May 29, 2008 issue
It’s Not Yard Work—It’s Concerts On The Lawn!
16th Annual Music Series Kicks Off June 6
Story by David Brewer
There’s no better sign of summer in the High Country than the sight of players and singers serenading locals and tourists of all ages from the front porch of the Jones House in downtown Boone. As the mercury rises and King Street sidewalks fill with wandering out-of-towners, the Watauga Arts Council’s 16th Annual Concerts on the Lawn series will again entice visitors up the steps with an exciting mix of veteran acts and talented newcomers.
Kicking off on Friday, June 6, with Boone’s own Worthless Son-In-Laws and opening act Rod Farthing, this year’s series is arguably the most diverse mix of performers and events ever offered by the Watauga Arts Council.
A self-described mixture of acoustic indie rock, electric southern rock, American roots music, ‘80s punk and ‘90s pop rhythms, the Worthless Son-In-Laws are veterans of MerleFest and have played all over western North Carolina during the last four years.
While bluegrass and old-time have long ruled the venerable Friday night series in years past, Folklorist Mark Freed has steadily expanded the musical horizons of concertgoers by welcoming a diverse range of performers during the last three Concerts on the Lawn seasons including Americana, blues, reggae, Dixieland and more. Freed has also been instrumental in adding opening acts, lengthening shows and providing more musicians with captive audiences.
In addition to its expanded musical palette and extended format, this year’s Concerts on the Lawn series will feature two exciting additions in the three-part Songwriter Showcase series and the three-part Fiddlers’ Competition series. The former will showcase nine of the area’s most promising purveyors of song, while the latter will give fiddlers of all stripes the chance to strut their stuff for a chance to win Mast General Store gift certificates and to compete in the finals being held during the inaugural Daniel Boone Days festival in September.
And in case you’re hoping for a bit more audience participation, Concerts on the Lawn will also host a community dance event in August, giving concertgoers a chance to fold up their lawn chairs and move their feet to the old-time dance rhythms of Wilkes County’s Elkville String Band. The dance will take place in the Jones House parking lot.
Concerts on the Lawn will take place at the Jones House each Friday at 5:00 p.m. from June 6 to September 26. Concerts are free of charge and patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs. The 16th Annual Concerts on the Lawn series is sponsored by Mast General Store, the Downtown Boone Development Association, High Country Bank and the Watauga Arts Council. For more info, click to www.watauga-arts.org or call 828-264-1789.
Calling All Fiddlers—The Jones House Wants You!
As part of the 16th Annual Concerts on the Lawn, the Watauga Arts Council is putting the call out for local fiddlers to rosin up their bows to compete in a series of three fiddlers’ competitions throughout the summer: June 27, July 11 and August 8.
According to Arts Council Folklorist Mark Freed, the competitions are open to fiddlers of all ages and styles. So whether you specialize in Celtic jigs, old-time dance numbers or blazing bluegrass tunes, you’re welcome to participate in the inaugural event.
Winners will be selected by audience vote at each competition and will receive a $50 gift certificate to Mast General Store. The top two finishers from each round will advance to the fiddle competition finals, slated for Saturday, September 6, at the Daniel Boone Days festival at Horn in the West.
To register for the fiddlers’ competitions, call Freed at 828-264-1789 or email mark@watauga-arts.org.
Happy 100th Birthday Jones House!
Community Center Celebrates its Centennial
Since 1908, the Jones House has stood atop its perch on King Street as if surveying its ever-changing surroundings, and over the years the house has remained a beautiful vestige of yesteryear. In celebration of its 100th birthday, the downtown landmark will host a handful of events to mark its century in downtown Boone.
On Friday, June 13, and Friday, August 15, the Jones House will host Tea & Old Times. All local citizens are invited to participate in a roundtable discussion with long-time residents of Watauga County over tea and biscuits. Attendees will be encouraged to share stories and memories about historic Boone and surrounding areas, as well as reminisce about favorite people, places, and experiences.
Attendees are encouraged to bring photographs and family heirlooms. Times and location of the events will be announced in the coming weeks.
On Friday, July 4, the Jones House will host a grand celebration of the nation’s independence, as well as its century-long history in Boone. In addition to being the best spot on the parade route, the Jones House will host a musical program entitled Music Through the Ages. The daylong festivities will feature performances by a number of the area’s most talented musicians including Beech Mountain Echoes, Steve and Ruth Smith, Southern Accent and the Watauga Community Band.
The Jones House will also celebrate July 4th with a pair of new exhibits in its galleries and, as always, will serve up plenty of juicy watermelon.
For more info, click to www.watauga-arts.org.
Concerts on the Lawn Schedule 2008
Nearly every show in this year’s Concerts on the Lawn series features multiple acts, exposing High Country audiences to more free music than ever at the Jones House. The 16th annual series will also feature a number of firsts, including three Songwriter Showcases and three Fiddlers’ Competitions, as well as a community dance.
6/6 Worthless Son-In-Laws/Rod Farthing
6/13 Lisa Baldwin & Dave Haney/Buck Nelson
6/20 Songwriter Showcase #1 with Monica Woodard/Nathan Taylor/Crys Matthews
6/27 Blue Notes Dixieland Jazz Band/Fiddlers’ Competition #1
7/4 Jones House Centennial Celebration with Southern Accent/Watauga Community Band/Steve & Ruth Smith/Beech Mountain Echoes
7/11 The Neighbors/Fiddlers Competition #2
7/18 The King Bees Duo
7/25 Lazybirds/Sugar Grove Sweet Talkers
8/1 Songwriter Showcase #2 with Jeff & Benares/Melissa Reaves/Jay Brown
8/8 Amantha Mill/Fiddlers’ Competition #3
8/15 Surefire Bluegrass Band
8/22 Echo Park/Jessica Presnell
8/29 Community Dance with the Elkville String Band
9/5 Barbershop Quartets/The Forget-Me-Nots
9/12 The Harris Brothers
9/19 Songwriter Showcase #3 with Deborah Jean Sheets/Shay Lovette/Matt Rue
9/26 Brian Yerman
Community Interest
News & Notes
Events
Arts & Entertainment
