Picante plays June 4

UNC Asheville will kick off its 25th annual Concerts on the Quad summer music series at 7 p.m. Monday, June 4, with a performance by the popular six-piece Latin music group Picante. These talented local musicians will have the audience on their feet doing the salsa, merengue and mambo under the stars. The concerts, which are free and open to the public, will be held on UNC Asheville's Quad on Mondays through July 16.

Concerts on the Quad is fun for the entire family. The public is invited to bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs. Sorry, no pets allowed. With nearly 3,000 people attending each concert, lawn-chair seating will be separate from blanket seating in order to preserve sight lines; please look for signage when arriving on the Quad. Check out the Café a la Quad tent for a brand new menu of wraps, snacks, beverages, desserts and ice cream from 6-8 p.m.

In case of rain, the concerts will be held in Lipinsky Auditorium. A limited menu will be served at the rain location. Location decisions will be made at 5 p.m. the day of the show. Patrons may call 828/232-5000 after 5:15 p.m. each Monday to hear a recorded announcement about the location of that evening’s performance.

Due to summer construction on campus, patrons are urged to use the main campus entrance on W.T. Weaver Blvd. At the top of the hill, turn left and travel through the parking lot, which will lead patrons to University Heights. Regular and handicap parking is available on the street and at lots near the Quad.

Other concerts in the series include:

June 11: The Class Touch Orchestra – This seven-piece group specializes in beach, Motown and pop

June 18: Balsam Range – This Haywood County band performs classic bluegrass, country and gospel

June 25: The 440th Army Band – This 45-member ensemble, which is the North Carolina's National Guard Band, plays pops, marches, jazz and rock

July 2: Yawo – This eight-piece band performs African-Caribbean beats

July 9: Firecracker Jazz Band – This six-piece Asheville band plays Dixieland and roots jazz

July 16: Western North Carolina Jazz Masters – The series will wrap up with classic jazz by local musicians Bryon Hedgepeth, Eliot Wadopian, Stuart Reinhardt and Chris Rosser along with a special 25th anniversary celebration for Concerts on the Quad

For more information about the series, call UNC Asheville Cultural Events Program Office at 828/251-6227 or visit the Concerts on the Quad Web site at www.unca.edu/summerquad/.