Published: 07:00 AM, Fri Aug 28, 2009
'Sweet' folk concert comes to Lumberton's Civic Center
By Brian Dukes
Staff writer
Singer-songwriter Christopher Sawyer will launch what he hopes to become an annual concert series this Saturday at the Carolina Civic Center in Lumberton.
Sawyer, a self-described "acoustic two-step" folk artist and senior majoring in international business at UNC-Pembroke, will co-present the first-ever Sweet Indie Folk Series concert. The concert will feature Sawyer's blend of folk, reggae and jazz, as well as the musical stylings of such indie folk artists such as Arielle Bryant, Toby Bonar and Box Five.
"We're trying to bring a different, high-level, kind of music and artists than are normally found here," said Sawyer. "There's a vibrant folk music scene in Lumberton and across the state; these are songs that tell stories - songs of passion and deep meaning."
Sawyer said he was inspired to create the concert series when he took a tour of the Carolina Civic Center and heard its acoustics.
"I remember thinking how awesome a (folk) concert would sound in there," said Sawyer. "And I knew a lot of artists who would love to play in a space like that."
Thus the Sweet Indie Folk Series was born, though it took some determination on Sawyer's part. He said the Civic Center staff didn't take him seriously at first. After all, who just walks in from the street and proposes to promote and produce a folk music concert series?
Sawyer does. And did. Often.
"I just kept bugging them; I really believe that a concert like that can work here," said Sawyer.
His persistence paid off, and now, this weekend, Sawyer's planning and patience will be put to the test. He said he's not looking to make money from the series, but really wants to raise musical awareness about folk music, as well as publicize some of his favorite charities.
"I wanted to use the concert not only as an opportunity for folk music fans and artists to network, but to point out some of the great community efforts going on in Lumberton," said Sawyer.
Chief among those are River Way and Greater Works.
River Way, Sawyer said, is a nonprofit organization that takes tours down the Lumber River, working to promote the river, river conservation and clean-up efforts, as well as fighting poverty.
Greater Works, Sawyer said, takes old race cars from the 1950s and 1960s and teaches young people how to refurbish them in order to get them racing again.
"It's really mentoring through motor sports," said Sawyer, who has worked with both charity organizations. He's currently a summer youth employment specialist at the UNCP Regional Center.
"This is going to be a family friendly event that will highlight a lot of our community's positives."
Beyond his fledgling philanthropy, for Sawyer the sweetest part of the Sweet Indie Series is, of course, the music.
"We're talking about the kind of music that touches your heart - that's what I'm trying to bring," said Sawyer, adding that all artists will perform completely unplugged (acoustic).
Sawyer said the concert's lineup features performers he's met and networked with from all over North Carolina.
"These are really soulful performers," said Sawyer. "Every one of them has an incredible voice."
Sawyer said he approached each act about kicking off the series, and found everyone excited to do so.
"These guys have wowed me; they're a collection of my favorites from all over," said Sawyer. "And they're looking forward to playing the Civic Center."
There'll also be a video crew on hand filming the concert series. Sawyer hopes to create a DVD series for the performing folk artists to pass along to their fans, as well as to have something he can put his hands on the next time someone asks him exactly what kind of music he plays or what kind of concert he wants to produce.
"I'd love to set a precedent that the Civic Center could become this great place for artists to create media; it just sounds great in there," said Sawyer.
The concert also comes as the first week of Fall semester classes at UNCP close out.
"This will be something cool for students to do their first week back," said Sawyer, adding that he'll be relying on his campus connections to help promote the show.
There'll be an after party at Black Water Grille when the concert's over. Concert-turned-party-goers can meet all the performers at the party. Black Water Grille is located in downtown Lumberton, within walking distance of the Civic Center.
Sweet Indie Folk Series Volume 1 concert
Who: Indie and folk music artists Chris Sawyer, Arielle Bryant, Toby Bonar and Box Five
Where: Carolina Civic Center, Lumberton
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $10
Info: (910) 738-4339 or www.carolinaciviccenter.com
Staff writer Brian Dukes can be reached at dukesb@fayobserver.com or 486-3523.