Saturday, August 15, 2009

Alys Stephens Center to Celebrate Nashville Music with Two New Shows

Nashville’s Holly Williams to perform Aug. 20

Jim Lauderdale Bluegrass Trio “On Stage with the Band” Oct. 14


Holly Williams to perform at The Alys Stephens Center Aug 20 The Alys Stephens Center will celebrate Nashville music with two new shows: Holly Williams on Thursday, Aug. 20 and the Jim Lauderdale Bluegrass Trio on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Come early for craft brew tastings hosted by Good People Brewing in the lobby at 6 p.m. before each show. Concert hall doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the shows begin at 7 p.m. The Alys Stephens Center is located at 1200 10th Ave. South. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org.

Holly Williams’ debut album “The Ones We Never Knew” and her latest “Here with Me” prove the Nashville singer-songwriter follows the family tradition yet creates a sound uniquely her own. Hank Williams was her grandfather, Hank Junior her father and Hank III is her half-brother, but she is a woman with her own sound. Williams, who penned the majority of the new album’s 11 tracks, writes with piercing clarity on situations from her life. She is featured in the current People magazine, and you can see her Aug. 12 on CBS’s “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Tickets go on sale for $35 July 28 ($20 for students). Call 205-975-2787 or go online to www.AlysStephens.org.

Jim Lauderdale is country music’s most prolific songwriter and brings his stellar bluegrass trio to the Alys Stephens Center’s one-of-a-kind setting, “On Stage with the Band.” Patrons enjoy a more intimate music experience with the band during “On Stage” series shows in 110 seats on stage with the band and 220 seats in the choral balcony.

Lauderdale is fresh from the acclaimed “Sulphur to Sugarcane” tour with Elvis Costello and a 2008 Grammy win for Bluegrass Album of the Year for “The Bluegrass Diaries.” This quintessential “songwriter’s songwriter” has written hits for some of country music’s superstars: The Dixie Chicks, George Jones, George Strait, Vince Gill and Patti Loveless. He won a 2002 Grammy for “Lost in the Lonesome Pines” with Ralph Stanley and won the Americana Music Awards Artist of the Year and Song of the Year awards in 2002 and 2003. Tickets on the stage are $40; tickets in the choral balcony are $35. Call 205-975-2787 or go online to www.AlysStephens.org.

About the Alys Stephens Center
Located on the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus, the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is one of the Southeast’s premier performing arts centers, hosting the best in international, national and local performance. Home to the UAB departments of theatre and music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the ASC also presents its own season, bringing the world’s best music, dance, theater, comedy and family entertainment to Alabama.

VIDEO: www.youtube.com/uabnews
TEXT: www.uab.edu/news
TWEETS: www.twitter.com/uabnews