The University of Central Arkansas announces an acoustic night of star-studded musical entertainment, featuring five highly successful performing artists. Kris Allen, Barrett Baber, Matthew Huff, Adam Hambrick and Hannah Blaylock are all alumni of UCA and will be coming together for one night to perform at their alma mater.
The concert will be October 28, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. and tickets will be $25 for the general public and $10 for UCA students.
On Monday, August 1 at 10:00 a.m., single tickets to the concert in the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA will go on sale to the general public. They will be available online at uca.edu/reynolds, at the box office or over the phone at (501) 450-3265.
Conway native Kris Allen attended UCA in 2003 and became a household name when he won the eighth season of the popular reality television show “American Idol” on Fox. He has since released four studio albums, had two top 20 Billboard Hot 100 hits and toured the nation performing. Known for his humanitarianism, charity/missionary work and fundraising efforts, Allen has traveled the world organizing and participating in a plethora of philanthropic events.
Barrett Baber graduated from UCA in 2006 with a degree in public relations and is now an alternative country and country rock musician who won third place on season nine of NBC’s hit show “The Voice.” Baber’s singing audition received a four-chair turn and he immediately became a member of team Blake Shelton. Since the show, Baber signed with William Morris Endeavor, the world’s largest booking agency, toured with Rascal Flatts in Las Vegas and teamed up with Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke and a Song” campaign, which features Baber’s lyrics on bottles of Coke.
From Mammoth Spring, Matthew Huff graduated from UCA in 2003 with a degree in early childhood education. He is an independent artist with country roots who has played more than 500 shows from California to Florida, as well as overseas. Huff won Best Country Song of the Year for his song “A Little Bit of Crown” and Best New Male Artist at the 2016 Indie Music Channel Awards.
Discovered by country singer Justin Moore, singer and songwriter Adam Hambrick, who graduated from UCA in 2007 with a degree in mass communication, has played more than 40 shows across six states, touring with artists such as Eli Young Band and Chris Lane. Hambrick’s songs have been recorded by popular country artists including Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay and Rascal Flatts. Hambrick currently lives in Nashville where he is making his way down music row and working toward a solo career.
Founding member and lead vocalist of the highly successful country music trio, Eden’s Edge, Hannah Blaylock attended UCA in 2004. She has shared the stage with acts such as Brad Paisley, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town and Lady Antebellum. After moving to Nashville, Blaylock created a foundation for herself as a solo artist and has recently cut an album with Emily Strayer, founding member of the Dixie Chicks.
All five of these renowned musicians will be featured in the fall 2016 edition of the UCA Magazine.
All proceeds from the concert will support UCA’s Mainstage EdUCAtion Series. For more information about Mainstage, visit. For more details about all upcoming performances at Reynolds Performance Hall visit uca.edu/reynolds.
