The May 19, 2007 Road to Austin: Live Music Capital of the World event is designed to create and capture a heightened level of understanding and excitement about the how and why Austin, Texas, has become known as the “live music capital of the world.” The show is to be held in the evening on Auditorium Shores and is expected to draw upwards of fifteen to twenty thousand people to this free admission event. This vision will be accomplished by creating an unprecedented live musical showcase of 30 local and world renowned artists who are deeply rooted to the Austin music scene legacy. The production includes a scripted visual and musical experience delivered via state-of-the-art theatrical staging technology and world-class talent. This production is designed to celebrate Austin’s musical heritage along with its artists, and is generously being offered by Freescale Semiconductor. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and the event will conclude promptly at 10:30 p.m.

The completed stage theme and set design recreates a turn of the century Texas performance landmark, and is loosely based on the aesthetics of Austin’s first large musical venue: The Millet Opera House (today’s Austin Club). This venue is where the song “The Eyes of Texas” was performed for the first time. The stage design captures this ambience complete with functioning balconies, and also incorporates numerous props and artifacts that establish the look & feel of a revue style musical production that would have taken place in these bygone era venues. The size and scope of the physical stage and wings is grand in scale (124' x 68' x 50' x 6'), and includes a video display used to integrate background visuals that highlight the musicians’ performances. The video screen towers 30 feet tall and is 50 feet wide.

The movie, lighting design, camera blocking/framing, video composites, and staging are all elements that have been combined to produce an experience that ensures amazement and a “take-away” feeling of pride from the resident Austin audience.

Stephen Bruton is the musical director for the show and will work together with a top-flight team of producers, directors, engineers, crew, and a roster of performers to accomplish this event. There will be an 11-piece house band, led by Mr. Bruton, which will deliver three and a half hours of music via a cavalcade of over 30 artists performing two songs each from their respective bodies of work. The lineup has been developed to include multiple genres of music, including poetry, and will attempt to blend and blur this artistic diversity in order to deliver many never before seen collaborations. The panoply of celebrity headliners will heighten the impact of the evening’s apex and afford Austin’s local artists an opportunity to have these legends accompany them during their performances. A five-day rehearsal and staging period, occurring directly prior to the event, is where all these critical components will be perfected.

The show opens with a highly produced and scripted short movie that chronicles the history, cast of characters/artists/pundits, and milestone events/venues that have propelled Austin to international cult status. Within the movie will be scripted cameo appearances of a diverse group of people who will share their point of view from a position of authority on this subject matter. Included in this cast are representatives from all the local and regional media outlets who have covered and reported the Austin music scene over the course of its history. This opening movie is designed to morph into the live musical performances of the evening’s programming, and seamlessly continue the Austin musical odyssey that lives today. A highlight of the evening will be a tribute to Kris Kristofferson, who will perform five duets during the show.

The Auditorium Shores venue will also contain a large, covered pavillion that will house many local Austin community outreach and charitable organizations. This pavillion is designed to serve as a gathering and information exchange location. Also located within this area will be the music store offering for sale CDs from the evening’s performers and related merchandise.

Concessions will consist of beverage and food sales, and will be strategically located around the perimeter of the venue.

This event is sure to reach capacity early.