Stars at North Star House
"Mavis Staples is the most underrated diva of the century. She has an almost superhuman ability to implant the pure power of passion and emotion." - Rolling Stone
Mavis Staples will 'take you there', during her performance for the Nevada County Land Trust's 9th annual popular benefit concert on Saturday, August 28. Former lead singer of The Staple Singers, Mavis has spent her career navigating the worlds of blues, pop, soul and gospel. Her legendary voice will rock the stage with her songs 'I'll Take You There' and 2009's Grammy nominated hit 'Respect Yourself'. Local rhythm and blues vocalist Lorraine Gervais and the Burning Sensations Band will open the night's concert and celebration of the Land Trust's 20th anniversary.
This year's concert will premiere at its 'new home' on the historic site of the 1906 North Star House designed by Julia Morgan. "We are thrilled to be working with North Star Historic Conservancy to launch this amazing venue for our Stars events as well as for benefit of the community as a whole," said Marty Coleman-Hunt, Executive Director of NCLT.
Mavis won the GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and has appeared with The Staple Singers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Prince, Bob Dylan, Los Lobos, Aretha Franklin, Ry Cooder and many other well known stars. She received a 2010 GRAMMY Nominee for Best Contemporary Blues Album. Her other awards include Soul/Blues Female Artist 2005 and 2006, Blues Album of the Year in 2005, National Heritage Fellowship 2006 Award Winner from the National Endowment for the Arts and was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with The Staple Singers in1999.
The outdoor concert and 20th anniversary celebration begins at 4 PM. The North Star House, 10275 Old Auburn Road, is located just off McCourtney Road in Grass Valley. The historic house was designed by Julia Morgan, the architect famed for designing Hearst's Castle at San Simeon, the Asilomar Conference Center and many private estates across California. The North Star House was Morgan's first residential commission. The home was owned by mining engineer Arthur De Wint Foote and his wife, author and illustrator Mary Hallock Foote. The house is currently under historic renovation with plans to become a community event facility and will be open for tours during the concert and Land Trust's 20th celebration. This will be the first large-scale event to take place on the spectacular rolling landscape. With the house as a backdrop, the grounds can accommodate up to 2,000 attendees in lawn seating.
To purchase tickets or get additional information, call the NCLT office event line at 530-272-5994 ext. 4