Thousands of people fill the Quad to hear great free music

Heading out of town with the family for outdoor music concerts is a lot of fun, but it can break a budget. With gas, hotel rooms and restaurant meals, the cost of the trip can add up fast. Fortunately, UNC Asheville's Concerts on the Quad series has a cure for the summertime music blues – just as it has for 27 years.

This summer, Concerts on the Quad get under way at 7 p.m. each Monday June 15-July 13 on UNC Asheville's Quad. In case of rain, the free concerts will be held in Lipinsky Auditorium. The series concludes with two ticketed performances of Folkmoot USA Festival on July 18-19. All concerts are free, except for Folkmoot.

"Concerts on the Quad has always been a place for friends and neighbor of all ages to gather together," said Barbara Halton-Subkis, UNC Asheville Cultural & Special Events Director, who has spearheaded the summer music series for 17 years. "Over the decades, I've seen couples out on dates at the shows, who then marry and have children. We've literally watched families grow up in our audiences."

The public is invited to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs. Sorry, no pets allowed. With nearly 2,000 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. Concert location decisions are made at 5 p.m. the day of the show. Patrons may call 828/232-5000 extension 3 after 5:15 p.m. each Monday to hear a recorded announcement about the location of that evening's performance.

Whitewater Bluegrass Company

Ron Hunter

Folkmoot USA

Whitewater Bluegrass Company will kick off the series on June 15. For more than 25 years, this band has captivated audiences throughout the Southeast with their blend of bluegrass music, country ballads and mountain swing.

Land O’ Sky Symphonic Band will perform on June 22. The Marion, N.C.-based band features professional and amateur musicians, playing symphonic tunes in the classic tradition of community bands.

Piedmont bluesman Big Ron Hunter will take the stage on June 29. This old-school player and his four-piece band perform it all – from the acoustic stylings of Robert Johnston to up-town funky electric originals.

Noted Cherokee storyteller Lloyd Arneach will share his traditional stories at 7 p.m. on July 6. An enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, Arneach learned his first legends from two storytelling uncles and has gone on to collect traditional tales throughout his life. Popular mountain musicians Laura Boosinger, Josh Goforth and Jerry Sutton will play at 8 p.m. Boosinger, an award-winning singer and clawhammer banjo player, performs regularly at Asheville’s Mountain Dance and Folk Festival and around the region. Goforth is a critically acclaimed young fiddler, guitar picker and mandolin player from Madison County. Sutton, an award-winning guitar player, has deep family roots in old-time music and mountain heritage.

The Capital Messengers will swing into the limelight on July 13. A unit of the 257th U.S. Army Band based in Washington, D.C., the Capital Messengers is a traditional jazz team directed by Sergeant Jamal Brown.

The 26th annual Folkmoot USA festival, the only ticketed event of the series, will feature folk dance and music from around the world on July 18-19. Tickets range from $25-$20 and are half-price for children under age 12. Tickets are available online at www.folkmootusa.org/ or call 877/FOLKUSA.

"To me, each one of these concerts is a tangible 'thank you' to the community from UNC Asheville," said Halton-Subkis. "It's a fun way that the University can show its appreciation for our incredibly wonderful and supportive friends."

The 2009 Concerts on the Quad are presented in part with generous support from Biltmore Farms Hotels, Greenlife Grocery, Cherokee Preservation Foundation, Town and Mountain Realty, Musician's Workshop, Mast General Store, Smoky Mountain Living Magazine and WNC Tents

For more information about Concerts on the Quad, call UNC Asheville's Cultural & Special Events Office at 828/251-6991 or click on www.unca.edu/summerquad.