If you go
› What: David Gerald Blues Band in concert.› When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26.› Where: The Arts Center, 320 N. White St., Athens, Tenn.› Admission: $15 adults, $10 students.› Phone: 423-745-8781.› Website: athensartscouncil.org.Still to come› Oct. 14: Amanda Shires› Nov. 11: The Good Lovelies› Jan. 20: Joshua Carswell
The Athens Area Council for the Arts will kick off the 2016-17 Black Box Concert Series on Friday, Aug. 26, with authentic Detroit blues from the David Gerald Blues Band.
David Gerald grew up to the sounds of the blues and R&B music in Detroit, where his dad moved the family to pursue the American dream. Gerald started playing guitar at age 15, influenced by Prince and '80s rock guitarists. Later, he rediscovered the blues and listened to the music of Albert King, ZZ Hill, BB King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others.
He performs year-round at clubs and festivals across the United States. Recently he was listed as No. 1 on the ReverbNation blues charts for Michigan Blues artists. His debut album, "Hell and Back," reached No. 1 on Roots Music Report's Blues Chart and remained in the Top 20 for several weeks.
Concertgoers may buy tickets for single shows or for the season. Still to come in the season are Texas fiddle prodigy Amanda Shires on Oct. 14, Canadian folk trio The Good Lovelies on Nov. 11 and Joshua Carswell, a multigenre singer whose choices range from Johnny Mercer to Hank Williams.
Individual tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students. Series packages offer a 15 percent discount: $50 per individual, $100 per couple and $200 per family (immediate family only).