July 30th Last Fridays to Offer Music, Art Galleries, Shops and Dining! 6:30 – 9:30 pm

NEWS RELEASE

For Release Upon Receipt

Contacts: Rachel Tanksley, Hillsborough Arts Council, 919-643-2500, racheltanksley@gmail.com

Elizabeth Read, The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, (919) 732-7741, eread@historichillsborough.org

HILLSBOROUGH, NC –Last Fridays is an event presented by the Hillsborough Arts Council that runs from April through September. Each month a different band headlines the fiesta with a free performance on the lawn of the historic 1844 Old Courthouse. In addition, music, art vendors, an art walk, a pie contest, and much more bring more than five blocks in downtown historic Hillsborough to life.

MUSIC HEADLINER

The musical headliner for July's Last Fridays is Killer Filler, an all-instrumental five-piece outfit that melds Memphis soul and California surf music. Original songs by bandleader Crispy Bess include Funk, twang, jazz, lounge and swing! The Ventures, The Shadows, Booker T. and the MGs, and The Meters are all channeled by the band in their exciting live sets.

The band features:
Chris 'Crispy' Bess - Keyboards, Bass, Guitar & Percussion
Mark Murphy - drums
Pete Gamble - Guitar
Rusty Miller - Bass
Byron Settle - Guitar

LOCAL ARTISTS

Artist vendors at July's Last Fridays will be located at the old Courthouse in downtown Hillsborough.

ART WALK

The July 30 Last Fridays Art Walk showcases the talents of local artists in studios and galleries in downtown Hillsborough. Many venues will have artist and opening receptions from 6 – 9 pm.

The Gallery at the Hillsborough Arts Council at 220 South Churton Street will be featuring oil paintings by Jennifer Hahn and ceramic sculpture by Susan Wells. Churton Street Gallery at 100 South Churton Street will be featuringnew contemporary jewelry designs in wood and metal by Anna Kurtz. The Hillsborough Artists Cooperative and The Skylight Gallery at 102 West King Street will be featuring “The Studio of Collective Effervescence” by Jayne Bomberg and Tom Guthrie plus the painting studios of Jennifer E. Miller and Jacquelin Liggins. The Co-op's Skylight Gallery will be featuring The Blue Light Special! Artists' Flea Market to raise money for the Skylight Gallery's picture-hanging system. Coldwell Banker Howard Perry and Walston at 114 West King Street will be featuring work by local artists. Cup A Joe at 120 West King Street will be featuring pottery and multi-media by Laura Farrow. The Renee Montague Studio Gallery at 132 West King Street will be featuring “Going to Town“ an Exhibition of Eccentric and Eclectic Art by the Barn Show Folks including Anne Gregory-Bepler, Chris Carver, Tama Hochbaum, Renee Montague and Chance Murray. Callaway Jewelry & Spiral Studios at 115 North Churton offers beautiful handmade jewelry in sterling silver and gold by metalsmiths/designers Catharine Callaway and Jeannine Rogers. Sovero Art Gallery & Studio at 121 North Churton Street, Suite 2-B will be featuring jewelry and oil paintings by Peruvian artist David Sovero. Hillsborough Gallery of Arts at 121 North Churton Street will be featuring artwork from 20 local artists including the “Dream Nature” featuring paintings by Jean LeCluyse and Ellie Reinhold and metal sculpture by Renee Leverty. The Depot at Hillsborough Station at 238 South Nash Street will be featuring work by local artists. It is recommended that you drive to this location. Take West King Street, go left on South Nash Street and the Depot will be on your right. There is plenty of parking across from the Depot.

Brochures with a map of the Last Fridays Art Walk are available at any of the participating venues or online at www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/Art_Walk.

PIE CONTEST

Each month has a different pie theme, with local ingredients preferred, and homemade pies required. July's theme is blueberry. Bring your pie to Cup A Joe no later than 5pm and judging will begin at 6:00. Awards will be announced at the courthouse stage at 7:30pm. Pie pieces will be sold at Cup a Joe after the winners are announced. Proceeds benefit the Hillsborough Arts Council. Entry forms and future pie themes can be found online at http://www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/HillsboroughPieContest.html

OTHER AFFILIATED EVENTS

Local sites provide special programming for young and old alike.

Weaver Street Market will have a selection of fabulous wines for sample at a free tasting 5-7pm. From 6-8pm, Kitty Box & the Johnnys, featuring the sensational, legendary chanteuse Taz Halloween, will bring all the soul, twang and rock of Chatham County to Hillsborough for Last Friday. http://www.reverbnation.com/tazhalloween

Laugh out loud at the Orange County Historical Museum (201 N. Churton St.). Come see Almost Andy performed by Hillsborough local Art Fettig. This 30 minute skit showcases North Carolina native Andy Griffith. Live comedy performances at 6:30 and 7:30. Photo opportunities start at 6-6:30, 7:00-7:30; and 8:00-8:30.

The Burwell School Historic Site presents the opening of a new temporary exhibit, The Burwell Family; A Genealogy. The exhibit will officially open on Friday, July 30, 2010 with free docent led tours, an old-fashioned lemonade and watermelon party, seed spittin’ contests, and prizes for participants during Hillsborough’s Last Friday celebration. The exhibit chronicles the family history of the Burwell, Bedell, Bott, Higginson, Robertson, and Spottswood families from colonial history until the early 20^th century, family memorabilia, photographs, original letters, and other resources will be incorporated into this educational exhibit. Come and learn about the family that was so instrumental in women’s education in North Carolina, and perhaps, learn a little about your own genealogy! Activities and tours will be from 6:30-8pm. The Burwell School Historic Site is located at 319 N. Churton Street, Hillsborough. All events this evening are free and suitable for the whole family. Free parking available. For more information, please call 919-732-7451 or visit our website www.burwellschool.org .

Chill with cool jazz and cold cones at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church on Tryon Street. A band of rising stars - “The Fifth Notes” - led by Lowell and Evan Ringel will make you forget the summer heat. These individuals are quite accomplished musicians who find the time to play in many impressive Triangle ensembles and bands. Free ice cream cones are scooped up by Church members, providing a chance to enjoy your neighbors along with the music.

An excellent mix of downtown Hillsborough businesses will be alive with activity. Businesses located on both sides of Churton and King Streets will hold extended hours and special offerings during the Last Fridays event.

Plenty of parking during Last Fridays can be found at the Eno River parking deck.

No dogs are permitted in the courthouse area during Last Fridays by order of the police. Thanks for your understanding.

If you would like to have a vendor booth outside of the courthouse area, please contact the Town of Hillsborough.

A map of all Last Fridays events can be found at http://hillsboroughartscouncil.org/MapLastFriday.html

The Hillsborough Arts Council, a non-profit organization supporting the arts in Hillsborough, with funding support in part from the Hillsborough Tourism Board and private contributions, sponsors the Last Fridays program. Coordination support comes from the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and its member organizations, Downtown Merchants, and a variety of local artists, and civic groups. For general information on Last Fridays contact the Hillsborough Arts Council at 919-643-2500, www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org or the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough/Orange County Visitors’ Center at 732-7741 or www.visithillsboroughnc.org

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July 30th Last Fridays to Offer Music, Art Galleries, Shops and Dining! 6:30 – 9:30 pm