We’re going out across the mountains this week and partnering with City Lights Bookstore in Sylva to showcase local musicians through our series of stripped-down performances for the web. This week Chris Cooper (guitar), Josh Mason (percussion) and Jeff Redman (bass) of Noonday Sun perform “Vigil.”
Cooper has worked as a guitar instructor since the mid 1990s and has been performing in western North Carolina since 2004. He has toured regionally as lead guitarist in the live bands of singers Ashley Chambliss and Angela Faye Martin. Mason and Redman have been playing together for nearly two decades, including a stint as Bele Chere performers and Orange Peel Battle of the Bands victors while in rock band Big House Radio.
The trio began playing together as Noonday Sun (sometimes with additional members) after meeting at a Jackson County music benefit called Play For Peace in 2009. Noonday Sun regularly performs in Jackson County and throughout the region, including a recent performance with Grammy nominee Jeff Sipe. Cooper released his solo album, Lines, in 2011, which was recorded at Western Carolina University and features several local musicians. The album has been played on WNCW’s Local Color and is available for purchase on CD Baby or via chriscoopermusic.com.
Noonday Sun’s next show will be in the early afternoon of April 26 at Sylva’s annual Earthday celebration, Greening Up the Mountains. To connect with Noonday Sun check out their Facebook page.
City Lights Book Store is an independent bookstore located right off Sylva’s downtown Main Street. They have been locally-owned, selling new and used books, gifts, journals and maps, since 1984. For more information on City Lights visit citylightsnc.com or facebook.com/citylightsnc.
Check back each week for a new video from Mountain Xpress featuring Asheville and WNC musicians.
Noonday Sun performing “Vigil” in City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, NC. (Carrie Eidson/ Mountain Xpress)
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.