Entertainment
BURT & THE BANDITS
Remember a time when Willie and Waylon ruled the airwaves, and Burt Reynolds and 18-wheelers revved up the box office? Burt & The Bandits, an Atlanta-based show band, is bringing that Southern-fried country fun back to the stage with songs you know by heart.
The set list plays like a honky tonk jukebox featuring the music of iconic country legends: Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Jerry Reed, Charlie Daniels, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, George Jones, and the list goes on. These are the songs many of us grew up with. And you may be surprised you still know the words. It’s country music comfort food served hotter than a truck stop kitchen.
But a Burt & The Bandits show is much more than simply a country music cover act. It’s a family-friendly musical stage production filled with laughs. Each of the members of this four-piece band perform dressed as characters from the film “Smokey & The Bandit.” The Bandit himself leads the charge on vocals. Sheriff Buford T. Justice is close behind on the drums, his flashing blue lights illuminating the stage. The Snowman handles lead guitar while Big Enos Burdette, decked out in rhinestones, tickles the ivories and plays keyboard bass.
The members of Burt & The Bandits are seasoned musicians having performed with the likes of Toby Keith, Travis Tritt, Lonestar, Charlie Daniels, The Marshall Tucker Band, Percy Sledge, Chubby Checker, The Drifters, Banks & Shane and many more.
Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the dancing girls. Daisy Duke is known to dance along to the band’s rendition of “The Dukes of Hazzard” theme. And it’s a sure-fire hoedown as the gals stomp their feet during “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
Burt & The Bandits’ show-stopping production is perfect for corporate events and festivals. Put the pedal to the metal and pick up your CB. Burt & The Bandits will answer the call with a show you won’t soon forget. And that’s a big 10-4 good buddy.
THE IMPERIAL OPA
Prepare to be amazed! Described as “Astounding and Sensational”, The Imperial Opa is not your dad’s circus! With a combination of narrative story telling, stage and street performances, and a menagerie of over-sized puppet animals, creatures and costumes, every show is unique and features live original music from The Imperial Opa Band. With a contemporary circus approach, The Imperial Opa presents itself as a family of “Gypsy” performers and musicians with cabaret influences and Vaudevillian style acts, including aerialists, contortionists, fire performers, belly dancers, jugglers, and an endless supply of comedic acts.
Accompanying the performers is The Imperial Opa Band, which provides one of the most characteristic elements to the circus. Filling the stage with the sounds of accordions, violins, banjos, sousaphones and saxophones, the Band’s exciting melodies and dynamic rhythms complete The Imperial Opa’s theatrical experience. Audiences are truly swept away and encouraged to clap, laugh and be awed.
In addition to being a truly amazing group of performers, they have performed at the East Atlanta Strut and EAV Recycle Day- and we’re excited to add the East Atlanta Beer Fest to the list!
Animal & the Evolvers
Hailing from Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward and East Atlanta neighborhoods, the music of Animal & the Evolvers is hard to describe. One person tried: a mix between The Beatles and My Morning Jacket. Whatever the hell that means. One thing, however, is easy to put into words… these guys melt faces. Are you evolved?
The EABF Entertainment Coordinator can be reached at bands@eastatlantabeerfest.com
