February 19, 2009 Issue
Folk Artist Mike Cross Returns To Hayes Center February 28
March for Babies 2009 Scheduled for April 26 at Kidd Brewer Stadium
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Back by popular demand, renowned folk artist and storyteller Mike Cross will return to Blowing Rock’s Hayes Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 28. Mike Cross didn’t pick up a guitar until his junior year in college. In fact, he was planning to become a professional golfer. Fortunately, a high school sweetheart altered his golfing future, and the weather, as well as a bout with the flu, sealed his musical destiny.
The Tennessee-born Cross, who had lived and breathed golf since he was 10, sold his clubs prior to heading off to UNC-Chapel Hill, where he gave up his golf scholarship to pursue medicine in order to impress his girl; they broke up his freshman year.
Without a putter, a four-iron or a spousal prospect, a new preoccupation was just waiting to take hold. Thankfully, along came a snowstorm and a faulty immune system that left an ailing Cross stranded for two days in a friend’s dorm room, where the roommate’s guitar leaned seductively against the wall.
Boredom and obsession prevailed as Cross spent the next couple of days learning how to play his first chords and songs, thus sealing his fate as a popular singer-songwriter who 20 years, 13 albums and hundreds of concerts later, entertains crowds from Boston’s Symphony Hall to outdoor music festivals in California.
Back by popular demand following last year’s sold out performance, the Hayes Performing Arts Center presents Cross in concert for one night only, Saturday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m.
The guitarist-fiddler’s Appalachian mountain upbringing—a region renowned for its storytellers and songwriters—clearly contributes to Cross’ unique stylings. His shows teem with backwoods wit and folksy charm in the vein of Will Rogers and Mark Twain, as much as they delight audiences with a blend of 12-string bottleneck blues, fiery Irish jigs, original music and tall tales.
In other words, the self-proclaimed “wandering hillbilly hippie folk singer” will simultaneously pull your leg and set your toes to tapping.
Tickets for the Cross performance are $32 for the general public, $20 for students and are available now by calling the box office at 828-295-9627 or by clicking to www.hayescenter.org. Special group rates are also available. Season and Flex Passes can be purchased and used throughout the entire ‘09 season.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, February 28
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hayes Performing Arts Center
Cost: $32 for the general public/$20 for students
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