Dixie Dawn Band Plays Mountain Home Music Saturday

Led by Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame member David Johnson, Wilkes County band Dixie Dawn will return to Blowing Rock Saturday for the band’s annual performance at Mountain Home Music. The show begins at 8:00 p.m.

This Saturday, July 18, Mountain Home Music will present the Dixie Dawn Band at the Blowing Rock School auditorium. The show will start at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door for adults. Tickets for college and high school students are $10 at the door only. Purchase tickets at Mast General Store locations, Rydell Music Center, Pandora’s Mailbox in Blowing Rock, Fred’s Mercantile on Beech Mountain or online by clicking to www.MountainHomeMusic.com.

Part country, part bluegrass, and part ‘50s rock and roll, Dixie Dawn is, at least in part, a throwback to the days when bands had to do more than play music—they had to entertain. In addition to playing music, their acts included comedy, jousting with the audience and having an overall good time.

“Every year, for the past 12 years, Dixie Dawn has put a special show together just for Mountain Home Music,” said Joe Shannon, the program’s host. “They pick a theme and then select music that highlights that theme. This year’s theme is ‘Songs from Home.’” Expect to hear songs such as “Little Cabin Home on the Hill,” “Old Home Place,” “My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountain,” and John Denver’s “Back Home Again,” and “Take Me Home Country Roads,” as well as many other songs of home.

For many years Dixie Dawn was the house band at the now defunct Shadrack’s, a popular barbeque restaurant and dance hall formerly located in Boone. Dixie Dawn also served as the opening band at MerleFest for several years.

Dixie Dawn is led by multi-instrumentalist David Johnson, a Mountain Home Music regular and a member of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame. Johnson grew up and continues to live in Purlear, a small rural community in northern Wilkes County. He comes from a family of musicians. He said when he first started school he was surprised to learn that every kid didn’t have guitars, banjos, fiddles and mandolins lying around to play. Johnson learned how to play them all—and then some.

For the past 35 years, Johnson has worked full-time as a studio musician, playing on and improving the recordings of others. Along the way he has picked up steel guitar, resonator guitar (Dobro), autoharp, harmonica, piano, viola and cello. Johnson travels on a wide studio circuit, often beginning the week playing Southern gospel in Asheville before traveling to Charlotte, Nashville, or places in between to play country and bluegrass. Johnson usually ends his week at his own studio in Purlear, playing overdubs for people all over the country.

Other Dixie Dawn members include Darrell Bryant on guitar, banjo and piano, Ronnie Black on mandolin and guitar, bassist Billy Smith and drummer Kevin Rash.

Mountain Home Music is a concert series dedicated to honoring the music and musicians of the Appalachian region and is affiliated with the Blue Ridge Music Trails, a project of the North Carolina Arts Council.

For more information on Saturday’s show, call 828-964-3392 or click to www.MountainHomeMusic.com.

Want To Go?

Date: Saturday, July 18
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Blowing Rock School auditorium
Cost: $12.50 in advance/$15 at the door/$10 for students at the door