CULLOWHEE – The 2014-15 First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Concert and Jam Series at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center will continue Thursday, Dec. 4, with a concert featuring the Deitz Family.
The family’s 7 p.m. performance of bluegrass and old-time music will be followed by an 8 p.m. jam session in which local musicians are invited to participate.
The Deitz Family has been a mainstay of the Jackson County music scene for generations. The group’s musical style varies from country to bluegrass and also includes some old-time fiddle tunes. WCU presented its Mountain Heritage Award to the family in 2006 in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the preservation of the history and culture of the Southern Appalachians.
The First Thursday concerts and jam sessions will continue at the Mountain Heritage Center through next spring. There will not be a program on Thursday, Jan. 1, but the series will resume Thursday, Feb. 5, with a performance by the Darren Nicholson Band.
The events are free and open to everyone. Pickers and singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the jam sessions, which also are open to those who just want to listen.
This year’s First Thursday programs align with WCU’s interdisciplinary learning theme for the academic year, “North Carolina: Our State, Our Time.” Programs and initiatives across campus are exploring the state’s history, culture and impact.
The Mountain Heritage Center is located on the ground floor of WCU’s H.F. Robinson Administration Building.
Info: (828) 227-7129
– WCU
