You’ve heard of snow days. Well, Fonda-Fultonville Central School students next week will be getting a Sawyer Day.
Hometown hero Sawyer Fredericks, the 16-year-old singer/songwriter/guitar player from the town of Glen earning national acclaim via his appearances on the NBC competition show “The Voice,” will return home next week for a rally at Fonda Speedway.
The rally will start at 3 p.m. Wednesday and will precede an 8 p.m. performance at Albany’s Palace Theatre.
The Fultonville rally is to have special impact there. Knowing the singing star would attract a throng of youths, the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District will be letting out at 1 p.m. that day so students can see the rising pop star.
Fredericks’ covers of John Lennon, Lynyrd Skynyrd and others have rocketed him to stardom. A member of Team Pharrell on the show, Fredericks is currently at No. 100 on the Billboard charts with his version of the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.” His rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” hit No. 2 among iTunes downloads.
Fredericks is one of six finalists and the youngest on this season’s show.
There will be a motorcade for Fredericks through Glen, Fultonville and Fonda before arriving at the speedway around 3 p.m. People can arrive at the speedway one hour in advance; admission is free. The singer will be given tokens of appreciation and is slated to perform several songs.
The appearance will be filmed by NBC and used on the show.
The Albany Palace performance is scheduled for 8 p.m. that evening, according to the Palace’s website.
Tickets for that event will be free and made available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Palace or at the offices of WNYT, 715 N. Pearl St., Menands, starting Friday at 10 a.m. There will be a four-ticket limit per person.
The Palace’s website notes that the concert will be filmed for the show. Those attending should not wear clothing or hats with logos or artwork on them. Those getting tickets will also have to sign a release to enter the theater. Those under 18 will need a parent or guardian’s signature.
The show chose the Palace for the performance over Proctors in Schenectady. Proctors CEO Philip Morris confirmed Thursday evening that show officials spoke with the Schenectady venue before choosing the Palace.
“The Voice” airs at 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and is broadcast in the Capital Region on WNYT Channel 13.
Categories: -News-, Entertainment
