R&B stars, rock stars and rising stars have been tapped to entertain Market guests in High Point this Spring.  

The exciting nightly entertainment kicks off on Monday evening, April 7, 2008, with Kool & The Gang, playing such chart-topping hits as “Celebration,” “Get Down On It,” “Fresh,” “Too Hot,” “Misled,” “Cherish,” “Ladies Night,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Joanna,” and “Jungle Boogie” among many others. With a special sound at the unique intersection of jazz, R&B, funk and pop, the group’s music has influenced the music of three generations and sold more than 70 million albums worldwide, racking up two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, as well as 31 gold and platinum albums along the way. 

On Tuesday evening, April 8, 2008, the series continues with rock group Cheap Trick, and a hard-edged, yet melodic pop sound that combines the tunefulness of The Beatles with the speed and energy of punk rock. Well-known for their use of unusual guitars and basses, the band’s biggest hits include “I Want You to Want Me,” “Surrender,” and “The Flame.”

Wednesday evening, April 9, 2008, blues guitarist Robert Cray is set to take the Stars stage. A gifted singer songwriter, with a voice that evokes soul and R&B greats from Otis Redding to Al Green, Cray is credited by Rolling Stone as having led the blues revival charge in the early ‘80s. Today, the Georgia-born Grammy winner, who continues to record and tour, is recognized around the world for clean guitar work and an innovative, modern blues sound.

Rising country group McKenzies Mill is set to take the stage on Thursday evening. Based in Nashville, the group’s outstanding musicians all have roots in North Carolina and are quickly building a reputation for fierce, crowd-pleasing performances. A blend of traditional/modern country and southern rock, the band combines down-home subject matter and a natural story-telling ability that takes audiences from the campfire to the barstool, down dirt roads and blacktops—slinging gravel and kicking up plenty of trouble throughout the ride.

NorthernBlues Music Recording Artists Homemade Jamz’ Blues Band—the youngest blues band ever to sign with a major record label—will amaze Market-goers on Friday night with their jaw-dropping, head-turning, party-starting mastery of the blues. Homemade Jamz’ members, siblings ages 15, 9, and 8, are hailed as musical prodigies and have already, among their many honors, taken home second place at the 2007 International Blues Challenge (competing against 93 adult bands from all over the world). If you missed them on “CBS Sunday Morning,” here’s your chance to hear what all the fuss is about.   

“We have an extraordinary number of special events planned for Spring Market,” says Brian D. Casey, president and chief executive officer of the High Point Market Authority. “Beyond the exciting headliners of Stars Under The Stars will be an outstanding line-up of additional musical entertainment under the Showplace Tent and across the Market, along with an abundance of complimentary food and drink options to ensure that our guests will find something for everyone while they are working here all week. I encourage everyone, if they haven’t already done so, to register for updates on the highpointmarket.org website, so that they can stay on top of the jam-packed schedule which will be updated often in the coming weeks as even more new events are added.”

All Stars Under The Stars concerts take place under the Showplace Tent. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., and doors open at 7 p.m. nightly. All Market attendees wishing to enter must present a current Market badge and a valid picture ID. No one under the age of 15 will be admitted.