JANUARY 8, 2009 issue
Bring Your Blanket...
2008 Brought Music Festivals Out in Force
Story by David Brewer
Bone dry rain gauges affixed to gutters and back porches throughout western North Carolina have told the story for the last two years as the rain has stayed away for months at a time. And even when it seemed like the skies would never cloud over, a select group of people had their fingers crossed, begging for the rain to stay away for one more day: music festival promoters.
The music festival bug bit hard throughout the High Country this year as scores of artists from all over North Carolina and the nation converged to make beautiful music in beautiful settings throughout the area. With so many stellar events (some even happened the same day), some fans had to make tough choices about which festivals to attend. Nevertheless, it’s certainly better to have too many great music festivals in your backyard than not enough. With luck, 2009 will feature just as many opportunities to slather on the sunscreen and boogie the afternoon away.
Appalachian Mountain Music Fest
Several notable mountain music makers including Wayne Henderson, Amantha Mill, Back Porch Blue Grass, Deborah and Randy Sheets, Jeff Little and Roadside Fireworks donated their time and talents for the Hunger & Health Coalition’s inaugural Appalachian Mountain Music Festival. Proceeds from the show were donated to the venerable nonprofit.
Daniel Boone Days
With High Country Press Associate Editor Sam Calhoun leading the charge, the inaugural Daniel Boone Days festival sought to bring a large-scale music event back to the Horn in the West Amphitheater, as well as to start a local academic dialogue about the town’s namesake. The outdoor venue in the heart of Boone teemed with life as The Waybacks, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge and the Lost Ridge Band had festivalgoers boogieing in the aisles throughout the afternoon and evening.
High Country Bluegrass Festival
For the second consecutive year, area promoter Kenny Johnson poured his time and efforts into the rejuvenated High Country Bluegrass Festival. The 2008 edition of the one-day event sported an incredible lineup of national, regional and local acts including Dailey & Vincent, Blue Highway, The Infamous Stringdusters, Southern Accent and Surefire Bluegrass Band. The preliminary lineup for this year’s festival is already posted at www.highcountrybluegrassfestival.com.
High Country Youth Festival
The only indoor event, the annual High Country Youth Festival again brought together Christian groups from all over the region to rock out with some of contemporary Christian’s music’s biggest stars. This year’s festival featured Big Daddy Weave, Rush of Fools, 7 Miles and Bruce Robertson & Elishah.
Hullabaloo
In the wake of the fire that gutted their beloved bar and restaurant, Boone Saloon owners decided to host a party at the High Country fairgrounds to thank the community for their support. With a stellar cast of local and regional acts led by The Afromotive, Telepath and Naked Gods providing the soundtrack, Saloon supporters spent a sunny Saturday trying to forget that their favorite bar wouldn’t reopen for months to come.
Music on the Mountain
As hordes of ASU students and parents streamed into Boone on the cusp of the 2008 fall semester, thousands of music lovers gathered at the High Country Fairgrounds for the inaugural Music on the Mountain festival. Acoustic music greats Sam Bush and Jerry Douglas headlined the event that also promoted sustainability and green initiatives.
MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove
Easily the longest-running festival in the High Country, the 11th Annual MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove once again succeeded in providing top-notch bluegrass and acoustic music in a low-key, family-friendly setting. Although Doc’s absence disappointed crowds, festival regulars The Kruger Brothers and newcomers the Carolina Chocolate Drops and Cadillac Sky more than delivered rousing sets of progressive and traditional music. MusicFest probably won’t rival MerleFest any time soon in terms of size and scope, and that’s just fine with the folks in Sugar Grove.
New River Blues Festival
After an early rainstorm drenched the riverside festival site on the backside of Jefferson Landing, New River Blues Festival attendees closed up umbrellas, returned to their lawn chairs and reveled in soulful sounds all afternoon long.
South Carolina legend Drink Small (yes, that’s his real name) played a rambling set of low country blues, and Charleston-based duo Wanda Johnson and Shrimp City Slim had the grounds jumping with Johnson’s original blues and r&b.
Playhouse Family Music Festival
Returning to the festival grounds at the Old Cove Creek School in Sugar Grove, the Playhouse Family Music Festival welcomed the return of Billy Jonas, Lost Ridge Band and the Forget-Me-Nots, as well as rising kid-hop sensation Secret Agent 23 Skidoo for an afternoon of kid-friendly fun. The only event of its kind in the High Country, the Playhouse Family Music Festival featured enough music, games and activities to wear out both children and parents.
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