May 23, 2006
For Immediate Release

RiverSing at Slater Mill, June 17th, 2006

RiverSing is back. June 17, 2006 marks the 2nd Annual RiverSing at Slater Mill from noon until 9:00 pm. RiverSing 2006 will be even bigger and better than last year. Over 80 musical and entertainment groups, comprised of hundreds of singers and musicians, will perform. There will also be extensive activities and entertainment for children, as well as at least three grand sings with audience participation (at 2:45, 6:00 and 9:30)on both sides of the river. This year the historic Slater Mill will be open to the public. Admission is free and all are welcome.

At noon the event will begin. There will be eight stages set up on both sides of the Blackstone, on Roosevelt Avenue, Main Street and Broadway. The music will cover a wide variety of musical styles including jazz, country, folk, hip-hop, gospel and reggae. The Guy Mendilow group, Bill Harley, Trouz Braz, Kim and Reggie Harris and the Mystic Chorale with Nick Page and Jonathan Singleton are some of the scheduled performers. There will also be drum workshops, storytelling and poetry readings, a dance tent, a kids stage and make-&-take area, and a wide variety of craft, art and food vendors. The festivities will conclude at 9:00 p.m. with a Grand Sing-A-Long on both sides of the river.

Celebrating and encouraging responsible stewardship, whether in preserving the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, the Old Slater Mill, or shepherding the comeback of a river that was written off as dead and is now a National Heritage River is an integral part of the festival. The bridges of music, understanding and ecological awareness will again span the Blackstone by the Slater Mill dam on Rivers Day, June 17, 2006.

Slater Mill is a private not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserve the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, promote the arts and culture and provide enjoyable educational opportunities for all ages. Slater Mill is open weekends in March and April and daily from May to November. This event is sponsored, in part, by Dunkin Donuts. For more information please call (401) 725-8638 or go to RiverSing.org.

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About the Chamber

The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce serves the Blackstone River Valley's eleven member towns in Massachusetts: Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge. The mission of the chamber is to promote the economic vitality of the Blackstone Valley, meet the needs of the Chamber's business members, while providing leadership on issues which impact the economy and quality of life in the Valley.