The Smithsonian exhibit, New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music is coming to town! The Beaufort Branch Library, in cooperation with The Humanities CouncilSC will explore aspects of America’s roots music as it hosts the local showing of New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition. New Harmonies will be on view beginning with a grand opening celebration on December 17 and continuing through February 4, 2012.
Through a selection of photographs, recordings, instruments, lyrics and artist profiles, New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music explores the distinct cultural identities of American roots music forms. The exhibit will examine the progression of American roots music, as rich and eclectic as our country itself. “We are very pleased to be chosen to host New Harmonies in Beaufort,” said reference librarian, Amanda Brewer. “It allows us the opportunity to explore this fascinating aspect of our own region’s musical history and we hope that it will inspire many to become even more involved in the cultural life of our community.”
“Allowing all of our state’s residents to have access to the cultural resources of our nation’s premiere museum is a priority of The Humanities CouncilSC,” said Randy Akers, the Council’s Executive Director. “With this special tour, we are pleased to be working with the Beaufort Branch Library to help develop local exhibitions and public programs to compliment the Smithsonian exhibition.” Such free events include Sunday afternoon concert series, Lunch &amp; Listen music performances, lectures, hands-on workshops, film screenings, art exhibits, and more. For a schedule of events, log onto www.beaufortcountylibrary.org/newharmonies.
New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, the Humanities CouncilSC and the Beaufort County Library. Local sponsors include: Friends of the Beaufort County Library, Public Library Foundation of Beaufort County, Arts Council of Beaufort, Port Royal and the Sea Islands, Strings and Things, University of South Carolina Center for the Arts, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Hargray, Walmart, Kazoobie Kazoos, Technical College of the Lowcountry, To learn more about New Harmonies and other Museum on Main Street exhibitions, visit www.museumonmainstreet.org.
For additional information about these programs and other library programs please stop in for a visit at your local branch or check the library’s website at www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.

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Library’s Lunch &amp; Listen Series finale
Lunch and Listen, a special music series featuring local musicians, ends with a high octane energetic performance by Chris Jones and the Blue Dots on Monday, December, 12.  Join Chris and the band for a rocking good time as they perform crowd pleasing hit songs from America’s rich musical history. This one hour lunchtime music performance will be held in the USC-Beaufort Center for the Arts auditorium on the historic Beaufort campus, 801 Carteret Street, and is free and open to the public. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and performances will last from noon to 1 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch or purchase one at Outtakes Cafe next door. For questions regarding the event listed above, please contact Amanda Brewer at 255-6439 or by email at abrewer@bcgov.net.