DATES ANNOUNCED FOR MUSIC JAMS,
DANCE GATHERINGS AT WESTERN

CULLOWHEE – Old-time and bluegrass music jam sessions and traditional dance gatherings will continue at Western Carolina University through the remainder of 2005.

The series of informal jam sessions and dance gatherings, open to anyone with a hankering to pick mountain tunes or kick up their heels, began last January and have been attracting large crowds of enthusiastic musicians, dancers and listeners to the Western campus, said Suzanne McDowell, interim director of Western's Mountain Heritage Center.

All the jam sessions and dance gatherings are held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday nights at the Mountain Heritage Center (MHC) or on the third floor of A.K. Hinds University Center (UC.)

The schedule includes

•  Aug. 11 jam at the UC

•  Aug. 25 dance at the UC

•  Sept. 8 jam at the MHC

•  Sept. 15 dance at the UC

•  Sept. 22 jam at the MHC

•  Oct. 6 jam at the MHC

•  Oct. 20 jam at the MHC

•  Oct. 27 dance at the UC

•  Nov. 3 jam at the MHC

•  Nov. 10 dance at the UC

•  Nov. 17 jam at the MHC

•  Dec. 1 jam at the MHC

•  Dec. 8 dance at the UC

•  Dec. 15 jam at the MHC

The events are open to pickers, singers and dancers of all ages and experience levels, but also to those who just want to watch and listen, McDowell said.

For more information, call the Mountain Heritage Center at (828) 227-7129.