Restrung
When David Sardinha closed the doors of Six String Cafe in August 2005, he promised that the club would be back. Less than a year later, it is. Sardinha and Helios Coffee Company owner Grey Medlin recently announced their partnership, Helios Six String Cafe. The pair plans to open the second floor of Helios’ existing location (413 Glenwood Ave.) this fall, offering live music of traditional Six String quality each night of the week. Helios has long been dedicated to promoting live music, hosting occasional weekend shows and featuring DJ sets like Keith Ward’s weekly Intro slot on Wednesdays. The upstairs Six String portion will now serve that function, with an expanded menu from behind a bar that overlooks the Glenwood South district. In the meantime, the joint venture begins presenting music on Tuesday, June 6 with bluegrass act Long Time Gone. The first incarnation of Six String Cafe opened in Cary’s MacGregor Village in April 2001 and steadily built an international reputation as a touring-must for small-room acoustic musicians. For a complete schedule, see www.sixstringcafe.com or www.helioscoffee.com.
Parton Palace
“Plans call for Carolina Crossroads to be the next Dollywood, Myrtle Beach, etc., placing it on the map as a nationally recognized tourism destination,” reads public-relations information from MMI Associates, Inc., the company representing Carolina Crossroads. Carolina Crossroads is a $129 million, 800-acre project along Interstate 95 near Roanoke Rapids. Randy Parton and his superstar family broke ground on phase one of the construction colossus in November, set to open for business in April 2007. In the meantime, a series of concerts thoughtfully dubbed “Randy Parton and Carolina Crossroads Concerts” opens on Saturday, June 3 with Nashville superstars Big & Rich. The show benefits the Children’s Miracle Network. For more, see www.carolinacrossroads.com.
Smile
Smilefest XII, one of the state’s most popular outdoors music festivals, happens this weekend, June 2-4, at Gorges Music Park on Lake Toxaway in Transylvania County. The festival continues to grow each year, now hosting even more prominent national acts like Michael Franti & Spearhead, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sam Bush, Keller Williams, Darol Anger and Jeff Coffin. The festival focuses more on regional than state favorites, with several performers from Georgia on the three-day bill. Tar Heel stars The Avett Brothers and Steep Canyon Rangers will be on hand, though. For more, see www.smilefest.com.