An Appalachian Summer Festival Opens June 27 with an All-Star Schaefer Spotlight Series
Hits: 99
Punch Brothers, Gladys Knight, Straight No Chaser, Darren Criss, Rick Springfield, and The Jayhawks headline the festival’s 42nd season, June 27-August 1.
BOONE, NC — As An Appalachian Summer Festival prepares to launch its 42nd season on June 27, the Schaefer Spotlight Series brings a star-studded lineup of iconic performers and genre-defying artists to Boone. From the innovative acoustic sounds of Punch Brothers and the timeless voice of Gladys Knight to the harmonies of Straight No Chaser, the Broadway charisma of Darren Criss, the rock hits of Rick Springfield, and the Americana stylings of The Jayhawks, the series anchors a five-week celebration that also includes extraordinary classical music, dance, theatre, film, visual arts, and family programming. Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration runs June 27-August 1, 2026. Tickets are available at AppSummer.org, by phone at 828-262-4046, or in person at the Schaefer Center Box Office (733 Rivers St).
Schaefer Spotlight Series:
PUNCH BROTHERS (Low Ticket Alert)
Saturday, June 27, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30pm
Formed by mandolinist Chris Thile in 2006, Punch Brothers pushes the boundaries of acoustic music. In addition to Thile, the band currently comprises guitarist Chris Eldridge, bassist Paul Kowert, banjoist Noam Pikelny, and violinist Brittany Haas. Punch Brothers has garnered critical acclaim, including a Grammy for Best Folk Album for All Ashore (2018). The Washington Post applauded them for taking “bluegrass to its next evolutionary stage, drawing equal inspiration from the brain and the heart.”
The Unsung Adventures of Punch Brothers, the band’s seventh album — and its first comprising all instrumental tunes as well as its first with fiddle player Brittany Haas, who joined the quintet in 2023 — is due July 24, 2026. The album features eight new original compositions by Punch Brothers as well as three traditional songs they arranged.
GLADYS KNIGHT (Limited Seats Remain)
Wednesday, July 8, Schaefer Center, 7:30pm
Iconic Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress Gladys Knight has enjoyed #1 hits in Pop, Gospel, R&B, and Adult Contemporary. Nicknamed the “Empress of Soul,” she rose to global fame as the powerhouse lead vocalist of Gladys Knight & the Pips, a celebrated family group that achieved massive success across the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. Renowned for her rich, smoky contralto voice, Knight has seamlessly bridged the worlds of R&B, pop, gospel, and adult contemporary music throughout a legendary multi-decade career. A Kennedy Center Honors recipient, she has recorded more than 38 albums, including four solo albums: Good Woman (1991); Just for You (1994); the inspirational Many Different Roads (1999); and At Last (2001). A full band joins Knight for this aural trip down memory lane.
STRAIGHT NO CHASER BEACH BASH
Friday, July 10, Schaefer Center, 7:30pm
The wildly popular all-male a cappella group Straight No Chaser brings the harmonies, the hits, and the ultimate summer soundtrack with Beach Bash, performing feel-good songs from the last six decades. Straight No Chaser is the real deal, the captivating sound of nine unadulterated human voices coming together to make extraordinary music. Get ready for an evening of your favorite beach tunes, summer anthems, and sun-soaked classics, including Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” and Walk the Moon's “Shut Up and Dance.
DARREN CRISS
Saturday, July 18, Schaefer Center, 7:30pm
Since bursting onto the pop-culture landscape over a decade ago in Fox’s hit TV show Glee, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Darren Criss has embodied the kind of kaleidoscopic artistry that’s entirely uninhibited by form or genre. For this concert, Darren will be performing well-known songs featured throughout his eclectic career as both a songwriter and performer, including those from Glee, Starkid, and the Broadway shows he’s starred in. Criss recently earned the 2025 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in the Broadway hit Maybe Happy Ending, which opened to rave reviews and won the Tony for Best Musical. In 2015, his songwriting landed an Emmy nomination for Best Original Music and Lyrics, from penning the song “This Time” for Glee’s series finale.
As an actor, Criss is a veteran of the stage whose Broadway credits include the titular role of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2015), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2012), and the 2022 revival of David Mamet’s seminal play American Buffalo alongside Laurence Fishburne and Sam Rockwell. In 2018, his work in Ryan Murphy’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story received wide critical acclaim, earning him a Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Critics’ Choice awards.
RICK SPRINGFIELD (Low Ticket Alert)
Thursday, July 23, Schaefer Center, 7:30pm
Over the past four decades, Rick Springfield has worn many hats as an entertainer and performer. The creator of some of the finest power-pop of the ’80s, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-musician has sold 25 million albums and scored 17 US Top 40 hits, including “Jessie’s Girl,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “An Affair of the Heart,” “I've Done Everything for You,” “Love Somebody,” and “Human Touch.” He’s also an accomplished actor who has starred opposite Meryl Streep in the feature film Ricki and the Flash, gave a chameleonic performance as the creepy Dr. Irving Pitlor in HBO’s prestige drama True Detective, earned critical praise for his portrayal of Lucifer on the CW hit Supernatural, and most recently played the insane Pastor Charles on FX’s worldwide hit series American Horror Story. Springfield’s popular Sirius-XM radio show, Working Class DJ, airs weekly on ’80s on 8. His new album, Automatic, is his first album of all new original material in five years.
THE JAYHAWKS
Saturday, August 1, Schaefer Center, 7:30pm
For more than 40 years, The Jayhawks have created music that embodies the enduring spirit and soul of classic American songwriting. The Jayhawks emerged from Minneapolis in the post-punk era of The Replacements, Hüsker Dü, and Soul Asylum, pioneering today’s Americana movement through a series of classic albums that introduced rock audiences to their unique blend of country, folk, soul, Britpop, and rock-n-roll. The Jayhawks have toured with and served as backup band for such music visionaries as Ray Davies, Roger McGuinn, and Johnny Cash.
Today, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Karen Grotberg, and Tim O’Reagan continue to record and tour worldwide. Over 12 studio albums and two live albums, The Jayhawks are still building a legacy of music that stands the test of time. The band once again teamed up with legendary producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed) to create their upcoming album titled Sanctuary Park, set to be released this summer.
PLUS…
Classical and Chamber Music
- Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, July 1
- 15th Annual Rosen-Schaffel Competition, July 2
- Merz Trio, July 7
- WindSync: Peter and the Wolf, July 12
WindSync, July 12 - Calidore String Quartet, July 29
- Aaron Diehl, July 31
Dance
- Complexions Contemporary Ballet, July 16
Theatre
- The Other Mozart, July 19
Visual Arts and Educational Events
- ARTtalks, June 30, July 9, 15 & 29
- Summer Exhibition Celebration, July 2
- 40th Annual Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Walk, July 11
Film
- Calle Malaga, June 30
- Sentimental Value, July 14
- Sirat, July 21
- Happy Birthday, July 28
Tickets
With ticket prices ranging from $10-$75, as well as several free events and discounts for both children, students, and App State faculty/staff, App Summer offers unique opportunities for residents and visitors to create arts experiences suited to their individual artistic tastes and budgets. Purchase in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Box Office (733 Rivers St), online at AppSummer.org, or by phone at 828-262-4046.
About An Appalachian Summer Festival
An Appalachian Summer Festival began in 1984 as a chamber music series and retains strong roots in classical music, combined with a variety of other programming geared to varied artistic tastes, preferences, and price points. The series has become one of the region’s leading arts events, attracting more than 27,000 visitors to the High Country each summer. Presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every July in venues across the university campus, and features a diverse, world-class mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming. App Summer has been named one of the “Top Twenty Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society.
For more information, call the Schaefer Center Box Office at 828-262-4046, visit in person at 733 Rivers Street, or explore AppSummer.org.
Corporate Sponsors
Bonnie and Jamie Schaefer, Christine Petti, Neil and Nancy Schaffel, App State Campus Store, Broyhill Family Foundation, Catsman Foundation, Mast General Store, Appalachian Home Care LLC, The Art Cellar Gallery, Dianne Davant & Associates, Explore Boone, Goodnight Brothers, Highstreet Insurance Partners, SkyBest Communications, Banner Elk TDA, Creekside Electronics, Grandview Events & Catering, Peabody’s Wine & Beer Merchants, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, Rosemyr Corporation, Courtyard by Marriott, Graystone Lodge, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Holiday Inn Express-Boone
Media Sponsors
WBTV, WCYB, PBS North Carolina, Our State Magazine, The Mountain Times, Watauga Democrat, WNC Magazine, The Assembly, Creative Loafing Charlotte, Yes! Weekly, Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News & Record, WZJS 100.7 and WATA 96.5, WHKY 1290AM and 102.3FM, WDAV 89.9FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WASU 90.5FM, and WKSK The Farm
Restaurant Sponsors
Coyote Kitchen, The Local, Lost Province, LP on Main, and Pepper’s
