Williamsburg native returning home with acoUstiKats for show next Tuesday

Eric Poore, a 2015 graduate of Williamsburg High School and junior political science major at the University of Kentucky, is a member of the school’s famous a capella group the acoUstiKats. They will be performing at First Baptist Church in Williamsburg next Tuesday.

When the akoUstiKats roll into town next Tuesday for a special performance in Williamsburg, one of its members will feel right at home.

Williamsburg native Eric Poore, a 2015 graduate of Williamsburg High School, is a member of the a capella group. The akoUstiKats will be performing at First Baptist Church in Williamsburg as part of the Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky Inc. annual concert series. It is the second show on the season schedule that kicked off last month in Corbin with a performance by Live From Laurel Canyon.

Poore, a junior at UK, is a member of the Men’s Chorus and UK Chorale. He said as a freshman, he didn’t realize that the akoUstiKats had open tryouts for members, but was instead a closed group that selected its singers. When he found out otherwise, he tried out immediately and has never regretted it.

“It really is awesome. We get to sing at so many cool events,” Poore said. As a freshman with the group, he sang at the Breeder’s Cup Classic, and performed last February at the governor’s prayer breakfast. The group also performed in a national a capella competition in St. Louis recently and made it to the semifinals.

“It’s an unbelievable experience performing with a group of guys who are incredibly talented,” he said. “Being able to come back and perform for a lot of people back home who never really saw me sing in high school is exciting. I’m looking forward to it.”

Poore said many of his high school classmates weren’t really aware that he could sing. He played in band, but usually only sang at church or with family.

“I’m a little nervous, but I think it’s going to be fun,” Poore said. “I was home for the alumni football game recently and a bunch of people came up to me and said they already had tickets. It’s great to see people excited about it. That really feels good.”

Poore is majoring in political science at UK and said he will likely attend law school, but would love to pursue a career in music on the side just to see if he could make it a full-time career.

“I’m trying to keep my options open,” he said.

The ‘Kats are constantly performing and bringing their musical talents to venues all across the country. The group gained notoriety after competing on NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” the singers released a full-length album titled ACOUSTIKATS along with a short Christmas EP. Most recently, the Kats qualified as semifinalists at the International Competition of Collegiate A Cappella. As a sub-sect of the University of Kentucky Men’s Chorus, the acoUstiKats form a melting pot of different college majors with a single love and passion for music.

The group has another local connection. Tyler Rush, a sophomore and native of London, is also an akoUstiKat.

The show is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open 45 minutes before show time.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $30. Season subscriptions are also available.

For more information, call 606-524-1354 or 606-215-9944.