The rebirth of Capricorn Sound Studios – which has been christened Mercer Music at Capricorn – will be celebrated in December with a series of events.
Mercer University is re-opening the storied Macon facility with a Dec. 2 VIP party kickoff with music from the Randall Bramblett Band. Donors who make contributions of $1,000 or more to the project (capricorn.mercer.edu) will receive invitations to the event.
A free, public ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Dec. 3 on an outdoor stage behind the studios. Mercer's Robert McDuffie Center for Strings and the Otis Redding Foundation's DREAM Choir will perform and, following the ceremony, the stage will become a concert venue and feature music by former Wet Willie singer Jimmy Hall and Friends. Live music will continue inside Mercer Music at Capricorn until 6 p.m. with performances from a series of artists with Macon roots - Robert Lee Coleman Band, Chris Hicks from the Marshall Tucker Band, Magnolia Moon and Caleb Melvin of Hindsight.
To cap the celebration, Chuck Leavell will lead a ticketed "Capricorn Revival" concert at the Macon City Auditorium at 8 p.m. Dec. 3. Along with Leavell, long associated with the Allman Brothers Band and The Rolling Stones, performers include the Randall Bramblett Band, Wet Willie's Hall, original Allman Brothers Band member Jaimoe, Taj Mahal and former Capricorn recording artists John Bell of Widespread Panic and Tommy Talton of Cowboy. Charlie Starr from Blackberry Smoke, Marcus King, Brent Cobb, and Duane Betts of the Allman Betts Band are also slated to perform.
Tickets for the concert are $58-$128 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 11 via www.ticketmaster.com and by calling 1-800-745-3000.
The 20,000-square-foot Mercer Music at Capricorn complex will contain a restored historic studio, as well as a larger studio suitable for orchestral recording, film scoring and live performances. The facility also features 1,200 square feet of interpretive space to share artifacts and digital exhibits about Capricorn and Macon’s music history.
As well, a music incubator with 12 rehearsal rooms of various sizes will be available to musicians 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
