Culture
Lancaster Festival, OU-L Announce First Music Act of New Partnership
By: Cheri Russo
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Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit will be the first act to play at Ohio University Lancaster’s Wagner Theatre as part of an expanded relationship between the Lancaster Festival and the Lancaster Campus.
“We are pleased to have Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit as the first artist presented in this new collaboration with the University,” said Lancaster Festival Executive Director Lou Ross. “Already known as a member of the band Drive By Truckers, Jason is now forging his own identity, recently winning the 2012 Song of the Year award from the Americana Music Association.”
The Festival and Ohio University Lancaster recently agreed to expand their relationship beyond the traditional summer musical events that made use of the outdoor resources of the campus for more than 25 years.
The two organizations are going to work together to bring up-and-coming artists to the Lancaster Campus’ indoor venue, the 500-seat Wagner Theatre.
“We are thrilled that the Lancaster Festival was able to find an act to come to the Wagner Theatre so quickly,” said Ohio University Lancaster/Pickerington Dean Jim Smith. “We think Isbell will be a wonderful musician to have perform in the theatre.”
Isbell and the band are known for their country-infused folk music. Isbell is a guitar player from Alabama, whose songs have recently been about how the economic downturn impacted his part of the country.
One of the goals of the Lancaster Campus has been to become the cultural and intellectual center of Fairfield County and the surrounding area. Smith said building on the existing relationship OUL has with the Lancaster Festival is a fantastic way to do that.
“The Lancaster Festival is proud to add to the wonderful selection of cultural events presented year-round in this community,” said Ross.
The concert is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 2. The doors will open at 7 p.m. with show time at 8 p.m. Singer-songwriter Amanda Shires will open the evening.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, Oct. 6 and are available online at www.lancasterfestival.org or by calling 1-800-LAN-FEST (536-3378).