Lake Winnepesaukah

Contemporary Christian artist Francesca Battistelli will perform at Lake Winnepesaukah’s Jukebox Junction Stage on Sunday, July 18, with one show at 3:00 p.m.

So, what do you want to be when you grow up?

It’s a question that takes many people years and years of trial and error and self-discovery to figure out. But for singer/songwriter Francesca Battistelli, her mind was made up when she was only six years old. After seeing The Secret Garden on Broadway with her parents, the decision was ultimately a no-brainer. “There was something about live theater – especially musical theater – that has always resonated with me,” Francesca says. “So I thought that was it. I was going to be Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden."

When Francesca was 15, she put her skills to good use in an all-girl mainstream pop group in Orlando, an experience that helped pave the way for what she does today. “We traveled all over and performed at Hard Rock Live and House of Blues a couple of times,” Francesca recalls. “It was good for what it was because it tied together two things I loved: singing and dancing."

But when the gig eventually ended, Francesca says she was thankful for an opportunity to clear her head. “Not long after, I recharged my batteries by going to this youth ministry that I absolutely loved,” Francesca shares. “It was there where the Lord really captured my heart for Christian music. I started playing guitar and really longed to bring something authentic to the scene that even non-Christians could listen to."

Armed with her passion for writing and hope for a hurting world, Francesca put pen to paper and crafted heartfelt, personal reflections on life and faith for what’s now her major-label debut, My Paper Heart. Inspired by everyone from the jazz greats her dad introduced her to as a kid, to contemporaries like John Mayer, Sara Bareilles and Nichole Nordeman, Francesca set out to write “soulful pop music that someone pops in the morning and says, ‘Now I can start my day. I feel encouraged.’"

Her first single, I’m Letting Go, not only highlights Francesca’s expressive vocal but her overarching desire to encourage her peers not to settle for anything less than what God has for them. “There’s a line in the song that says ‘I feel like I’m falling/And that’s what it’s like to believe,’” Francesca shares. “Walking in faith is like free-falling, yet that’s the best place to be. But so many of us are afraid to do that."

Francesca’s enthusiasm can’t help but find its way into her music. In fact, whether she’s talking about the spirited, funk-laden title track, My Paper Heart, or the buoyant, accept-yourself-as-you-are anthem Free To Be Me, Francesca bookends her commentary with “I really love this song. It’s so much fun to sing.” And that pervasive joy, along with Francesca’s adventurous musicianship and relatable songwriting make My Paper Heart an impressive debut.

But even more important to Francesca than offering up a collection of catchy songs for the masses is speaking a message of truth and purpose. “Ultimately, I want to be an encouragement as an artist and a fellow believer,” Francesca says. “The Lord has continually called me to do things that are outside my comfort zone, whether it was accompanying myself on guitar for the first time in front of seasoned players or packing up and moving to Nashville knowing hardly anybody. Still, He’s never left me, and He constantly shows me that it’s worth it. I have parents who pray and encourage me to be bold and to take bold steps for Christ. I don’t think that’s common enough in the Christian culture. We have these big dreams, but many aren’t willing to take the steps to go after them. Yet this is the moment. We’re not promised tomorrow. So today’s the day."

All Jukebox Junction concerts are free with admittance to Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park. All guests under 18 must be accompanied by a guest age 18 or over and must purchase either a combination $5.00 Gate Admission & $13.00 Value Strip of ride tickets or $5.00 Gate Admission & $21 Unlimited Ride Pass. Or, they must be a member of a chaperoned group. Guests over 18 must purchase a $5.00 Gate Admission and may choose to purchase individual ride tickets or a ride package. Children 2 and under are admitted free but must pay to ride. Parking is free. Park hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12 noon to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays. Lake Winnepesaukah is recognized as one of America’s top ten family amusement parks by Travel and Leisure magazine. For more information, call (706) 866-5681 or toll free (877) LAKEWIN or visit the web site at www.lakewinnie.com.

For more information, contact Talley Green (706) 866-5681, ext. 227.


		FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 8, 2010 Chattanooga, Tennessee

Francesca Battistelli To Perform At Lake Winnepesaukah July 18 Contemporary Christian artist Francesca Battistelli will perform at Lake Winnepesaukah’s Jukebox Junction Stage on Sunday, July 18, with one show at 3:00 p.m. So, what do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a question that takes many people years and years of trial and error and self-discovery to figure out. But for singer/songwriter Francesca Battistelli, her mind was made up when she was only six years old. After seeing The Secret Garden on Broadway with her parents, the decision was ultimately a no-brainer. “There was something about live theater – especially musical theater – that has always resonated with me,” Francesca says. “So I thought that was it. I was going to be Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden." When Francesca was 15, she put her skills to good use in an all-girl mainstream pop group in Orlando, an experience that helped pave the way for what she does today. “We traveled all over and performed at Hard Rock Live and House of Blues a couple of times,” Francesca recalls. “It was good for what it was because it tied together two things I loved: singing and dancing." But when the gig eventually ended, Francesca says she was thankful for an opportunity to clear her head. “Not long after, I recharged my batteries by going to this youth ministry that I absolutely loved,” Francesca shares. “It was there where the Lord really captured my heart for Christian music. I started playing guitar and really longed to bring something authentic to the scene that even non-Christians could listen to." Armed with her passion for writing and hope for a hurting world, Francesca put pen to paper and crafted heartfelt, personal reflections on life and faith for what’s now her major-label debut, My Paper Heart. Inspired by everyone from the jazz greats her dad introduced her to as a kid, to contemporaries like John Mayer, Sara Bareilles and Nichole Nordeman, Francesca set out to write “soulful pop music that someone pops in the morning and says, ‘Now I can start my day. I feel encouraged.’" Her first single, I’m Letting Go, not only highlights Francesca’s expressive vocal but her overarching desire to encourage her peers not to settle for anything less than what God has for them. “There’s a line in the song that says ‘I feel like I’m falling/And that’s what it’s like to believe,’” Francesca shares. “Walking in faith is like free-falling, yet that’s the best place to be. But so many of us are afraid to do that." Francesca’s enthusiasm can’t help but find its way into her music. In fact, whether she’s talking about the spirited, funk-laden title track, My Paper Heart, or the buoyant, accept-yourself-as-you-are anthem Free To Be Me, Francesca bookends her commentary with “I really love this song. It’s so much fun to sing.” And that pervasive joy, along with Francesca’s adventurous musicianship and relatable songwriting make My Paper Heart an impressive debut. But even more important to Francesca than offering up a collection of catchy songs for the masses is speaking a message of truth and purpose. “Ultimately, I want to be an encouragement as an artist and a fellow believer,” Francesca says. “The Lord has continually called me to do things that are outside my comfort zone, whether it was accompanying myself on guitar for the first time in front of seasoned players or packing up and moving to Nashville knowing hardly anybody. Still, He’s never left me, and He constantly shows me that it’s worth it. I have parents who pray and encourage me to be bold and to take bold steps for Christ. I don’t think that’s common enough in the Christian culture. We have these big dreams, but many aren’t willing to take the steps to go after them. Yet this is the moment. We’re not promised tomorrow. So today’s the day." All Jukebox Junction concerts are free with admittance to Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park. All guests under 18 must be accompanied by a guest age 18 or over and must purchase either a combination $5.00 Gate Admission & $13.00 Value Strip of ride tickets or $5.00 Gate Admission & $21 Unlimited Ride Pass. Or, they must be a member of a chaperoned group. Guests over 18 must purchase a $5.00 Gate Admission and may choose to purchase individual ride tickets or a ride package. Children 2 and under are admitted free but must pay to ride. Parking is free. Park hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12 noon to 10:00 p.m. on Sundays. Lake Winnepesaukah is recognized as one of America’s top ten family amusement parks by Travel and Leisure magazine. For more information, call (706) 866-5681 or toll free (877) LAKEWIN or visit the web site at www.lakewinnie.com. For more information, contact Talley Green (706) 866-5681, ext. 227.

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