HD.Net Filming Indie Band Ray Johnston Band Live From SXSW to open for "Cheap Trick"

March 17, 2010 - PRLog -- Contact:
Donnetta Campbell
203 434 3548


‘RAY JOHNSTON BAND’ LIVE FROM SXSW TO OPEN FOR ‘CHEAP TRICK’

Ray Johnston Band is Being Filmed for the Documentary Series,
‘Ray Johnston Band: Road Dairies’ coming this April to HDNet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUSTIN, TX (March 17, 2010) – “Ray Johnston Band” is proud to announce they are opening for “Cheap Trick” on Friday, March 19 at the Auditorium Shores Stage at the South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, TX. Also joining the stage with “Cheap Trick” are the “BoDeans” and “Cracker.”

“Ray Johnston Band,” which recorded its first album ‘Sweet Tooth,” in August 2009 at Palmyra Studio in Palmer, TX, can be seen in and around SXSW all week at the following venues:

Wednesday, March 17-   Gypsy Sun & Big Rig Vintage at 6pm
            1601 South First Street

                Shakespeare’s outside patio at 8pm
            314 E. 6th St.
.  
Thursday, March 18 -   Texas Rockfest Outdoor Stage at 1:45pm
            7th Street & Neches

            *Abel’s on the Lake at 8pm
            3825 Lake Austin Blvd.
            *Special HDNet Showcase

Friday, March 19 --       Molotov Lounge at 11:30 am
            719 W. 6th

            Annie’s West at 6:40pm
            706 w 6th

            Auditorium Shores Stage at 5:45pm
1st St & West Riverside Dr.

Saturday, March 20 --   Shakespeare’s at 10pm
            314 E 6th St.

Thursday night at 8pm features a special HDNet showcase performance at Abel’s on the Lake, benefiting the Ryan Gibson Foundation.  TRGF ( HYPERLINK "http://www.trgf.org" www.trgf.org) is a Dallas-based non-profit organization that supports leukemia research throughout the U.S.

Band leader Ray Johnston, a cancer survivor and former Dallas Maverick point guard, is the center of a new documentary series from HDNET called “Ray Johnston Band:  Road Diaries” which follows him and his band as they travel across the country trying to make it in the music business.

While the documentary chronicles the band’s journey, the true focus and backdrop is the behind-the-scenes story of the band’s leader, Ray Johnston, and his heroic battle with leukemia.

“I realized my dream of making it in the NBA because I was determined, knew my strengths, and had the best talent around me,” said Johnston.  “As this documentary will showcase with the band, it’s the same deal here.”

A clip for the program can be found at the following link:

HYPERLINK "http://blip.tv/file/3191830" t "_blank" http://blip.tv/file/3191830

“Sweet Tooth” is currently available on iTunes and at www.rayjohnstonband.com/music.

“Ray Johnston Band” is made up of Frontman Ray Johnston (guitar & vocals), joined by band mates Keith Anderson (sax), Bobby Sparks (keys), Cooper Appelt (bass), Jeff Randall (Drums) and Mark Lettieri (lead guitar).  

Johnston met world-renowned saxophonist Keith Anderson while playing acoustic gigs around Dallas, and after forming a fast friendship and musical connection, they began assembling different groups of musicians into what has become “Ray Johnston Band.”  

The band music falls into the same genre as Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz and Dave Matthews Band.  “Ray Johnston Band” is packed with seasoned musicians featuring GRAMMY winners, side men for Kanye West, Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock, Kirk Franklin, Roy Hargrove, and alums of the prestigious music programs at Berklee College of Music and University of North Texas. In the year that they have been together, “Ray Johnston Band” has already been included in the House of Blues "Tomorrows Headliners" series, served as a backing band for Erykah Badu and Jamie Foxx, performed on ESPN, Sirius XM and dozens of radio stations across the US.  This year they performed in front of 5,000 people at the Tour de Fleurs 5k in Dallas, TX.

“Ray Johnston Band:  Road Diaries,” an eight-part documentary series, is scheduled to premiere on HDNet Sunday, April 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET on HDNet.

# # #

@CPublicity is a public relations firm based in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, creating grassroots efforts within the community as well as strategically aligning our clientele with media-traditional and alternative.