Starry Nights tickets on sale January 22

John Hiatt. photo provided Tickets for the 2005 Sisters Starry Nights Benefit Concert Series will go on sale on Saturday, January 22 at 9 a.m. at Leavitt's Western Wear in Sisters.

General admission tickets are priced at $45 and limited to six per person.

The shows, which raise funds for the Sisters Schools Foundation, will take place at the Sisters High School auditorium on March 5 and April 2.

The series will kick off with a solo acoustic performance on Saturday, March 5, by renowned singer-songwriter John Hiatt, who last played at Starry Nights five years ago and headlined at the Les Schwab Amphitheater in 2002.

In his 30-year career, the two-time Grammy nominee has captivated audiences and critics alike with his distinctive voice, poignant and witty songwriting and his rootsy fusion of rock, country, blues and folk. On stage, John Hiatt has been called "a soul on fire."

As a songwriter, he has attracted performers from all over the musical map to his catalog, including Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, The Everly Brothers, Joe Cocker, Three Dog Night, Conway Twitty, Iggy Pop, The Neville Brothers, Jewel, Suzy Bogguss, Emmylou Harris, Paula Abdul, Don Henley, Mandy Moore and Ronnie Milsap.

He has spent the past year touring the country with his solo acoustic show, and is currently receiving rave reviews for his part in a singer-songwriter's tour with Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark and Joe Ely.

Opening for John Hiatt will be special guest David Jacobs-Strain, an acoustic blues and roots phenomenon well-known to local audiences for his performances at the Sisters Folk Festival.

At the age of 21, the Eugene native has already recorded five albums, including the recently released "Ocean or a Teardrop."

His deep, powerful voice and masterful acoustic guitar chops have drawn comparisons to artists ranging from Keb'Mo and Otis Taylor to Leo Kottke.

As All Music Guide writes in a recent review, "Jacobs-Strain is set to become a major figure in music, not just blues."

The legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will close the 2005 series on Saturday, April 2.

Over the course of a recording and performing career that spans five decades and more than 30 albums, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has earned a unique status as one of America's most respected and beloved musical institutions.

Since their early days in the vanguard of the '60s country-rock movement, they've consistently drawn from a broad array of influences to make music that's distinctly their own.

The band's newest album, titled "Welcome to Woody Creek," showcases their effortless expertise and seamless versatility, from rootsy pop numbers to poignant ballads to rollicking country-rockers.

It also features the return of celebrated guitar/mandolin/fiddle master John McEuen after a stretch of solo projects. McEuen, who co-founded the band in the mid-1960s with Jeff Hanna and Jimmie Fadden, has also appeared at the Sisters Folk Festival.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band just received a Grammy nomination for best Country Instrumental for "Earl's Breakdown," featuring Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Vassar Clements and Jerry Douglas.

Among the many past honors the band has received are the CMA Award for Album of the Year and Grammy Awards for Best Vocal Group, Bluegrass Recording and Country Instrumental.

Sisters Starry Nights has raised more than $430,000 for the Sisters Schools Foundation since the event's inception in 1997.

All performers donate their time and talents to help raise money for the foundation and support co-curricular and classroom activities threatened by districtwide budget cuts.

Ray's Food Place returns as Title Sponsor, with Bank of the Cascades back as Presenting Sponsor for the 2005 series.

Sponsorship packages include reserved seats in the front section of the theater and admission to a private post-concert party.

Those interested in sponsorship opportunities should contact Mike Gould at 318-1100. For more information, call 549-8521.