The 16^th season of Tryon’s most popular summer event, Summer Tracks, kicks off on Friday, June 5 with the Lauren Mitchell Band. Sponsored by Tryon Downtown Development Association, the show begins at 7 p.m. in Rogers Park.

Hailing from Central Florida, this band is known for their high-energy concoction of blues and soul. Like the legendary female singers she most admires – Etta James, Koko Taylor, Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin – the band’s lead singer Lauren Mitchell gives audiences everything she has and then some.

Jack Sullivan of “Blues Music Magazine” calls Mitchell, “A mesmerizing performer, with a voice for the ages.” Al Kanovsky of “Jazz Blues Florida” writes, “…All I can say is ‘Wow.’” Her smoking band features legendary Gulf Coast Hammond B3 master “The Professor Mike Hensley” and delivers a full-throttle, all-or-nothing, take-no-prisoners, leave-it-all-on-the-stage performance.

This is the first of six Summer Tracks concerts scheduled for this season. Each summer, this well produced series attracts more than 2,000 people to Tryon’s Rogers Park, drawing visitors from all over Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.

As with all Summer Tracks concerts, the show is free, though a voluntary donation at the gate is encouraged. Audience donations along with the generous sponsorships of local businesses and individuals make these shows possible. Manna Cabana’s delicious fresh food, O’Duggan’s ice cream, water and soft drinks will be for sale.

Summer Tracks is produced by the Town of Tryon in affiliation with Peter Eisenbrown of Blockparty Productions. For more information about Summer Tracks and the performers visit www.summertracks.com.

– Submitted by Peter Eisenbrown