The lineup for the Grand Opening Festival of The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center was announced Friday.
Here are the scheduled performances:
Thursday, Aug.22:
LANY and special guest COIN will headline a free concert for Auburn students, faculty and staff in the amphitheater. The show, scheduled for 7 p.m., is presented in partnership with University Program Council.
Friday, Aug. 23:
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit with special guest Molly Tuttle will perform for a sold-out crowd in the amphitheater.
Saturday, Aug. 24:
Michael Feinstein and Friends with Storm Large and special guests Santiago Ballerini and Jeremy Samolesky will perform in a black-tie fête in the Woltosz Theatre at 8 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 25:
The festival will host a community day that will feature outdoor activities and performances by local and regional artists. The community day will be held in the amphitheater from noon to 4 p.m.
LANY, an indie-pop trio, released their second album, “Malibu Nights,” in 2018 and will be making their Grand Opening Festival appearance at the end of a six-month world tour.
“We are proud to kick off our Grand Opening Festival weekend with a show produced for and by Auburn University students,” said Amy Miller, director of programming and education for the Gogue Center. “This first GPAC event sets the stage for an incredible season to come and demonstrates our focus to develop campus-wide partnerships through a diverse mix of programming and educational experiences.”
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will play to a crowd of more than 3,000 people at the amphitheater on Friday evening. The concert sold out in less than six days, according to a press release from the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center.
“Jason is a supremely talented songwriter and lyricist whose music is deeply influenced by his Alabama roots,” said Christopher Heacox, executive director of the Gogue Center. “He’s the ideal artist for our premiere ticketed show.”
Bluegrass and country folk musician Molly Tuttle will join Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit as the evening’s opening act.
Saturday evening’s black-tie Grand Opening Fête will be headlined by Grammy- and Emmy- nominated Michael Feinstein. The evening will also include a performance by Santiago Ballerini, a bel canto tenor, and Auburn University’s own Jeremy Samolesky on piano.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michael Feinstein and Friends to celebrate the opening of the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center,” Heacox said. “With music from the big band era all the way to opera, we will be able to show off the beauty and acoustics of the Woltosz Theatre.”
The evening will conclude with a champagne toast and building dedication, along with a surprise closing spectacle. Tickets to the Grand Opening Fête are available for $150.
The festival will close with a community day on Sunday. The event, free and open to the public, will have food trucks and outdoor family-friendly activities. The afternoon’s musical lineup includes performances by Kidd Black Disco Show, Don Clayton, Ella Langley, The Pine Hill Haints, and Peggy Jenkins and the Bizness.
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