(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - July 19, 2017) - - - Celebrating its sixteenth season, Columbia State is pleased to announce the 2017-2018 First Farmers Performance Series lineup, which showcases a variety of musical talent.

"This year's lineup is outstanding and sure to please music lovers of all ages," said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. "We are very appreciative of the patrons who support the Series and express our gratitude to First Farmers Bank for their commitment to this community and the college as the long-standing title sponsor."

Opening night, Sept. 28, features Marc and Ted Broussard. Louisiana-born and acclaimed southern singer-songwriter Marc Broussard incorporates his Bayou roots into a soulful mix of blues, rock, pop and R&B. He has toured with giants and honed his writing chops through collaborations with some of the top song craftsmen in the business. Now, Marc is teaming up with his father, Louisiana Hall of Fame guitarist and former member of The Boogie Kings, Ted Broussard, to perform acoustic renditions of his greatest hits and tell stories that inspired his songwriting.

Columbia State hosts An Evening with Sam Bush Oct. 26. The Father of Newgrass and King of Telluride has long since established himself as roots royalty, revered for both his solo work and his work alongside greats like Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett and Béla Fleck. But instead of kicking back and soaking up honors such as an Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award and a suite of Grammys and International Bluegrass Music Association trophies, Bush still strives relentlessly to create something new.

Dailey & Vincent's Spirit of Christmas takes the stage Dec. 7. The newest members of the Grand Ole Opry, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, are some of the most reputable and elite entertainers in American music. Their unique blend of bluegrass, traditional country and gospel music along with the fantastically instinctive vocal blends of Dailey's tenor and Vincent's reedy harmonies, has gained them well-deserved praise for their own distinctive style and worldwide recognition as American Music gold.

Alison Brown performs Feb. 8. Brown doesn't play the banjo. Brown plays music on the banjo. Thousands of three-finger style banjo players have since made their marks, but none has cut such a path or moved so far along it as has Brown. She's acclaimed as one of today's finest progressive banjo players, but you rarely find her in a conventional bluegrass setting. Instead, she's known for leading an ensemble that successfully marries a broad array of roots-influenced music: folk, jazz, Celtic and Latin.

Performing March 15, Ty Herndon is a master of the ties that bind. The Grammy-nominated and Dove award-winning recording artist has the ability to connect with an audience far beyond his onstage performance. Herndon has a passion and commitment to his music that continues to play out in his lyrics. "If I haven't lived it, I haven't sung it," as Herndon says. With a career spanning two decades, 20 Billboard charted singles and over five million albums sold, Herndon shows no signs of slowing down.

The Columbia State Commercial Entertainment program's spring production is the capstone performance April 19. Past shows include The Addams Family, The Little Mermaid, Seussical, Shrek The Musical, 9 to 5, Cats and Grease.

Individual tickets go on sale Aug. 17 and are $30 for adults and $20 for students. To charge tickets by phone using a major credit card, call (931) 540-2879 or purchase them in person in Room 113 of the Pryor Administration Building on the Columbia Campus Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

On performance nights, the box office opens at 6 p.m. in the Kenneth and Ramona Cherry Theater, located in the Waymon L. Hickman Building on the Columbia Campus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and all shows begin at 7 p.m. The Columbia Campus is located at 1665 Hampshire Pike in Columbia.

For more information, visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Performance-Series.

Photo Caption: Marc Broussard

Photo Caption: Sam Bush

Photo Caption: Dailey & Vincent

Photo Caption: Alison Brown

Photo Caption: Ty Herndon

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu.