Walla Fest Joins Montgomery County Arts Festival

From Iron Age Theatre:

Walla Fest continues in Norristown with its fourth evening of local music. This time, the Walla Flowers – Yesenia Bello, Anthony Bui and Makeba Robinson – are expanding the event featuring two regionally recognized bands along with their standard local music fair. The music, presented in a coffee-house environment on ’s fourth floor theater is accented by a full art show, featuring local artists, in the first-floor lobby.

Walla Fest has partnered with Iron Age Theatre and The Centre Theater to stage popular local music fest on Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. Tickets for the event are $5. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and guests will be able to peruse the art show on the first floor of the Centre Theater. At 6 p.m., performers will take the Centre Theater stage. This event is part of the Centre Theater's .

Opening the show will be the Norristown native rock ensemble, Forgetting Persephone. Light punk and pop rock populate the set list of the female-fronted band. The Sound of the Shorelines are a hip trio using guitar and percussion to create a smooth and stylish sound. Sound of the Shoreline were the standout at Walla Fest 2 in August. The Norristown trio Keba, Pablo & Raz bring a singer songwriter feel along with some experimental sounds to the event. This group has performed at every Walla Event as the Walla house band.

The Walla organizers are expanding their horizons by bringing two other bands on board as headliners.

“This is the next step in the development of the Wall Fest events” said Walla Fest organizer Anthony Bui.

The Jawnettes are a group of musicians who have been playing together for ten years, but who have only recently established their signature style – a bluesy, Latin-flavored sound which people describe as fun, tight and exciting. Biting licks and grooving riffs are served courtesy of guitarist Justin Goncalves and Christopher McManus providing the driving backbeat.

Hailing from Philadelphia, Satellite Hearts are a three-piece band that combine both the raw, unpolished and unapologetic sound of today with the soul of true classic rock. Featuring J.M. Pellecchia on guitar, vocals and harmonica; Lucas Rinz on bass and vocals; and Keaton Thandi on drums, percussion, and vocals. The trio create a sound that mixes the best of classic and alternative rock and roll with elements of soul, funk and R&B.

The art show on the first floor will feature current Norristown Area School District students and alumni. Kristen Haines, Marcus Branch, Molly Lichtner and Walla organizer, Yesenia Bello, will be sharing their work.

The Centre’s presents 16 performances by 11 regional companies. Shows include a re-imagining of Dracula, a One woman show about Sojourner Truth, Irish theater, Native American stories, puppetry with Ursinus professor Domenick Scudera, a bilingual play from B Someday Productions in Philly and much more. Working in collaboration with Iron Age Theatre, the Centre Theater is planning a massive renovation of its theater and building. Phase Two of the capital development will include a new larger first floor venue for theater and other performance.

The Centre Theater is in the Montgomery County Cultural Center at 208 DeKalb Street in Norristown. There is plenty of free parking and the theater is one block from the Norristown Transportation Center. For tickets or more information, call 610-279-1013 or purchase tickets online at thecentretheater.ticketleap.com.