Townsend, TN – Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center’s Sunset Music Series, now in it’s fourth year, will premier on Friday, June 12. This year’s Sunset Music Series will have seven Friday concerts in the summer and three in the fall to be announced. All the concerts begin at 7:00 pm and are presented in the Heritage Center’s outdoor amphitheater which has new sound and lighting systems, an expanded stage, and a roof over the entire amphitheater so that concerts may be presented rain or shine.

Four of the seven concerts this summer will feature artists making their Sunset Music Series debuts. The Series premiers on June 12 with a performance by the heralded Boston-based stringband, Hokum’s Heroes featuring vocalist Samoa Wilson. The other new bands are the John Myers Band and Y’uns from Knoxville, and three-time national guitar champion, Steve Kaufman, from Maryville, concludes the summer concerts on August 21.
           

Another national touring act based in Maryville, Sparky & Rhonda Rucker, will be making their second appearance at the Heritage Center after making their debut at last year’s Sunset Music Series premier. Also back by popular demand are Blue Mother Tupelo, formerly from Knoxville and now based in Henderson, near Nashville, and Wild Blue Yonder, back for their fourth appearance and the only band to perform every year since the Sunset Music Series began.
           

Admission to each concert is $4.00 per person at the door, with Heritage Center members admitted free. Tickets may be purchased at the door. For further information, call the Center at 865-448-0044.
 
Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center
 
SUNSET MUSIC SERIES 2009
 
 
Friday, June 12 Hokum’s Heroes
                                    String-band music with elements of swing, folk and blues
 
Friday, June 19 Blue Mother Tupelo
                                    Blues-based Americana and southern soul
 
Friday, July 3                Sparky & Rhonda Rucker
                                    Toe-tapping songs and stories from American folklore
 
Friday, July 24  John Myers Band
                                    Soul, gospel and country
 
Friday, July 31  Wild Blue Yonder
                                    Bluegrass-based Americana
 
Friday, August 14         Y’uns
                                    Jug-band music with elements of country, swing and blues
 
Friday, August 21         Steve Kaufman
                                    Three-time national guitar champion