This Saturday afternoon, Aug. 13, from 4-5 p.m. the Blue Vine hosts the first performance in the new Junior Singer/Songwriter series.
15-year-old Jessie Aiken takes the stage in her solo stage debut. Hailing from Stedman, Aiken is the daughter of Vanessa and Jeff Aiken and granddaughter of Salisbury’s Nadine and David Potts.
On Friday at the Blue Vine, Divided By Four plays, followed by the Junior Singer/Songwriter debut on Saturday and David Myers & Big Break on Saturday night. See the Blue Vine Roundabout listing for details.
The Blue Vine is located at 209 S. Main St. Call 704-797-0093 or visit www.thebluevine.com , Facebook, Myspace and YouTube.
Free Gulley concert
On Aug. 16, two bands will be performing at the Looking Glass Artists Collective black box theater: The Resurrectionists, a folk band out of Boston, and Salisbury’s own Gulley (formerly known as the Chobey Badgio Band) will take the stage from 8-11:30 p.m.
See http://theresurrectionists.com/ and www.gulleytheband.com for a sneak preview.
Hoffman plays at Founder’s Hall
CHARLOTTE — Virillon Music recording artist Marc Hoffman returns to Founder’s Hall on Friday, August 12, when he performs during the Friday Acoustic Concert Series from noon to 2 p.m.
Hoffman, a composer, pianist and vocalist, has been performing at Founder’s Hall since 2004. Along with original jazz compositions, both instrumental and vocal, his upcoming solo performance will include his own arrangements of standards, ballads and pop tunes.
Gary Dalkin, editor of Film Music on the Web, has described Hoffman’s original music as “somewhere between the contemporary approach of Windham Hill with a nod in the direction of Aaron Copland…Marc Hoffman may just be too talented for his own good. Hoffman’s gifts range from contemporary classical and film composer to jazz singer-songwriter.”
In 2010, Hoffman released his all-original CD “Curioso” to critical acclaim. Previous CDs include “Christmas Time” (2006), a jazz-flavored CD with new tunes and new arrangements of traditional music; “Long Way Home” (2003), He is currently recording two new CDs, one instrumental and one vocal with his trio.
Hoffman’s upcoming solo show is free and open to the public. Founder’s Hall is located at 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, at the Bank of America Corporate Center.
Concert Choir meeting
Love to sing? The Concert Choir will be holding a Meet and Greet Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church Choir Room. New members are welcome.
Regular rehearsals will begin the following Monday. This season’s performance will be Christmas selections from Handel’s Messiah.
Charlotte Folk Society
CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Folk Society kicks off its 30th Gathering Season with a concert by internationally acclaimed singer/ songwriter Si Kahn on Friday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the listening room of the Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Ave.
Also coming this season are The Rye Mountain Boys in September, blues preacher Bishop Dready Manning in October, Michael Reno Harrell and David Childers in November, a holiday jam and potluck with the Community Singers, the annual Charlotte Folk Society Young Talent Showcase, followed in 2011 by The Flat Possum Hoppers, Celtic music with Abigail Lennox and Earl’s Chair, bluegrass with Red June, and a concert by Viva Klezmer honoring the long history and contributions of Charlotte’s Jewish settlers.
Visit www.folksociety.org for details, dates and times
New exhibit at Reynolda House
WINSTON-SALEM — “Wonder and Enlightenment: Artist-Naturalists in the Early American South,” a new exhibition of 18th and 19th-century works, will be on view in the Reynolda House Museum of American Art from Aug. 13 through Feb. 20, 2012.
The exhibition includes three plates from John James Audubon’s “Birds of America,” a painting and four prints by Joshua Shaw, paintings by Edward Hicks and David Johnson, and an early edition of Mark Catesby’s ornithological treatise.
For information about this and other exhibitions and events, call 336-758-5150 or visit reynoldahouse.org.
Town Creek Indian Mound
MT. GILEAD — The theme for the Aug. 13 Second Saturday at Town Creek is “Play in the Clay.” Artists include painters, photographers, wood turners, potters and more. Food and drinks concessions will be available and site staff will demonstrate pinch-pot pottery. Visitors are encouraged to make one of their own at no cost. For more information, call Rich Thompson, 910-439-6802.
In addition, see “Ancient Carolinians,” a temporary hands-on interactive display and exhibit that explores the lives of the state’s earliest people. www.towncreekindianmound.com
‘Miniature Exhibit’
CONCORD – On Sunday, Aug. 14, from 2-4 p.m. the Brick Wall Gallery hosts the opening reception for “The Miniature Exhibit.” The reception is open to everyone and is free. There will be soft drinks, wine for adults, and an assortment of appetizers.
The exhibit features art that is 8 x 10 or smaller, in any medium, and will be on display until Sept. 30. The gallery located at the Depot at Gibson Mill, 325 McGill Ave.
Appalachian film fest
The ninth annual Appalachian Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 2012 festival to be held February 25-26 at the historic Keith Albee Theater. For entry forms and submission guidelines visit www.appyfilmfest. com/pages/entries.htm or enter your work at www.withoutabox.com/
For any questions concerning this years festival contact Christopher Lusher (Festival Director) at 1-304-690-2500 or http://cdlusher@gmail.com
Sugarcreek plays at next Brick Street Live
The good news for Sugarcreek fans in the Carolinas is that on Saturday, Aug. 27, the band reunites at the Brick Street Live concert series in the 100 block of North Main Street in downtown Salisbury. The Saturday festival kicks off at 1 in the afternoon, and Sugarcreek will be one of five bands performing. Sugarcreek takes the stage at 9 p.m.
The band that thousands of teen-agers danced to at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion in the 80s has an extra treat in store for its fans, sometimes known as “Creek Freaks.” The band members, now split and performing with other regional bands, were back in the studio this summer, recording two original songs: “Gotta Have Love” and “Tonight.” The Salisbury reunion will be its first live performance of the two new songs.
At the Salisbury street festival, Sugarcreek’s Jerry West will also perform with Band of Oz. Gulley, formerly the Chobey Badgio Band will perform at 3 p.m., followed by Big Sam, Atlanta Groove, Band of Oz, and then SugarCreek. Charlie Brown, host of the syndicated radio show “On the Beach,” will emcee.
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring chairs. Order tickets online or call 704-637-5363, ext. 218, and ask for Jessica.