Music: October 2007 Archives

The public is invited to a free performance on Tues. Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. in the recital hall of Western Carolina University's Coulter Building.

Clarinetist Shannon Thompson, associate professor of music at Western, and pianist Andrew Adams, assistant professor of piano at Western, will perform masterworks for clarinet and piano.

Jackson County Magazine says: Don't miss this and other musical performances at WCU's acoustically excellent auditorium. We are fortunate to be able to hear professional musicians in such a comfortable environment. Bring your teen-agers and make them leave their iPods at home!

More information is available at a WCU web page (click).

Whether you’re familiar with clay, firing practices, and glazing techniques or you just like the look and feel of a handmade coffee cup first thing in the morning, you’ll be astonished Saturday, Nov. 3, as the streets of Dillsboro fill with pottery aficionados of every stripe and color. Artisans will be on hand all day at one of the state’s largest juried pottery fairs, showcasing their wares and their artistic touch in a wide array of presentations and hands-on demonstrations.

The fair, organized by Dillsboro potters Karen and Brant Barnes of Riverwood Pottery and fellow Dillsboro shop-owner JoeFrank McKee of Tree House Pottery, is in its third year and brings visitors from all over the country to learn more about handcrafted pottery and browse through the more than 150 visiting artists’ booths. There’s also live music all day, traditional food, and shopping in the stores of Dillsboro proper, plus a train ride catered to festival-goers later that afternoon. Admission to the event is free.

Organizers say the family-friendly event is not just a boost for local stores and artists, but a chance to keep alive the traditional art of handcrafted pottery for both visitors and residents alike. We couldn’t agree more.

Public parking the day of the fair is available at Dillsboro’s Monteith Park, and shuttles will be available throughout the day. Whether you’re coming for the day or planning to make a weekend out of the event, you can call Barnes at 586-3601, McKee at 631-5100, or click your way to www.visitdillsboro.org.

The WCU Commercial and Electronic Music Program presents local musician and WCU music student Matt Williams in a concert celebrating the release of his new CD, "Particles." Song samples are online (click). Pavel Wlosok and several other musicians will perform with Williams.

The concert is October 31 at 7:30 p.m., in WCU's Fine and Performing Arts Center (FAPAC).

Free tickets are available while they last. You'll need to go to FAPAC to get some (tip: call the ticket office first at 227-2479 to see if they are still available). Another location that has a limited number of tickets to distribute is the University Center ticket office on the second floor of WCU's University Center.

Williams also provides tickets by mail, if you complete a form on his web site (click).

Restaurant 553 West Main in Sylva and WCU's student radio station, Power 90.5, are sponsoring the event.

Williams' CD project began in spring 2005 at WCU's Center for Applied Technology Recording Studio. It is the first student project at the new facility.

The general public is able to view the excellent 3-page Jackson County Happenings for the month of November, published by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.

(Requires the free Adobe Reader program to view.)

Highlights: the publication includes information about the On Agate Hill play in Sylva on November 4 (better get your tickets now), the Great Smoky Mountain Book Fair in Sylva on November 9 and 10, another blacksmithing class on November 10 and 11 in Dillsboro, and WCU's Madrigal Dinner on November 30 (tickets go on sale on Tuesday, November 9).

Cullowhee Valley School is the spot for this year's barbeque sponsored by the Cullowhee Volunteer Fire Department, beginning Sat. Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. and lasting until about 8.

Tickets can be purchased at the event, which features live music and raffles for two shotguns donated to the department by Papa's Pizza to Go in Cullowhee.

See the Sylva Herald's web site for more.

At an important fundraiser for the upcoming Bridge Park in downtown Sylva, three musical groups will play all afternoon at a stage near Main Street on Sunday, October 14.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy the music. You'll also find food and information about the park, which recently began construction but is still very much in the fundraising stage.

The music kicks off at 1 p.m. and continues until 7.

Performing from 1 until 3 is Balsam Range Bluegrass Band, which includes longtime local favorites Buddy Melton (Rooooo-beeeee!) and Grammy-winner Marc Pruett.

From 3 until 5 hear four-time Grammy winner David Holt and the Lightning Bolts. If Marc Pruett's band is the warm-up, you know Holt's group must be awesome.

From 5 until 7, you'll hear CookingWithQuanta, a rock band that includes Sylva's beloved hippie gardener, Adam Bigelow, on the electric bass. The band has played to enthusiastic crowds at Sylva's Guadalupe Cafe.

The largest sponsoring contributor to the fundraiser is the Jackson County Arts Council.

Other sponsoring contributors are F. Patrick McGuire, D.D.S., Coward, Hicks & Siler, P.A., and Smoky Mountain OB/GYN Associates.

The Downtown Sylva Association, which is sponsoring the event, hopes to raise a considerable amount in donations from individuals on the day of the event.

The DSA will have a staffed donation tent where it will be accepting donations for Bridge Park in cash or a check. Last year, at a similar event, the DSA was able to raise $5,000 in contributions from the community.

[Jackson County Magazine says: Bring your checkbook and help build our park.]