Sisaundra Lewis to headline W.G. MusicFest

Sisaundra Lewis will entertain MusicFest guests Oct. 10 in downtown Winter Garden.

WINTER GARDEN - Sisaundra Lewis fans will be pleased — the powerhouse singer is headlining MusicFest 2014, the free three-day outdoor musical festival that takes over downtown Winter Garden every fall. Lewis will perform Friday, Oct. 10, on the Main Street Stage.

The ninth annual event is produced by the Winter Garden Heritage Foundation and attracts more than 20,000 attendees each year. It showcases a diverse collection of Central Florida performers and their musical styles, including country, jazz, Americana, classic rock, Southern rock, bluegrass, alternative, pop, folk, classical, choral, rhythm and blues, Zydeco, Native American, Japanese, African and Celtic.

In addition to all of the musical acts performing on three downtown stages, shops will be open and there will be food and merchandise vendors lining the streets. The Kids Zone will have expanded ticketed activities for children and families, including inflatable slides, bounce houses and games.

MusicFest will run from 6-11 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12.

The Orange Blossom Cannonball, a 1907 steam-powered locomotive that was featured in films such as “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” and “3:10 to Yuma,” will run in conjunction with the festival. Ticket information will be provided once it is released.

For more information on the music festival, go to wintergardenmusicfest.com. For sponsorship inquiries: [email protected]. For vendor inquiries: [email protected]. For musician inquiries: [email protected].

About Lewis

Sisaundra Lewis is an accomplished artist who rose to stardom and gained global recognition after performing on Blake Shelton’s team in Season Six of NBC’s “The Voice!” She was ultimately eliminated but says she learned from the experience.

“Dreams never grow old, and real talent will always stand out and be respected,” Lewis told the West Orange Times on Tuesday.

Born in Haines City, Lewis began performing on stage when she was 5 and said she always feels comfortable when singing before a crowd.

“The stage feels like home to me,” she said.

Lewis has sung with Grammy winners Peabo Bryson and Celine Dion. For 10 years, she was the featured performer in Cirque du Soleil’s “La Nouba.” Her unmistakable voice can be heard in commercials for Folgers Coffee, Sprite, Sears and Arby’s, along with many others.

The former Winter Garden resident is looking forward to performing at MusicFest.

“I lived in Winter Garden and still frequent the city,” she said. “It’s historically beautiful; it’s the home of one of my favorite venues to perform, the Garden Theatre; and the people are vibrant and full of love.”

Who’s performing

This is a tentative MusicFest schedule, and more acts are being added:

• FRIDAY — Lakeview Middle School Jazz Band, Bridgewater Middle School Jazz Band, Grimes Alley, Nova Jazz, Patrick Gibson, Robert Harris Group, Anita Drink, Men With Mortgages, Jim Gentry & the Groover, Sisaundra Lewis (presented by Health Central – Orlando Health), Latin Jazz Night (presented by John and Sharyn Murphy), Akangana and El Tigre.

• SATURDAY — Windermere Prep Jazz Band, Hand Picked with Jason Thomas, Dominic Gaudious, Garden Community Choir, Orisi Risi, Layla Brisbois, John Dorian, The Strung Trio, Acoustic Tonic, Beemo!, Darko Gray, Montverde Academy Jazz Chorus, MPiRE Band, Florida Youth Orchestra Quartet, O’Town Sound, Uncle Jr., Jonnie Morgan Band, and Butch Preston & the Full House Band.

• SUNDAY — Breakers, The Anderson Group, Brian Smalley, Kalila Foy, Freightliners, Taiko Dojo Japanese Drummers and Rose O’Grady’s Highlanders.