Newport Concert Series At the Newport Yachting Center Announces Two Musical Powerhouses To Team Up On July 12th

The Newport Concert Series at the Newport Yachting Center announces that John Hiatt & The Combo and The Robert Cray Band will team up to headline on Saturday, July 12th.  Tickets to see the songwriting legend and blues master will be available for purchase for $29.50, $49.50 and $59.50 by visiting www.newportwaterfrontevents.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.  The gates for the concert will open at 5:30 p.m. followed by music on The Point Stage and then the headliners will take the Main Stage beginning at 7:00 p.m.  The Newport Concert Series will take place from late May through October at its unique waterfront venue in downtown Newport.

Know as one of America’s finest singer-songwriter musicians as well as for his fusion of a number of musical styles, including rock & roll, country and blues, John Hiatt’s songs have been covered by hundreds of artists, including Eric Clapton, Elvis Costello, Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan and Jewel.  Most notably, Rosanne Cash took his tune, "The Way We Make A Broken Heart" all the way to #1 on the United States country charts in 1987 and Bonnie Raitt brought “Thing Called Love” to #11 on the charts in 1989. Hiatt’s twenty-two studio album releases include the Grammy nominatedWalk On in 1995 and Crossing Muddy Waters in 2000.  In 2008 he received Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting.  His most recent album release is entitledHere to Stay.

Elected to the 2011 Blues Hall of Fame by The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee, bluesman Robert Cray and his band are back by popular demand thanks to memorable performances at the 2007, 2009 and 2011 Newport Concert Series. After winning the distinguished W.C. Handy Blues Award in 1985, Cray’s fourth release, Strong Persuader, earned the first of his five Grammy Awards a year later while the crossover single, “Smokin' Gun,” gave him wider appeal and name recognition.  By the early 1990s, Cray’s name was immediately associated with his soothing, soulful voice, crisp guitar work and modern blues sound.  Most recently, Cray appeared multiple times on Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival.  Cray’s latest release is In My Soul.

The Newport Concert Series at the Newport Yachting Center has announced 13 concerts to-date:  The Wailers & Rusted Root on Saturday, May 31st; Dierks Bentley - Riser 2014 Tour on Thursday, June 19th; Ziggy Marley – the Fly Rasta Tour on Friday, June 20th; John Hiatt & The Combo and The Robert Cray Band on Saturday, July 12th; An Evening with YES on Sunday, July 13th; Barenaked Ladies on Friday, July 18th; The Machine performs Pink Floyd With the Interstellar Laser Show on Friday, July 25th; 3 Doors Down Acoustic – Songs From The Basement on Friday, August 1st; Boz Scaggs – The Memphis Tour on Wednesday, August 6th; Gregg Allman with Special Guest Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band on Sunday, August 10th;Josh Turner’s Roughstock and Rambler Tour (presented by Ariat) on Thursday, August 14th; The Beach Boys on Saturday, August 16th; and Chris Young With Special Guest Courtney Cole on Saturday, September 20th.  More concerts will be announced soon!  In addition to the Newport Concert Series, the Newport Yachting Center will host the Newport Waterfront Reggae Festival on Saturday, August 9th and the Newport Celtic Rock Festival to take place Saturday, August 23rd.

The Newport Yachting Center is located on the waterfront in the heart of historic downtown Newport on America's Cup Avenue.  The venue features a covered concert tent and ample open air space with stunning views of Newport Harbor.  Guests can enjoy “The Point”, a dockside waterfront bar and lounge with a full line of cocktails, wines, imported beers and micro brews, before, during and after the shows.  Julian’s Omnibus offers concert-goers a fun, eclectic dining experience along with rooftop seating to fully appreciate the panoramic Newport views.

For more information on the Newport Concert Series at the Newport Yachting Center, please visit www.newportwaterfrontevents.com or contact Michele Maker Palmieri, General Manager at the Newport Yachting Center, 4 Commercial Wharf on America’s Cup Avenue in Newport, at (401) 846-1600, Ext. 222 or via email: mmaker@newportyachtingcenter.com.  To receive future 2014 Newport Concert Series headliner announcements and presale opportunities, sign up at newportwaterfrontevents.com, become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/waterfrontevents or follow Newport Waterfront Events on Twitter at twitter.com/newportevents.  Also, share photos on Instagram at instagram.com/newportevents.com.