Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
July 3, 2008 issue
Story by David Brewer
When it comes right down to it, any festival is only as good as the musicians who take the stage to perform. And it’s the music that keeps fans streaming down the two-lane road to the Historic Cove Creek School year after year to enjoy the one and only MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove.
From Friday to Sunday, July 9 to 11, a gaggle of great musical minds will converge once again under the big white tent, as well as on the festival’s solar stage as the 11th Annual MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove. Headliners include Doc Watson with Richard Watson and Charles Welch, Cadillac Sky, The Carolina Chocolate Drops and festival favorites The Kruger Brothers.
In addition to the festival headliners, nearly two-dozen talented local acts, many of who are MusicFest veterans, will keep the music going on both stages throughout the weekend. And while the scheduled acts always provide plenty of breathtaking musical moments, the late-night jams combine acts who have often never shared a stage to blaze through bluegrass favorites without a net.
While the grown-ups will have plenty of hot picking to look forward to, MusicFest is also expanding the programming for kids. The Solar Stage will host special Saturday morning children’s performances by The Forget-Me-Nots’ Maura Shawn Scanlin and Lisa Baldwin & Dave Haney.
More than just a seated music festival, MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove provides plenty of opportunities for music lovers and musicians to listen, learn and jam alongside some of the best acoustic musicians in the world. On Saturday, July 12, The Kruger Brothers will again lead instrument workshops throughout the afternoon and Andy Owens will host the Songwriter’s Showcase.
On Sunday, The Cockman Family will host MusicFest’s first gospel program and service beginning at 12:30 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.
Tickets for MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove are $55 for two-day passes, $25 for single-day reserved seats and $20 for general admission. Kids 12 and under will be admitted free with a paying adult.
Advance tickets will be on sale until July 10, at 5:00 p.m. at BB&T, Boone Drug Deerfield and Foscoe locations, Mast General Stores in Boone and Valle Crucis, the Cove Creek Store, Sugar Grove Historic Cove Creek High School, Ashe Arts Council and True Value Hardware in Mountain City.
Fore more info on the 11th Annual MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove, click to www.covecreek.net.
Want To Go?
Date: Friday to Sunday, July 11 to 13
Location: Historic Cove Creek School
Cost: $55 for two-day passes/$25 for single-day reserved seats/$20 for general admission/kids 12 and under free with a paying adult
The 11th Annual MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove is packed from start to finish with music, workshops, jams and family fun beginning on Friday, July 11, at 2:00 p.m. Grab a blanket, throw your instrument in the backseat and make plans to enjoy arguably the High Country’s best music festival.
Friday, July 11
Main Stage
2:00 to 2:40 p.m. He Said...She Said
2:50 to 3:40 p.m. Surefire
3:50 to 4:30 p.m. Lost Faculties
4:40 to 5:20 p.m. BackPorch Bluegrass
5:30 to 6:10 p.m. Lost Ridge Band
6:20 to 7:20 p.m. Kruger Brothers
7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Carolina Chocolate Drops
9:00 to 10:15 p.m. Cadillac Sky
10:15 to 11:00 p.m. MusicFest Jam
Solar Stage: 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. Open Jam
Saturday, July 12
Main Stage
9:00 to 9:40 a.m. Naomi & the Home Folks
9:50 to 10:00 a.m. Maura Shawn Scanlin
10:10 to 10:50 a.m. SweetBriar Jam
11:00 to 11:40 a.m. Andy Owens Band
11:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Forget-Me-Nots
12:40 to 1:20 p.m. Southern Accent
1:30 to 2:10 p.m. BackPorch Bluegrass
2:20 to 3:00 p.m. Amantha Mill
3:10 to 3:50 p.m. Lost Ridge Band
4:00 to 4:40 p.m. Cockman Family
4:50 to 5:30 p.m. Kentucky School of Bluegrass Band
5:40 to 6:20 p.m. Lisa Baldwin & Dave Haney
6:30 to 7:40 p.m. Carolina Chocolate Drops
7:50 to 9:00 p.m. Kruger Brothers
9:10 to 10:20 p.m. Doc Watson
10:20 to ‘til MusicFest Jam
Solar Stage
Children’s Program
10:00 to 10:50 a.m. Maura Shawn Scanlin
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Lisa Baldwin & Dave Haney
Other Performances
12:10 to 12:50 Rachel Pinson & Maple Creek
1:00 to 1:50 p.m. He Said... She Said
2:00 to 2:40 p.m. Lost Faculties
2:50 to 3:30 p.m. Jeff & Benares
3:40 to 4:20 p.m. Steve and Ruth Smith
4:30 to 5:10 p.m. Upright & Breathin’
5:20 to 6:20 p.m. Southern Exposure
Red Raider Room
12:00 to 12:45 p.m. Mandolin Workshop hosted by Andy Owens
12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Fiddle Workshop hosted by Bob Kogut
1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Banjo, Bass, Guitar Workshop with Kruger Brothers
3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Songwriters Showcase: Doris Bazzini Crother, Joe Hallock, Ron Kisiah, Mark Cool, Pete McWhirter, Scott Mertz, Kim McWhirter, Leon Nelson, Lilly Sutton, Dan Nelson, Angela Easterling, Deanna Dove, Neil Cribbs
Museum
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. A History of Mountain Music by Steve & Ruth Smith
2:00 p.m. ‘til Open Jam
Sunday, July 13 (free admission)
12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Gospel Program hosted by Cockman Family with Kruger Brothers and Southern Accent