Sister Hazel to perform at the Phillips Center Sept. 21

September 10, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gainesville’s own Sister Hazel returns to the Phillips Center for Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21.

The smash hit “All For You” spent 40 weeks on the Billboard charts, pushing the band into the spotlight. Their album “Release” reached the band’s highest spot on the Billboard Album Charts, topping their platinum disc “Somewhere More Familiar.” They are keeping the momentum going with their recently released “Heartland Highway,” which marked the band’s quickest album-to-album turnaround in their 15-plus-year career.

According to bassist Jett Beres, Release “sparked a creativity” in the Gainesville, Florida-bred band comprised of vocalist Ken Block, guitarist/vocalist Drew Copeland, lead guitarist Ryan Newell, drummer Mark Trojanowski and Beres.

The group’s eighth full-length album, “Heartland Highway” features a collection the group agrees is their most diverse-sounding disc. The band’s collaborative nature enabled them to utilize the expertise of Nashville guitar aces Pat Buchanan and Tom Bukovac, while welcoming back old pal harmonica player Rob Peck, who played on their first album.

It’s not surprising the group, named after the Gainesville nun Sister Hazel Williams, is deeply committed to charitable work. Among their involvements is Lyrics For Life, a charity they started to raise money for pediatric cancer; a cause especially close to Block who lost his brother to cancer when he was a teenager.

Sister Hazel still hits the road regularly, playing roughly 100 dates annually, but always keeps its hometown close to heart.

Tickets are on sale and available for this performance. Call 352-392-ARTS (2787) or 800-905-ARTS (toll free within Florida), or visit www.performingarts.ufl.edu for more information.