The Neck of the Woods Performance Series is “ON FIRE!” Really. Come out on August 11th at 7:00pm for a night of enlivening performance art. The evening will feature emerging Wake Forest artist Rachel Pottern, slammin’ blues musicians “Lightning James and Mississippi Mike,” and dancer/movement artist Michelle Stebell. The show will close with an outdoor fire dance! The show is free to all, but we do suggest a $5 per person donation to support these great artists and their work. As usual, the performance is held upstairs at The Wake Forest Coffee Co. Please come a few minutes early so that you won’t miss any of these talented performers.
The Neck of the Woods Performance Series is a variety art show featuring the work of local performing artists. Running for about a year, this unique show has included singers, musicians, writers, dancers, actors and comedians. If you are an artist and would like to share your work, contact Cora Hemphill.
Michelle Stebell loves the mystery of movement and dance. Improvisational, ecstatic, choreographed, and hoop dance are a few of her passions. She has performed and co-choreographed in several dance and circus movement art pieces including The Flowjo in Carrboro, Elon University’s McCrary Theater, ADF’s outdoor kid’s series, Cary’s Christmas Parade, Shakori Hill’s Grassroots Festival, and First Night of Raleigh. Aside from her performance art, Michelle is a mother, a student, and in jewelry production for Jo Handbag in NYC. Her current movement joy is the art of fire dance, and learning Tai Chi. Michelle has lived in NC for 17 years and resides in Carrboro. Photograph taken by Steve Clarke.
“Lighting James and Mississippi Mike” are a Blues Duo consisting of Lighting James on Vocals and Guitar and Mississippi Mike on Harmonica.This dynamic High Energy Blues Duo play an array of Blues Music from Robert Johnson to Muddy Waters as well as original tunes written by Lighting James. Lighting James has played Blues Music all over the world and is considered one of the Best Blues Artist in The Triangle of North Carolina. Mississippi Mike won “The Cape Fear Blues Challenge” in 2008 along with another singer song writer and they were sent to Memphis to compete in The International Blues Competition.The following year the same duo were runners up in The Triangle Blues Society’s Blues Competition .” Lighting James and Mississippi Mike” have a very unique sound. Their instruments and raw talent blend together producing a highly contagious Blues Music experience.
Rachel Pottern is an 18-year-old native of Wake Forest, who lives and breathes all forms of the arts, from poetry and prose to musical theatre. She has frequented local stages with the Road Less Traveled Theatre group, Durant Road Musical Theatre, Granville Little Theatre, and the Henderson Rec. Players. This is her first performance of her own literary work, but she has written numerous short stories and has co-authored an original comedic play. She is honored to be performing for her community once again, and would like to thank Cora for this opportunity, and also Albert (who hired her on at the Coffee Co. a couple months ago!). Enjoy the show!
