HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas —Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael — The Bacon Brothers — will be the celebrity grand marshals of the First Ever 13th Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in historic downtown Hot Springs.
Fans will also get to enjoy a free concert by the Bacon Brothers Band immediately after the world-famous 98-foot parade March 17 on Bridge Street, proclaimed by Ripley’s Believe It or Not as the world’s shortest street in everyday use.
“Kevin and Michael Bacon will continue the parade’s unbroken string of home-run celebrity grand marshals,” said Steve Arrison, CEO of Visit Hot Springs and one of the founders of the internationally acclaimed parade. “Upwards of 30,000 fans of all things Irish will get to enjoy Kevin and Michael both during the parade and also at the traditional free concert immediately after.”
The Bacon Brothers are anything but a typical rock band. Brothers Michael and Kevin Bacon, each accomplished in their own right, play gritty rock that is unapologetically unique and authentic. Their style can best be described by their first album title, “Forosoco” a word describing the blend of folk, rock, soul and country influences. Now, nearly 20 years later, The Bacon Brothers continue to impress audiences and critics with their soulful sound and their latest offering of Americana, “36 Cents.”
Older brother Michael, an acclaimed musician and composer, and younger brother Kevin, an award-winning actor, combine to form The Bacon Brothers. Their childhood hometown of Philadelphia is the brothers’ muse for their eclectic blend of rock and soul. Growing up in the City of Brotherly Love, Michael and Kevin were surrounded by music from an early age.
Michael started as a career musician in the 1960s, first playing gigs at Philadelphia’s Electric Factory with Kevin tagging along. He later moved to Nashville to pursue songwriting, and his musical career took off. Now, an Emmy Award-winning composer, Michael is credited with many original scores for film and television, most recently scoring the documentary “Good Fortune – The Story of Morgenthau.”
Younger brother Kevin always loved music but chose a different path. Best known for his acting roles in “Footloose,” Mystic River” and “Apollo 13,” Kevin has appeared in 80 films and has a Golden Globe win along with several Emmy and Screen Actor’s Guild nominations. He most recently starred in the FOX TV drama “The Following.”
Now, nearly two decades after the band formed in 1995, The Bacon Brothers are a musical force to be reckoned with. Don’t let Kevin’s roots in Hollywood fool you. According to The New Yorker, “Hollywood hangs like an albatross around the neck of any movie star turned musician, but this duo shakes off the burden of fame with sharply executed rock that has a blue-collar, rootsy edge.”
Set to release their seventh album, “36 Cents,” on September 16, it’s a new era for The Bacon Brothers. With new connections in Nashville and tour dates across the country, The Bacon Brothers may no longer be one of the industry’s best-kept secrets.
The Bacon Brothers Band includes Michael Bacon on vocals, guitar and cello; Kevin Bacon on vocals, guitar and percussion; Paul Guzzone on bass guitar and backing vocals; Joe Mennonna on keyboards and accordion; Frank Vilardi on drums, and Ira Siegel on lead guitar, mandolin and backing vocals.
The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade has brought worldwide attention to Hot Springs and helped expand the city’s reputation as a city that knows how to have fun. It began in 2003 when some friends sharing an adult beverage came up with the idea of using nearby 98-foot-long Bridge Street as the location for some fun. The Parade swiftly gained attention around the globe for the hilarious premise that gave birth to its annual aura of spectacular hilarity.
For more information contact Steve Arrison at 501-321-2027.