Sylva’s Guadalupe Café will host “Bigaroo” beginning at 6:30 p.m. on May 7, a tribute to the musicianship and spirit — and college graduation — of Adam Bigelow.

Standing 6 feet 4 inches with a distinctive baritone, Bigelow is one of Jackson County’s most recognizable local musicians. He may also be one of the busiest. He performs every Tuesday night at Guadalupe Café’s “Old Timey Music Jam” and is the bass player for local groups The Dan River Drifters, The Imperative and Cooking with Quanta. In the last two weeks alone Bigelow has played 11 gigs, with several more still to go.

But being a musician is only one of Bigelow’s interests. He might be just as quickly recognized for his work in several Jackson County community and conservation groups, including Sylva’s Community Garden and the Cullowhee Native Plants Conference. After Saturday, he will also be a 40-year-old college graduate after receiving a bachelor’s degree.

“Bigaroo’ will feature each of Bigelow’s current bands and is being touted by organizers as a chance for people to celebrate a night of original, local, live music. Festivities will run until the early hours of the morning.

— by Carrie Eidson