Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
January 4, 2007 issue
Story by David Brewer
As people from all over flooded into the High Country to take advantage of mild summer temperatures and dozens of great family activities, ASU provided its annual solid month’s worth of entertainment with another incredible Appalachian Summer Festival.
Trying to recount the performances and exhibits of every participating artist would indeed be a challenge. However, many staff members at the High Country Press enjoyed a number of events throughout July, soaking in the talents of painters, poets and musicians from across the United States and beyond.
Below are just a few thoughts about App Summer ’06:
7/1 Doc Watson & The Sam Bush Band
App Summer hit a home run on the first night with the sold-out performance featuring legendary Doc Watson and The Sam Bush Band. Despite the unwelcome vocal accompaniment by a particularly unhappy baby, the show proved to a great night for those who simply couldn’t get enough. Long sets by both Doc and Sam wound into the night, leaving what was left of the crowd both exhilarated and drained.
7/7 Turchin Reception
Easing around the warm and inviting interior of the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is always a visually stimulating experience. However, this year’s opening reception at the Turchin Center proved even more exciting because High Country Press staffer Dan Kaple’s exhibit 34 Years and a Wake Up was included alongside the vitreographs from Littleton Studios. Way to go, Dan!
7/15 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
The four members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt band didn’t waste any time showing why the quartet is still together after 40 years and dozens of albums. The fiery fiddle and banjo of multi-instrumental master John McEuen kept the crowd on the edge of their seats while the chugging rhythms and train whistle harmonica of drummer Jimmy Fadden proved awe inspiring. Though the show was a little on the short side, the band hit all the hits including crowd (and HCP staff) favorites “Mr. Bojangles,” and “Fishing in the Dark.”
7/21 Gypsy Jazz Jam
In the cozy confines of the Valborg Theatre, acclaimed musician John Jorgensen and his band lit a musical fire under the audience in the style of gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Jorgensen and company blazed through the technically difficult but sonically brilliant numbers, taking one mind-blowing solo after another, each time finishing to enthusiastic applause.
7/22 Guthrie Family Legacy Tour
The past, present and future of American folk music were all represented on stage when Arlo Guthrie, along with son Abe, daughter Sarah Lee and son-in-law Johnny Irion took the stage for the Guthrie Family Legacy show at Farthing Auditorium. Arlo honored his famous father Woody, playing never-before-heard renditions of songs from the Guthrie Archive and also playing a clip of a soon-to-be-released archival performance by the family patriarch.
Arlo’s stories between songs were just as entertaining. The veteran folkie spoke as if he were addressing a few friends in the living room, making the show that much more special.
7/26 Buckwheat Zydeco
Steeped in the Cajun, country, blues and funk sounds emanating from his native Louisiana, Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Jr. roared into Farthing Auditorium with a crack band and energy to spare. Unfortunately, the App Summer crowd wasn’t the liveliest bunch of dancers and spent most of show clapping from their chairs. However, the end of the show had dozens of younger audience members dancing on stage with Zydeco’s biggest star.