Going Fourth No Longer Screaming In The Pop-Punk Band Eve’S Plumb, Vitamin C Headlines The Spokane American Music Festival

(From For the Record, July 1, 2000): Times incorrect: The “Uncle Sam Jam,” featuring Vitamin C, Hoku, Blaque and Rob Base, begins at 4 p.m. Sunday in Riverfront Park. Gates open at 3 p.m. The times were reported incorrectly in Thursday’s IN Life section.

Just a few years ago, the woman now known as Vitamin C was called Colleen Fitzpatrick. She played the guitar and screamed in the pop-punk band Eve’s Plum.

She’s not screaming anymore.

With her self-titled debut, Vitamin C has produced one of the poppiest albums in years.

She begs listeners to “put a smile on your face/make the world a better place” in “Smile.” And in “Graduation (Friends Forever)” she sings, “I keep-keep thinking that it’s not goodbye/Keep on thinking it’s our time to fly.”

That song has become a favorite at proms and has been reprinted in high school yearbooks around the country. She even performed it at a prom in New Jersey.

“The lyrics to me are very special because they’re based on my life,” Vitamin C said by phone while shooting the movie “Dracula 2000” in Canada. “That song was definitely written from the perspective of someone out of school looking back. I was surprised there was such a broad age in terms of response.”

Vitamin C headlines the Spokane American Music Festival’s paid concert Sunday, with Hoku, Blaque and Rob Base.

This year marks the fifth annual Spokane American Music Festival over the July 4 weekend. Besides the ticketed concert, there are several free shows featuring The Pat Travers Band, Mel Carter, Too Slim & The Taildraggers, and the Spokane Jazz Orchestra.

There are also plenty of food booths, an arts and crafts fair, and contests. And, of course, fireworks on Tuesday. All events take place at the Lilac Bowl in Riverfront Park.

Vitamin C got her start as a dancer and continues to work as an actress, having appeared in “Hairspray,” “Liar, Liar” and “Naked Gun 2-1/2.” “Dracula 2000” is scheduled to be released in December.

The singer, who’ll only say she’s “20-something,” says she’s often wrongly categorized as another teeny-bopper performer.

“Everyone wants everything to be the same,” she says. “I’ve had people … thinking I’m similar to Britney (Spears) … I’m doing something different.”

But she admits not all of her old fans are thrilled by her new persona.

“There are a number of Eve’s Plum fans that are really happy,” she says. “A lot of the Eve’s Plum fans have nieces or kids that are big fans. There are some who think it’s absolutely horrifying I’m no longer playing guitar and screaming.”

She’s currently working on another album as Vitamin C, due out in November.

Also on the bill for Sunday’s show is R&B trio Blaque, consisting of Shamari Fears, Brandi Williams and Natina Reed. The group blends soul with alternative sounds, and got its start with the help of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of TLC.

Rounding out the lineup is pop singer Hoku, daughter of “Tiny Bubbles” singer Don Ho. Hoku hit it big with the bubblegum pop song “Another Dumb Blonde” from the “Snow Day” soundtrack.

The music festival continues Monday with performances by Spokane’s bluesmen Too Slim & The Taildraggers and The Pat Travers Band.

Travers has put out more than 20 albums, his most recent called “Lookin’ Up.”

On Tuesday, Native American musician Jim Boyd will perform folk music and children’s artist Joanie Bartels will play family-friendly songs. Classic R&B singer Mel Carter will sing hits from the ‘50s and ‘60s before the fireworks begin.

All shows, except for the Vitamin C concert, are free.

This sidebar appeared with the story: SCHEDULE Spokane American Music Festival

The Spokane American Music Festival begins Sunday. All events take place at the Lilac Bowl in Riverfront Park. Here’s a partial list of events. For a full schedule, go to www.TheNews.com/SAMF.

Sunday:

Uncle Sam Jam, featuring Vitamin C (left), Hoku, Blaque and Rob Base, 2-10 p.m. Tickets $9.93 in advance, $12.93 day of show, available through G&B (325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT).

Monday:

Too Slim & The Taildraggers, 6 p.m., free. The Pat Travers Band, 8 p.m., free.

Tuesday:

Jim Boyd, 2 p.m., free.

Joanie Bartels, children’s entertainment, 4 p.m., free.

Staley, Thomsen and Flick, 6:30 p.m., free. Spokane Jazz Orchestra, 8 p.m., free. Mel Carter, 9 p.m., free. Fireworks, 10:15 p.m.