Celebrating the Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
MILWAUKEE; October 2, 2023 – Milwaukee PBS and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra announce they are partnering on bringing the music of the Violent Femmes to PBS viewers for a future broadcast.
On October 3rd at 7:30 pm, the Bradley Symphony Center will feature the Violent Femmes celebrating the 40th anniversary of their self-titled debut album with the band playing it cover to cover with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in a one-night event. Ryan Tani will conduct the concert. Songs from the 1983 album include “Blister in the Sun”, “Kiss Off”, “Add It Up” and “Gone Daddy Gone.” This became the Violent Femmes biggest selling album and eventually certified platinum.
[inarticled]The Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band who began playing acoustic punk on the streets of Milwaukee. The band was discovered after busking outside The Pretenders concert. The Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde asked them to open for that nights’ show. The Violent Femmes consists of founding members Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie, joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza and drummer John Sparrow.
“We’re thrilled to be able to collaborate with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Violent Femmes,” said Milwaukee PBS VP and General Manager Debbie Hamlett. “The Violent Femmes were the soundtrack for so many young people including myself. We’re looking forward to presenting this celebration of the 40th anniversary of some of the Violent Femmes’ greatest hits.”
The program will be distributed to PBS stations nationally. Two years ago, PBS broadcast nationwide the Milwaukee PBS production of the opening concert of the Milwaukee Symphony at the new Bradley Symphony Center.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary with the Milwaukee Symphony to Air Nationally on PBS December, 2024
Oct 30th, 2024 by Milwaukee PBSMILWAUKEE; October 30, 2024 – On December 13, 2024, the Milwaukee PBS production of the Emmy nominated Violent Femmes 40th Anniversary with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra will air nationally on PBS stations across the country. This concert is a celebration of the Violent Femmes iconic debut self-titled album and greatest hits including “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” “Add It Up” and “Gone Daddy Gone” along with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. The Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band who began playing acoustic punk on the streets of Milwaukee. They were discovered in 1981 while busking outside the Oriental Theatre where the Pretenders were playing later that evening. The lead singer, Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act. Gordon Gano, the lead vocalist & guitar player was still in high school when he wrote all of the songs for the Violent Femmes’ first album. Today, the Violent Femmes consist of founding members Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie, joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza and drummer John Sparrow. This concert with the Violent Femmes and the Milwaukee Symphony was produced and recorded by Milwaukee PBS at the Bradley Symphony Center on October 3, 2023. It will air on Milwaukee PBS on Friday, December 13, 2024 at 8pm, with an encore broadcast the same evening at 9:15pm on Milwaukee PBS Channel 10. “We’re excited to share this incredible concert with our audience as well as PBS stations around the country” said Debbie Hamlett, General Manager of Milwaukee PBS. “Listening to this amazing music with a “backup” symphony is an experience I hope you’ll never forget!” There will be a public sneak preview at the Oriental Theatre, where it all began, in Milwaukee on December 3rd. The screening is free and open to the public but you must reserve your seat, register at MilwaukeePBS.org/events. Doors open at 6:30pm About Milwaukee PBS Milwaukee PBS is southeastern Wisconsin’s premier non-commercial media organization. It consists of two high-definition television stations, WMVS and WMVT, and four additional digital television services. Milwaukee PBS is one of the most-watched public television stations in the nation. For more information, visit www.MilwaukeePBS.org.
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