WAR to Headline Northwest Art & Air Festival

Formed in Long Beach in 1969, the large combo initially served as rocker Eric Burdon's group, backing the ex-Animal on his 1970 million-seller "Spill the Wine."

War in concert performing Low Rider Photo Courtesy: geocities.com

(ALBANY) - Classic rock/soul/funk artists WAR will be the headline act for the 2006 Wah Chang Northwest Art & Air Festival at Timber Linn Park in Albany.

Freewheeling WAR mixed rock, jazz, and soul influences throughout the 1970s, resulting in a series of rhythm and blues and pop hits with funky melodies and politically aware messages.

The band signed with United Artists in 1971 and had its first smash the next year with "Slippin' into Darkness."

In the mid-1970s, "The World Is a Ghetto," "The Cisco Kid," and "Why Can't We Be Friends?" all went gold.

WAR continued to perform throughout the '80s and then went through a revival in the early 1990s when all their albums were reissued. They are acknowledged as a primary influence on contemporary R&B and hip-hop.

The free performance will be Saturday, August 26th, at 7:00 PM on the main stage at the Oregon Amphitheater.

The seventh annual Northwest Art & Air Festival opens Friday, August 25th, in Albany and continues through Sunday.

Events are scheduled all three days at Timber Linn Park and Albany Municipal Airport. Admission is free; donations are welcome.

For up-to-date information visit the event Web site, www.nwartandair.org.