Newswise — Western Carolina University's Mountain Heritage Weekend 2007 features a performance by acoustic music virtuoso Sam Bush on Friday, Sept. 28, and Mountain Heritage Day, WCU's daylong festival of mountain culture, on Saturday, Sept. 29.
Bush and his band will present a pre-festival concert at WCU's Ramsey Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday night. Known as the "King of Newgrass" from his 18 years of leading the legendary group Newgrass Revival, Bush has extended the boundaries of acoustic music in a career spanning more than three decades. His most recent recording, "Laps in Seven," was released last year. Tickets, at $18 (arena) and $23 (floor), may be purchased by calling the Ramsey Center box office at (828) 227-7722, toll-free (866) 928-3378, or by clicking on the Web at http://ramsey.wcu.edu.
Shortly after daybreak on Saturday, the 33rd annual Mountain Heritage Day kicks off on WCU's campus with demonstrations of authentic mountain folk arts; three stages of traditional music and dance; exhibitions of shape-note singing and Cherokee stickball; an arts and crafts midway featuring handmade items; food booths with old-fashioned fare; and numerous just-for-fun competitions. Called "an open textbook of Appalachian folk life" by Southern Living magazine, Mountain Heritage Day is held outside, rain or shine. Admission to the festival is free. Pets are not allowed on festival grounds, but service animals are welcome. For more festival information, call (828) 227-3193 or click on the Web at www.mountainheritageday.com.
Western Carolina University, located in the heart of the southern Appalachian Mountains, is a 30-minute drive from the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Cherokee, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. For information on attractions or accommodations, contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 962-1911 or click on the Web at http://www.mountainlovers.com.
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