New Season Of "Front And Center" Boasts Concerts With Trey Anastasio, Bob DiPiero featuring Brandy Clark, Sara Evans and Martina McBride, for KING & COUNTRY, Hunter Hayes, Warren Haynes, Little Big Town, The Rides, Train, and Zakk Wylde

NEW YORK, March 31, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees and multiple Grammy, CMA and AMA Award winners take over the new season of public television's critically acclaimed music series Front and Center. The fifth season features an all-star line-up of some of the biggest names in rock, pop and country music with exclusive performances by Trey Anastasio, Bob DiPiero featuring Brandy Clark, Sara Evans and Martina McBride, for KING & COUNTRY, Hunter Hayes, Warren Haynes, Little Big Town, Train, The Rides and Zakk Wylde.  Episodes were filmed in New York at the Iridium, the McKittrick Hotel and Brooklyn Bowl, and in Nashville at Marathon Music Works.

Season five premieres nationwide beginning April 4 on public television (check local listings). In the New York metropolitan area, Front and Center premieres Saturdays at 11:15 p.m. beginning April 4 on WLIW21 and Sundays at 11 p.m. beginning April 5 on THIRTEEN.

"We work hard to create an intimate concert environment that connects an artist to their fans," said Executive Producer Don Maggi. "The new season captures some incredible musical moments and undeniable musicianship from some of the best songwriters the industry has to offer." 

"Front and Center's fifth season showcases public television's diversity in arts programming with its broad range of musical styles and unique collaborations from familiar artists," said Diane Masciale, general manager, WLIW21. "We look forward to sharing these concerts commercial-free with audiences across the country." 

This season Front and Center features four new CMA Songwriters Series performances with three-time CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town, four-time Grammy Award-nominee and CMA Award-winning artist Hunter Hayes, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Bob DiPiero featuring two-time 2015 Grammy Award-nominee Brandy Clark, and a "Ladies Night Out" special with multi-CMA Award-winners Sara Evans and Martina McBride. Collectively these country powerhouses have sold more than 20 million albums, won 12 CMA Awards, had 11 No.1 albums and charted more than 30 No.1 singles. Each episode features guest appearances from some of Nashville's best songwriters, including Barry Dean, Natalie Hemby, Hillary Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Shane McAnally, Lori McKenna, Gretchen Peters, Liz Rose, Gordie Sampson, The Warren Brothers and Charlie Worsham.

"It was really a privilege to be invited to do a performance during the CMA Songwriters Series," said Hunter Hayes. "Not only did we get the chance to do a different show highlighting the songs and stories behind them, but I had the unique chance to share the stage with three fantastic songwriters who I look up to and admire. What a special evening that I'm so thankful for."

Guitarist, vocalist and Tony Award-nominee Trey Anastasio, founder of the rock-band Phish, performs songs from his solo album, Paper Wheels, featuring the Trey Anastasio Band. Grammy Award-winning artist Warren Haynes debuts new material with roots-band Railroad Earth from their upcoming album. Australian pop rockers for KING & COUNTRY performs songs off its recent Grammy-winning album Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong, including the hit single "Fix My Eyes." Best known as the former guitarist for heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, founder of Black Label Society, performs an acoustic set including "Blessed Hellride" and "Stillborn."

"The beauty of Front and Center is that they focus on the music," said brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone of for KING & COUNTRY. "The intimacy of the show gives our fans a completely different look and feel for what we do live — in a completely stripped-down setting.  So for us to be a part of their new season and to be able to share an uninterrupted hour of music is truly thrilling!"

Grammy Award-winning rock band Train perform its Billboard Top 5 album California 37 from front to back, including hit singles "Hey, Soul Sister," "50 Ways to Say Goodbye" and "Bruises." Finally, two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stephen Stills' blues-rock supergroup The Rides, featuring five-time Grammy-nominated singer, guitarist and songwriter Kenny Wayne Shepherd and famed Chicago rock/blues keyboardist Barry Goldberg (Electric Flag), perform songs from its Top 40 debut album Can't Get Enough.

Front and Center is a production of Front and Center Entertainment, LLC and is a presentation of WLIW LLC for WNET. The series is distributed nationally by American Public Television.  All episodes of Front and Center are directed by Pierre and François Lamoureux of FogoLabs.

Videos and more information about Front and Center are available at www.frontandcenter.com and www.youtube.com/frontandcentertv.

About WNET
As New York's flagship public media provider and the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to more than 5 million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, PBS NewsHour Weekend, Charlie Rose and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Oh Noah! and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams and MetroFocus, the multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. WNET is also a leader in connecting with viewers on emerging platforms, including the THIRTEEN Explore App where users can stream PBS content for free.

About APT
American Public Television (APT) has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to the nation's public television stations since 1961. In 2014, APT distributed one-third of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles in the U. S. Among its 300 new program titles per year, APT programs include prominent documentaries, news and current affairs programs, dramas, how-to programs, children's series and classic movies. America's Test Kitchen From Cook's Illustrated, Rick Steves' Europe, Live from the Artists Den, Doc Martin, Nightly Business Report, Midsomer Murders, NHK Newsline, Lidia's Kitchen, Globe Trekker, Simply Ming, BBC World News and P. Allen Smith's Garden Home join numerous documentaries and performance programs popular with public television viewers. APT licenses programs internationally through its APT Worldwide service. Entering its 10th year, Create® TV — featuring the best of public television's lifestyle programming — is distributed by APT. APT also distributes WORLD™, public television's premier news, science and documentary channel. To find out more about APT's programs and services, visit APTonline.org.

Websites: www.frontandcenter.com, www.youtube.com/frontandcentertv
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Twitter: @frontandcenter
Instagram: @frontandcenterTV

SOURCE WNET