Tony Rice to Headline SMC Folk Festival

03/15/11 — Festival To Cap Off College's Centennial Concert Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SPARTANBURG -- Spartanburg Methodist College will end its 2010-2011 centennial celebration concert series in a big way on April 2 with a Folk Festival featuring several well-known folk music artists, including headliner Tony Rice.

SMC invites the entire community to come out to the event and help celebrate the college's first 100 years.

Rice will perform two sets that evening, from 8 - 10 pm. Other performers include Matthew Knights Williams, David Ezell, the Freddie Vanderford Band (included with Fayssoux Starling McLean) and Bryan Bowers.

The festival closes out a year-long series, which has featured internationally-known artists and musicians, including Bluestar, an acclaimed Bluegrass band; Andean musicians Andes Manta; piano virtuoso Teresa Walters; Ugandan musicians Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa; jazz and blues artists the Adrienne Hindmarsh Trio; celtic musicians the Norman & Greenburg Duo; harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy; Indian violinist Aishu; award-winning Hollywood actor Darryl Van Leer; Japanese dance artist Shizumi Manale; musical artists Hesperus; and Russian soprano and pianist Lana Duo.

"Celebrating 100 years of education called for something very special, and our Centennial Concert series is certainly that. We have been very pleased to be able to bring the world to the SMC campus. The multicultural experience has been well received by the student body and Spartanburg community alike and the opportunity to offer this has been exciting," says SMC president Dr. Colleen P. Keith.

Briles Lever, SMC professor of Art and chairman of the college's Centennial Committee, adds, "Acts included Grammy award winners and international touring acts from eight different countries. The students and faculty were given a rare opportunity to directly interact with many of the artists in free workshops they gave the same day as their concert. This was truly a time to celebrate."

The Folk festival is open to the general public. Advanced tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets.com and cover admission to all concerts that day. Full information on Folk Festival ticket prices and performance times, and additional information, is available at www.smcsc.edu/folkfestival

SMC will formally celebrate its centennial on Tuesday, September 6^th with a special convocation and luncheon on the campus.

Spartanburg Methodist College is in its 100th academic year of providing quality education to students in a Christian environment.  More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.