UNC Asheville Kicks Off 22nd Annual Concerts on the Quad Series June 7;
Hot Club of Cowtown Heads Lineup

Hot Club of Cowtown

UNC Asheville will kick off its 22nd annual Concerts on the Quad summer music series at 7 p.m. Monday, June 7, with a performance by the popular Western swing band, Hot Club of Cowtown. The concerts, which are open to the public, will be held on UNC Asheville's Quad from 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays through July 19. The series includes the only Asheville performances of Folkmoot USA on July 17-18. All concerts are free, except for the Folkmoot performances.

Concerts on the Quad is fun for the entire family. The public is invited to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs but pets should be left at home. With nearly 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. Café a la Quad will sell sandwiches, wraps, fruit, snacks, beverages, desserts ice cream from 6-8 p.m.

In case of rain, the concerts will be held in Lipinsky Auditorium. No food will be served at the rain location. Location decisions will be made at 5 p.m. the day of the show. Patrons may call 828/232-5000 after 5:15 p.m. to hear a recorded announcement about the location of that evening’s performance.

The opening concert on June 7 will feature the three-piece Western swing band Hot Club of Cowtown. The trio of bass player Jake Erwin, fiddler Elana Fremerman and guitarist Whit Smith, are known for taking a fresh approach to American music standards. The Tallahasee Democrat calls Hot Club of Cowtown "one of the best live bands you’ll ever see." The Austin American-Statesman says "Nostalgists generally drum up the familiar to draw listeners in, but the Hot Club serves up the classic subgenres of hot jazz and western swing with the twist of true artistry."

Other concerts in the series are:

Tradewinds Quartet

June 14 -- Come celebrate Flag Day at this all-American performance. The Tradewinds Quintet performs popular and patriotic works as well as classical selections by such composers as Mozart and Hindemith. Comprised of flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon, the quintet is part of the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band, a 60-member band based at Langley Air Force Base, Va.

June 21 -- Under the director of Lloyd Weinberg, the UNCA Community Jazz Band and guest vocalist Rockell S. Whiteside will take center stage to perform a wide variety of musical styles. The concert will include arrangements of "How High the Moon," "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "Our Love is Here to Stay."

June 28 -- This concert brings the monthly Jazz Composer’s Forum to UNC Asheville’s Quad. Petri Dish, a 10-piece jazz orchestra, will explore the jazz terrain. Petri Dish members are John Alexander, Stuart Reinhardt and Aimee Sullivan on woodwinds; Ron Brendle, Jane Hart and Mike Holstein on strings; Chris Garges and Byron Hedgepeth on percussion; and special guest guitarist and UNC Asheville alumnus Sam Macy.

Beginner and advanced jazz composition weekend workshops will be held in conjunction with the concert. Serious jazz musicians ages 16 and older are welcome. Registration is $100. For more information or to pre-register, call Sharon LaMotte at 828/252-2257 or visit the Web page.

The Shady Oak Ramblers

July 5 -- Bagpipes and bluegrass will take center stage at this concert by the Montreat Pipes and Drums and The Shady Oak Ramblers.

The Shady Oak Ramblers perform country, folk and bluegrass classics made popular by such pioneer recording artists Flatt & Scruggs, Merle Haggard, and the Carter Family. The Shady Oak Ramblers feature Lawrence Dillingham on guitar, Phil Edgerton on bass and Jim Taylor on guitar. Nationally known banjo player Akira Satake will join the group for this performance.

Montreat Scottish Pipes and Drums

For nearly 30 years, the Montreat Scottish Pipes and Drums has entertained audiences while promoting the heritage and growth of traditional Scottish music. Based in Asheville, the band includes members from Avery, Buncombe, Henderson, Transylvania, and Jackson Counties. The band competes at Scottish festivals and highland games in the Southeast and performs across the region.

Roger Day

July 12 -- Zany children’s musician Roger Day will delight audiences of all ages in this special family show. Day, a father of three, sings silly songs about invisible dinosaurs, hippos with hiccups and mosquito burritos. Lauded by "Parenting" and "Family Fun" magazines, Day’s latest album features back-up vocals by the Indigo Girls’ Amy Ray and country-folk singer Nanci Griffith.

July 17-18 -- The 21st 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. These performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Lipinsky Auditorium. General admission tickets range from $15-$20 and half-price for children under age 12. Tickets will be available for purchase after May 31 at the Folkmoot USA office in Waynesville, online or by phone toll-free at 877/365-5872.

Liz Carroll and John Doyle

July 19 -- Concerts on the Quad wraps up with a special finale concert by highly esteemed Irish musicians Liz Carroll and John Doyle.

Carroll, who recently released her third album, has been called "one of the truly great Irish fiddlers of our time (or any other)." At age 18, she won the Irish Senior Fiddle Championship. Carroll continues to gather awards, including the Irish Traditional Musician of the Year and a U.S. National Heritage Award Fellowship.

Doyle, a Dublin native who now lives in Asheville, began his professional music career at age 16 by forming the band The Chanting House. Later he became best known as a founding member of the acclaimed Irish group Solas. With Solas, he performed in concerts around the world and on programs such as "A Prairie Home Companion," "Mountain Stage" and "World Cafe." Doyle is now highly sought as a studio and touring musician.

For more information, call UNC Asheville’s Student Activities at 828/232-5000 or visit the Concerts on the Quad Web site.

Media Contacts:

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