By Jane Dunlap Norris /
Published: March 27, 2008

The thrill isn’t gone for the Charlottesville Pavilion, because blues legend B.B. King is one of the performers slated for the venue’s new season.
Kirby Hutto, the Pavilion’s general manager, announced the lineup for the first part of the 2008 Budweiser Concert Series and the first half of the Fridays After Five summer concert season on Wednesday morning.

Other familiar names heading to the venue at the east end of the Downtown Mall include Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Crosby, Stills and Nash, rising country star Gary Allan and vocalist Gladys Knight, while returning favorites include Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Phil Lesh and Friends.

Hutto said that 94,000 people attended the 2007 season’s 42 events, and 40 percent of ticket sales were to folks living outside of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Nelson is back by popular demand, Hutto said.

“So many people said they really wanted him back,’’ Hutto said.

The Pavilion unveiled the following shows in the 2008 Budweiser Concert Series:

l April 26: Feist with Hayden, previously announced, $25

l April 27: Switchfoot with Athlete and Sparky’s Flaw, previously announced, $25, $20 advance

l May 8: Gary Allan with Sons of Bill, with tickets going on sale 10 a.m. March 28

l June 14: Festival of the Photograph

l June 23: Emmylou Harris, with tickets going on sale 10 a.m. March 28.

l June 28: Gladys Knight, with tickets going on sale 10 a.m. March 28

l July 26: “Live from ? the Hook’’ rockumentary premiere screening at 1 p.m. at the Paramount Theater, followed at 3 p.m. by “Really Live from the Hook’’ band reunion in the Pavilion

l July 29: Willie Nelson, with tickets going on sale 10 a.m. March 28

l July 31: Crosby, Stills and Nash, with tickets going on sale 10 a.m. March 28

l Aug. 6: B.B. King, benefit concert for the CAAR Work Force Housing Fund

Dates have not been set yet for shows by Phil Lesh and Friends and the Black Crowes.

Tickets will be available at all Plan 9 locations, http://www.charlottesvillepavilion. com and (877) CPAV-TIX (272-8849), plus two new places this year - the Visitors Center locations on the Downtown Mall near the Pavilion and on Route 20.

The July 26 “Really Live from ? the Hook’’ show will include legends and veterans of the Charlottesville music scene, including the Skip Castro Band, the Casuals featuring Johnny Sportcoat, Captain Tunes, the All-Stars and Alligator.

It will follow the premiere of “Live from ? the Hook,’’ a film documenting the vibrant band scene of the 1970s and 1980s. An early version of the film was well received at the Virginia Film Festival in 2006, and the July premiere will be the first outing for the completed project, which includes new interviews and concert footage and extensive editing and revisions.

A Virginia Discovery Museum family concert by Two of a Kind, which will feature young traditional Monacan Indian dancers opening the show, is set for 3 p.m. April 13 at the Pavilion. Donations will be accepted at the door.to help the museum.

Other shows are likely to be announced soon. Hutto said that some of the shows announced Wednesday had been confirmed within the past 24 hours, so fans should keep an eye out for new offerings.

Fridays After Five will begin its 21st season of free summer outdoor concerts on April 18. Hutto announced the first half of the season’s schedule Wednesday.

The Fridays After Five dates include:

l April 18: Sons of Bill, young country rock

l April 25: Kings of Belmont and 6 Day Bender, local rock

l May 2: Eli Cook, psychedelic power blues

l May 9: Trees on Fire and Need to Breathe, organic harmony rock

l May 16: Abbey Road, Beatles party

l May 23: The Groove Train, disco favorites

l May 30: The Lee Boys, sacred steel

l June 6: the Original Charlottesville AllStars, classic blues and rhythm

l June 13: Inner Rhythm with Heather Maxwell, world beats

l June 20: Artist to be announced

l June 27: Peyton Tochterman and High Society, modern acoustic music

l July 4: Chickenhead Blues Band, rocking blues

If you’ve noticed new names on the Fridays list, it’s no accident. Hutto said the Pavilion team is making an effort to take advantage of a rich local music scene and take fans’ requests under consideration.

“We’ve got a lot of new headliners, and that’s something we consciously tried to do,’’ Hutto said.

To learn more, visit http://www.charlottesvillepavilion. com or call 245-4910. To order tickets, call (877) CPAV-TIX (272-8849).