Gaston County Museum will host the performance of bluesman, Tad Walters, as part of their 12^th Annual “Blues out Back” summer concert series on Friday, August 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on the lawn behind the museum. 

Born in Canton, OH, raised in Raleigh, NC, Tad Walters began playing the guitar at age twelve. As he was developing his guitar skill, Tad picked up the harmonica a couple years later at fourteen. He was influenced by the likes of Blind Boy Fuller, Robert Lockwood, Charlie Patton, Robert Nighthawk, and John Jackson, among others, and began his professional music career with the Bob Margolin Band in 1996. In that four year period he traveled the world with the band and played with musicians like Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Billy Boy Arnold, Cary Bell, and others. In 2001 one Tad joined the Big Bill Morganfield band and stayed until 2004. Tad is now teaching guitar and harmonica lessons and concentrating on Piedmont blues and old-time jazz with Dave Andrews.

The twelfth annual “Blues out Back” concert series is free and open to the public.  It’s held the second Friday of the month from May until September.  The museum encourages folks to bring along blankets, lawn chairs, and a picnic for an evening of great music with friends and family.

Gaston County Museum of Art & History, Dallas, North Carolina – 131 West Main Street, Dallas, NC 28034 – The Gaston County Museum is located near Gastonia, North Carolina on the square in historic Dallas.  The museum is housed in an 1852 brick Greek Revival style hotel that has been adapted for visitors and travelers of today.  The museum contains North Carolina’s largest public exhibit of horse-drawn vehicles consisting of sleighs, drays, wagons, and buggies and is the home of the Ties that Bind:  Carolinas Textile Exhibit. 

Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

For more information contact Jeff Pruett, Programs Coordinator, at 704.922.7681 x 105, e-mail: jeff.pruett@co.gaston.nc.us, or visit www.gastoncountymuseum.org.  Become a fan of the museum on Facebook and see what we are up to – www.facebook.com/GastonCountyMuseum

-#-