Memories of Motown
There’s a special kind of magic that happens when the leaves start to turn and the Highlands Performing Arts Center stage lights up for another season of live music.
This September, PAC is serving up two nights that couldn’t be more different in sound, yet share the same soulful, foot‑stomping spirit. It’s proof that great music, no matter the genre, always finds its way home to the mountains.
Memories of Motown – Friday, September 11, at 7:30 P.M.
Kick off the month with a joyful, high‑energy trip back to the golden age of soul. Memories of Motown is the kind of show that doesn’t just entertain, it transports.
Anchored by powerhouse vocalist Blake Ellege and backed by a razor‑tight rhythm section, shimmering horns, and radiant backing singers, this concert brings the unmistakable sound of Hitsville U.S.A. roaring back to life. Expect velvet harmonies, crisp choreography, and that unmistakable groove that had a generation up and dancing in the aisles. Whether you grew up on these hits or are discovering them for the first time, this is a night built for smiling, singing along, and maybe even dancing in your seat.
Nu-Blu
Nu‑Blu — Saturday, September 26, at 7:30 P.M.
Closing out the month is Nu‑Blu, a band that carries the heart of small‑town North Carolina straight to the PAC stage. Hailing from Siler City, North Carolina, Nu‑Blu is built around husband‑and‑wife duo Daniel and Carolyn Routh. Carolyn’s caramel‑coated soprano is the band’s signature: tender as a lullaby one moment, unstoppable as a freight train the next, always unspooling a story worth leaning in for. Daniel serves as the group’s backbone, a multi‑instrumentalist, backing vocalist, and the steady hand behind the band’s management. Rounding out the quartet are Austin Hefflefinger on banjo, guitar, and vocals, and Justin Harrison on mandolin, fiddle, and percussion, together weaving the warm, layered Appalachian sound Nu‑Blu is known for.
From blazing‑fingers pickin’ to gentle, heartwarming ballads, Nu‑Blu delivers it all with a natural togetherness that simply can’t be imitated. They have the kind of chemistry forged over hundreds of shows on the road. For anyone who loves bluegrass with real heart and real history, this is not a night to miss.
Both concerts take place on HPAC’s Main Stage, with doors and showtime at 7:30 P.M. Tickets are available now. Grab yours early, as these shows have a way of selling out fast. Whether you’re a Motown devotee or a bluegrass lover at heart, September at PAC promises two unforgettable evenings under the same roof. Visit highlandsperformingarts.com or call the box office at (828) 526‑9047 for tickets.
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