Press Release: 8/28/2023
Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Chubby Checker and More Join the Court of Honor State Lineup
SPRINGFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, CHUBBY CHECKER AND MORE JOIN THE COURT OF HONOR STAGE LINEUP
August 25, 2023
IndustryGeneral News ArticlePress Release
More free shows have been added to the lineup for the Court of Honor Stage, sponsored by Mattress Firm. Next month, fairgoers will be able to see legendary performer Chubby Checker; The Joy of Music, a special production by Springfield Symphony Orchestra; Barry Goudreau, formerly of Boston, and his band Engine Room; plus, spectacular performances by world-renowned mentalist, Banachek in his show Mind Games Live. All shows are free with admission to The Big E.
Chubby Checker
Sept. 23, 8pm
Chubby Checker was the unrivaled king of the Rock & Roll dance craze. “The Twist” was not only a No. 1 song, but it introduced the concept of “dancing apart to the beat.” “The Twist” rocketed to No. 1 during the fall of 1960, remaining on the charts for four months. Close to a year after the song dropped off, it slowly returned to prominence and hit No. 1 again in late 1961. After “The Twist” first made Checker a superstar, he returned to the top in 1961 with “Do the Pony.” That same year, he also reached the Top Ten with “Let’s Twist Again,” which assured the dance’s passage from novelty to institution. In addition to 1961’s “The Fly,” Checker’s other Top Ten hits included three 1962 smashes: “Slow Twistin’,” “Limbo Rock,” and “Popeye the Hitchhiker.” He even starred in a pair of feature films, Twist Around the Clock and Don't Knock the Twist. In total, Checker notched 32 chart hits.
Springfield Symphony Orchestra
Sept. 25-26, 2pm
The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and Springfield Chamber Players present “The Joy of Music” in celebration of SSO’s 80th anniversary. Since its establishment, SSO has grown to be the largest Massachusetts symphony outside of Boston. It consists of over 80 musicians from the Northeast region of the United States and Canada and holds many performances in a given season – as either the full orchestra or in ensemble formats.
“We are honored and excited to have our wonderful musicians included in this year’s Big E concert lineup,” said Paul Lambert, President & CEO of Springfield Symphony Orchestra. “As proud members of the Springfield community, we look forward to welcoming The Big E audience to these concerts and to our upcoming season as we celebrate our historic 80th anniversary.”
“The Joy of Music,” performed by an SSO chamber ensemble, will be an unforgettable show, specially curated for these two performances at The Big E.
Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room
Formerly of Boston
Sept. 25-26, 8pm
Goudreau is the former original guitarist of the multi-platinum selling band Boston and played on the band’s first two albums, Boston and Don’t Look Back. When released, Bostonwas the fastest selling debut album of all time. Both albums landed on the top of the Billboard Pop Charts, with Boston reaching No. 3 and Don’t Look Back reaching No. 1. Goudreau’s music career continued after departing from Boston. He went on to form Orion the Hunter, RTZ, released two records with Brad Delp, and now tours with his band Engine Room.
Banachek’s Mind Games Live
Sept. 21-25, 12 & 5pm
Referred to as “the greatest mentalism act in the world” by Penn & Teller, Banachek comes to The Big E direct from his residency at the Strat in Vegas. Banachek’s Mind Games Live is a nonstop heart-pounding journey where Banachek introduces one incredible act after the next, demonstrating why he is known as the world’s greatest mind reader.
Banachek is the most awarded mentalist in the nation and the most in-demand consultant by the world’s top magicians and mentalists, including David Copperfield, Penn & Teller, Criss Angel and David Blaine. Banachek has performed on more than 50 major TV shows from CNN Live to TODAY and has had hundreds of appearances on TV shows around the world. He has appeared on and produced more than 100 TV programs for Criss Angel and has been highlighted in almost every major magazine and newspaper from the New York Times to the National Enquirer. He is also a regular on Joe Rogan’s podcast.
For more information on these great free shows on the Court of honor Stage, plus the full lineup of entertainment at The Big E, visit TheBigE.com.
The Big E, the largest event on the East Coast and fourth largest Fair in North America, returns to West Springfield, Mass., Sept. 15-Oct. 1. Stay up to date on year-round events and programs taking place at Eastern States Exposition by joining the email newsletter list at TheBigE.com or connecting on social media.