The Rural Characters to Play Concert at WICA, 5/17-18

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts presents The Rural Characters, in concert to benefit the WICA Local Artist Series, May 17 and 18, 2013, shows are at 7:30 pm.

The Rural Characters began singing together in 1997; brought together in order to perform as singing cowboys for that year's "Flip Side" of Langley. They had so much fun they have stuck together ever since. In 2003 the Characters won a spot in WICA's Local Artist Series. That concert, "16 Chickens and a Tambourine" went so well that WICA invited them to return the next year to do a show to benefit the Series. The next year the show expanded to two nights, and then it was a tradition.

This year marks the 11th anniversary, and will feature the Characters' favorite songs and shenanigans from over the years-with a few new numbers sprinkled in. Because it has been so hard for the guys to choose what songs to leave out, they are giving fair warning that you should plan on being up past bedtime, and your cheeks are going to hurt.

They gained some early notoriety for a song written for Dave Anderson when he was first running for House of Representatives. "Whidbey Island Democratic Guy", sung to the tune of "Rocky Mountain High" was their first original song that captured local flavor and wit, and they have been telling the story of Island living ever since.

The Characters have had many wonderful guests perform with them through the years, and wish to thank them all sincerely for their talents and support. This year's guests will be Greg Garbarino and Russell Link.

"Specifically regarding this year's show I would say that we were a little concerned after highlighting so much of our favorite material in last year's 10th Anniversary show. However, it has turned out to be a creative year and we have written a lot of new songs, adapted a couple others for parody, and re-polished a few of our early numbers and are excited about this year's show. We once again explore life on South Whidbey in ways that we hope will tug at your funny bone and tickle your heart," Randy Hudson.

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts presents The Rural Characters in Concert at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Avenue, Langley, Washington, on Friday and Saturday, May 17 & 18, 2013, 7:30 P.M. Tickets are $25, and available at wicaonline.com, WICA Ticket Office (360) 221- 8268 or (800) 638-7631.

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