Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

Meet the Rest of the HayesGrass Finalists

Second Round of Quarterfinals Takes Place April 22 and 23

Story by David Brewer

In case you haven’t been paying attention, the inaugural HayesGrass band competition is pitting eight of the area’s finest bluegrass bands against each other for a chance to win a cash prize and a coveted opening slot for bluegrass stalwarts the Lonesome River Band at Blowing Rock’s Hayes Performing Arts Center on May 17.

With Diana & Sarvis Ridge winning the competition’s first showdown on Tuesday, April 15, and the following night’s winner not available at press time, the two other semifinal slots are still up for grabs.

Boss Hawg

From barbeque restaurants and Boone Saloon to festivals and late-night parties, Boss Hawg has played every corner of the High Country since forming in 2003. Chief Hogs Kim France and Jon Jon Davis have seen the band through a revolving-door lineup of talented pickers including Brian Swenk, Zeb Bowles, Jon Hill, Mark Schimick, Darin Gentry, Robert Evans and Brian Kreher.

Boss Hawg has never been accused of being a hard-core traditional bluegrass band, instead preferring to incorporate manic rock and roll energy into their high-powered mountain music.

For more info on the band, click to www.myspace.com/realbosshawg.

Ten Broek

For the last three years, the members of Ten Broek have been racing to shows all over the Eastern Seaboard and beyond. With members living in Avery and McDowell counties, the band regularly finds itself hitting the road for shows far outside of the High Country. Like most of the other HayesGrass competitors, Ten Broek is excited about the possibility of more exposure to local fans and whatever a victory may bring.

“[Guitarist and vocalist] Lewis Taylor saw the ad and we’re just looking for every opportunity to promote our band and our music,” said mandolin player Blake Vance.

Unlike many current bands, Ten Broek wants not only to entertain the audience through music, but also through a more old-fashioned approach to music and comedy.

“Our show kind of takes the format of an old radio variety show,” said Vance. “We adjust everything we do to accommodate the audience. We very rarely have failed to connect.”

Playing everywhere from the Brown Mountain Lights Festival to Biloxi, Miss., Ten Broek takes their name from a famous race horse and certainly has a fondness for traveling long distances. In addition to Vance, the band includes Jim Huskins on banjo, guitar, Dobro and vocals; Lewis Taylor on guitar and vocals; Miriam Huskins on bass and Chuck Oakes on guitar, banjo and vocals.

“We’ve never been anywhere we’ve not been asked back,” said Vance. We give them their money’s worth. We just have fun and we believe that if you have fun, the audience will have a good time.

For more info on Ten Broek, click to www.myspace.com/jimhuskinsandtenbroek.

Want To Go?

Date: Tuesday, April 22
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hayes Performing Arts Center
Cost: $10

Surefire Bluegrass Band

At ages 19, 17 and 14, local outfit the Surefire Bluegrass Band is getting as much attention for their youth as they are for their instrumental and vocal skills. Together since December of last year, the band has already recorded and released their debut CD, This Old, Old House.

“We knew each other for a long time before we got together as a group,” said mandolin player Robbie Norris, the group’s youngest member.

Along with Norris, the Surefire Bluegrass Band includes 17-year-old banjo player John Bryan and 19-year-old guitarist Tom Isaacs. Bassist Lee Hodges will join the trio for their HayesGrass performance.

“I was tickled to death,” said Norris of being chosen to participate in HayesGrass. “I didn’t really think we’d get chosen, but I’m glad that we did.”

Norris shouldn’t be too surprised. Since being released in December, the blend of driving tunes, waltzes and gospel turns on This Old, Old House has received considerable airplay on WNCW, and the band’s calendar has been steadily filling up with live performances. Regardless of the outcome of HayesGrass, local fans can look forward to hearing great bluegrass from the Surefire Bluegrass Band for years to come.

For more info on the band, click to www.surefirebluegrass.com.

Amantha Mill

For founding Amantha Mill member and bassist Becca Eggers-Gryder, the HayesGrass competition represents a chance to have some fun doing what she and her bandmates love while preparing for a busy season of making music together.

“I really don’t look at this as a competition. Whether you win or you lose, it’s all about spreading the joy of music,” said Eggers-Gryder. “It’s a real honor to share the bill with [the Surefire Bluegrass Band]. That’s our future right there.”

For the last several years, Amantha Mill has been an ever-present force on the High Country music scene. In addition to Eggers-Gryder, Billy Helms, Randy Pasley, John Cockman and Scott Freeman have been a solid unit, performing an eclectic blend of acoustic roots music including bluegrass, country, Western Swing and reworked pop songs that has helped the group remain in demand.

“We all have our day jobs, but this is something to feed the soul,” said Eggers-Gryder.

Eggers-Gryder made her first appearance on stage at the Hayes Center with Czech bluegrass phenoms Druha Trava, but is looking forward to finally being able to perform there with her band.

“It’s an incredible facility,” said Eggers-Gryder. “I think it’s wonderful to give local musicians some exposure.”

A Watauga County native, Eggers-Gryder is, above all, most impressed that there are so many wonderful local pickers participating and is thrilled to be in such good company.

“I don’t know of any other place in the world that has such a plethora of talented people,” said Eggers-Gryder.

For more info on the band, click to www.amanthamill.com.

Want To Go?

Date: Wednesday, April 23
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hayes Performing Arts Center
Cost: $10