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A little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll Eclectic? That's putting it mildly for 1999 Britt lineup By BILL VARBLE From the Cos to the Cowboys, the 1999 Peter Britt Festivals covers a lot of musical turf. That would be comedy legend Bill Cosby and soft rockers Cowboy Junkies, two of the 44 shows in Britt's season announced Thursday. "A little something for everyone" is how Britt General Manager Ron McUne put it. The season opens June 11 and runs through Sept. 5, offering big names, rising stars and some new (to Britt) locations. A country flavor is still evident with Kenny Rogers, Wynonna and Ricky Skaggs, but it's not as pronounced as in some recent years. There's blues (Keb' Mo', John Lee Hooker, John Hammond), jazz (Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, McCoy Tyner), rock (Cowboy Junkies, Steven Winwood, Chicago) and folk (Greg Brown, Cry Cry Cry, Beausoleil). Throw in dance, musical theater and comedy, and don't forget the classical season -- the festival's entire reason for being when it was born back in the 1960s. Now in its 37th year, Britt is the Northwest's oldest large music festival. Jazz legend Chick Corea kicks off the season June 11. Corea has always pushed the jazz envelope, but critics say his new band, Origin, has as much potential as anything he's ever done. Corea plans a double-duty show, opening as half of a duo with vibes virtuoso Gary Burton and returning with Origin. Tickets range from $11 (lawn) to $34 (premium reserved). Super-picker Ricky Skaggs performs June 12. After years of country stardom, Skaggs has reportedly returned to his bluegrass roots. In an interesting pairing, the Irish band Altan opens for Skaggs. Altan performed recently in Southern Oregon University's One World series (tickets run from $16 lawn to $29 top reserved). Flamenco isn't exactly thought of as a burgeoning field, but Ottmar Liebert (June 18) has brought it new visibility in the 1990s. His first album, 1989's "Nouveau Flamenco," went platinum, and he's become a standard on new-music format shows such as NPR's "Echoes." With Liebert is a nine-piece rumba dance band (tickets are $18 to $29). John Prine's (June 19) songs for years have told the story of the life of somebody you know. Tunes such as "Sam Stone" and "Paradise" helped define the 1970s and became staples for a generation of artists (tickets are $20 to $30). Pat Metheny (June 23) is no stranger to Britt audiences. The jazz guitarist performed here in 1987 as forest fires raged nearby. In 1995 he provided the incendiary effects with his guitar playing. This time he's teamed with drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Larry Grenadier. It's the trio's only U.S. concert of the year ($22 to $35). John Lee Hooker performs June 24. In 50 years of playing, he's never had a gig in Southern Oregon. John Hammond, who opens, would be the most legendary bluesman on almost any other bill ($24 to $42). Wynonna takes the stage June 25. She was thought to be the quiet half of the Judds until she went out on her own. Her two sold-out shows last year were part progressive country and part R&B revue ($29 to $48). Booker T and the MGs (June 26) were the house band for Stax Records in the 1960s ($19 to $30). Cosby performs twice on June 27 -- at 3 p.m. at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, and 8 p.m. at Britt ($55 to $65 at the Crate, $33 to $65 on the Britt hillside). Cosby's shows will benefit Britt's educational programs for kids. McUne said the spendy tickets and two shows were needed to pay the popular comic's asking price. Co-billed July 2 are Roger McGuinn and David Lindley. McGuinn founded the Byrds, one of the first superbands. Lindley is the famed guitarist who's played with everybody from Dylan to Ronstadt and mixes his tunes with outrageous humor ($19 to $30). Up-and-coming bluesman Keb' Mo' headlines a July 3 show. Since his last visit to Britt he's been named acoustic blues artist of the year, toured with Bonnie Raitt and seemingly been all over television. Harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite opens ($22 to $31). Cowboy Junkies (July 7) are hard to pigeonhole. Think artful, blues-based roots rock with intelligent lyrics and beautiful vocals. Leo Kottke, another former Britt visitor, opens ($18 to $27). Singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg visits July 16 with a collection of new songs to go with the old ones ($26 to $43). The Manhattan Transfer (July 17) has added a swing element to its jazz repertoire ($24 to $39). The classic McCoy Tyner Trio and hot, rising jazz singer Diana Drall share a bill July 18 ($21 to $34). The last week of July is musical theater time at Britt, and this year that means Rogue Music Theater's production of "My Fair Lady." Perennial San Francisco favorite Boz Scaggs (July 30) finally visits Britt after 30 years of stellar singing ($27 to $44). "We've tried to get him for years," McUne said Thursday with a smile. A Celtic Celebration July 31 features Irish singer Mary Black, fiddle star Natalie MacMaster and host Tomaseen Foley, now of Ashland ($19 to $29). Kenny Rogers visits for two shows, Aug. 1 and 2 ($31 to $54). Britt's classical festival, announced earlier, runs most of August ($15 to $28). The end of August is dance time, and this year's shows cover varied styles. Murry Louis and Nikolais Dance (Aug. 27) are prominent pioneers of modern dance ($17 to $26). Pilobolus (Aug. 28 and 29) combines dance with acrobatics and what they're calling "human sculpture." They were here in 1992 ($18 to $28). Rock icon Steve Winwood kicks off the final weekend of the season Sept. 2 ( $31 to $54). Rogue Valley favorite Greg Brown performs Sept. 3 along with Cry Cry Cry featuring Dar Williams, Richard Shindell and Lucy Kaplansky. Singer-songwriter Stacey Earle ($16 to $24). A Cajun Summer Smash Sept. 4 features Beausoleil and Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers ($18 to $27). Chicago, one of the all-time rock superbands, wraps up the season Sept. 5 ($33 to $54). as much potential as anything he's ever done. Corea plans a double-duty show, opening as half of a duo with vibes virtuoso Gary Burton and returning with Origin. Tickets range from $11 (lawn) to $34 (premium reserved). Super-picker Ricky Skaggs performs June 12. After years of country stardom, Skaggs has reportedly returned to his bluegrass roots. In an interesting pairing, the Irish band Altan opens for Skaggs. Altan performed recently in Southern Oregon University's One World series (tickets run from $16 lawn to $29 top reserved). Flamenco isn't exactly thought of as a burgeoning field, but Ottmar Liebert (June 18) has brought it new visibility in the 1990s. His first album, 1989's "Nouveau Flamenco," went platinum, and he's become a standard on new-music format shows such as NPR's "Echoes." With Liebert is a nine-piece rumba dance band (tickets are $18 to $29). John Prine's (June 19) songs for years have told the story of the life of somebody you know. Tunes such as "Sam Stone" and "Paradise" helped define the 1970s and became staples for a generation of artists (tickets are $20 to $30). Pat Metheny (June 23) is no stranger to Britt audiences. The jazz guitarist performed here in 1987 as forest fires raged nearby. In 1995 he provided the incendiary effects with his guitar playing. This time he's teamed with drummer Bill Stewart and bassist Larry Grenadier. It's the trio's only U.S. concert of the year ($22 to $35). John Lee Hooker performs June 24. In 50 years of playing, he's never had a gig in Southern Oregon. John Hammond, who opens, would be the most legendary bluesman on almost any other bill ($24 to $42). Wynonna takes the stage June 25. She was thought to be the quiet half of the Judds until she went out on her own. Her two sold-out shows last year were part progressive country and part R&B revue ($29 to $48). Booker T and the MGs (June 26) were the house band for Stax Records in the 1960s ($19 to $30). Cosby performs twice on June 27 -- at 3 p.m. at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, and 8 p.m. at Britt ($55 to $65 at the Crate, $33 to $65 on the Britt hillside). Cosby's shows will benefit Britt's educational programs for kids. McUne said the spendy tickets and two shows were needed to pay the popular comic's asking price. Co-billed July 2 are Roger McGuinn and David Lindley. McGuinn founded the Byrds, one of the first superbands. Lindley is the famed guitarist who's played with everybody from Dylan to Ronstadt and mixes his tunes with outrageous humor ($19 to $30). Up-and-coming bluesman Keb' Mo' headlines a July 3 show. Since his last visit to Britt he's been named acoustic blues artist of the year, toured with Bonnie Raitt and seemingly been all over television. Harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite opens ($22 to $31). Cowboy Junkies (July 7) are hard to pigeonhole. Think artful, blues-based roots rock with intelligent lyrics and beautiful vocals. Leo Kottke, another former Britt visitor, opens ($18 to $27). Singer-songwriter Dan Fogelberg visits July 16 with a collection of new songs to go with the old ones ($26 to $43). The Manhattan Transfer (July 17) has added a swing element to its jazz repertoire ($24 to $39). The classic McCoy Tyner Trio and hot, rising jazz singer Diana Drall share a bill July 18 ($21 to $34). The last week of July is musical theater time at Britt, and this year that means Rogue Music Theater's production of "My Fair Lady." Perennial San Francisco favorite Boz Scaggs (July 30) finally visits Britt after 30 years of stellar singing ($27 to $44). "We've tried to get him for years," McUne said Thursday with a smile. A Celtic Celebration July 31 features Irish singer Mary Black, fiddle star Natalie MacMaster and host Tomaseen Foley, now of Ashland ($19 to $29). Kenny Rogers visits for two shows, Aug. 1 and 2 ($31 to $54). Britt's classical festival, announced earlier, runs most of August ($15 to $28). The end of August is dance time, and this year's shows cover varied styles. Murry Louis and Nikolais Dance (Aug. 27) are prominent pioneers of modern dance ($17 to $26). Pilobolus (Aug. 28 and 29) combines dance with acrobatics and what they're calling "human sculpture." They were here in 1992 ($18 to $28). Rock icon Steve Winwood kicks off the final weekend of the season Sept. 2 ( $31 to $54). Rogue Valley favorite Greg Brown performs Sept. 3 along with Cry Cry Cry featuring Dar Williams, Richard Shindell and Lucy Kaplansky. Singer-songwriter Stacey Earle ($16 to $24). A Cajun Summer Smash Sept. 4 features Beausoleil and Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers ($18 to $27). Chicago, one of the all-time rock superbands, wraps up the season Sept. 5 ($33 to $54). Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA