Patrice Pike, former front woman of Sister Seven and solo artist that Billboard dubbed “one of the finest up and coming contemporary rock singers in America” is coming to little ol’ Topeka, to a favorite Midwest stop: the former Varsity Blues, which recently underwent a change in ownership to be re-christened the College Hill Tavern.

“I’m very excited about the fact that College Hill can start to bring back a higher level of performers like Patrice Pike to our venue for up close and personal shows,” says Kim Galey.

Pre-sale tickets to see Pike’s “up close and personal” acoustic performance went on sale August 1, and according to Galey, they are selling like hotcakes. Pike will be performing August 14 at 9 p.m. on the College Hill stage.

Pike has a pretty large following in the Midwest, particularly Topeka, where past Varsity Blues performances have seen wall-to-wall audiences.

“She has many fans in Topeka and the surrounding area,” says Galey. “While presale tickets are going fast, we always have standing room, the patio and the bar area. Maybe we can get Patrice to sing a song or two on the patio even. Who knows? Anything is possible.”

Pike, an Austin, Texas native, has been heralded for her strong, lyric-driven vocals. She is “a petite young woman with a voice big enough to power through a full-throttle rock and roll band, peel the paint off club walls and knock every listener in a packed audience senseless [Music News – 2003].”

Tickets are $7 in advance and $5 at the door. Stop by College Hill Tavern, 1616 S.W. 17th Street, to purchase, or call 785.234.0700 to learn more.

[ August 2010 | Leah Sewell | photos by Dennis Benton / contributed ]