Sundilla will present the legendary Pat Wictor in concert on Friday, April 19. Showtime at the AUUF (450 E. Thach Avenue in Auburn) is 7:30. Advance tickets are just $20 and can be found at Spicer’s Music, Ross House Coffee, Foodie’s, and online at sundillamusic.com; admission at the door will be $25. Students with ID can pay just $15 at the door, and children 12 and under get in free.

Pat Wictor has played Sundilla before, as part of the trio Brother Sun. Pat was a great solo performer before, during and after Brother Sun, and getting him to Sundilla has been a priority. It has almost happened more than once: blame pandemics, injuries, illnesses and just plain bad luck for it taking this long.

Pat first burst on the folk and acoustic scene as an innovative slide guitarist known for fresh and memorable interpretations of traditional and contemporary songs. Since then he has made his mark as a singer-songwriter penning lean and poetic songs that honor - and subvert - rural blues and gospel traditions. For seven years he toured as one third of Brother Sun, the powerful harmonizing trio with Joe Jencks and Greg Greenway, garnering critical acclaim, two #1 CDs on the Folk DJ charts, and a continent-spanning tour schedule. But he doesn’t need bandmates toshine. His most recent solo release reached #2 on the Folk-DJ charts and was nominated for Best Tribute Album by the Independent Music Awards.

Pat took a convoluted path to folk music, winding his way through rock, heavy metal, jazz, and free improvisation. He started with guitar, shifted to bass, moved to saxophone, and then quit music entirely before returning to guitar, and teaching himself lap slide guitar. He organized and ran a songwriters circle in New York City for 13 years, mentoring and influencing dozens of songwriters. An adept improviser and accompanist, he is sought after as a collaborator, sideman and session musician, with over 60 recording credits to date, including releases by Sloan Wainwright, Jon Vezner, Joe Crookston, and David LaMotte. His solo shows are unique performances mixing great songs, spoken word, improvisation and spontaneity.

Recognition and honors have followed Pat for years: he won the Falcon Ridge Emerging Artist Showcase, was nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year by the Folk Alliance, was nominated for Gospel Song of the Year by the Independent Music Awards, and was a finalist in the Kerrville New Folk songwriting contest. His CDs This Is Absolutely Real and Sunset Waltz both reached #2 on the Folk-DJ charts, and Heaven is so High

and Waiting for the Water both reached #4.