(April 11, 2006) —
Ben Lee, whose pop career was acclaimed even as a young teenager in Australia, headlines the first day of music at the 2006 Lilac Festival on May 12.
Lee's low-key music won't trample the lilacs, but he's in his mid-20s now, and his broken heart — he got dumped by Claire Danes a couple of years ago — has produced his best album to date, Awake is the New Sleep.
The Lilac Festival will be held May 12 to 21 at Highland Park.
Organizers are holding a news conference at 11 a.m. today to release details of the festival.
Music headliners include Grammy winning urban-dance chanteuse Jody Watley on May 15, standards singer Steve Tyrell celebrating "Wine Jazz and Blues" day on May 18 and ex-Temptations singer Richard Street appropriately heading the May 17 "Seniors Day." In the revolving door that is the Temptations, at least Street sang on one of the group's finest efforts, "Papa Was a Rolling Stone."
The free shows on the ESL Lilac Stage begin at 6:30 p.m. The final date of the festival, May 21, has yet to be filled. Other performers include Teressa Wilcox, Great Train Robbery, the Bluz Rockers, Luisito Rosario, Cahal Dunne, Juliet Lloyd, Kristin Mainhart Juliet Lloyd, and Dave McGrath.
The lineup for the ESL Stage:
Ben Lee, May 12.
Atlas, celebrating its 25th anniversary on May 13.
A new lineup of the Grateful Dead anachronisms, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, May 14.
Jody Watley, May 15.
Salsa and tropical vocalist Tito Allen, May 16, for Latino Day.
Richard Street of the Temptations, May 17, for Seniors Day.
Steve Tyrell, May 18, on Wine, Jazz and Blues Day.
The local club cover monsters, Uncle Plum, May 19.
Megan Mullins, May 20, headlining County Day.
JSPEVAK@DemocratandChronicle.com
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