WCU Stories      March 26, 2019

The First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Series at Western Carolina University will conclude for the spring semester Thursday, April 4, with a concert featuring the Jackson County-based string band Ol’ Dirty Bathtub.

The band’s 7 p.m. performance and the open jam session that follows at 8 p.m. will be held at the headquarters for Homebase College Ministry, located on the east side of the WCU campus at 83 Central Drive.

Organized several years ago, Ol’ Dirty Bathtub includes Brad Boulet, vocals and stringed instruments; Jerad Davis, vocals and stringed instruments; Neil Lippard, vocals and guitar; Carter Giegerich, dobro; and Adam Bigelow, vocals and bass. The musicians have performed across the region at venues such as WCU’s Mountain Heritage Day, Sylva’s “Concerts on the Creek” series, the Nantahala Outdoor Center and Oskar Blues Brewery. They released their first CD, “Pack Mule,” last year.

“Their music is steeped in the bluegrass and old-time traditions of Western North Carolina, but they have been known to delve into more modern tunes, as well,” said Peter Koch, education associate at WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center, which sponsors the traditional music series at the university. “There’s no telling what you will hear during the concert at WCU, from traditional tunes to ’90s pop, but it will be played on stringed instruments and it will be fun.”

The concerts and jam sessions at WCU are free and open to the public. Pickers and singers of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the jam sessions, which also are open to those who just want to listen.

For more information, call the Mountain Heritage Center at 828-227-7129 or visit mhc.wcu.edu.