PAART is thrilled to be bringing The Black Lillies back to the stage of the Palace Theatre for October's First Friday performance event.  Since their last Crossville performance in May of 2010, their most recent album, 100 Miles of Wreckage, hit number 11 on the national Americana radio charts and 16 on the international roots music charts, they’ve gotten to visit some fantastic radio stations, played some great shows, and performed at the CMA Festival & Fan Fair in Nashville.  In the last several months they shot a music video with an acclaimed director David McClister. The video featuring the song "Two Hearts Down" is currently #2 on Country Music Televisions Pure 12 Pack as voted by fans and came in at number 34 on the top 50 of all videos viewed on CMT.com, right in between Darius Rucker and Shania Twain.  In June they made their debut on the Grand Ole Opry and were invited back to perform again on September 9th, less than three months later.  "It’s hard to put the whole Opry experience into words." says group founder Cruz Contreras, "To know that you’re about to play where so many legends of country music have played before is pretty mind-blowing.  And everything about the place was just incredible.  And then, walking out and seeing a sold out crowd of 4400 people, being introduced by Little Jimmy Dickens, and playing on that circle of wood that once graced the stage of the Ryman … wow."

Debbie Mendenhall of PAART said, "Due to Tennessee Arts Commission funding, we are very excited to be able to present an educational outreach performance of The Black Lillies to the students and senior citizens of our community."  For the 45 minute educational matinee, the band will take the audience on a journey from the roots of our region’s mountain music to current trends in Americana and that genre’s influence on today’s popular commercial rock and country hits. The band will perform examples of the very distinct styles of music that are found in various regions of the state of Tennessee – Memphis R&B and blues, Nashville country, Bristol’s more indigenous country/roots music (along with a discussion of the legendary Bristol Sessions), and Knoxville’s role in Americana music.  A specific emphasis will be put on Cumberland County and the Upper Cumberland’s impact on Americana music, centered around a dissection and discussion of the song “Cumberland Land” (the earliest known recorded song from our region).  Tickets for the matinee are $3 for students and $5 for seniors 55 and over.  Reservations for the educational outreach matinee can be made by calling the Palace Theatre at 931-484-6133.

The Black Lillies First Fridays evening performance for the general public will begin at 7 pm central time on October 7th at the Palace Theatre, 72 South Main Street, in Crossville.  Tickets for the performance are available by phone at the Cumberland County Playhouse box office 931-484-5000 or online at www.ccplayhouse.com.  Prices for the evening performance are $8 for students and $15 for adults plus any ticketing service charges that may apply.  As always, tickets are also available at the beautiful, historic Palace Theatre.

View the "Two Hearts Down" video at http://youtu.be/znW5VmlYweE

Learn more about The Black Lillies at

http://www.myspace.com/theblacklillies 

and

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Black-Lillies/51612474577