FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tour Operator Returns to Frank Zappa
Festival in Germany
Newton, Massachusetts
– May 9, 2008 Vacation Vibrations, a Massachusetts-based tour operator, will
again offer a vacation package to this summer's Zappanale, the annual
celebration of Frank Zappa's music and life. This year's tour will start in Amsterdam, continue to Hamburg for a special concert event, and conclude
with the festival in Bad Doberan, Germany.
"Farther
Oblivion Tour 2008" begins in Amsterdam on August 10. The group will explore one of
the world's most fascinating cities, including a sunset cruise on the canals.
The tour will then proceed to Hamburg for an unusual meeting of musical minds.
On August 13th,
the Hauptkirche St. Katharinen (St. Katherine's Cathedral) presents
"Zappa Plays for Bach", a benefit concert for the Johann Sebastian
Foundation. The Bach connection is easy: J.S. himself played at the church in
1701 and 1720, and the church honors those occasions by hosting the foundation.
The Zappa connection? The concert organizers note: "As musical
avant-gardists and unconventional thinkers, Bach and Zappa both decisively
influenced the development of their respective musical styles." The
concert will feature the Bogus Pomp Low Budget Semi-Acoustic Orchestra from Tampa, Florida, multi-talented musician and beloved Zappa frontman Napoleon
Murphy Brock, and the church's own choir and organ.
From Hamburg, the tour will head to the northern German
town of Bad
Doberan
for the 19th Zappanale, a three-day festival of Zappa tribute bands, former
Zappa band members, and other musicians with kindred styles and interests from
all over the world. Thomas Dippel, president Germany's Arf-Society, the non-profit group behind
the Zappanale, says "The Zappanale is much more than just a parade of
amazing musical ensembles. All of Bad Doberan welcomes the festival, from Mayor
Polzin, who officially greets the festival every year, to the cafés and shops
in the town square who are happy to direct you to our Frank Zappa memorial
statue."
Vacation
Vibrations' Scott Tepper agrees: "Arf-Society organizes companion events
that add so much to the music. Last year there were a fascinating film
screening, a lecture analyzing Zappa lyric references, an interview with
celebrated rock 'n roll masseuse Dr. Dot, and of course the annual Zappa trivia
contest." Tepper adds, "The best part of the Zappanale, besides the
music, is meeting fellow Zappa fans, and sharing the music, a favorite song, a
smile, a handshake, and maybe a beer… and maybe another one!"
In the Zappanale line-up, the United States will be ably represented by Tampa's Bogus Pomp Low
Budget Semi-Acoustic Orchestra, and by the latest crop of musical prodigies of
the highly-respected Paul Green School of Rock. The growing festival roster
reflects Zappa's enduring international legacy, with bands from France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and three bands each from Germany and Finland.
Vacation Vibrations
is a division of American International Tour Groups, a group tour operator
specializing in customized group itineraries since 1990.
For more information about the tour, visit www.freewebs.com/fartheroblivion,
email VacationVibrations@Gmail.com,
or call 617-721-7996.
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