Hot entertainers on tap for Salsa Festival

The talent lineup is complete for the 2005 version of the Three Rivers Salsa Festival scheduled for April 1 and 2. The festival will kick-off at 7 p.m. with a gospel concert at the Three Rivers schools auditorium featuring Christian County Entertainer of the Year Clifton Jansky. The Friday night gospel concert is sponsored by South Texas Custom Printing.

The entertainment will begin at 10 a.m. on April 2 on stage one, east of City Hall, with a Salute to the Troops with local gospel singer Linda Couk performing gospel and patriotic songs. At 11 a.m. Remission, a young gospel rock band will take the stage. Stage two will get jumping with the one-man show of Chris Rybak at the same time.

At noon, Mariachi Bandelero will perform for a half hour on stage one and then stroll the grounds. Latin Talk, an eight-piece salsa and Latin jazz band will be on the stage one at 1 p.m..

            At the same time, The Stars of the Brush Country Jamboree will begin performing which will last until 6 p.m. Country swing singer Billy Mata will be one of the featured entertainers.

            At 2 p.m., Jake Cortez and his Latin blues band will be on stage one followed at 3 p.m. by Conjunto Oro, a four-piece group from Alice. Lluvia de Estrella from Beeville will be making their second appearance at the festival in as many years at 4 p.m.

            The entertainment for the day will conclude beginning at 5 p.m. with local favorite Ruben Salazar and his eight-piece band – Lasso.

            Jerry Retzloff booked the entertainment for stage two and Murrell Foster scheduled the artists on stage one.

            There is also food, salsa and other family fun.

Photo: Chris Rybak is one of several performers who will spice up the atmosphere at Three Rivers Salsa Festival April 1 and 2.