Big Star recorded its third album, Third/Sister Lovers, near the end of its ‘70s heyday. The group had fizzled to the duo of frontman Alex Chilton and drummer Jody Stephens at the time—and shortly after ceased to exist together. The album was never been performed in public with the original string and wind orchestrations. Following Chilton’s death in 2010, Stephens performed the album in Carrboro, NC with the help of such musicians as Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Mitch Easter (Let’s Active) and Chris Stamey (the dB’s). The show was a success and Stephen performed the album at the Playmakers Theatre on UNC’s campus last night with the help of Lost in Trees, Old Ceremony, Birds & Arrows, The dBs, NC Symphony, Mayflies USA, the Tomahawks and others.

Stephens will perform Third/Sister Lovers once again at New York’s Baruch Performing Arts Center on March 26. An eclectic mix of musicians will help Stephens’ rework the album live, including Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Mitch Easter (Let’s Active), Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Tift Merritt, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Will Rigby (the dB’s), Matthew Sweet, Chris Stamey (the dB’s), Jody Stephens (Big Star) and M. Ward (She & Him), as well as The Lost in the Trees Orchestra with Jane Scarpantoni, Django Haskins (The Old Ceremony), Brett Harris, Sidney Dixon and Matt McMichaels.

The group is expected to perform addition Big Star songs throughout the night. Profits from the concert will benefit both the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and El Sistema NYC.