The Best of the Best

Our Top Picks For Live Entertainment During 2008

Story by David Brewer, Anna Oakes and Kathleen McFadden

In a year that—well, you know, stunk—our diversions were our saving graces. Thank goodness for great live bands and brews—hey, and mixed drinks, too!—at our local bars and restaurants. Thank goodness for the massive number of arts, dance, concerts, films and other events provided by ASU. Thank goodness for great theatre in Blowing Rock, Banner Elk and Boone. Thank goodness for Art Crawls. Yes, in terms of entertainment, the High Country has a lot to be thankful for.

Throughout The View section in this week’s paper, we take a look back at many of the fantastic ways we entertained ourselves in 2008. We start things off with The Best of the Best—the HCP staff members’ picks for favorite events of 2008.
As for 2009, check The View weekly for entertainment features, articles and calendar listings, and please, SUPPORT LIVE, LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT!

Winter Blues Festival
As I stood in the back of the room observing the sellout crowd’s reaction to bluesman Chick Willis, the power of the veteran Georgian’s piercing guitar lines cut through the crowded Hayes Performing Arts Center and straight through to my soul during a rousing rendition of “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”

A welcome addition to Blowing Rock’s annual Winterfest, the inaugural Winter Blues Fest added a night of hot blues by the likes of The King Bees, Big Ron Hunter and Willis, giving both visitors and residents alike more than enough reason to spend a night on the town.
—David Brewer

Taj Mahal Trio
When my girlfriend and I were whisked backstage for a brief meet n’ greet with Taj Majal, I felt like a kid meeting one of his idols at the ballpark. To my ears, many of the songs from Taj’s early albums serve as the perfect synthesis of soul, blues and rock ‘n roll and the gentle giant has spent decades defying categorization with quality releases in a variety of styles.

While I was disappointed with the length of the Taj Mahal Trio’s set, the performance was stellar. From the bouncy soul of “Corinna” and the raunchy blues of “Big Legged Woman,” Taj and the boys had the audience eating from the palms of their hands.
—David Brewer

Leading Ladies
The year was 2008, and laughter was in short supply. We all sorely needed a good dose of comedy, and fortunately, the Blowing Rock Stage Company delivered with Leading Ladies, a play by Ken Ludwig.

The comedy is about two downtrodden English Shakespearean actors in America who, in their desperate circumstances, scheme up a plan to deceptively score a dead lady’s cash. You see, Leo and Jack have heard that an old lady in Pennsylvania is about to keel over, and she’s leaving all of her fortune to two long-lost nephews. When they arrive, however, they learn that the woman is really looking for her nieces!

But the plan is still on, and so ensues a hilarious hour of cross-dressing (always “comic gold,” actor Ben Corbett said), quick entrances and exits, confusion and outrageous slapstick. The shrill shrieks of surprise, the facial expressions, the costumes, the mannerisms—I literally laughed until I cried. Jim Ballard (Leo) and Ben Corbett (Jack) were spot-on with the characters and timing, and kudos to director Gail Garrisan for making it all come together.

The show took place in June and July, but I remember thinking about it several times over the next several months and wishing that I could see it again. I would have.
—Anna Oakes

The Dragonfly Theater & Pub
For months on end, rumors swirled around the High Country about the opening of a new movie theater that would screen independent films, as well as serve food and beer. Like many, I salivated at the notion of having such a place, but didn’t believe the whispers until the Dragonfly Theater & Pub finally opened its doors last summer.

Easily the most versatile facility in the High Country, the Dragonfly showed new movies and hosted sold-out concerts, packed political functions, dance nights, multimedia presentations and church services. Hallelujah for the Dragonfly.
—David Brewer

Daniel Boone Days
Excuse us for a moment, if you will, while we give ourselves a little pat on the back. Specifically, thumbs up to organizer/promoter Sam Calhoun, High Country Press publisher Ken Ketchie and all the community members who came together to help create Daniel Boone Days, a new annual festival in the town of Boone.

Perhaps the best part about Daniel Boone Days is bringing music back to the Horn in the West amphitheater, a gem of an outdoor venue located right in the heart of Boone. Special thanks goes to the Horn in the West folks for allowing Daniel Boone Days to use its facility.

The 2008 debut of Daniel Boone Days featured musical artists The Waybacks, Larry Keel and Natural Bridge and The Lost Ridge Band, author Robert Morgan and many talented local artists, musicians and craftspeople. Planning for the 2009 festival is already underway.
—Anna Oakes

Georges Bizet’s Carmen
Carmen In a memorable episode of The Andy Griffin Show, Andy may have dismissed opera as “high-class hollerin’,” but the sheer spectacle of an operatic performance, the music, the choral pieces, the dances and the thrill of hearing a beloved aria sung well have kept the artform alive and popular with audiences into the 21st century.

Teatro Lirico D’Europa brought a wonderful production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen to Farthing on November 14. Carmen has some of the most immediately recognizable music in the opera repertoire, but repetition doesn’t dull its appeal, especially when the score is performed by a real-live orchestra as it was at Farthing. Castwise, Carmen was lovely and saucy, Don José appropriately pathetic and Escamillo resplendent in his sequined toreador togs. And all of them could sing! For those of us who usually can get our opera fixes only via NPR on Saturday afternoons, Carmen provided a great night of theatre.
—Kathleen McFadden