April 18, 2008

Now in its 21st year, Fridays After Five has become a summertime tradition in the Charlottesville community.

The Event gives local and regional performing artists the chance to take center stage. Organizers start booking bands in early January, and Friday night a local band hopes to start the season off with a bang.

Local talent, Sons of Bill will be taking the stage for the third year in a row tonight.

“Sons of bill is one of the best local bands going right now, you know they have really blown up they're starting to tour a lot outside of the area they're all born and bread, three brothers in the band,” said Charlottesville’s Pavilion general manager, Kirby Hutto.

Fridays after five started when members of Sons of Bill were growing up in the Charlottesville area. The bad says the event has had a huge impact on their music career.

“We go see local music all the time, I used to go see Monticello Road every week when I was younger…we've always been big supporters of the local music scene,” Wilson said.

Hutto said, “We really focus on the local artist and I think that's one of the secrets of the success of the event is the fact that people are coming down and seeing their friends and neighbors up on the stage performing.”

The band spent the summer touring for troops over seas, but say they are happy to be playing back at home.

“It's a great thing, and it's an honor, it's about Charlottesville and we're a Charlottesville band so it's a good thing,” Wilson said.

Organizers expect close to 5,000 people Friday night, with temperatures expected to hit the 80’s they say people are itching to get off the couch and into the pavilion seats.

“People are so ready to get outside, that we are just going to have a mob, it’s gonna be great,” Hutto said.

Justin Jones will open for Sons of Bill at 5:30pm Friday night. The Chandler Law Group will also provide a save ride home to residents within 10 miles of the city. Call yellow cab at 295-4131.

To learn more about the band Sons of Bill, visit their website http://www.sonsofbill.com