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...
Upcoming Last Fridays:
Last Friday, July 30
Killer Filler
| Killer Filler is an all-instrumental five-piece outfit that melds Memphis soul and California surf music. Original songs by bandleader Crispy Bess include Funk, twang, jazz, lounge and swing! The Ventures, The Shadows, Booker T. and the MGs, and The Meters are all channeled by the band in their exciting live sets. The Band: Chris 'Crispy' Bess - Keyboards, Bass, Guitar & Percussion Mark Murphy - drums Pete Gamble - Guitar Rusty Miller - Bass Byron Settle - Guitar |  |
"Killer Filler has the goods. If you haven't seen them live, the CD is next best thing. But for goodness sake see them live; it's hard to imagine more ingenious intricate and downright fun music. You have to see them do it to believe it."
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. |
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.
Pie Contest Each month has a different pie theme,
with local ingredients preferred, and homemade pies required. May’s
theme is strawberry, with judging at 6pm at Cup a Joe, and awards
announced at 7pm. Pie pieces will be sold at Cup a Joe after the
winners are announced. Proceeds help to support The Hillsborough Arts
Council's Last Fridays events. Entry forms and future pie themes can be
found online at
http://www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/HillsboroughPieContest.html
Weaver Street Market Free wine tasting and music! Enjoy a selection of wines to sample at a free tasting 5-7pm. From 6-8pm, we'll have a long-overdue appearance from Jon Shain, bringing his hypnotic guitar playing and enlightening songwriting for your Last Friday enjoyment. Featuring tunes from his current album "Times Right Now" and hopefully some old favorites from the vaults.
The Orange County Historical Museum 201 N. Churton St.
will announce the winners of its Annual Photography exhibit on the
courthouse lawn at 6:15pm. Come to the Museum from 6-9pm to see the
participants and winners of the competition.
The Burwell School Historic Site
319 N. Churton St will be celebrating the
Hillsborough Arts Council’s Last Friday this month by hosting a special
“Summer Breeze” concert with Hillsborough band, Judy Woodall and
Muletrain. This free concert will begin at 7pm. Bring your lawn chairs
or blankets, a picnic basket, bottle of wine, and the entire family for a
relaxing evening at our lovely historic property. In the event of
inclement weather, the concert will be moved into the parlor of the
Burwell House. Free self-guided tours will be available all evening. For
more information, please call 732-7451 or visit our website,
www.burwellschool.org
Hillsborough Presbyterian Church A. L. Stanback's award
winning Jazz Bands provide a full evening of music that makes chests
swell with the pride that only small town citizens know. Music begins
at 6:30 pm and church members will be ready with scoops in hand for
visitors to "Get The Scoop" of free ice cream while they listen.
Orange County Public
Library From 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the
Main Library the Friends of the Library will present "Yellow Brick Road:
An Evening at the Library." Join us for cookies and lemonade, old-time
Appalachian Music, contests, prizes, and more. The Friends will be
giving away free books, bookmarks and bumper stickers while supplies
last. This is a great opportunity to purchase your personalized brick
paver and show your support for the Orange County Public Library.
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.
