MAY 14, 2009 ISSUE
Now Hear This!!
Free Music Abounds in the High Country All Summer Long
A group of dancers boogie down in front of the gazebo during a Summer Sunday Concert at Fred’s General Mercantile on Beech Mountain. The series is just one of several free concert offerings that take place throughout the High Country all summer long.
If you thought you were the only one to be thrilled about getting out and enjoying another glorious summer in the High Country, think again. Beginning this month, musicians of all stripes will finally begin to emerge from the dimly lit indoor stages to provide another summer full of free live music throughout the High Country.
From bluegrass, old-time and blues, to swing jazz, roots rock, country and Celtic music, music lovers of all stripes won’t have any trouble tracking down a free show that suits their tastes. Best of all, the free concerts taking place throughout the High Country all begin and end at reasonable times, so you don’t have to burn the midnight oil to hear quality live music.
In addition to this refrigerator-worthy listing of events, High Country Press will offer free music updates each week throughout the warmer months to keep you up to speed on who’s playing where all summer long.
Banner Elk
Banner Elk Chamber Summer Concerts in the Park
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.
Evans Tate Town Park
828-898-1888
7/2 Billy Scott & The Party Prophets
7/9 The Neighbors
7/16 The Harris Brothers
7/23 Todd Wright & Friends
7/30 Clearwater Connection
8/6 The Rhodes Brothers
8/13 Wolf Creek
8/20 The King Bees
8/27 The Whip Daddies
Beech Mountain
Fred’s Summer Sunday Concerts
Sundays, 6:30 p.m.
Fred’s General Mercantile
828-387-4838
Concerts will take place Sundays between July 12 and August 9. Bands are to be announced.
Blowing Rock
Blowing Rock Concerts in the Park
Sundays (except where noted), 4:00 p.m.
Memorial Park
828-295-4636
5/17 Cans and Pans of Ashe Co High
6/20 Bluegrass band (TBA) (Saturday)
7/19 The Minute Men of the 440th National Guard Band
8/9 Grandfather Mountain Highland Pipe Band
9/13 Watauga Community Band
10/4 Die Rhinelanders Oktoberfest Band
Boone
Watauga Arts Council Concerts on the Lawn
Fridays, 5:00 p.m.
The Jones House
828-264-1789
6/5 Lazybirds/Crys Matthews
6/12 The Journeymen/Andy Hackbarth & Holly Jones
6/19 Michael Reno Harrell/Rod Farthing
6/26 The King Bees/Possum Jenkins
7/3 Surefire/Meade Richter
7/10 Echo Park/Melissa Reaves
7/17 The Harris Brothers/Swing Guitars
7/24 North Valley Tune Tanglers/The Sheets Family
7/31 Steve & Ruth Smith/Deeper Roots
8/7 Amantha Mill/Upright & Breathin’
8/14 Lisa Baldwin & Dave Haney/Buck & Nelson
8/21 Crys Matthews/Becca Eggers-Gryder/Deborah Jean Sheets/Monica Woodard/Lisa Baldwin/Ruth Smith/Susan Pepper/Renee Blacken
8/28 The Dollar Brothers/Elkville String Band
9/4 Southern Accent/Sigmon Stringers/Bluegrass 1101/Diana & Sarvis Ridge/Leftover Bluegrass
9/11 Whitetop Mountaineers/Lost Ridge Band
9/18 Mountain Aires
Todd
Todd Summer Music Series
Saturdays, 2:00 p.m.
Cook Memorial Park
info@ToddNC.org
6/20 Uncle Nave & The Cranberry Creek Boys
6/27 Amantha Mill
7/4 Buck Haggard Band
7/11 The King Bees
7/18 Laura Boosinger
7/25 Lisa Baldwin & Dave Haney
Valle Crucis
Music in the Valle
Fridays, 7:00 p.m.
Valle Crucis Community Park
828-963-9239
5/22 Randy & Deborah Jean Sheets
5/29 Family Ties
6/5 Upright & Breathin’
6/12 Sugar Grove Sweet Talkers
6/19 Rock Hill
6/26 Surefire
7/3 Steve & Ruth Smith
7/10 Kent Doobrow & The Other Brothers
7/17 Bob & Ellie with Patty
7/24 Full Throttle Bluegrass
7/31 Tommy & Patty Calahan
8/7 The Neighbors
8/14 Blue Notes Dixieland Jazz Band
8/21 Family Ties
8/28 The Forget-Me-Nots
9/4 Upright & Breathin’
9/11 Randy & Deborah Jean Sheets
Band Aid: Sponsor a Concert On The Lawn at The Jones House
The Watauga Arts Council is looking for local businesses and donors to sponsor individual concerts during the annual Concerts On The Lawn series at the Jones House in downtown Boone. The series begins on Friday, June 5.
During the last few years, the Watauga Arts Council’s Concerts On The Lawn has grown to be the area’s most ambitious free music series in the High Country. With a mix of local favorites and exciting showcase events that feature a vast array of talented pickers and singers, the Arts Council has raised the bar for what a free concert series can be. The Arts Council’s efforts have been reflected in the crowds that fill the lawn virtually each week.
For the 2009 COTL series, the Watauga Arts Council is hoping to continue its high standards with the help of single-concert sponsorships. Tax-deductible donations of $250 will sponsor a single concert and help bring live music to the High Country. In return, sponsors will receive several perks, including:
-Mentions in press releases for that week’s concert (sent to local radio, television and print media)
-Recognition and thanks during concert stage announcements
-A VIP section of four to six chairs set out for your business or organization at the concert
-Space to display information regarding your business or organization on the information table during the concert
Currently, the Arts Council has received sponsorships for the July 10 and 17, and August 21 and 28 concerts. For more information on concert sponsorship, call Mark Freed at 828-264-1789 or email mark@watauga-arts.org.
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