Boonerang 2023

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

THURSDAY-SATURDAY

JUNE 15-17, 2023

JUNE 15-17, 2023

BOONERANG BACK TO THE PLACE WE LOVE BOONERANG BACK TO THE PLACE WE LOVE

25% OFF ENTIRE PURCHASE

What’s a ‘Boonerang?’

BY JILLYAN MOBLEY

Downtown Boone will once again be transformed to a music and arts lover’s dream the June 15, 16 and 17 for the annual Boonerang Festival.

Taking the town by storm in 2022, the Boonerang Music & Arts Festival was

the first of its kind, bringing back many of the talented musicians that got their start in Boone for a weekend of free, community fun. The term “boonerang” has been used in local vernacular for many years as an endearing term for people who spend time in Boone, leave, and then come back — which some people do

several times. While the festival showcases muscians and artists with roots in the small-yet-mighty mountain town, the weekend-long event also serves as a homecoming for boonerangs. The festival will remain true to its mission in its second year by celebrating Boone and all it has to offer. With seven live music

Where to park to enjoy to festival

• Downtown metered spaces on King and Queen Streets (Note: some lots will be reserved for festival staff, vendors, and musicians)

• Public lots and decks on ASU campus Please read signage(Info at https://parking.appstate.edu/)

• Watauga County Social Services/ Health Department lot (off of Poplar Grove Connector)

• First Baptist Church of Boone (375 W King St.)

stages, a kid-friendly zone, art vendors of all kinds and plenty of food and beverage

options, Boonerang is bigger and better in 2023 — all while maintaining its status as a

community homecoming.

PHOTO BY SEYL PARK

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

Kicking off Thursday, June 15 with a Doc Watson tribute at App Theatre, the festival will begin by honoring one of the most iconic musical legends that called the High Country home. Bands will play Doc’s greatest hits and other inspired bluegrass hits to pay homage to the man that gave the genre a new life.

Moving into Friday, several bands will play in the evening at the stage on North Depot Street before the location is transformed for the first of two silent discos of the weekend that evening.

Saturday is the main day

of festivities, with performances and activities from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. All across downtown, festival attendees will fill the streets trav-

eling from stage to stage, visiting the more than 80 vendors along the way.

PHOTO BY SEYL PARK

ity, diversity and fun that the community brings to all the people that have the pleasure of planting seeds in Boone.

At the festival, attendees can enjoy the many bands that perform at Boonerang.

PHOTO BY ERIC RAYBURN

People from all over “Boonerang” back and enjoy the festival.

BOONERANG

Boonerang Vendors

COMPILED BY MOSS BRENNAN

While the music itself is a main draw for the Boonerang crowds, more than 80 vendors will also be all over King Street selling a variety of their goods.

Southern Area

• Upcyled Everything —

Jewelry, Accessories

• Mezzaluna Woodcraft —

Woodworking

• Off the Hook By Linda and Hope — Fiber

• Rachael Salmon Photography — Photography

• Under Glass — Terariums

• Sweet Carolina Soap —

Soap

• Creative Paths —

Woodworking

• Sarah Mastillone Art / Elizabeth Page Art — Art

Prints, Accessories

• Stony Fork Dyes —

Clothing (tie dye)

• Nomada Jewelry —

Jewelry

• Turning Earth Studios —

Pottery

• Kattagast Jewelry —

Jewelry

• Bougie Co. — Candles, Soaps, Lotions

• Semplice Designs —

Jewelry

• Jah Works Farm —

Produce, Sauces, Salves

• Solita Designs — Pottery, Jewelry

• Featherstone Hollow —

Leather, Jewelry, Accessories

• Recenter Ceramics —

Pottery/Ceramics

• ME’s Creative Art —

Jewelry, Painting

• Dab’s Designs — Jewelry, Suncatchers

• Katherine Graham Raku

— Pottery/Ceramics

• Gold Dust Creative — Fiber

• SCW Designs — Jewelry, Metal

• Attagirl Boutique — Acessories (pets)

• Toe River Arts — Nonproft, Arts

• NoodleCakes — Jewlery, Stained Glass

• Clara+Lily — Soaps, Skin Care

• Allyson Murphy Art / Wooded Wilds — Painting, Jewelry

• Amy Bumgardner Jewelry

— Jewelry, Barn Quilts

• Art by Bunny Eaton — Painting, Accessories

• NaiArt — Henna, Facepainting

• Jack Rabbit Productions

— Jewelry

• Aru Paper Co Print Making — Print Making

Pottery, Candles, Soaps

• The Jasper Lotus — Jewelry

• Gala Crafts — Stained Glass

• Honey Creek Pottery — Pottery

• Woolly Pixxie Fiber Art

— Fiber

• Blowing Rock Creations

1 — Candles

• Creative Compulsion — Woodworking

• Alysa Cantor Art — Pottery

• Sugar & Steel — Jewelry

• Tsuga — Outdoor Gear

• Nefarious Knots — Fiber

• Taylor Kennedy Art — Pottery

• R Bowers Design Crafts — Woodworking

• Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff — Art Supplies

• Plant Bustique — Plants, Pottery

• 828 Real Estate — Information

• Tristan’s Chimney Service

— Information

• Casting Bread — Nonprofit/Inflatable Duck

• Mountain Times / Watauga Democrat — Information

• Watauga Humane Society

— Nonprofit, Pet Water Station

• Boone Drug (First Aid) — First Aid Supplies

Northern Area

• Watauga Arts Council — Nonprofit

• Carolina Tye Dyes — Clothing (tie dye)

• Theresa McGrath — Pottery, Jewelry

• Pond Creek Finds — Painting, Fiber

• BellaGate Pottery — Pottery

• RagBags of Blowing Rock

— Fiber

• Future Relic Designs — Jewelry

• Clay Town Pottery —

• Southern Comfort Swings

— Hanging Chairs, Hammocks

• aMaze Glass Studio — Jewelry, Stained Glass

• The Burr Nest — Painting, Pottery, Fiber

• The Pearled Squirrel — Jewelry

• Gates Fine Art — Drawings

• bgoodstudio — Jewelry, Painting

• Old Made New — Fiber, Leather, Accessories

• Emma Jayne Embroidery

— Embroidery

• Jacob’s Jewelry — Jewelry, Metal

• Brian Vasilik Caricatures

— Caricatures

Jones House

• Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture — Nonprofit, Snacks

• Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music — Nonprofit

• Watauga County Historical Society -Nonprofit

• Town of Boone — Information

• Appalachian Voices — Nonprofit

• Moose Lodge — Nonprofit

• Watauga County DSS — Nonprofit

• Safe Harbor — Nonprofit

• Blue Ridge Fiber Guild — Nonprofit

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PHOTO BY RICH COX Vendors from all over take part in Boonerang.

PHOTO BY RICH COX From clothes to jewelry, Boonerang vendors will have it all.

Food to fuel the fun

COMPILED

BY MOSS BRENNAN

Between all the fun festivities and great dancing at Boonerang, remember to fuel your dance moves with plenty of food and drinks.

While there are many brick and mortar options on King Street, the festival has also partnered with several food trucks. Some of the trucks feature full meals for lunch or dinner, while others will be good for a sweet treat.

Here is the list of food

LOCAL RESTAURANTS

Downtown Boone has many must-go spots for all meals of the day. Below is a list of local restaurants in, or just near, the Boonerang Festival zone.

Breakfast / Brunch

Lunch / Dinner

• Black Cat Burrito

• Cobo Sushi Bistro and Bar

• Dan’l Boone Inn Restaurant

• The Local

• Lost Province

• My Pho

• Proper

• Sabeing Boone King

• Vidalia

trucks and vendors that will be around Boonerang!

Food Vendor

• The Famous Brick Oven Pizzeria

• Carolina Food Monger

• Boone Dawgs

• The Cardinal

• Big Brose’s Family BBQ

• Carolina Pizza Co.

Dessert Vendor

• Simple wtr & Boone

Booch

• Little Wing Ice Cream

• Ben and Jerry’s

• Raleigh Popsicle Co.

• Valencia Flavors

• The Hungry Monk

• Frosties Ice Cream Express

• Melanie’s Food Fantasy

• Everybody’s Bruncheon Club

• Boone Bagelry

• Wild Craft Eatery

Dessert

• Blue Deer Cookies

FESTIVAL ALCOHOL RULES:

1. Open containers are only allowed inside the festival zones.

2. Only people who have been ID checked and are wearing a Boonerang ID check wristband may purchase alcohol and have open containers in the festival zones.

3. ID check and wristband will cost $3.

4. ID check stations are available in the North Depot Zone, South Depot Zone, and Jones House Zone.

5. Reusable aluminum cups will be provided with wristband. Steel cups are available for purchase at the merch station while supplies last.

6. No outside alcohol is allowed to be consumed in festival zones.

7. No coolers are allowed in the festival zones.

PHOTO BY JILLYAN MOBLEY

Brittany Paist held up her daughter, Thea, to get her popsicle from Michele Reid and Ken Frost of Frosties Ice Cream Express.

PHOTO BY JILLYAN MOBLEY

Food Monger owners Kellie Lewis and Jimmy Smith operate the food truck.

Boonerang Bands

BY MOSS BRENNAN

Friday, June 16

Ashley Heath and Her Heathens (5:30 p.m.)

Ashley Heath and Her Heathens Boonerang back to the place where it all started for a Friday night festival performance! A Western NC native who found her way to Appalachian State University, Ashley Heath’s music career can really trace its nascence to her time at college when she wrote her first song. The early days consisted of interning at local music festivals, working as a barista, and performing for dimes at bars; but hard work and persistence paid off for Heath. Accompanied by her band of ‘Heathens,’ Heath

has gone on to win the Merlefest Band Competition, release a pair of worthy albums, perform a headliner show at the Appalachian Theatre, and become a legitimate name in the regional music scene.

Will Easter and The Nomads (6:30 p.m.)

A Stokes County, NC native who has made Boone his home over the last several years, Will Easter perhaps gigs harder than anyone else here in the High Country. Will Easter plays authentic, good-for-the-soul, rural folk-Americana music. A skilled singer-songwriter, Will writes the types of songs that are catchy on an artistic level and relatable on a human level. With a love for music and an undaunted work ethic, Will has become a staple in

venues, clubs, bars, and festivals across the region from the mountains to the coast.

Larry Keel Experience (7:30 p.m.)

With a style that could only be born in Appalachia, The Larry Keel Experience makes its way to Boone to light up the Friday night festival stage at Boonerang. Larry Keel is an award-winning guitarist and singer-songwriter, known for his innovative style of flatpicking. While rooted in the rich heritage of Appalachian folk and bluegrass, Keel has pushed the boundaries of traditional mountain music by exploring the fringes of the genre, developing his trademark “experimental folk.”

IMAGE COURTESY BOONERANG

Jonathan Scales Fourchestra will performed at 1:30 p.m. at the South Depot Stage on June 17.

BANDS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Saturday, June 17

South Depot Stage Supatight (12 p.m.)

For more than a decade now, Supatight has been lighting up Western NC and the Southeast with its signature hard-hitting alternative funk. With soulful grooves that blend elements of rock, reggae, and jazz, Supatight knows how to get crowds moving with their occasionally comedic, frequently improvisational, always high-energy performances (forget performances – more like parties). Maybe you’ve caught Supatight in the last few years in downtown at places like Boone Saloon or The Local.

Jonathan Scales

Fourchestra (1:30 p.m.)

A 2006 App State grad, Jonathan Scales took up the steel pan right at the start of his college days. After graduation, he formed his jazz Fourchestra, released a debut album, and started performing shows across the region. Fast forward and you have an artist who has now released seven studio albums, toured across the almost every continent, and collaborated with some of the industry’s biggest names – including his musical hero Béla Fleck. With a band rounded out by a pair of talented musicians in their own right – E’lon JD on bass and Maison Guidry on drums – along with a rotating cast of all-stars, Jonathan Scales Fourchestra has brought the steelpan into the forefront of popular music and proven that the unconventional can be mainstream.

Liam Purcell & Cane

Mill Road (3 p.m.)

This Blue Ridge born bluegrass band brings a fresh youthful vibrancy and progressive edge to the genre, while still paying homage to the roots of the traditional sound. Frontman Liam Purcell grew up just down the road in Deep Gap, in the shadows of the legendary Doc Watson. Joined by Jacob Smith on bass, Rob McCormac on guitar, and Colton Kerchner on banjo, and Sam Stage on fiddle (lots of talent there!), Cane Mill Road has graced the stages of some of the biggest venues and festivals, locally and nationally — from Merlefest to Grey Fox. If you’re looking for the future of bluegrass, look no further.

Abby Bryant & The

Echoes (5 p.m.)

American roots music is witnessing another resurgence, with bands like Abby Bryant & the Echoes at the forefront of this phenomenon. With soulful vocals and funky rhythms, this band has become a mainstay at music festivals and venues in the Southeast. The throwback sound and catchy lyrics of their 2022 debut full-length album “Not Your Little Girl” is a testament to their place in the music industry. Though Asheville might be the band’s home base, Boone is where Abby Bryant flourished into the fierce front woman she is today.

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band (7 p.m.)

Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty

developed her passion for music and songwriting –right here in Boone – for the Boonerang Music & Arts Festival! A Southeast NC native who moved to Boone to attend Appalachian State University, Crys Matthews wrote her first song, a campus talent contest winner, while in college. Fast-forward a number of years later and she has become a powerful voice in contemporary American folk music. Matthews uses her platform as a singer-songwriter to be an advocate for social justice. She doesn’t hold back in addressing hot-button topics of gun violence, immigration, sexism, and racism. But here’s where Matthews sets herself apart from so many before – the message, though poignant, is hopeful.

Clint Roberts & The Holler Choir (2:30 p.m.)

lachian State University and familiar favorites around the High Country, Zoe & Cloyd have made a name for themselves here in their Western NC home. Natalya Zoe Weinstein and John Cloyd Miller met up in 2005 and have been performing together in various groupings ever since, fusing their musical backgrounds to create their signature “Klezgrass” music. With heartfelt songwriting, pitch-perfect harmonies, and lively performances, Zoe & Cloyd know how to give us all the feels. 2023 is shaping up to be a landmark year for the duo.

Nobody’s Business (6:30 p.m.)

Band can trace its roots to the early 2000s in the basements and bars of Boone, where they would create their trademark party-funk sound. Fast forward through years of night-after-night touring, shifts in membership, and perfecting their style, and this group is still a favorite here in Western NC. Over the decades, Booty Band have shared the stage with funk royalty (Parliament, Funkadelic, Dirty Dozen Brass Band), have established themselves as festival favorites from coast to coast, and have dropped four studio albums.

Jones House Stage

Crys Matthews (1 p.m.)

Crys Matthews Boonerangs back to the place where she

Holler Choir might be new on the scene, but this string band is made up of a powerhouse lineup of musicians and vocalists, headed up by acclaimed artist Clint Roberts. Depending on where you’re from you might classify their music as folk, bluegrass, Americana, or country. Individually, Clint Roberts has already been recognized as an artist to watch out for, largely because of his skillful Travis-style picking, his distinctive mountain-ballad vocals, and his innate ability as a songwriter. Now part of his very own Holler Choir, things are only getting better. After head-turning performances at the IBMA Bluegrass Ramble and Americanafest in Nashville, Holler Choir has announced its arrival on the scene.

Zoe & Cloyd (4:30 p.m.)

Both graduates of Appa-

Nobody’s Business brings the sounds of the Blue Ridge to the Boonerang Music & Arts Festival. Based in the highlands of Northwest NC and Southwest VA, Nobody’s Business is an oldtime band that plays the type of hard-driving traditional tunes that us Appalachian folk can’t seem to get enough of. Throw in a touch of bluegrass and classic country, and you’ve got that broad appeal that draws in music fans across the board. A four-piece band with guitar, banjo, fiddle, and bass, Nobody’s Business is a staple at festivals, venues, fiddlers conventions, and jams across the region.

North Depot Stage Banna Da Terra (12:30 p.m.)

Banana da Terra is one of those groups that brings back that since of nostalgia for millennial Boonies. Formed right here in Boone-town, the trio is composed of musicians Jimmie Griffith (Mais Céu), Tim Salt (Soul Benefactor), and Joel Lancaster. With

IMAGE COURTESY BOONERANG

Dr. Bacon will perform at 4 p.m. on the North Depot Stage on June 17.

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BANDS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

original compositions sung in Portuguese, the group draws upon Brazilian music, from Bossa Nova and Samba to jazz and rock. Soothing melodies are counterbalanced by rich, jazzy chord progressions and lively, syncopated rhythms. Across North Carolina, Banana da Terra has lit up the music scene from Chapel Hill to Asheville, and everywhere in between. Though band members have chased pursuits that have taken them in different directions, they still come together for occasional gigs – to the delight of local audiences.

Dashawn Hickman (2 p.m.)

DaShawn Hickman makes the short trip from his hometown of Mt. Airy to perform on the Boonerang stage! One of the region’s most remarkable

pedal steel players, DaShawn Hickman is bringing 1930s traditional Pentecostal style of Sacred Steel music back to the forefront by adding a bit of his own flair. Having regularly performed alongside a list of notables that includes the Allen Boys, Alice Gerrard, and Riley Baugus, Hickman has certainly had the opportunity to cultivate his sound alongside the greats. Hickman has a way of milking each note for all it’s worth, with mind-blowing slides that create those take-me-to-church moments that have audiences lifting their hands to the sky.

Dr. Bacon (4 p.m.)

Set the scene. The year: 2012. The place: downtown Boone. You’re walking down King Street, maybe heading to class, window shopping a bit. Some music catches your attention. Up ahead, you see three guys busking. Not altogether unusual in Boone –sometimes it’s that girl wanting

to read your palm or that guy selling poetry. But something about that incongruous blend of acoustic bluegrass and throwback 90s rock hits you just right and you throw a couple bucks into an open guitar case. Dr. Bacon has come a long way since those days of a decade past, playing in the streets, bars, and house parties of Boone. Now a six-piece touring band based in Asheville, Dr. Bacon peddles it signature Appalachian Funk, Grass, and Rock & Roll in venues, festivals, and stages up and down the Atlantic seaboard, across the Blue Ridge, and beyond.

Carolina Reapers (6 p.m.)

The Carolina Reapers convene this June for a special performance at the Boonerang Music & Arts Festival! Exceptionally Hot — that’s the only way experts can describe the world’s hottest pepper, the Carolina Reaper,

IMAGE COURTESY BOONERANG

Educated Guess will perform at 2:30 p.m. at 641 RPM/BACR Stage on June 17. SEE

BANDS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

that is this band’s namesake. The Carolina Reapers Boonerang lineup collectively draws on years of experience and shared musical sensibilities, having played across the globe in many different genres with artists such as the Dixie Dregs, Jazz is Dead, Susan Tedeschi and multiple Boone-based groups. Featuring the Page Brothers, Jeff Sipe and Steve Davidowski, this set pays homage to the electric jazz fusion continuum for an exciting, spontaneous and high-energy sound.

Appalachian Theatre

Shelby Ray Moore Band (4:30 p.m.)

Performing a mix of country, rock, soul, and rhythm and blues standards, the Shelby Rae Moore Band isn’t just your average cover group. A Caldwell County native, Shelby Rae Moore has been fronting her own band for several years now, joined by her talented guitar-wielding uncles Brent and Chet Palmer. With a soulful, bluesy voice that commands the stage, Moore has a mind-blowing vocal range, which she showcases with powerhouse notes and effortless vocal runs. Beyond that, however, Moore has a concrete connection with each song she performs and by extension she’s able to create an atmosphere that draws audiences in.

Caroline Ramble Family featuring Possum Jenkins & Friends (8:30 p.m.)

For nearly two decades, Possum Jenkins has been peddling their signature “Carolinacana” sound across the Old North State and beyond.

Whether you catch them at the Ramkat in Winston-Salem, the Reeves Theater in Elkin, or the Carolina Ramble & Reunion right here in Watauga County, you know that Possum Jenkins always brings that just-right blend of alt-country, Southern rock, gospel, blues, and American folk. What can you expect from a Possum Jenkins performance? Well it depends. Musically, you’ll hear plenty of hard-driving guitar, a healthy dose of harmonica, some mind-blowing drum sequences, and an abundance of good ol’ Appalachian mountain twang.

641 RPM / BACR Stage

Liam Grant & The Suncook Symphony (11 a.m.)

Liam Grant & the Suncook Symphony is on a mission to bring fine country bluegrass, ragtime and blues, plus other music for discerning listeners to a modern audience.

Mike Hudson (1 p.m.)

Mike Hudson (Z Plan) makes existential jazz-informed pop music, mostly quiet and introspective, delivered via guitar-based quartet,

occasionally dissonant to the point where you wonder if was intentional – and sometimes it isn’t.

Educated Guess (2:30 p.m.)

Educated Guess is an exciting and innovative jazzfunk fusion trio from Boone, NC. Their music ranges from high-energy and exhilarating funk tunes to soothing jazz, full of complex harmony and melody.

Ahleychatistas (4 p.m.)

Ahleuchatistas is an instrumental prog punk band that formed in 2002. They play music that is meticulously thru-composed and relentlessly paced from beginning to end, morphing through perpetually evolving subtle variations, unfolding melodies that are simultaneously angular and organic.

Patois Counselors (6 p.m.)

Patois Counselors is a postpunk band from Charlotte, NC that began in 2014. They blend party track drums and snappy bass with wailing synths and ramshackle anti-guitar.

IMAGE COURTESY BOONERANG

Clint Roberts & The Holler Choir will perform at 2:30 p.m. at the Jones House Stage on June 17.

Top 10 Things To Do in Boone while in town for Boonerang

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

EXPLORE BOONE

Boone’s pleasant, high-elevation climate provides some of the Southeast’s coolest temperatures for outdoor lovers and leisure seekers, alike. While you’re here to experience our thriving arts and culture scene, take advantage of the season’s longer days with these must-do High Country adventures.

Go Chase Some Waterfalls

Listen, we have the utmost respect for TLC’s lyrical adage, but you should chase some mountain waterfalls while you’re here. Some nearby flows to check out include Crab Orchard Falls, Glen Burney Falls, Elk River Falls and Linville Falls.

Soak Up a Sunrise or Sunset

Anyone who’s ever been to the High Country knows there are some breathtaking sunrises and sunsets to be experienced. With abundant panoramic views off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, minimal effort is required to enjoy the near-spiritual experience that vivid pink, orange, and red hues provide.

Appreciate

Appalachian Artistry

Delve deeper into the art and heritage of the Boone area at several museums,

galleries, and craft shops – many of which are free for visitors to enjoy. A few galleries in the downtown area that are free to browse include Hands Gallery, Doe Ridge Pottery, the Turchin Center, and the second story of Common Good Co.

Take

A Hike

This one seems obvious, but the good news is that you don’t have to go far to immerse yourself in the wilderness. Sure, there’s the

ever-popular Rough Ridge trail, but have you ever been to Elk Knob State Park or the ruins at the Boone Greenway?

Cool Off at the River

There’s no better place to kick back & relax in the summer than by a cool mountain stream. Plenty of activities can be found on both the Watauga and New Rivers, from paddle boarding and lazy river tubing to whitewater rafting. Check

out local outfitters River & Earth Adventures, RiverGirl Fishing Co., High Mountain Expeditions and Wahoo’s Adventures.

ation opportunities at your fingertips, there’s no excuse not to challenge yourself.

Take on the ropes course at High Gravity Adventures, settle the score at Elwood’s Hatchet House, or keep the thrills close by with the Rock Dimensions climbing tower beside Footsloggers.

Enjoy a Craft Beverage from the Source

When you combine the enthusiasm of Appalachian State’s Fermentation Science program graduates with our year-round population of outdoor enthusiasts, you end up with award-winning breweries and wineries sprinkled throughout the area. And we’re not complaining!

Picnic With a View

Expansive mountain vistas are a hallmark of the NC High Country. Grab your own supplies from Wildwood Community Market, Benchmark Provisions, or stop by the Watauga County Farmers Market and head to the Boone Greenway or an overlook off of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Preserve the Awe

Wine

&

Dine at Fresh Locales

Even if you haven’t been to Boone since last year’s festival, there are so many new restaurants waiting to be discovered in the area! Rooted on King, Ambrosia Kafeneio, Everybody’s Bruncheon Club, and

Venture Wine + Chocolate are just a few to get you started. Of course, what trip to Boone would be complete without a stop at the southern staple, Dan’l Boone Inn?

Embark on a New Adventure

Did you know that Boone is consistently ranked by USA Today as one of the Best Small Adventure Towns in the South? With so many outdoor recre-

Let’s face it, we’re so lucky to be able to boogie in Boone! This area’s natural, awe-inspiring beauty has moved countless explorers, artists, musicians, scientists, and others throughout its history. Let’s all do our part to help #PreserveTheAwe by practicing the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace.

PHOTO COURTESY EXPLORE BOONE

Floating on the river is a great activity after Boonerang.

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Boonerang 2023: Bigger and better

BY JORDYN DANIELS AND JILLYAN MOBLEY

The inaugural Boonerang Music and Arts Festival brought thousands of people to the streets of historic downtown Boone. The success of the 2022 festival showed coordinators the people wanted more — and they delivered. This year, exciting new events, more stages and afterparties are debuting to increase the fun!

A kickoff event at the Appalachian Theatre will start the new festivities on Thursday at 7 p.m. and will feature popular local bands

the Kruger Brothers, Jeff Little Trio, and the Burnett Sisters. The event will be an homage to Doc Watson and celebrate his 100 birthday year. This is the only ticketed event of the festival, with ticket prices remaining affordable at less than $25.

Also at the Appalachian Theatre, the first ever Boonerang Story Slam will kickoff at 1 p.m. With the theme of “homecoming,” interested parties can signup for the opportunity to go on stage a tell a short story about coming home. Audience-member-judges will give select their favorites to be awarded fun prizes.

Last year, the Friday

night party at the Jones House was overflowing with festival goers. To increase for space for a larger anticipated crowd, the stage at North Depot Street will be bigger and better this year, with the street closing for more space to dancing the night away. Attendees will fill North Depot Street, located off of Queen Street, where a stage and tent will hold performances. On Friday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. performances by Ashely Heath and her Heathens, Will Easter and the Nomads and the Larry Keel Experience will echo through the

PHOTO BY DAVID PARRISH

The silent disco was a hit at Boonerang 2022 and will return in 2023. SEE BIGGER ON PAGE 19

street before the first Silent Disco of the weekend begins at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday a new venue will open with a unique purpose. The inaugural dance lot will be a new feature to the festival in the parking lot of the Wild Craft Eatery. Participants are encouraged to come ready to boogie. Participatory events and performances will be available throughout Saturday, featuring Latin Dance at 11 a.m., Swing Dance with Lauren Hayworth Swingtet at 1:30 p.m., Square Dance and Flatfooting with Nobody’s Business at 3 p.m., Honky Tonk Dance with Possum Jenkins at 4:30 p.m. and Percussion

Presentation followed by Open Drum Circle at 6:30 p.m.

Right next to the new dance stage in the lot of Boone Bagelry, the Boonerang International

Festival will highlight the creativity and diversity immigrants bring to the community!

Q’Pasa Appalachia, Immigrant Connection of the High Country and the

Immigrant Justice Coalition will provide information about local resources for immigrant-affected people. Local woodworked pieces will be sold by Escobar Rustic Craft and Creations

while Vista Tranquila Publisher offers books and crafts.

Food truck Taqueria Doña Chelo will sell everyones’ favorite Mexican foods. Living statues, popular in Columbia, and multiple dance groups will provide entertainment at the “festival within the festival.”

The Mellow Lounge, sponsored by Mellow Mushroom, will allow guests the opportunity to take a midday break on 900 square feet of turf with couches and chairs. With structured activities ranging from yoga and tie-dye and access to board games and peach tea, the lounging space will be the spot to give your dancing feet a rest.

Afterparties are the best way to keep the party of Boonerang going. Join

Boone Saloon on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for their afterparty series. Each night experiences a new band starting at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday and Saturday, and 9 p.m. on Friday. The cover charge for each night is $5 and music is available both upstairs for and downstairs for adults 21 and over.

Over at Lily’s Snack Bar, the second annual Doomerang will showcase local bands Friday and Saturday night to offer a space to enjoy louder, more intense music for those 21 and older. With bands Goodwrench, Nuclear Desolation, Appalchiatari, Iron Sights and Felspar on Friday and Babe Haven, Those Doors, Kiss it Make it Better, Dull Mourning and Her Majesty on Saturday, the dancing won’t stop!

PHOTO BY MOSS BRENNAN

Popular local dance group Las Rosas y Los Claveles will perform at the Boonerang International Festival.

BY PATRICK MCCORMACK

Although Boonerang is directed at all age groups, not every child will want to listen to music for hours on end.

In anticipation of the wants and needs of restless children, Boonerang will establish an extra fun ‘Kids Zone,’ set to be held in front of the Watauga County Public Library. The Kids Zone operates on Saturday, June 17, from noon until 4 p.m.

Boonerang has scheduled a series of children-friendly performances by local artists, including Tommy Smith, the Blue Ridge Bean Stringers and the Pickin’

All Kinds of Fun

Thistles. Both Smith and The Blue Ridge Bean Stringers are artists who work closely with Mountain Home Music, while the Pickin’ Thistles are a trio of High Country siblings — Hayden, Josephine and Rosemary — who perform string folk music all throughout southern Appalachia. Smith will perform a second set that will conclude at 3:30 p.m., whereafter all children will be invited to pick up an homemade instrument and play it as they parade around the festival grounds. For a bit of classic festival fun, kids can also have a go at getting their face painted at the Fake-a-Face booth, operated by Patricia “Trish” Daniels. Based out of Banner Elk, Daniels has been a fixture at conventions and events throughout Western North Carolina, and has been facepainting for over two-and-a-half

PHOTO BY SEYL PARK

Children will have ample opportunities for fun at Boonerang.

FUN

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decades — giving a new coat of paint to thousands of smiling festival-goers.

For lovers of the artistry of balloon-sculpting, check out Twist the Balloon Man — a character enacted by Marion, N.C.-native Dylan Rowe — who blends showmanship and fun into a spectacle for all ages. Performing for more than 30 years now, Rowe has taken his Twist the Balloon Man act all over the United States and Europe.

the Friends of the Library organization will be giving out lemonade, popcorn and books.

Boone’s own Two Rivers Community School will have a station set up for doing temporary tattoos, and The Children’s Playhouse intends to host a wooden sculpture activity for any budding architects.

Finally, the Town of Boone Police Department will have a photo wall and will have some dress-up gear available for eager attendees to interact with law enforcement, while Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff will supply material like sidewalk chalk and paint for various artistic activities.

Watauga County Pub-

In addition to the various artists and performers on tap for the Kids Zone, Boonerang has partnered with several local businesses and organizations to provide further entertainment for young festival-goers.

lic Library will be doing make-your-own-instrument

stations in advance of Tommy Smith’s planned parade around Boonerang with any youthful volunteers, while

With such a plethora of entertainment on tap, there is surely something for everyone to enjoy at Boonerang 2023.

PHOTO BY RICH COX

Even the youngest festival goers can get in on the music activities.

Liam Purcell and Cane Mill Road

Local band represents Boone faithfully

BY PATRICK MCCORMACK

Fans and supporters of High Country musicians will be overjoyed to see that popular regional band Cane Mill Road — with Deep Gap-native Liam Purcell as frontman — are set to appear onstage at Boonerang 2023.

Purcell and Cane Mill Road are well known both locally and beyond, recently garner-

ing attention in the bluegrass scene at a rapid pace. The group have appeared on PBS shows like “David Holt’s State of Music” and “Woodsongs

Old-Time Radio Hour,” stages of events such as the Berklee Performance Center, Wide Open Bluegrass, Grey Fox and Merlefest.

Though their catchy and energizing performances have propelled them to national recognition, Cane Mill Road have not forgotten their hometown roots of Boone, North Carolina.

A group that pays homage to traditional bluegrass origins while also crafting their own songs influenced by styles such as folk and Americana, Cane Mill Road is led by Purcell.

“I was super excited to see something of this scale like Boonerang come to the area last year,” Purcell said. “We’ve never had anything like this before, and of course the folks who were putting it on were some longtime friends, too. Seeing the response from the town was awesome in photos and videos afterward, and I’m excited to come back and experience it for real.”

Purcell is an award-winning acoustic artist, able to command a variety of instruments — as evidenced by a trio of Rockygrass Instrumental Championship trophies in 2022. Purcell won the

HCYP events are held the first TuesdayorThursday of each month from 5:00 -7:00pm. Daysand times will vary depending on event location.

www.boonechamber.com/hcyp

PHOTO BY CRAIG ETCHISON

Cane Mill Road. Back row, left-to-right: Jacob Smith, Sam Stage, Colton Kerchner and Rob McCormac. Seated in front: Liam Purcell.

REPRESENTS

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categories of Guitar, Mandolin, and Banjo — the first-ever such sweep in that competition’s history.

Filling out the sound on stage, Cane Mill Road features guitarist Rob McCormac, bassist Jacob Smith, banjo player Colton Kerchner and fiddler Sam Stage. Up front, Purcell provides lead vocals while playing mandolin.

The band got it’s start right here in Boone, as local resident Purcell encountered McCormac, Smith and Kerchner — all attendees of Appalachian State — through the town’s music scene.

“There were a couple of really formative spots around town,” Purcell explained. “I met Rob through local community jams at The Children’s Playhouse and then Murphy’s was the first place I met Jacob and Colton.”

Stage meanwhile was making his own way in the world of bluegrass fiddling, and met Purcell through various events and competitions they traveled to.

Purcell and Cane Mill Road are

a welcome addition to the 2023 lineup, and Purcell promoted the virtues of Boonerang — such as the lack of an entry fee, and the local cooperation.

“One of the biggest things that

sets Boonerang apart from other festivals of its prominence is that it’s free to the to the community,” Purcell revealed. “There are festivals of similar size that would cost a family hundreds of dollars,

which is a huge barrier. Here at Boonerang a lot of folks are able to come out and have an amazing experience with your family — at no cost to the general public — which is incredible.”

Purcell continued, “Everyone involved has a connection to the town, so it very much starts with a sense of community that you can feel on the stage. Local business Scott Haynes Event Production are responsible for staging sound and everything. From the Jones House, Mark Freed and Brandon Holder are responsible for putting most of this on, and a lot of decision making behind the scenes. These people are friends to everyone in the community, so there is very much a feeling of friendship and camaraderie on stage. It’s a treasure to get to work with people you know and enjoy.”

Purcell and Cane Mill Road are scheduled to play at Boonerang 2023 at the South Depot Stage on Saturday, from 3 to 5 p.m.

PHOTO BY HEIDI HOLLOWAY

Boonerang in Photos

PHOTO BY JILLYAN MOBLEY Guests gather on the Jones House lawn on during the 2022 Boonerang kickoff.

PHOTO BY JILLYAN MOBLEY Sarah Zurhellen and Will Johnson smiled at their child Greta Lou Johnson enjoying Boonerang in her noise cancelling headphones at Boonerang 2022.

PHOTO BY JILLYAN MOBLEY

AnnaLisa Hadnavny and Andre Pierre Rowland danced to the bluegrass music played by Wiseapple at Boonerang on June 17, 2022.

PHOTO BY MOSS BRENNAN

The 2022 Boonerang crowd loved the Saturday afternoon set from Town Mountain.

PHOTO BY ERIC RAYBURN

Many a treat, like ice cream, is available at Boonerang.

PHOTO BY ROGER GUPTA

The big Boone sign is a popular spot for festival goers to snap a quick photo.

Boonerang in Photos

PHOTO BY MOSS BRENNAN

A giant duck could be seen by attendees during Boonerang 2022.

PHOTO BY MOSS BRENNAN A juggler performs on the street during Boonerang 2022.

PHOTO BY MOSS BRENNAN

Kat Eller posses with Lincoln Marsh at the Kids Zone during Boonerang 2022.

LEGENDARY PIZZA