The alternative rock group Cowboy Junkies is coming to the Lyric Theater on Oct. 15, filling out the Live at the Lyric fall season, which also includes a Shakespeare play and a comedian/juggler.
"We are excited to have the Cowboy Junkies. They round out our season well because we have such a diverse selection from theater to family entertainment," said Susan Mattingly, executive director of the Lyric.
Mattingly said she is happy to host the band because major music acts do not often come to Blacksburg.
"We're not exactly a music destination," Mattingly said. "But luckily Blacksburg is on the way when a band is traveling on the East Coast."
The Cowboy Junkies' tour manager contacted Betsy Crone, who organizes all acts at the Lyric, to see if the band would be able to perform there.
"The manager called and said they would be in North Carolina and wondered if we would be interested in having them. I knew they had a cult following, and I'm a fan - my favorite song is 'Sweet Jane' - so of course we were interested," Crone said.
The Cowboy Junkies are coming to Blacksburg, for the first time, as part of their fall 2009 tour.
The band was unavailable for comment, as they are currently on tour.
Preparing the Lyric for bands such as the Cowboy Junkies will require manpower.
The theater always hires its own professional sound engineer, but such a position is often unnecessary because bigger bands normally have their own crew.
Crone expects to sell out the venue.
"There's already a lot of buzz virally -- on Facebook and our blog. People are going crazy," Crone said.
Crone thinks most of the audience will be longtime fans, but she said she also hopes Virginia Tech students will attend.
"Once they know about the Lyric, college students are good patrons, but I would always like to see more," Crone said.
Crone and Mattingly agree that Tech students are an important clientele for the Lyric.
"I see the Lyric as a bridge between the university and the community." I mean, we're right across the street," said Mattingly.
Tickets for the show are $30 for gold, the seats in the middle of the theater, and $25 for silver - everywhere else.
Mattingly and Crone did not disclose how much they pay the band or a projection for revenue, but Crone said Live at the Lyric is a nonprofit entity.
The other fall 2009 acts are "Romeo and Juliet" performed by the American Shakespeare Center on Sept. 11, comedian and juggler Mark Nizer on Oct. 24 and folk musician Mike Seeger on Friday, Nov. 13.
"Live at the Lyric is a community service; we're happy to break even. The goal is just to bring new, interesting acts to Blacksburg," said Crone
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