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CORVALLIS - Local performers will highlight Oregon State University's Summer Folk and Celtic Concert series on July 12 and 19.

Performances begin at noon and the weekly series runs through Aug. 8. The hour-long performances will be held in the OSU Memorial Union Quad, or in the MU Lounge during wet weather.

Fred Towne and Friends take the stage on July 12. Towne describes himself as a folk-rock musician, who "lived twenty years without electricity in the Coast Range of Oregon raising a couple of kids."

While Towne has been writing music for 30 years, he says it was when he moved into Corvallis that he became inspired by the local folk music scene. He's a regular performer at venues through

out the state and was accepted as a Kerrville Newfolk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas. The Nettles are a Corvallis-based foursome that specializes in Celtic music with a kick, blending traditional Irish and American music. Nettles leader and fiddler Laura Brophy is joined by pipes player Colleen Dick, drummer Sid Cottrell and guitar and bass player Kevin Johnsrude.

The series is sponsored by OSU's Office of Summer Session and Precollege Programs. For information visit http://ucs.orst.edu/~thiesr/FolkCelticConcerts.html.