Small Town. Big Time.

That’s what you’ll find at The Clayton Center.

2011-2012 SEASON SCHEDULE
Thanks for a great 2011-2012 Season!
Stay tuned for the release of our 2012-2013 Season this summer.

Just months after his induction into the Blues Hall of Fame, five-time Grammy winning guitar legend Robert Cray brings his band and legendary guitar skills to the Clayton Center for an evening of unforgettable, soulful blues. $35.50.

In an era when rock and roll was dominated by men, Jackson was a pioneer, breaking ground with a voice like no other and churning out hard-headed songs about no-nonsense women. Her one time boyfriend, Elvis Presley, helped launch Jackson’s original career, and her recent collaboration with Jack White revitalized Jackson’s allure and endeared her to a whole new legion of fans.  After 50 years and an induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Jackson has more than earned her reputation as “the Queen of Rock.” $22.50. 

The game show that happens in a taxi, takes a ride on stage.  Adam Growe, host of Canada’s Cash Cab drives an uproarious interactive evening in which audience participants compete for cash prizes live on stage. $18 Adult.  $14 Student (with ID).

When it comes to honoring Johnny Cash, the Johnny Folsom Four walk the line. Johnny Cash fans from Nashville to New York City have enjoyed the Johnny Folsom Four’s tribute to the Man in Black. Whether covering “Folsom Prison,” “Ring of Fire” or “Walk the Line,” lead singer David Burney brings a lilting southern baritone to Cash's classic songs and hits the mark well enough to make you wonder if Johnny, himself, is in the building. $20.

Humorist Jeanne Robertson is funny – side-splittingly, make-you-laugh-until-you-cry funny. Whether she’s regaling audiences with tales of life with her husband, “Left Brain,” or life in general, she delivers comedy with class – clean, family-friendly stand-up humor sweetly poured in a down-home Southern accent. $25.

The venerable Preservation Hall Jazz Band returns to Clayton to celebrate the holidays – and their 50th anniversary – with their wildly popular production, Creole Christmas. Treat your family to a New Orleans-style holiday tradition and a seasonal celebration they’ll never forget. $29.

Jake Shimabukuro’s philosophy is simple –“If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place.” In a little more than a decade of playing and recording music, Shimabukuro (she-ma-boo-koo-row) has entirely redefined the traditional four-string, two-octave Hawaiian ukulele, stretching and molding it into a complex and bold new musical force. $25.

Three-time Grammy Award-winning artists Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform their rich a cappella arrangements in a joyously energetic performance that combines the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions with the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music. $29.

WRAL-TV news anchor Bill Leslie and the Celtic-fusion ensemble, Lorica, return to The Clayton Center for an afternoon of original Appalachian Celtic music and storytelling. A special art exhibit showcasing the watercolors of Leslie’s father, William Leslie, Jr., will be on display in The Clayton Center Main Lobby Gallery from March 1-31. Tickets to this performance also include a reception with Bill Leslie following the show. $20.

Known for her brilliant songwriting as much as for her beautiful voice, Nanci Griffith is a master of folkabilly, a mix of folk, country, rock and hillbilly pop. Both passionate and political, Griffith has been hailed as the torch-bearer of American Folk music, performing everywhere from honky-tonk bars to Carnegie Hall. $34.

Other events— including performances by national and regional artists scheduled through private promoters, productions by Clayton Youth Theatre and other local civic and community groups— are scheduled in the auditorium throughout the year. To keep up with everything going on at The Clayton Center, check out our Cultural Arts Events Calendar.