UNCA Holds 21st Annual Concerts on the Quad Series

Thousands enjoy Concerts on the Quad each year

UNC Asheville will kick off its 21st annual Concerts on the Quad series at 7 p.m. Monday, June 2, with a performance by the ever-popular UNCA Jazz Lab Big Band. The concerts, which are open to the public, will be held on UNCA's Quad from 7-8:30 p.m.

Mondays through July 14. The series concludes with the only Asheville performances of Folkmoot USA on July 19-20. All concerts are free, except for the Folkmoot performances.

UNCA's Concerts on the Quad brings fun to the entire family. The public is invited to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs. With between 1,000-3,000 people attending each concert, lawn-chair seating will be separate from blanket seating in order to preserve sight lines; please look for signage when arriving on the Quad. In case of rain, the concerts will be held in Lipinsky Auditorium.

New this year is Café a la Quad. Gourmet sandwiches, snacks, beverages, iced coffee and Sweet Heaven ice cream will be on sale for concert patrons.

The June 2 concert will feature UNCA’s Jazz Lab Big Band, led by Tim Haden. The 17-piece group will perform a program entitled "The Art of the Big Band."

Other concerts in the series are:

June 9 -- Formed in 1992, ...Different Drum blends musical styles from Africa and the Americas with original compositions. The Chapel Hill News said, "...Different Drum is exactly that; this is not your run-of-the-mill jazz ensemble." The group is led by award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist Alex Weiss. This performance is the specially designated family show, featuring interactive stories and percussion.

June 16 -- The best of the Louisiana swamp will come to the mountains when Mel Melton and the Wicked Mojos perform. Nicknamed "The Zydeco Chef," Melton has enjoyed the success of two careers for more than 20 years, one as a singer and harmonica player, the other as a professional chef and food consultant. When he takes the stage, he’ll share the best of Cajun music and the audience can try tastes of real Cajun cooking that evening.

June 23 -- Piano-based, straight-ahead instrumental jazz from New York City will be the focus as the monthly Jazz Composer’s Forum comes to UNCA’s Quad. Pianist Bill Gerhardt, Dutch saxophonist Marc Mommaas, bassist Mike Holstein and drummer Tim Horner will perform as the band Cotangent.

A special UNCA performance by Cotangent will be held in conjunction with this concert, featuring an opening set by Jazz Forum Composer-in-Residence Mike Holstein. The show will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 22, in Lipinsky Auditorium. A donation of $10 will be suggested at the door but admission is free for all area students. This show will feature mostly new works, with a completely different tone than the Monday evening performance.

June 30 -- Zoe Speaks, the east Kentucky husband-and-wife duo of Mitch Barrett and Carla Gover, play everything from old-time gospel to contemporary tunes, creating their own style of Appalachian music. These fifth-generation musicians entertain audiences with mountain songs, stories and dances. To round out the sound, the duo will be joined by Kentucky natives Stephen Couch on guitar and mandolin and bassist Owen Reynolds.

July 7 -- Picante will spice things up with their signature blend of Latin, rock, reggae, jazz and pop fusion music. This six-piece local band is made up of Ruben Orengo on violin, pianist Warren Gaughan, Dave de la Rosa on guitar and vocals, Latin percussionist Ronnie Delerme, bassist Joel Pressman and Spencer Bolejack on percussion. Picante will have listeners dancing under the stars.

July 14 -- Produced by steel drum giant Andy Narell, Sons of Steel is a high-energy steel drum band. Ranging in ages from 11 to 22, this band of young men have opened for Jimmy Buffett, Lauryn Hill and Busta Rhymes and have toured with the legendary Wailers.

July 19-20 -- The 20th annual Folkmoot USA festival, the only ticketed event of the series, features folk dance, music and culture from around the world. Patterned after classic European festivals, dancers and musicians from across the globe come to share their cultural heritage with colorful native costumes and unique musical instruments. General admission tickets range from $15-$20 and half-price for children under age 12. Tickets will be available for purchase at the Concerts on the Quad beginning June 16, or from UNCA's Office of Student Life as well as the Folkmoot USA office. For more information about Folkmoot USA, call toll-free 877/365-5872.

For more information, call UNCA’s Student Life Office at 828/232-5000 or visit the Concerts on the Quad Web site.

Media Contacts:

• Barbara Halton-Subkis, Student Life Assistant Director, 828/251-6674
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526