Here’s a resolution you’ll find easy to keep: spend New Year’s Day outdoors at one of Arizona’s most scenic venues, with the chance to hear the unique sound of high energy fiddle, Native American flute, and Celtic-jazz-influenced-music by Arvel Bird. Live music from 12:00-2:00 is included with daily admission of $10. Beginning with a Native American style New Year’s blessing for 2014, Arvel will present a concert surrounded by desert beauty, performing new music from his two CDs as well as fan favorites from releases including ‘Animal Totems,’ ‘Tribal Music Suite’ and ‘Titanic Centennial.’ His performance at the Arboretum was made possible by a generous co-sponsorship from the Superstition Area Land Trust (azsalt.org); visitors that day will have a chance to meet volunteers from SALT and learn more about the organization and its efforts to preserve the Sonoran Desert.
Arvel Bird spent a decade playing fiddle for country legends including Glen Campbell, Loretta Lynn and Louise Mandrell; now based in Nashville, he’s chosen life on the road to connect with audiences the old-fashioned way — LIVE — where his emotionally-driven performances and high-energy Celtic-Jazz fiddle ignite concert venues, symphony halls and festivals from coast-to-coast. Don’t miss this talented musician, storyteller and world-traveled entertainer, whose continuously-evolving music delights audiences around the planet. Music is free if you’re a BTA annual member or have an Arizona State Parks yearly-pass, and included with $10 daily admission for those who don’t. Read more, find links to Arvel’s videos and connect with the artist at ag.arizon.edu/bta
Other New Year’s Day events include “First Day Hikes” arranged in concert with Arizona State Parks statewide program designed to get Grand Canyon Staters outdoors to enjoy nature. First Day Hikes at the Arboretum begin with a guided bird walk at 8:30 lead by Gold Canyon avian enthusiast Mark Ochs, a dog socialization walk lead by Sandra and her canine compadre Chaco at 10:30, a general tour of the main trail at 11am, and a Desert Plants interpretive walk with Arizona Native Plants Society Phoenix Chapter co-president Cass Blodgett at 2:30pm.
Arvel Bird At the Arboretum New Year’s Day Concert at noon