Director of Communications
amanda.murphy@tn.gov
615-741-9010
Senior Communications Manager
jill.kilgore@tn.gov
615-927-1320
Communications Manager
Alli.Lapps@tn.gov
MARYVILLE, Tenn. – Cruz Contreras, founder and front man for The Black Lillies and co-founder of Robinella and the CC Stringband, kicks off this year’s Hot Summer Nights Concert Series 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Blount County Public Library.
With roots in Blount County and Michigan, Contreras has gone on to affect music worldwide. A multi-instrumentalist, Cruz’s projects have topped Billboard and Americana radio charts. He has won independent music awards and has been nominated for the Americana Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year award.
Cruz, founder and front man for The Black Lillies, writes and arranges all their material. The music has been acclaimed by outlets such as “American Songwriter Magazine,” “Rolling Stone,” NPR’s “Morning Edition” and “Vanity Fair.” Cruz has appeared on national television shows such as “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “CMT,” “VH-1,” “GAC,” “Bluegrass Underground” and PBS Television’s “Sun Studio” sessions.
This year’s concert series, sponsored by the Blount County Friends of the Library, has a variety of performing artists and music genres. The concerts are performed 7 p.m. each Thursday night in August. The concerts are indoors in the library’s main gallery.
The lineup includes:
Aug. 3: Cruz Contreras
Aug. 10: The Ebbert Family (Summar, Bridget & Tyler)
Aug. 17: Sisters of the Silver Sage
Aug. 24: Knoxville Jazz Youth Orchestra Small Ensemble
Aug. 31: An Evening of Broadway & Operetta with Knoxville Opera Company, conducted by Maestro Brian Salesky
Open to the public, these presentations are hosted by the Blount County Public Library, located at 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville.
For more information, visit www.blountlibrary.org.
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Director of Communications
amanda.murphy@tn.gov
615-741-9010
Senior Communications Manager
jill.kilgore@tn.gov
615-927-1320
Communications Manager
Alli.Lapps@tn.gov