MAY 14, 2009 ISSUE
Mountainhome Music Season Begins May 23
Multi-instrumentalist Joe Shannon is the founder and host of Mountainhome Music.
Local music. Local and regional musicians. A back porch. An old barn. A good shade tree. Real. Tasteful. Authentic. The places to gather, the shades and traditions of Appalachian music are wide and varied. But for 16 years, the concert series Mountainhome Music has helped to bring together many of the purveyors of this region’s rich musical heritage. To date, Mountainhome Music has provided a stage for three National Folk-life Award winners, seven North Carolina Folk Heritage Award winners, three members of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame and more than 1,000 local and regional performers. Select concerts have been broadcast over local and public radio and regional television.
A new season of Mountainhome Music opens on Saturday, May 23. About the new season, Joe Shannon, Mountainhome Music founder and host, said, “In putting together our schedule each year, I try to bring in some new faces to blend with our old friends.”
One show will be dedicated to young performers—and their “old” teachers. Steve Lewis and Scott Freeman will showcase some of their young banjo pickers, fiddlers, mandolin players, guitar players and singers.
New faces will include banjo player Eric Ellis, a recent inductee into the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, and Josh Goforth, an outstanding multi-instrumentalist (he was in the movie The Song Catcher). Other individuals and/or bands who have only been on MHM once or twice include Skeeter and the Skidmarks (a reunion concert); Mike Craver, Jim Watson and Bill Hicks, former members of The Red Clay Ramblers with Joe Newberry; The Harris Brothers; The Amantha Mill Bluegrass Band; and Laura Boosinger.
Last, but certainly not least, Mountainhome Music regulars David Johnson, Steve Lewis, Scott Freeman, The Dixie Dawn Band, Bluegrass and Brass, Strictly Clean and Decent, Little Windows and the Forget-Me-Nots will lend their sizable talents to the 2009 season.
All but one concert (July 26) will be at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium. Starting time is 8:00 p.m.
Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets for college and high school students are $10 (at the door only). Tickets can be purchased at Mast Stores, Rydell Music Center, Pandora’s Mailbox in Blowing Rock, Fred’s Mercantile on Beech Mountain and Blue Moon Guitars in West Jefferson. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.mountainhomemusic.com.
The purpose of Mountainhome Music is to honor the music and musicians of the Appalachian region. It is affiliated with the Blue Ridge Music Trails, a project of the North Carolina Arts Council.
For more information, click to the Mountainhome Music website or call 828-964-3392.
2009 Mountainhome Music Schedule
Following is the 2009 Mountainhome Music concert schedule. Unless otherwise noted, all concerts take place at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium. For tickets or more information, call 828-964-3392 or click to www.mountainhomemusic.com.
Saturday, May 23
Old-time Fiddle and Banjo: Skeeter and the Skidmarks
Sunday, May 31
Mike Craver, Bill Hicks and Jim Watson of the original Red Clay Ramblers, with Joe Newberry
Saturday, June 6
Bluegrass and Celtic: Amantha Mill & The Forget-Me-Nots
Saturday, June 13
Ballads, Banjo and Old-time Fiddle: Laura Boosinger and Josh Goforth
Saturday, June 20
Hall of Fame Hoedown
Saturday, June 27
Bluegrass, Blues and the Blarney Stone: Strictly Clean and Decent, Harris Brothers
Saturday, July 4th
Bluegrass and Brass
Saturday, July 18
The Dixie Dawn Band
Sunday, July 26
Summer Sunshine: Little Windows*
Saturday, August 8
Keepers of the Flame
Sunday, September 6
Salute to Those Who Labor**
* Taking place at Holy Cross Church in Valle Crucis
** Location TBA
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