July 1, 2010

Mary Chapin Carpenter. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB's Alys Stephens Center will present American singer/songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter at 8 p.m. Friday, July 23 in the center, 1200 10th Ave. South. Tickets are $55, $48, $38; $20 student tickets and $10 student rush tickets on the day of the show. Call 205-975-2787 or visit www.AlysStephens.org. The show is part of the ASC casual Summer Concerts Series; come early for summer tunes from Birmingham's Kelli Johnson, brews and barbecue from Jim 'N' Nick's in the courtyard beginning at 6:30 p.m. Visit www.AlysStephens.org for details on winning a chance to meet Carpenter.

Carpenter draws from a wide range of musical influences, combining folk, country, acoustic, rock and blues. She is an artist for whom the conventional boundaries disappear. During the course of an 11-album recording career, Carpenter has won five Grammy awards and earned 15 nominations. She has sold more than 13 million records and scored 12 Top 10 singles, four of which reached No. 1 on the charts: "Down at the Twist and Shout," "He Thinks He'll Keep Her," "I Take My Chances" and "Shut Up and Kiss Me."

On her latest release, the critically acclaimed "The Age of Miracles," Carpenter delves into her personal life for an exploration of regret and resilience. Written during and after her recovery from a life-threatening pulmonary embolism, Carpenter looked inward for inspiration for her 12th musical release. The songs blend personal tales of discovery and experience while also reflecting on one's purpose and relationship to the universe.

Recently, Carpenter was honored with The Americana Association's esteemed "Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music Award," which recognizes artists who have used their work to raise awareness and promote free speech. Past recipients include Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Judy Collins and Joan Baez, among others.

About UAB's Alys Stephens Center

UAB's Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is one of the Southeast's premier performing arts centers, hosting the best in international, national and local performance. Home to the UAB departments of theatre and music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the ASC also presents its own season, bringing the world's best music, dance, theater, comedy and family entertainment to Alabama.