JSU News Wire

Jacksonville State University will present the first in its Canyon Center Mini-Concerts on Friday, April 17.

Grammy winning finger-style guitarist Bill Mize, whose music will be featured in the upcoming Ken Burns PBS documentary "The National Parks, America's Best Idea," will be in concert on Friday, April 17 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Canyon Center.

While Mize has drawn inspiration from legends of soul, hillbilly, jazz, classical and rock 'n roll, his original music is more difficult to peg. It has been described as varying from delicate highland melodies to soulful Memphis grooves executed with classical sensitivity.

For more information, please visit Mize's MySpace page, call the Canyon Center at (256) 845-3548, or call (256) 782-8010.

Next in the Concert Series: Georgia's fabulous Trion High School Steel Drum, which features nearly 50 instruments and an unusual tropical island experience, will perform Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Canyon Center.

Basic directions from the JSU Campus, Birmingham, Chattanooga or Atlanta

Printable version, click here

From Campus: Leave the JSU campus going north on Hwy. 21 and intersect with Hwy 9 in Piedmont. Take Hwy. 9 North approximately 16 miles through Centre, AL and after crossing Lake Weiss, go left onto Hwy. 68. Pass through Cedar Bluff and continue on Hwy 68 around 4.5 miles and at the Gaylesville four-way stop, turn left onto Hwy 35. Drive approximately 11 miles up Lookout Mountain to cross Little River on top. Then, in less than a mile, see the JSU Canyon Center on the right. The trip usually takes an hour.

From Birmingham: Take Interstate 59 north to Fort Payne exit #218 and turn right onto Hwy 35. Follow Hwy 35 through town (Gault Avenue) and staying on Hwy 35, turn right onto 5th Street NE.

From Chattanooga: Take Interstate 59 South to Fort Payne exit #222 and turn left onto Hwy 11. Drive South on Hwy 11 (Gault Avenue) for nearly 3 miles and turn left onto Hwy 35.

From Fort Payne: drive up Lookout Mountain, staying on Hwy 35 for approximately 7 miles. The Canyon Center will be on your left just before you enter into the Little River Canyon National Preserve. If you cross over the river and enter into Cherokee County, you have gone too far.

From Atlanta: Take Interstate 75 and take Cartersville exit #288 onto East Main Street (Co. Rd. 113). Go west almost 2 miles and at the intersection, go right onto Hwy 41 North. Follow Hwy 41 (Joe Frank Harris Parkway) for approximately 2.5 miles until it becomes Hwy 411 and continue going west to Rome. From Hwy 411 take Hwy 27 north through town and follow it to the intersection of Hwy 27 and Shorter Avenue. Go straight onto Shorter Avenue and follow it as it turns into the Alabama Highway. From Hwy 27, stay on the Alabama Highway for approximately 17 miles to the Alabama Georgia Stateline where it turns into Hwy 9. Follow Hwy 9 nearly 5 miles and turn right onto Hwy 35. Follow Hwy 35 approximately 20 miles to the top of Lookout Mountain. Enter the Little River Canyon national Preserve and cross the river, with Little River Falls on your left, and continuing on Hwy 35, pass Hwy 176 (Canyon Rim Road) on your left. Then within a few hundred feet; look for the Canyon Center entrance on your right.

It is recommended that you Google or Mapquest this trip before driving. The address: 472 Alabama Highway 35, Fort Payne, AL 35967-7138. The telephone number is 256-845-3548. Drive safely!