Bothell Wasington ( in the Seattle Area) prepares for Blake Lewis Day from American Idol. Each year the top 3 Idols return home for celebration, activities, and the FOX Camers. A full day of events are scheduled for Blake Lewis.
Singer Blake Lewis made the Top 3 this week on the “American Idol” show. By doing so, he won a hometown parade and concert that will be filmed today and broadcast across the country next week on Fox television.
“I think it’s freakin’ awesome, man,” said Kevin Sawka, a local drummer who will play with Lewis today. “He’s really excited to get back to town. He’s missing everyone real bad. His friends are super important to him and he’s super lonely down in L.A.”
Unassuming Bothell has found itself thrust into the national limelight.
For today’s parade, the city must shut down streets, reroute buses and put its 11 daytime police officers on traffic duty, city spokeswoman Joyce Goedeke said.
“We’re excited to host ‘American Idol,’ excited to have his fans, family and friends here, and very excited for him,” Goedeke said.
They have no idea how many people might be coming to town, but thick rush hour traffic should be expected, she said.
“People should get there early and expect a great time,” Goedeke said. “We’d like to show the great community spirit Bothell has.”
Lewis, 25, lives in Bothell with his parents. Before he was picked for the sixth season of “American Idol,” Lewis performed under the name Bshorty and with local a cappella group Kickshaw.
He played gigs in Seattle and at Everett’s now-closed Jet Deck, building a network of fans and talented musicians such as Sawka.
On stage, he’s a mesmerizing breakdancer in argyle shirts and grandpa golf pants. On the microphone, he’s a mix of pop and funk, switching between falsetto vocals and beat-boxing that mimics electronic drum beats and record scratching.
After his edgy performance last week, he was called the “contemporary rebel” in the competition by judge Paula Abdul.
That originality has shaken things up at “American Idol,” fans said.
Show producers have sequestered Lewis and other contestants for weeks.
Today everything changes, said Kristi Redman, co-founder of the Blaker Girls fan club and a longtime friend of Lewis, who is the sole male among the three finalists.
“It’s going to be the first time he really gets exposure to his fans,” Redman said. “We’re looking at several thousand people.”
Girls go gaga over Blake.
Hundreds of fans - especially young girls - screamed just seeing him on a big screen at Kenmore Junior High School last month.
“It’s incredible that there was that much excitement around someone who wasn’t even there,” Redman said. “They were acting like The Beatles were going to show up.”
Some fans are going early today to get seats at the amphitheater, which holds 500 people. Apart from the seats, up to 3,000 people might fit in the park, Goedeke said.
Nearby, thousands of commuters might face delays on Highways 522 and 527.
Lewis last performed at Bothell’s amphitheater with Kickshaw in 2000.
Bothell’s annual Fourth of July parade draws up to 15,000 people - but not at rush hour.
“American Idol” warned the city last Friday that an event might be coming, Goedeke said.
City officials started planning on Monday. At 10 p.m. Wednesday, Goedeke e-mailed an announcement for the parade and concert after the West Coast broadcast showed Lewis landing in the top three.
By Thursday afternoon, banners and signs were already welcoming Lewis home.
His fame spans the globe, Redman said. She fields questions to the fan club Web site from England to Malaysia.
Paparazzi are after him, too, Sawka said.
“He can’t go anywhere without people recognizing him and wanting an autograph. Down in L.A., movie stars get his autograph … he couldn’t even believe it.”
Lewis plans to sing original songs today and some of his “American Idol” covers, including those by bands 311, Keane, Jamiroquai and Diana Ross.
“Those are going to make the people scream,” Sawka said. “It could drown out the music.”
Lewis’ originals will help him carve his own path to fame, Sawka said.
“He really wants to make sure everyone knows him as an original artist,” he said.
Today’s Blake Lewis events
7:10 a.m.: Expected to be live on 710 KIRO AM.
8 a.m.: TV interview and performance on Q13 Fox television. Radio interviews on local stations.
Noon: Concert and city of Seattle presentation at Westlake Mall Park, Seattle.
3:30 p.m.: Parade on Main Street in Bothell.
4 p.m.: City of Bothell proclamations, Seahawks football presentation and concert at the Park at Bothell Landing amphitheater. Blake Lewis will perform some of his “American Idol” songs and originals with local friends and musicians AriSawkaDoria and Jeremy Lightfoot.
6:50 p.m.: National anthem at Mariners home game, Safeco Field.
Good Luck Blake!!
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1 Blake Lewis » Blake Lewis May 11, 2007 2:16 pm // Jun 12, 2007 at 8:50 pm
[...] Blog Posts Blake Lewis Returns to Bothell Washington for American Idol … Bothell Wasington ( in the Seattle Area) prepares for Blake Lewis Day from American Idol. Each year [...]
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