Aug 21, 2008 issue
Music Festival Madness Heating Up in the High Country
Story by David Brewer
The next few weeks in the High Country represent one of the most fertile periods of live music the area has ever seen as acts from across the country roll into Boone and the surrounding areas for several stellar music festivals. Even more exciting is the fact that all of the local festivals are reasonably priced and require minimal driving. Get out there and support your favorite festivals so all these great acts will return to the High Country next year!
Inaugural Music on the Mountain Festival Brings Big Acts to Boone this Saturday
On Saturday, August 23, the High Country Fairgrounds on Roby Green Road just outside of Boone will be the site of the biggest party in town as Black Paw Entertainment presents the inaugural Music on the Mountain—a music festival designed to mix world-class talent with lots of green initiatives. Fairground gates will open at 11:00 a.m. and music will continue throughout the day until midnight.
Festival headliners are the Sam Bush Band, the Jerry Douglas Band, Acoustic Syndicate and Perpetual Groove, as well as Asheville acts Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, The Afromotive and Firecracker Jazz Band. Local acts Do It To Julia, Bafoodus, Lost Ridge Band, Uncle Mountain and Sky Hi round out the lineup.
Along with the bands, Music on the Mountain will focus on green causes and organizations throughout the High Country. Nonprofit festival exhibitors promoting sustainable initiatives include NC Green Power, High Country Conservancy, ASU Energy Center, Appalachian Voices and the Dogwood Alliance.
The exhibitors will form what organizers are calling a Green Village at the fairgrounds and will host several activities designed to be fun and educational throughout the day.
Tickets will be $40 for college students, faculty and staff and $45 for general admission on the day of the festival.
For more festival info, click to www.musiconthemountain.net.
New River Blues Fest Returns to Ashe August 31 with Best Lineup Yet
While the High Country’s reputation for bluegrass and old-time is known around the world, it’s been through the efforts of local blues purveyors The King Bees that the mountains have become a Mecca for blues and old-school r&b lovers for one day each summer.
On Sunday, August 31, The King Bees will once again encourage people from around the area to come and boogie the afternoon away at Ashe County’s Jefferson Landing as they host the 6th Annual New River Blues Festival.
In addition to the Bees, this year’s gathering will feature a wide array of blues, soul and r&b styles performed by the likes of Johnny Rawls, Drink Small, Miss Wanda Johnson, Shrimp City Slim and Tampa Blue, along with several special guests.
Tickets to the festival are $12 for adults at the gate. Admission is free for children 12 and under. Patrons are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to the event.
For more info including directions and artist bios, click to www.newriverbluesfestival.info.
Daniel Boone Days Brings Music Back to Horn in the West September 6
Daniel Boone Days is an inaugural festival planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 4, 5 and 6, at various locations around Boone. Organized by High Country Press and Mountain Fountain Productions, Daniel Boone Days addresses the need for a unifying celebration for the Town of Boone—a celebration that highlights the town’s namesake.
While festival events include the Daniel Boone Days Symposium featuring author Robert Morgan, Fess Parker Wine Dinners at The Gamekeeper Restaurant and Casa Rustica and the Daniel Boone Chase Foot Race, Daniel Boone Days will climax on Saturday with the inaugural Pioneer Festival at the Horn—a music and cultural festival at Horn in the West from noon to 11:00 p.m.
An event for all ages, the Pioneer Festival at the Horn features arts and crafts vendors, a square dance, Boone’s plott hounds, the Watauga Arts Council’s fiddlers’ competition, the Daniel Boone Look-Alike Contest and live music from Boone’s Lost Ridge Band, Virginia’s Larry Keel & Natural Bridge and MerleFest standouts The Waybacks.
For more information, call 828-264-2262 or click to www.danielboonedays.com.
High Country Bluegrass Festival Returns to Fairgrounds September 6
On Saturday, September 6, the High Country Bluegrass Festival will return to the High Country Fairgrounds in Boone and will again feature a slew of national and local talent. Headliners for the festival include Grammy-nominated Blue Highway, Dailey & Vincent and multiple IBMA award winners The Infamous Stringdusters.
Local hot pickers slated to appear at the festival include HayesGrass winners the Surefire Bluegrass Band, banjo and guitar champ Steve Lewis and friends, and bluegrass gospel outfit The Cockman Family.
In addition to the performances, Terry Baucom and Blue Highway’s Jason Burleson will host a banjo workshop and Alan Johnson and Adam Haynes will host a fiddle workshop.
A legend in her own right, writer, musician and radio personality Cindy Baucom will again serve as the festival’s emcee. A native of Ashe County, Baucom’s syndicated radio show Knee Deep in Bluegrass is broadcast on more than 65 stations across the country. In 2005, Baucom was named the IBMA’s Broadcaster of the Year.
Advance tickets cost $20 and are available at Fine Musical Instruments in Statesville, Bluemoon Guitars & Music in Jefferson, Appalachian Music Shoppe in Boone and Old Hampton Store in Linville. Tickets at the gate will be $25.
For more info, call Johnson at 828-733-8060 or click to www.highcountrybluegrassfestival.com.
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