Ben Sollee returns to play at Memorial Hall tonight

Folk artist Ben Sollee brings an unusual approach to his profession. With his bow and fingers, he uses the cello — a traditional classical instrument — as a way to explore modern folk and soul music.

Sollee is performing a concert at Memorial Hall tonight with fiddle player Carrie Rodriguez as a part of the Carolina Performing Arts series.

But Sollee’s music sometimes takes on a political bent.

A Kentucky native, Sollee is an outspoken critic of surface and mountaintop coal mining.

The University’s use of coal for energy production has come under fire in the last year. The University signed a three-year contract for coal obtained by contour mining in early November.

As a part of his visit to UNC, Sollee will perform an additional concert on campus Thursday to promote the work of the student environmental group, the Sierra Student Coalition.

Staff writer Rachel Coleman spoke with Sollee about his music, his tour and his environmental activism.

DTH: This is the last stop on your tour before you travel to the United Kingdom to play with Billy Bragg and Daniel Martin Moore. What is your connection with Chapel Hill?

Ben Sollee: Well, it’s beautiful in North Carolina. I’ve played here many times before (including Memorial Hall in 2008 and Cat’s Cradle in 2009) and I have some family here.

There’s a good support here in the community for the arts. I’ve also found a good group of folk followers as well.

DTH: How’s it feel to be playing with Carrie Rodriguez again?

BS: It should be great. We haven’t played together since our tour that ended in February.

We’ve got our set list worked out. Last year we each played a small set and then finished up the shows playing and singing together.

DTH: You are playing at the Sierra Coalition’s “Music Saves Mountains” event Thursday. What’s your involvement with this issue?

BS: Well, the environment is a precious resource. I’ve gotten to know Chad Stevens, who is making a documentary about the dangers of mountaintop coal mining, and when he noticed I was playing here, he contacted me about coming to play at the event. (Stevens is the faculty advisor of UNC’s Sierra Coalition.)

Last fall, groups were pressuring the University to stop using coal obtained through surface mining, and when they checked back, the University was still getting all its coal this way. We really want to put a stop to this.

DTH: How can students get involved with this issue?

BS: Students are the University’s customers and the spokesperson.

You have the power to say, “We want an institution that cares about us and will do what we need.”

Students have more power than ever before as far as influencing how things happen. The economy is tight and we need students. And it’s not like coal is more expensive to get in ways other than surface mining.

Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.