NOAH’S ARCADE CLOSES AN EVENTFUL SUMMER OPENING FOR ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND AND AN APPEARANCE AT GARDENSTOCK FESTIVAL

Noah Gabriel, Chad Watson and Justin O’Connell have been playing music in the Fox Valley area separately for over a decade now, but since coming together as the band Noah’s Arcade just over a year ago they’ve quickly made a name for themselves. Their packed summer culminates with an opening spot for Robert Randolph & The Family Band at Park West in Chicago on August 15th and Gardenstock Art and Music Festival in Dixon, Illinois on August 17th.

In March of 2011, Gabriel, Watson and O’Connell met during the recording of the Made in Aurora album, the brainchild of Kiss the Sky record store owner Steve Warrenfeltz. The album features local Fox Valley artists. Recorded in just a few days at Backthird Audio in Aurora, Warrenfeltz achieved what he was looking to do – create a community among local musicians and listeners.

The trio got to play a couple songs together, on the spot, for Warrentfeltz’s birthday party nearly two years ago at Two Brothers Roundhouse. Musically, all three felt it click on stage, and lamented the fact that Gabriel was soon moving to Austin, Texas to pursue music further.

But Gabriel says he soon found out just how over-saturated the music scene in Austin was, and within eight months, was making his way back to Aurora with a six week long solo acoustic tour.

“As soon as we made the decision to head back home, I mentioned wanting to get a band together with Justin and Chad. My wife, who also acts as my manager, started pushing me to call them up before we even left for the tour. So I did,” says Gabriel.

The Arcade has been consistently playing throughout the past year and finished recording their first album  together this past May at In the Woods’ studio with Gabriel’s longtime friend Mike Bowen. Now in the hands of master engineer Frank Pappalardo (who is currently mixing and mastering the album between sessions with both Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck), the album will soon be released along with a documentary film of the studio process by filmmaker Rob Hale.

A few weeks ago the band was presented with the opportunity to open for American blues/funk and soul act, Robert Randolph & The Family Band. Randolph has been named one of Rolling Stone’s top 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Like Gabriel, Randolph sites Stevie Ray Vaughan as a primary influence and is known for lively onstage dancing. The show is scheduled for Thursday, August 15th at 8pm at the Park West in Chicago.

Warrenfeltz is very excited about the band's upcoming opening slot at the Park West. “Robert Randolph & The Family Band and Noah's Arcade are a beautiful match. Both bands take you to places that you've never been before! Be prepared to have your spirits lifted high ... REAL high! Noah and Robert make their instruments sing; a duet by the two would truly be a gift from that which controls the universe! A show not to be missed!” says Warrenfeltz.

Two days later, on August 17th, the band heads out to Dixon, Illinois for Gardenstock Art and Music Festival. An annual festival growing every year, the Distinctive Gardens of Dixon raises money for the Sinnissippi Center for Youth Gardening Program. Noah’s Arcade is thrilled to be playing this along with eight other bands while thirty-three artists show off their talents throughout the day. Admission is a $5.00 donation.

Noah’s Arcade will have short demo discs of their new album, unofficially titled “This Better Be Good,” along with their signature Nintendo inspired t-shirts for sale.

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More information and ticket purchases for the Robert Randolph show at the Park West on August 15th at 8pm can be found at http://www.jamusa.com/Venues/ParkWest/Concerts.aspx.

Information on the all day Gardenstock Arts and Music Festival in Dixon, IL on August 17th can be found at www.diggersdelight.com.

To listen, read more and find a schedule of upcoming shows with Noah’s Arcade please visit www.noahgabriel.com. Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/noahsarcade1.