Rock News: Music's high and low notes

SUMMIT ON THE HUDSON MUSIC FESTIVAL

Terrapin will kick off its 2003 Summer Concert Series with Summit On the Hudson Festival, slated for May 31 and June 1 at the majestic Croton Point Park in Westchester County, N.Y. Artists on Saturday, May 31, include rock 'n' roll innovator Chuck Berry, folk legend Arlo Guthrie, guitar virtuoso Steve Kimock, classic rockers Little Feat and musical storyteller Reid Genauer and The Assembly of Dust.

The lineup for Sunday, June 1, is equally impressive, highlighted by Grammy-winning jazz artist Branford Marsalis, avant-garde trio Medeski, Martin and Wood, the soulful Martin Sexton, and New Orleans jamsters The Radiators.

Local craft and food vendors, along with a wide range of non-profit organizations and roving entertainers, will supplement the robust musical lineup. The two-day event, featuring renowned jazz, blues, folk and rock artists, offers attendees the opportunity to jump-start the summer with a convenient musical excursion to a spectacular waterfront venue. The festival marks Terrapin's return to Croton Point Park, where Gathering of the Vibes, Terrapin's annual multi-day camping festival, was held in 1997. With the Palisade Cliffs and Hudson River as a backdrop, this 508-acre venue is the perfect destination for a pair of day-long journeys with family and friends.

BETTER ED THAN DEAD

Metal mavens Iron Maiden have compiled every one of their promotional videos into a two-DVD set that runs from 1980's "Women In Uniform" through the band's headlining slot in front of 250,000 fans at 2001's Rock In Rio performing "Brave New World."

With a running time in excess of three hours, "Visions Of The Beast" is the definitive chronicle of Iron Maiden through the years, and includes many videos previously unavailable. Not only is every video the band has ever made included -- 31 in total -- but each DVD features never-before-seen Camp Chaos animated versions of six classic tracks, interactive menus and discographies, and some special hidden extras.

The DVD is being released in conjunction with Iron Maiden's upcoming globe-trotting marathon -- the "Give Me 'Ed... Til I'm Dead" World Tour.

Of the trek, lead singer Bruce Dickinson states: "This tour is all about having fun as the name suggests. We love summer and we love playing big shows. We are going to be playing a lot of our favorite Maiden songs and many people know we've got a new album in the pipeline for later this year, so perhaps we'll be playing a new song or two, but basically it will be full on Maiden. The band is firing on all cylinders and the show will be as spectacular as always."

O.A.R. TO HEADLINE ALL-DAY MUSIC EVENT

O.A.R. will headline the "Feeling Better Than Everfine Festival" scheduled for June 28 at Cleveland, Ohio's Tower City Amphitheater. The all-day music event will showcase a total of 12 artists, including Maroon5, Virginia Coalition, Matt Nathanson and Pseudopod, performing on two stages. XM Satellite Radio will broadcast the event live on channel 43-XMU.

The artists scheduled to perform at the second annual "Feeling Better Than Everfine Festival" are diverse musically and geographically. The lineup will showcase bands from different parts of the United States that all have strong regional followings. This year's festival will feature music ranging from the "island-vibe roots rock" of Rockville, Md., natives O.A.R., to the alt/rock-country of The Lost Trailers from Washington D.C., the rock/funk-R&B sounds of Los Angeles-based Maroon 5 and Psuedopod, Louisiana-born singer/songwriter Marc Broussard and local Cincinnati rock quartet Oval Opus, among others. No two artist sets will be scheduled at the same time ensuring fans have the opportunity to catch every performance and experience a full day of live music.

NEW BLAZERS

The Blazers, the acclaimed Chicano rock band from East Los Angeles that rivals Los Lobos for excellence in the genre, have a new album, "17 Jewels," set for release on Little Dog Records. Grammy Winning Producer Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam, Lucinda Williams, Michelle Shocked) supervised the sessions for the label, which he formed after years as lead guitarist in Yoakam's band.

"17 Jewels" is the Blazers' first release on the Little Dog label after nearly a decade on Rounder Records. The Blazers currently are on tour previewing material from the album. May 16 finds the band at Gil's Cafe in Milwaukee. Saturday night they're at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, Ill., before a three-day stint Sunday through Tuesday at the Oneida Casino in Green Bay, Wis. The tour continues through Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado and Arizona before the band returns to California in July.

GREAT LIMBECK

California power pop quartet Limbeck will release "Hi, Everything's Great" on Doghouse Records June 17. Produced by Ed Rose (The Get Up Kids, Schatzi, The Beautiful Mistake, Coalesce, Kill Creek) "Hi, Everything's Great," finds the Orange County quartet's sound evolving somewhat from their earlier, straight-up indie power pop, to encompass a richer, more mature alt-country sound. Several songs on the album were inspired by Limbeck frontman Robb MacLean's experiences and recollections while touring the country with his bandmates. Limbeck is currently on tour opening for The All-American Rejects through May 31. The band will then return home to perform at their record release party at Chain Reaction in Orange County June 21. Doghouse has posted two tracks from "Hi, Everything's Great" at doghouserecords.com.