorship, as well as, general information regarding the Sparta Summer Concerts at www.spartaarts.org. The Sparta Summer Concerts are held Friday evenings June 24 through the end of July in George Dystra Park, located behind the Sparta Public Library. In the event of inclement weather the Sparta Summer Concerts are held in the Mohawk Avenue School auditorium, which is located adjacent to Dystrka Park.