presents Last Fridays
2010 marks the 12th season of Last Fridays, running the last Friday of each month from April to September
- Free Concert Series! From April through September, starting at 6:30 pm a free concert is featured on the old courthouse lawn alongside visual arts, dance, and literature.
- Artists, food vendors, musicians and craftspeople set up their wares on the sidewalks around the courthouse.
- Arts walk features local artist's studios and galleries hosting opening night receptions.
- The Hillsborough Arts Council Gallery hosts an Artist reception for the new May Show.
- The sidewalk cafes of local restaurants remain open.
- The Hillsborough Pie Contest takes place at Cup a Joe's.
- Businesses, galleries, studios, restaurants, churches, museums and historic sites remain open and offer numerous special events.
- Events, and workshops for children take place on the South lawn of the Courthouse.
- Check out the tabs to the left for program details and a map to all events
- Check out all event details below...
- The Arts Council is now on Facebook...
Last Friday, August 27
Big Fat Gap Band
Big Fat Gap combines hard driving Bluegrass instrumentals with heartfelt songs that will have you appreciating why you're lucky to live in Carolina! Blue Water Muse recording artists Big Fat Gap have been performing across the United States for over 6 years and have built a solid reputation for powerful live performances. It's the only bluegrass band that comes with a guarantee. "Pretty much gimmick free," says Big Fat Gap founding member Chris Heaney of the band's music. With Special guest Greg Humphreys joining the show this is sure to be a memorable night! Here's a video of Greg Humphreys and the Big Fat Gap at Rock Quarry Farm. |
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| The Band: Bobby Britt - fiddle Chris Roszell - banjo Jamie Griggs - guitar John Hill - mandolin Miles Andrews - bass with special guest Greg Humphreys from Hobex. |
Upcoming Last Fridays:
Last Friday, September 24
Jo Gore & the Alternative
Jo Gore and the Alternative is a five piece band performing Rock and Roll with Acoustic Soul.
Gospel music has produced some of pop, country, R&B, blues and rocks greatest musical talents. Such is the case with Jo Gore, who spent a good portion of her childhood singing at Spring Hill Baptist, in Columbus County, NC. Jo’s father, A.K. Gore was the church pianist, and the two would play and sing throughout the region. Speaking of those days, Jo said “Spring Hill Baptist was a typical southern black church..."
| "There was plenty of soul, field hollerin, spirituals, call-and-response…people sung and played by ear... No one fell asleep !! ” Jo developed a style that borrows from early gospel rock and rollers and charismatic quartet singers like Rosetta Tharpe, James Cleveland, Joe Ligon, & Harvey Watkins Jr. Her vibrato, improvisation, and interpretation of melody is reminiscent of the great vocal jazz and gospel stylists of the 50’s and 60’s. “It’s no secret that I have tried to pattern myself after Sarah Vaughan. She had such an amazing vocal range and beautiful vibrato." |  |
Jo's sensitive vocal stylings with Bo's acoustic guitar have a decidedly Corinne Bailey Rae feel. Lankenaus' accomplished acoustic guitar is the foil for Gore who maintains a restrained soulfulness on the beautifully rendered 'Last Letter' and on mid tempo cuts like 'Horses' and 'You mean the World to Me'. Gore can whisper a soft melody then kick off her shoes and strut across the stage to belt out a powerful hard driving rockin' tune that gets the crowd up on their feet. This is a show that you need to see live.
The Band:
Jo Gore - Vocals
Bo Lankenau - Harmonica and Acoustic Guitar
Steven Coon - Electric Guitar
Bakru Hunsel - Drums
Brochures with a map of the Last
Fridays Art Walk are available at any of the participating venues or
online at www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/Art_Walk.
Hillsborough Restaurants and shops downtown Hillsborough businesses will be alive with activity. Businesses located on both sides of Churton and King Streets will hold extended hours and special offerings during the Last Fridays event.
The Hillsborough Arts Council, a non-profit organization supporting the arts in Hillsborough, NC with funding support in part from the Hillsborough Tourism Board , the Orange County Arts Commission and private contributions, sponsors the Last Fridays program. Coordination support comes from the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and its member organizations, Downtown Merchants, and a variety of local artists, and civic groups. For general information on Last Fridays contact the Hillsborough Arts Council at 919-643-2500 or the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough/Orange County Visitors Center at 919-732-7741 or www.historichillsborough.org.
