Come and get it: Gator Gumbo, July 26

Stephannie White Staff Writer

The Carolina Gator Gumbo Cajun Band will be served up starting at 8pm on July 26 right here on ASUÕs campus.

If you ever hear Cajun music you wonÕt soon forget it. Its rousing rhythms, foot stomping beat and sweet lyrics make it special. Carolina Gator Gumbo Cajun Band plays it that way. If you could speak Cajun French you might be surprised at what their music has to say. The happy tunes often contain words of tragedy, as the slow mournful ones might capture a story of joy. Their songs are about life, love, loss, home, family, death and Òa fate worse than deathÓ . . . life without love. The music almost always tells a tale or spins a yarn. Gator Gumbo, a band of North Carolina Cajuns, are coming to Boone to show us their fiery brand of high-spirited music. With a great respect of the culture of Southwest La., the Carolina Gator Gumbo Cajun band is set to give ASU a taste of spicy music on folk instruments. Woody Mitchell of Charlotte Monthly magazine says, ÒCarolina Gator Gumbo [will get] the crowd going with their swampy brand of Cajun music.Ó The band holds dance nights in Charlotte, and has been on of the hottest new nighttime activities to hit town according to Allen Maurer of CharlotteÕs Best magazine. As co-sponsors of the popular Cajun dances, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department should be contacted for the next scheduled function.

Their reputations as performers are well deserved. All members of the band have studied traditional Cajun music, dance, and culture in Louisiana, Atlanta, and Augusta Heritage Workshops. Gator Gumbo has appeared at corporate, private, and public functions. They have performed at the Heritage Festival at Carowinds, and participated in CharlotteÕs Springfest and First Night. Jean Prewitt, the bandÕs vocalist and accordion player is well versed in Cajun and English lyrics. The Cajun craftsmen Mark Savoy and Larry Miller built her accordions. George Johnson, a talented fiddler also sings French Cajun as well as being a versatile musician. His strong rhythm provides the tempo for two steps and waltzes. John Bishop, is a hot & spicy Dobro player, and has been know to do a bit of twin fiddling.Ê This instrument is normally heard in a bluegrass setting - but it adds a new flavor to the gumbo when a Cajun rhythm is applied. In addition he changes the pace by playing triangle, rub board or fiddle.

Carole Outwater is an accomplished Autoharp player and teacher, and provides acoustic bass for the band. Carol taught in public and private schools since 1972 and at The Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago from 80-83. Since then she has maintained private students, and is an Alabama Arts Council Residency Artist in Education. She has won championships for her talents with the Autoharp. Don Cowan is the driving force behind the Cajun sounds with his strong Cajun style guitar rhythm. Don has studied this particular style for several years at the Augusta workshops in West Virginia and has perfected it through years of playing and jamming. He also cooks up a great bowl of gumbo. So eat a bowl of Etoufee, then join the Carolina Gator Gumbo Band in a festive night of French Cajun songs and dances. They will appear on ASUÕs campus July 26 from 8pm Ð10 pm. Call 262-3032 for more information. Or visit the Gator Gumbo web site.

DonÕt miss the last events of App Summer Fest!

Kara Hodge Senior Writer

Doc Watson, founder of Merlefest, will be appearing with The David Grissman Quintet at ASU.

The David Grissman Quintet will appear July 25 in Farthing Auditorium.

If you have missed the first few weeks of concerts, lectures and workshops, there is still a few more events left in the App Summer Fest.

Opera star Dawn Upshaw will perform tomorrow night in Farthing Auditorium. The concert starts at 8 p.m.

Her recital will feature works by Haydn, Ives, Golijov and Mahler. Margo Garrett serves as the accompanying pianist. Upshaw has performed in Europe and the United States and has given more than 25 world premiers. She has also been a guest of former President Clinton on the NBC special ÒChristmas in Washington.Ó

Another famous female vocalist, jazz singer Wesla Whitfield performs this weekend. She will perform two shows Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. in Tradewinds Coffeehouse located in Plemmons Student Union. Mike Greensill,

WhitfieldÕs husband serves as her accompanying pianist. Whitfield and Greensill have appeared on ÒLive! With Regis and Kathie LeeÓ and ÒCBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood.Ó The couple also performs annually in London and at the Hollywood Cinegrill.

The Eastern Music Festival Orchestra performs with guest pianist Andre-Michel Schub Sunday at 8 p.m. in Farthing Auditorium.

Conductor Kenneth Jean leads the orchestra. Jean has won the American Symphony OrchestraÕs Leopold Stokowski Conducting Award since graduating from the Julliard School at age 19. He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of New York.

Schub has worked with the Boston Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonics and the Bournemouth Symphony.

The Broyhill Chamber Ensemble will perform their last two concerts Monday July 23 and Friday July 27 at 8 p.m. in Farthing Auditorium.

The July 23rd performance is a special program featuring Baroque music and dance called ÒThe Baroque and its Influence: A Musical Conversation.Ó Guest artists Nancy Bargerstock, Kay Borkowski, Peter Donovan, Lynn Parkerson, Thomas Baird, Paige Whitley-Baugess, Naomi Toome and Francis Jaena, Jr. will perform.

The Friday concert features work from Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, and Thelonious Monk. It is entitled ÒString TheoryÓ and is a work in progress.

The David Grisman Quintet with guest Doc Watson performs Wednesday July 25 at 8 p.m. in Farthing Auditorium. Watson, a native of the High Country, is the founder of the famous festival Merlefest, named after his late son Merle whom he played and toured with until his death in 1985. Watson is a recipient of the National Medal of Arts, National Heritage Fellowship and five Grammy Awards. Watson also hosted the Doc Watson Musicfest in Sugar Grove, NC last weekend.

Pianist Garrick Ohlsson performs in Farthing Auditorium Thursday July 26 at 8 p.m.

Ohlsson won the 1970 Chopin International Piano Competition and has since proved to be a great musician.

The App Summer Fest ends with a concert featuring Jo Dee Messina and special guests Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Saturday July 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Kidd Brewer Stadium. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. The annual fireworks show will conclude the concert.

The Blue Ridge Fair will start at 3:30 p.m. on Duck Pond Field for family and concertgoers. Food vendors and games will be featured. For ticket information and purchases call the Farthing Box Office at 262-4046. Box-office hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.appsummer.appstate.edu.

For more information about the festival call the Office of Cultural Affairs at 262-6084.