Dickey Betts Rambles Into Artpark August 5!

(Lewiston, NY)  Dickey Betts, Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame inductee, founding member of the Allman Brothers Band and one of Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Guitarists of All-Time," rambles back into Artpark on August 5 with his band, Great Southern, to headline week 10 of the "First Niagara Tuesday in the Park" free outdoor concert series.  Mick Hayes will serve as the opening act of the event, which begins at 6:30pm and features free hands-on art workshops for children.

Betts and Great Southern appeared at Artpark last August to an estimated 8,000 concertgoers.

As an original member of the Allman Brothers Band, Betts played an instrumental role in the writing and recording of the band's greatest musical triumphs - "Ramblin' Man," "Blue Sky," "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" and the Grammy Award-winning "Jessica."

Betts' prolific musical journey began on a fateful March night in 1969 when he and friend Berry Oakley jammed with a local band featuring Duane and Gregg Allman; this marked the birth of the Allman Brothers Band.  After Duane Allman and Berry Oakley were killed in motorcycle accidents a year apart in 1971 and 1972, the ABB worked through their sorrow, with Betts writing and singing the group's biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man."

Following several reunions and subsequent splits, the ABB came together in 1989 to mark their 20^th Anniversary. The chemistry that resulted from the unique two-guitar approach of Betts and Warren Haynes (who appears at Artpark with Gov't Mule on July 29) once again made the Band one of the most compelling acts in the country. The ABB enjoyed continued success throughout the nineties - being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, winning their first Grammy and amazing audiences with their powerful live performances.

A year after the ABB celebrated their 30^th Anniversary, Betts formed the Dickey Betts Band and hit the road on his own.  Dickey later changed the name of the group to Dickey Betts and Great Southern., which now includes Betts, drummer Frankie Lombardi, guitarist Dan Toler, pianist Mike Kach and bassist Pedro Arevalo.

Like all of Artpark's free concert events, each evening includes a wide variety of free family-friendly hands-on art workshops, including drawing, face-painting, dress-up, self portraits and more.

Artpark's August 5 event with Dickey Betts & Great Southern is sponsored by The Reid Group.

All "First Niagara Tuesday in the Park" events are also sponsored by Certo Brothers Distributing Company, Sevenson Environmental Services, Modern Corporation, S&S Lawn Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of WNY, Mark Cerrone, Inc., Tim Horton's (Niagara Falls), DiMino's Lewiston Tops, Pine Pharmacy, Frey Electric Construction Company, Bison Construction Corp., Empire Dismantlement Corp., Lawley Insurance, Time Warner Cable, and The Talking Phone Book.

Artpark's Outdoor Amphitheater opens to the public at 2pm on event nights, and can be accessed via the Upper Park's Portage Road entrance off of Center Street or through South 4^th Street nearest the Mainstage Theater.

Carry-ins (food and beverages) are prohibited at all of Artpark's free concert events while on-site parking is .

For a full schedule of 2008 events, call the Artpark Box Office at (716) 754-4375 or visit artpark.net.

The Earl W. Brydges Artpark is being operated by Artpark & Company, Inc. for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation under a license agreement.