Lovett, Hiatt join performers

Hoping to finish their inaugural fall festival with a bang and a twang, Westobou officials confirmed Tuesday that Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt will close the event with a Sept. 27 concert at Bell Auditorium.

The performance, which will be presented by the festival, wraps up nearly 10 days of events that include the Arts in the Heart of Augusta festival, in addition to presentations and exhibitions by area arts groups.

"This show, to us, represents accessibility to a wide audience as well as a certain level of artistic achievement," said Cameron Nixon, chair of the Westobou Festival program committee. "This lends some real weight to the festival."

Kathi Dimmock, the managing director of Westobou, said adding the Lovett/Hiatt performance was important. She said the program committee has looked at booking the event with a sort of layered approach.

There are events that occur regularly in Augusta, such as the Whiskey Painters of American exhibition at the Zimmerman Gallery; enhanced presentations, such as the Cirque du Symphony performance being presented by the Augusta Symphony and then marquee events.

"We need a couple of pillar events like this," she said. "This concert and Arts in the Heart, those are the pillar events."

Tickets for the Lyle Lovett/John Hiatt show will be $2,500-$5,000 for a VIP table of eight and $45 general admission. Tickets are expected to go on sale late this summer.

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.