Special to the
Opelika Observer

Longtime Sundilla favorite Pierce Pettis returns to Sundilla Aug. 24.
Free coffee, tea, water and food will be available, though as always attendees are invited to bring whatever food or beverage they prefer.
“Pierce Pettis has probably played Sundilla more than anyone else,” said Sundilla organizer Bailey Jones. “And we don’t always get to say this when announcing his next visit: He might be bringing his brand-new CD with him. His latest is finished, and now he’s just waiting for his record company to choose a release date.”
Pettis, adored by both critics and public alike, is one of this generation’s most masterful songwriters. His music is distinguished by his uncanny ability to capture universals in human experience by drawing on the humor and trials in daily life. Pettis’ music can simultaneously pull on our hearts and keep us laughing. The beautiful harmonies, inventive yet subtle percussion, strong guitar, and Pierce’s rich vocals are a constant throughout his body of work.
Pettis has performed in all 48 continental states as well as in Canada and Europe, appeared nine times on American Public Radio’s Mountain Stage, been featured on National Public Radio’s E-town, Morning Edition and World Café, and appeared on VH-1, CBS News and the Nashville Network.
During his long career, Pettis has been a writer at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama, recorded for Fast Folk Musical Magazine in New York, won the prestigious New Folk songwriting competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, and was a staff songwriter at Polygram/Universal Music Publishing in Nashville. He has received numerous songwriting awards including a 1999 ASCAP Country Music Award for “You Move Me” — a #1 hot for Garth Brooks.
After three critically acclaimed albums on the Windham Hill/ High Street label, Pettis joined Compass Records in Nashville, releasing five albums. This new recording will be the sixth for Compass, and it has been too long in coming… but will be well worth the wait.
The concert will be held at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, with showtime set for 7:30 p.m. Admission at the door will be $15, but $12 tickets are available at Spicer’s Music, Blooming Colors, World Cup Coffee and online at www.sundillamusic.com.