Rock-Pop Stars Kelley, Cabrera To Perform May 2 At Balloon Festival

DNK Records recording artist Josh Kelley and Papa Joe Records recording artist Ryan Cabrera will headline a free concert at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Centennial Era Balloon Festival presented by AT&T Real Yellow Pages at 6:30 p.m. (ET) Saturday, May 2.

Kelley and Cabrera, pop/rock sensations who kick off their "Tell It Like It Is" tour of the United States April 15, will play the Coke Zero Music Stage in the Pagoda Plaza. Opening acts will be Brandon Whyde and Australia natives The Kin.

Kelley, a native of Augusta, Ga., released three studio albums in 2008, with "Special Company," the acoustic "Backwoods" and "To Remember," sold exclusively by retailer Target. His hit singles include "Amazing," which debuted on his 2003 album "For the Ride Home" and landed on the soundtrack of the movie "Raising Helen," starring Kate Hudson. Kelley also earned acclaim for the hit single "Only You" from his August 2005 release "Almost Honest."

Cabrera, a Dallas native, scored top-20 hits with "True" and "On the Way Down" from his major-label debut "Take It All Away" in 2004. His latest album, "The Moon Under Water," was released in May 2008.

The concert will be part of an unforgettable evening - and weekend - of family-friendly entertainment as The Racing Capital of the World celebrates its balloon-racing heritage with the Centennial Era Balloon Festival presented by AT&T Real Yellow Pages. The first competitive event of any kind at IMS was a gas-filled balloon race on June 5, 1909 - a full two months before the 2.5-oval was completed.

Saturday evening's schedule kicks off at 6 p.m. when the public gates open and AT&T Real Yellow Pages collectible balloon trading pin giveaways get underway. Wine tasting courtesy of Oliver Winery also opens at 6 p.m.

Following the Kelley/Cabrera concert, numerous colorful hot air balloons will inflate at 8 p.m. for a beautiful balloon "glow" as dusk settles over IMS. Balloons will remain tethered while the pilots shoot flame into the balloons, lighting up the balloons and the sky in a colorful spectacle.

The evening concludes with fireworks at 9 p.m. For additional information on the Centennial Era Balloon Festival presented by AT&T Real Yellow Pages, visit www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

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Hot-air balloon crash leaves 20 S'poreans stuck on hill

THE 20 Singaporean tourists were having the time of their lives, flying over mountains in a hot-air balloon.

But the hot-air balloon crashed half-way into the journey, leaving them dangling precariously at the edge of a hilltop.
Through coordination and teamwork, some managed to leave the basket slowly and pull the balloon and remaining passengers to safety, avoiding further tragedy.
Witnesses said about half of the Singaporeans were injured. Madam Lee Kwai Sim, 68, suffered a fractured foot, while others suffered bruises, scraps and other minor injuries.
The accident happened on 1 Feb in Turkey's central Cappadocia region.
Hairstylist Vincent Leong, 43, his mother Madam Lee, and two friends were among those on the 11-day Chan Brothers tour over the Chinese New Year period.
On the sixth day, they were offered a hot balloon ride as an optional item on the itinerary.

Mr Kelvin Ng, 45, an administrator, said the tour guide persuaded them to sign up, saying it was very safe.
He said 24 out of the group of 28 decided to give the 45-minute ride a try.
The group was split into two hot-air balloons - 20 were placed on the first balloon with three other tourists, while the remaining four and the tour guide were on the second balloon.
Mr Leong said the first balloon had only been airborne for about 20 minutes when the pilot suddenly shouted: 'I can't see, I can't see! We have to land! We've got to land!'
Although it was foggy, the hills were still clearly visible.
Mr Leong said: 'I shouted, 'It's a slope!' A few other guys also shouted, but the pilot didn't seem to hear us.'

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Love is in the air as couple renew vows

DAREDEVIL romantics John and Sue Lockett have renewed their wedding vows – 3,000 feet up in a hot air balloon.

The breathtaking trip was arranged as a surprise present for Sue to mark their 25th wedding anniversary.

And three generations of their family also went along for the ride yesterday, where they watched the blessing delivered by a local clergyman.

The uplifting service in the balloon basket was followed by a celebration meal and a reception back on terra firma.

Mum-of-two Sue, a 52-year-old school kitchen assistant, said: "It was absolutely brilliant. Wonderful. At first, I didn't know if I wanted to do it. But now I've been up in a hot air balloon, I would do it all over again."

The couple, who live in Lightwood, originally wed in the more humble surroundings of Hanley Register Office as they were saving up to buy a house at the time.

But as the years have gone by, their sense of adventure has grown. They have previously taken part in a charity parachute jump and tried their hand at water-skiing.

John, who works as a maintenance electrician, was determined to splash out to make the anniversary trip unforgettable.

"I love her to bits," he said. "I just wanted to do something a bit more unusual than the run-of-the-mill things. Our sons thought we were completely daft when they heard about the idea."

Their youngest son, 20-year-old Richard, was among the balloon passengers. He was joined by John's 74-year-old mother Beryl and Sue's sisters, Christine and Jill.

The journey, arranged through Balloons UK, began at Trentham Gardens and took them to Ipstones in the Moorlands.

"It was really smooth and peaceful up in the balloon. It was fantastic and the service was great," said John, aged 51.

The only hiccup came when the party tried to land and the balloon tipped on its side, with everyone erupting into fits of laughter as they clung on to the basket.

Beryl Lockett, who lives in Blurton, couldn't wait to go on the trip.

She said: "I've been in a helicopter before and also on a boat at Niagara Falls. I was thrilled to bits to go up in the balloon."

Beryl had always wanted to go on a balloon ride with her husband, but he died before they got to plan it.

Clergyman Alex Brown, from Longton Central Hall, was comfortable with the sky-high service yesterday.

He said: "I've previously done two other blessings in the air. It's a special service, normally for couples who want the service somewhere other than church."

You will be able to listen to the duo's story soon.

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Hot air balloon rides as part of Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival postponed

FAIRHOPE, Ala. -- Hot air balloon rides benefiting the Fairhope Education Enrichment Foundation during Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival have been postponed due to windy weather this weekend.

The balloonist advised FEEF officials that winds are a bit too strong to safely operate the balloon during a planned Friday flyover and tethered rides Sunday morning at the Colony at the Grand.

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Balloon Stampede theme to be 'Keeping Spirits High'

WALLA WALLA — “Keeping Spirits High” will be the theme for this year’s Walla Walla Balloon Stampede.

As tradition has it, the theme was revealed this weekend at the 2009 Business Expo & Home Show.

“We went with a more traditional theme to go with the 35-year celebration,” said Susan Hall of the Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, which runs both the Expo and Balloon Stampede.

The Stampede’s poster for this year is also more traditional. It is a photo of several hot-air balloons rising in the morning sun. Last year’s theme was “Going Wild,” and was a drawing of a tiger, alligator and giraffe all riding in a hot air balloon.

The Balloon Stampede will take place May 8-10, which is Mother’s Day weekend.

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4-day show of Int'l Hot Air Balloon Fiesta comes to end

The hot air balloon of A. J. Troost named "Peacock" from the Netherlands floats over Malaysia's landmarks Seri Wawasan Bridge (L), Putra Mosque (2nd L), Prime Minister's Office Putra Perdana (2nd R) and Millennium Monument Putrajaya, during International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009 in Putrajaya outside Kuala Lumpur March 21, 2009. The four-day show ends on Sunday with participants from Belgium, New Zealand, Netherlands, France, United States, Philippines, Switzerland, Japan and Malaysia.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

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Hot air balloon bother

Visitors enjoying the sunshine outside a South Lakeland hotel were in for a surprise when a huge balloon started drifting their way.

A hot air balloon preparing to take off in a field near to the New Dungeon Gyll Hotel, Great Langdale, Ambleside got into difficulty when it started to drift towards the hotel, at one point resting on the roof of a parked car before snagging on a barbed wire fence.

Gazette reader, Steph Jones, sent in a picture of the incident on Saturday afternoon (March 21).

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