Heritage Center Concert Series concludes with the blues

The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center will conclude its summer concert series in its outdoor amphitheater with a performance by Knoxville blues band Slow Blind Hill on Friday, September 1 from 6:30-8:30 pm. The Heritage Center, which opened in February of this year, began presenting outdoor concerts in May. Says Robert Patterson, Executive Director of the Center, “We’ve been pleased with the attendance we’ve had for our concerts, especially in our first year. The audiences have been very enthusiastic and appreciative.” The concerts have featured a variety of musical genres: Celtic, swing, bluegrass, Old Time, classic country, and blues. Slow Blind Hill has been playing its unique combination of blues and jazz around Knoxville, Tennessee since 1994. Imagine a combination of Louis Jordan, B.B. King, and Duke Ellington, with a little Muddy Waters, Jimi Hendrix, and Miles Davis thrown in for good measure, and that’s Slow Blind Hill. With three CDs on their own label, Straightnose Records, Slow Blind Hill has been a favorite at Knoxville nightclubs, the Museum of Art’s “Alive After Five” concert series, and at late night swing dances at the Laurel Theater and other venues. Guitarist and lead vocalist Jaimie Cameron adds his signature compositions to their playlist of classic blues and R & B. Rounding out the group are Eddy Roberts on bass and keyboards, Jeff Hauschildt on drums, and harmonica player Henry Perry, who took early instruction from the Deford Bailey, the only African American member of the early Grand Ole Opry. Slow Blind Hill has been a favorite at Old City clubs, the Knoxville Museum of Art’s “ Alive After Five”, and at late night swing dances at the Laurel Theater and other venues. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for ages 6-18 and over 60. Children under 6 are admitted free. Cushions or blankets are recommended for those attending the concert in the concrete outdoor amphitheater. The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center is located on State Route 73, near the Townsend entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hours are 10 am – 5 pm Tuesday – Saturday, 1-5 pm Sundays, and closed on Mondays. For more information, call 865-448-0044 or log on to www.gsmheritagecenter.org.