WCU Friends of the Arts presents Balsam Range

Press release:

The Western Carolina University Friends of the Arts presents a “Friend-Raising” concert, featuring Balsam Range and the WCU Wind Ensemble.

Cullowhee, NC, September 24 at 3pm | WCU Bardo Arts Center

Join the Friends of the Arts for an exciting afternoon of bluegrass with Balsam Range and the WCU Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Margaret Underwood, WCU Director of Bands. Balsam Range’s ascent to the top of the bluegrass world has left a trail of success since the band’s inception in 2007. One of the genre’s most award-winning ensembles in recent years, they have garnered ten International Bluegrass Music Association Awards and produced six critically acclaimed albums.

The Western Carolina University Wind Ensemble performs a challenging repertoire of music that include premieres of commissioned works and features 50 of the finest woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians from our School of Music. The WCU Wind Ensemble will join the band to perform many of Balsam Range’s most popular pieces including Burnin’ Down Georgia, Blue Mountain, and Last Train to Kitty Hawk just to name a few!

Members of the Friends of the Arts have the opportunity to purchase tickets to the Balsam Range Friend-Raising concert for only $10; tickets are $25 for the general public. The Western Carolina University Friends of the Arts raise funds for the WCU College of Fine and Performing Arts to enhance student experience and engagement through initiatives to support scholarship opportunities, academic programming, and presenting world-class artists to the campus and community. The WCU Friends of the Arts wants you to support the arts and also enjoy the arts with bluegrass royalty Balsam Range.

Balsam Range is; Buddy Melton (fiddle, lead and tenor vocals), Darren Nicholson (mandolin, octave mandolin, lead vocals, baritone and low tenor vocals), Dr. Marc Pruett (banjo), Tim Surrett (bass, dobro, baritone and lead vocals), and Caleb Smith (guitar, lead & baritone vocals). The five original members are all acoustic musicians and singers from western North Carolina. They thoughtfully and respectfully adopted the name of a majestic range of mountains that surround part of their home county of Haywood, NC where the Great Smoky Mountains meet the Blue Ridge, the Balsam Range.

Balsam Range has left audiences spellbound while headlining major festivals from coast to coast, selling out venues across the nation, and appearing multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry. On their newest release, “Mountain Voodoo”, the quintet cleverly captures traditional yet contemporary sounds. There are fiery instrumental parts alternating with deep heavy ballads, overlaid by the vocal harmonies the group has become known for. Debuting at number four, “Mountain Voodoo” remained on the Billboard chart for nineteen weeks. The first single, “Blue Collar Dreams” spent 3 consecutive months at the number one spot on the Bluegrass Today Charts.

For further information or to become a member of the Friends of the Arts, please visit foa.wcu.edu or call 828.227.7028. If you are a member, you must purchase your special $10 tickets by either visiting the Bardo Arts Center Box Office at 199 Centennial Drive, Cullowhee, NC or by calling 828.227.2479. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m to 7 p.m., or one hour prior to the performance.

If you are not ready to become a member but would like to purchase tickets they are $25 for the general public and $20 for WCU Faculty/Staff. Please call or visit the Bardo Arts Center Box Office or purchase your tickets online at foa.wcu.edu/balsam.