On the beat
Western Carolina University’s first couple will team up with other WCU performers, including recent Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Terrence Mann, for “Belchers and Friends,” an evening of music and dance at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at WCU. Chancellor David O. Belcher, a classically trained concert pianist, will perform George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with an ensemble of student and faculty musicians, and wife Susan Brummell Belcher, a professional opera singer and vocal teacher, will offer a selection of classics and songs from stage and screen. The evening will feature performances by Mann, who holds WCU’s Phillips Distinguished Professorship in Musical Theatre; William Martin, associate professor of music; and Terry Welch, assistant to the chancellor and a familiar figure on the local theater scene. The concert is free, but tickets are required for admission. 828.227.2479 or www.friendsofthearts.wcu.edu.
Smoky Mountain Folk Festival returns to Lake J
• Singer/songwriter Eric Hendrix will play the Thursdays at the Library at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Enjoy an evening of original, lyric and story-driven melodies full of harmony and great energy. Free.
WCU chancellor, his wife and an array of other performers will perform Sept. 3 in Cullowhee. WCU photo
Mountain dulcimer concert, workshop
Day Celebration that is sponsored by the Town of Canton. Free. 828.400.3496.
• Traditional British Isles music group Bean Sidhe will perform at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. The band explores the melodic connections between Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Free. 828.488.3030 or www.fontanalib.org/brysoncity. • The 43rd annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival will be Aug. 30-31 at the Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska. Each night will feature open tent shows on the lawn at 5 p.m., with the main stage show in the auditorium from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the door, $10 in advance, with children under 12 admitted free. 828.452.1688 or 800.334.9036 or www.smokymountainfolkfestival.com.
ALSO:
Red June will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Robbinsville. The group is a powerful acoustic trio from Asheville who performs beautifully distilled original American music. A pre-concert barbecue dinner will be available in the Schoolhouse Café, with a dinner option to eat with the band. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students grades K-12. 828.479.3364 or www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.
Gospel concert at Labor Day celebration
Jazz pianist to hold clinics, play WCU
“REcharged,” a faith concert, will be at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, at the Canton Recreation Park. The show will be an evening of music and fellowship for youth and college-age students to renew their zeal for God. Music will feature Faith Under Fire and The Andrew Brown Band. Faith Under Fire is a group of young men who attend Crestview Baptist Church in Canton and sing primarily gospel music. The Andrew Brown Band is based out of Brasstown and sings contemporary Christian music. “REcharged” is a part of the 107th Labor
Pianist Michael Jefry Stevens will perform his original jazz compositions at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, in the Coulter Building at Western Carolina University. There is a possibility of a joint performance with sponsoring faculty Pavel Wlosok, as well as partial participation of WCU students in performance with Stevens as part of the evening program. Stevens will also conduct an afternoon clinic/masterclass on jazz improvisation and interact with WCU music students. Free. www.wcu.edu.
Red June
Red June performs American roots music
• Sparkly Nipples hits the stage at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Water’n Hole Bar and Grill in Waynesville. Southern rock. Free. 828.456.4750. • A “Tribute to Elvis and Conway Twitty” with Chris Monteith and Ray Wike will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. Free. 828.586.6300. • Jazz singer Virginia Schenck will host a benefit concert for the Highlands Friends of Haiti and the Highlands Playhouse at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, at the Highlands Playhouse. $75. 828.526.2695. • Singer/songwriter Angela Faye Martin will play at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at City Lights Café in Sylva. Free. 828.587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com. • Hurricane Creek Band plays the Groovin’ on the Green concert series at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at the Village Commons in Cashiers. Free. www.cashiersvalley.com. • Americana singer Jack Snyder taps into Frog Level Brewing Company in Waynesville at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30. Free. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.
Smoky Mountain News
Champion mountain dulcimer players Lois Hornbostel and Ehukai Teves will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City. A reception will follow the performance, which is free and open to the public. Mountain dulcimer player Neal Hellman will host a Ehukai workshop from 1 to Teves 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the United Methodist Church in Bryson City. Hellman is a nationally acclaimed performer and teacher of the mountain dulcimer. His latest recording, “Emma’s Waltz,” is a colorful dance through traditional and contemporary acoustic music styles. Hellman will teach two sessions of workshops: 1 to 2:20 p.m. and 2:35 to 3:50 p.m. He will also perform a one-hour set for the public, following the workshops. Donations accepted. 828.488.6697.
Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2013
The 43rd annual Smoky Mountain Folk Festival will be Aug. 30-31 at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska. Spectators will be treated by performances from more than 200 mountain dancers and 30 performing groups. Each night will feature open tent shows at 5 p.m. on the lawn and the main stage show from 6:30 to 11 p.m. in the auditorium. Tent shows are free to the public. There will also be a free kids concert outside from 5 to 6 p.m. Performers include Whitewater Bluegrass Co., Ross Brothers, The Trantham Family, William Ritter, Betty Smith, Mike Pilgram, Mike & Maggie Lowe, Spirit Fiddle, Fines Creek Flatfooters, Nick Hallman, Stoney Creek Boys, Mountain Tradition, J. Creek Cloggers, Fall Creek, Green Valley Cloggers, Joe Penland, Mack Snoderly & Flave Hart, Dixie Darlin’s, Hominy Valley Boys, Laura Boosinger, Bailey Mountain. Cloggers, The Cockman Family, Smoky Mountain Fire-clogging, George & Brooke Buckner, Southern Appalachian Cloggers, Don Pedi, Phil & Gaye Johnson, Appalachian Mountaineers, Ann & Phil Case, Green Grass Cloggers, Roger Howell, Southern Mountain Smoke, Paul’s Creek, Carolina Country Cloggers, and others. Main show tickets are $12 at the door, $10 in advance, with children under 12 admitted free. Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville or the Bethea Welcome Center at Lake Junaluska. 828.452.1688 or 800.334.9036 or www.smokymountainfolkfestival.com.
• Circus Mutt and Point of View will perform at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. Circus Mutt plays Aug. 30, with Point of View Aug. 31. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. 828.586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.
arts & entertainment
WCU chancellor, first lady and friends to perform
• Smoke Rise will play the Concerts on the Creek concert series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, at Bridge Park in Sylva. The series is sponsored by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Sylva and Jackson County Parks and Recreation. Free. 800.962.1911 or www.mountainlovers.com. 27