FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

Leesa Brandon – Executive Director and NC Coordinator
Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc.
828.271.4779, x 224

ASHEVILLE, NC and ROANOKE, VA (August 17, 2009) – The Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic byway connecting the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina, will celebrate its 75th Anniversary with a year of exciting events along its route, culminating in an Anniversary weekend September 10-12, 2010.

As part of a weekend full of opening events scheduled for November 12-14, 2009 in Cherokee and Asheville, North Carolina, a benefit concert featuring a host of Grammy Award-winning artists will perform at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.

The headliner for the concert, which will be held at Thomas Wolfe Auditorium at 7 p.m. Saturday, November 14, will be award-winning singer/songwriter Nanci Griffith. Griffith has recorded 19 albums during her career to date, including a new release, The Loving Kind. Winner of multiple Grammy Awards, Griffith is a master storyteller and performer, and her songs are often topical and personally reflective.

In addition to Griffith, a group of some of the country’s most renowned bluegrass musicians will gather together to perform as The Blue Ridge Bluegrass All-Stars. Slated to appear are Doyle Lawson, Sammy Shelor, Bryan Sutton, Tim Surrett and Jim VanCleve. This gathering promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience some of the best in bluegrass in celebration of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

In addition to the line-up of music, the dramatic and colorful Warriors of AniKituhwa will also perform. The entire evening will be hosted by Asheville’s own Grammy Award-winning musician and storyteller, David Holt. 

Concert tickets will be available beginning August 24 at the Asheville Civic Center Box Office at 87 Haywood Street, Asheville or at Ticketmaster. Two ticket options are available. General, reserved seats are $35.00. A Patron ticket is also available for $75 which offers Premium reserved seating and access to the patron reception prior to the event.  Ticketmaster and the Civic Center box office are the only source for legitimate tickets that will benefit the Parkway’s 75th Anniversary.

Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc. is the non-profit organization designated by the National Park Service to lead the Parkway’s 75th Anniversary celebration. With representation from all of the Parkway’s partner groups, the states of North Carolina and Virginia, and community leaders along the 469-mile scenic route, Blue Ridge Parkway 75, Inc.’s mission is to engage local communities and all visitors in an anniversary that focuses attention on a sustainable and healthy Parkway for future generations.