PIXIES GO ACOUSTIC

Festival Productions, Inc. is proud to announce that PIXIES have joined the Saturday, August 6th lineup of the 2005 the Dunkin' Donuts Newport Folk Festival, for their first-ever live acoustic set.

"I hope that Pete Seeger doesn't go after the Power supply with an axe, for us going acoustic," says Pixies' front man Frank Black.

Pixies formed in Boston in 1986 and quickly gained a cult following and critical acclaim for their signature blend of punk, indie guitar rock, classic pop, and surf rock riffs mixed with unique melodic hooks and lyrics about everything from UFOs to religion and metaphysics. The band's influence is far-reaching: David Bowie called their work "just about the most compelling music of the entire '80s" and U2's Bono considers them "one of America's greatest bands ever."

Pixies disbanded in 1992 after recording five albums, but reunited in 2004 in what SPIN magazine called the "Comeback of the Year." The eight-month-long tour shattered sales records around the world, and their live performances were, as The Times in London put it in a 5-star review, "musically spellbinding."

Pixies - Frank Black (vocals, guitar), Kim Deal (bass, vocals), Joey Santiago (guitar), David Lovering (drums) - come to Newport ACOUSTIC for the first time ever.

"This is history in the making, for any Pixies fan and for anyone who loves live music," said associate producer Nalini Jones. "Pixies are a huge force in American music. To be there when they go acoustic for the first time, to have this chance to hear their songs in a whole new way-that's just unbelievable."

And Newport is the right place for it, she added. The festival has a history of championing artists who break new ground, and this year is no exception, with ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS, BRIGHT EYES, JIM JAMES, M. WARD, PATTY GRIFFIN, RAY LAMONTAGNE, RICHARD THOMPSON, EMMYLOU HARRIS (and many others!) also on the daytime shows at Fort Adams State Park, August 6 & 7.

Tickets are still available for these shows and for the Friday night August 5th concert with ARLO GUTHRIE and NANCI GRIFFITH at the International Tennis Hall of Fame; and the Thursday August 4th screening of Murray Lerner's Festival, a film with rare footage of the landmark Newport Folk festivals in the sixties.

For more information about the Dunkin' Donuts Newport Folk Festival, including the full line-up of all three stages and the evening programs, please visit: www.newportfolk.com.