More than 23 years have elapsed since Collective Soul headlined the final night of the now-defunct two-day CulloWHEE! Artsfest at Western Carolina University in June 2003, performing its signature brand of radio-friendly rock, alternative, and grunge that ruled the airwaves in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
With the Georgia-based band returning to Western North Carolina for a show at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort on Friday, Oct. 23, memories of that long-ago concert came flooding back into the frontal lobe, including yours truly in a role promoting the event and getting butts into seats.
First, a bit of background. The CulloWHEE! ArtsFest was WCU’s effort to bring visitors into Jackson County during the early summer by offering two days of music, arts, crafts, and food vendors. While the inaugural festival focused on jazz with the likes of legends Manhattan Transfer and saxophonist Davis Sanborn, organizers shifted gears toward a more mainstream approach.