Down the Road | 2023

BUILDING BRIDGES

BUILDING BRIDGES

‘FINE TUNED’ PROJECT

‘FINE TUNED’ PROJECT

HIGHLIGHTS BRNHA’S

HIGHLIGHTS BRNHA’S

20TH ANNIVERSARY

20TH ANNIVERSARY

DOC WATSON AT 100

DOC WATSON AT 100

CATCHING UP WITH THE LEGENDARY

CATCHING UP WITH THE LEGENDARY

BOBBY HICKS

BOBBY HICKS

Passing the Songs to the Next Generation

Passing the Songs to the Next Generation

Bayla Davis and Cary Fridley paired up for the Blue Ridge Music Trails “Fine

BLUE RIDGE MUSIC TRAILS OF NORTH CAROLINA

Traditional music is flourishing across many parts of America, but in the mountains and foothills of North Carolina, more so than elsewhere, the music is part of the fabric of community life.

Music traditions continue to be handed down in families and communities; at the same time, musicians are moving here from other parts of the country to be at the heart of these wonderful traditions.

You’ll find lots of folks making music —from seasoned, master musicians and enormously talented youngsters to exuberant beginners and dedicated back porch pickers.

Most importantly, the music here is to be shared. Opportunities to listen in and to join in are plentiful.

THE PROJECT

The Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina is an initiative led by the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the North Carolina Department Natural and Cultural Resources. Many, many partners across Western North Carolina — arts councils, tourism agencies, music venues, event organizers, musicians, and dancers — are participating in the effort.

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s “Down the Road” magazine is produced in collaboration with The Smoky Mountain News. © 2023/24

SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS

PUBLISHER · Scott McLeod info@smokymountainnews.com

GENERAL MANAGER

Greg Boothroyd greg@smokymountainnews.com

ADVERTISING

Amanda Bradley c-ads@smokymountainnews.com

Sophia Burleigh sophia.b@smokymountainnews.com

ART DIRECTOR · Micah McClure micah@smokymountainnews.com

DESIGN · Jessica Murray jessica.m@smokymountainnews.com

Travis Bumgardner travis@smokymountainnews.com

WRITING · Garret K. Woodward garret@smokymountainnews.com

FROM THE DIRECTOR FROM THE DIRECTOR

Welcome to the fifth edition of Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails magazine!

The roots of American music run deep here in Western North Carolina, and our area continues to be a fertile ground for European, African, Cherokee, and new sounds that are mingling with mountain homegrown music. We have learned many lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic. Folks want to have real, in-person experiences with music, but the challenges of the last three years have resulted in some creative approaches to how it is presented.

Emerging musicians with new ideas are constantly innovating the sounds of the North Carolina Blue Ridge and the Great Smokies. The music continues to grow and evolve, finding new audiences while still honoring the foundations of the past. With the help of some great supporters and donors, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, through its Blue Ridge Music Trails initiative, has launched a new program called Fine Tuned.

This new offering showcases the breadth and depth of our regional geography and the diversity of musical styles by connecting emerging artists with mentors and collaborators to create professional development and musical growth opportunities. With participants ranging in ages from 14-53, Fine Tuned seeks to bring musicians together, in ways that have happened for centuries, but by adding 21st century technology and approaches. Not only is it a fresh approach to supporting these artists, but it is a new venture for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area to actively create and produce music. Check out the story (page 14) to learn more about this exciting new project.

The Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina was launched more than nine years ago as a partnership between Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership (BRNHA) and the NC Arts Council. Our goal is to guide visi-

tors and fans to where they can hear the music for themselves.

Traditional mountain music features the old-time sounds of string bands and the high energy of bluegrass. Cloggers kick up their heels on mountain stages. You can follow the callers of street dances in our historic small towns. In our mountains, ballads have been passed down from generation to generation, “knee-to-knee” on front porches with haunting verses that date back centuries to Ireland and Scotland. And across the region, you can hear sacred music from shaped note singing, to hymns sung in Cherokee, to African American gospel, to the melancholic timbres of the blues.

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership is devoted to preserving our Appalachian culture, from traditional music to arts and crafts, our foodways and our abundant outdoors, and Cherokee traditions across the North Carolina mountains and foothills.

Please join us on this musical journey “Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails,” and we look forward to seeing you along the way.

Angie Chandler Executive Director Blue Ridge National Heritage Area

Fine Tuned seeks to bring musicians together, in ways that have happened for centuries, but by adding 21st century technology and approaches.

‘FINE TUNED’: THE COVER

When Kristen Necessary was approached by the Blue Ridge Music Trails to design the cover for the Fine Tuned album, the artist/printmaker felt immediately inspired.

“I was really stuck on the idea of weaving, of the project weaving together the music and culture of Appalachia,” Necessary said. “All of these different styles of music and voices coming together from across the mountains.”

Owner of Starfangled Press in Brevard (Transylvania County), Necessary seamlessly combines traditional and contemporary elements of printmaking.

“One of our missions at Starfangled is to make art more of a part of everyday life,” Necessary said. “So, we focus on art that’s fine and affordable, and print- making is one of those methods we

chose to do.”

A proud member of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, Necessary and Starfangled felt honored to be asked to come up with the album cover art for the “Fine Tuned” project, which brings together musicians from different genres and backgrounds in our region — as mentors and mentees, creators and collaborators.

“The [Music Trails] have always been a supporter of my work,” Necessary said. “So, it meant a lot for them to visit my studio and collaborate on this album cover.”

Within Starfangled, its prized 1907 press is also used in

countless projects. For Necessary, she’s able to use the sturdy antique to bring her ideas to life, many of which originate on her iPad.

“A lot of my artwork is influenced by place,” Necessary said. “And Appalachia has been a constant theme in my work for a long time.”

Now that the inaugural installment of the Fine Tuned project is now completed,

and with the album rolling out across Western North Carolina, greater Southern Appalachia and beyond, Necessary is grateful to see her work displayed for all to embrace and enjoy.

“I’m thrilled about this project,” Necessary said. “I don’t do a lot of custom design, so this was a new adventure for me — I’m excited to hear the album when it comes out.”

SUPPORT THE BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

Play your part in preserving the living traditions and Appalachian heritage of the North Carolina mountains and foothills — including the Blue Ridge Music Trails — with a gift today! Here are several ways you can be a part of this important work for current and future generations:

• Donate at blueridgeheritage.com/about/donate.now

• Follow the Blue Ridge Music Trails on Facebook

• Listen to Down the Road Podcasts now featuring four seasons of traditional music profiles and history at blueridgemusicnc.com/listen-and-learn/down-the-road-podcast

• Review our website and learn more about the Blue Ridge Craft Trails Program, explore itineraries that will give you all kinds of trip ideas, support our local businesses by attending events at some of our many venues and breweries, look through our online retail store, etc.

And please reach out to our staff at 828.298.5330. We serve the entire region of Western North Carolina and enjoy connecting with our donors, partners and program participants. Thank you!

Put on your favorite tunes and let our scenic mountain vistas create nature’s playlist. Turn up the volume with mountainous zip lines and whitewater adventures. Or wind down with waterfall hikes and wine tastings. Choose a mountain inn or a log cabin that’s just right. Enjoy the twists and turns around Historic Saluda, Tryon, and Columbusjust 90 minutes west of Charlotte.

“I was really stuck on the idea of weaving, of the project weaving together the music and culture of Appalachia. All of these different styles of music and voices coming together from across the mountains.”

— KRISTEN NECESSARY

‘FINED TUNED’

In an effort to not only bring together artists from different musical realms and backgrounds around Western North Carolina, but also provide a platform for free-flowing, spur-of-the-moment inspiration, the “Fine Tuned” program through the Blue Ridge Music Trails was a resounding success with its inaugural program.

“This project was a true celebration of collaborative creative,” said Sav Sankaran. “Every step of the way —

identifying potential partners, establishing the relationships between mentors and mentees, discussing and preparing repertoire, the process of recording material — was an organically collaborative process that highlighted the strengths that each participant brought to the table.”

Bassist/vocalist for acclaimed Asheville-based Americana/bluegrass act Unspoken Tradition, Sankaran teamed with Josh Jones for “Fine

Tuned.” Studying classical voice at the UNC School for the Arts, Jones is also steeped in bluegrass and mountain music as a vocalist, mandolinist, and fiddler.

“My mentor Sav [and I] truly created a bond during the recording process,” Jones said. “This project was the first time that we met each other in person and — through bluegrass music and the recording project — we learned a lot about each other.”

Bayla Davis and Cary Fridley. SANDLIN GAITHER PHOTO

Capturing the collaboration in the recording studio was renowned Southern Appalachian musician/producer Josh Goforth. And, throughout the process, Jones was able to pick the minds of Goforth and Sankaran, each being well-known, longtime professionals in the music industry.

“Being mentored by professional bluegrass musicians who have had spectacular careers was truly an honor,” Jones

said. “They made sure I was able to have a hands-on experience, and that I was learning as much as possible with recording — it just really turned into a fun environment producing wonderful bluegrass music.”

“The importance of the relationship between mentor and mentee cannot be overstated. The undercurrent of the entire endeavor was the importance of continuity of culture,” Sankaran added.

“[‘Fine Tuned’] ensures [that] the rich, diverse tapestry of Western North Carolina’s artistic heritage gets reframed, revitalized, and gets carried forward into the uncertain future.”

Other mentor/mentee partnerships included Benjamin Baker and David LaMotte, Bayla Davis and Cary Fridley, and Donna Ray Norton and Josh Goforth. Collaborate partnerships included The Allen Boys w/DaShawn Hickman and Kelley Breiding, Keaw’e Bone and Jarrett Wildcat.

“The biggest takeaway was being able to produce professional music and learning what steps are needed to help me create music in a professional way,” Jones noted. “The lessons I learned from ‘Fine Tuned’ were that there are never wrong answers or ideas to creating the music that is true to you — [this project] will aid you in your musicianship and goals for your entire career.”

The “Fine Tuned” project will culminate with a full-length professionallyproduced album, which will be pressed by Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville. The release of the album is scheduled for later this year. There will also be a series of upcoming live concerts showcasing the artists and music created during the collaborations.

“This experience has truly helped me open my mind and musicianship into a more creative and musical space that has inspired me to possibly explore even more ways to create my own version of bluegrass music,” Jones said.

“For me, the most valuable aspect of this experience has been the ability to expand my extended family of artists that motivate and inspire me,” Sankaran added. “The energy and intention [of ‘Fine Tuned’] directed towards creating these pathways for people to connect across divides of generation and cultural diversity was transformative.”

— SAV SANKARAN

“[‘Fine Tuned’] ensures [that] the rich, diverse tapestry of Western North Carolina’s artistic heritage gets reframed, revitalized, and gets carried forward into the uncertain future.”

Sav Sankaran and Josh Jones.

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BY KELLEY BREIDING

Iinitially received a phone call from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, who explained the Fine Tuned project was pairing artists for a recording project, and asked if I would be interested in working with The Allen Boys (Surry County).

Having very little idea what Sacred Steel music was, and having an equally limited amount of understanding of what The Allen Boys do, I was all in.

It sounded like a musical adventure, and I was ready to try something new. The idea that we were both steeped in traditions from the same area, but didn’t really overlap before, was interesting, and I thought it could yield some interesting stuff.

My first move was to go to the church where they grew up playing and became who they are as musicians. I went down on a Sunday to the House of God Church (Mount Airy) and it was awesome from start to finish.

The band played music the entire time, whether someone was singing or just speaking, and the congregation was full of singers and people filled with joy who didn’t stay still or seated. It was really a great way to get to know the band better and get ready for the collaboration.

DaShawn Hickman of The Allen Boys.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

PAIRING ARTISTS

FOR A RECORDING

PROJECT

PAIRING ARTISTS FOR A RECORDING PROJECT

After that, we started meeting in the church to work on the music for the project. We had fun straight away. Our personalities were a great fit for enjoying the process together and we made fast friends. They were helpful to me about how to approach the music in their way, and I was also able to share my perspective with them and we all got a lot out of each other’s knowledge base.

In the end, we both played roots based, traditional music and could get things together easily, even though our genres didn’t really seem as similar as they ended up proving to be. We ended up with some great music for the recording session.

One was an original song, “Lord, I Need Your Help,” written by bassist Mitchell Fonville, which we took through many versions and tried a lot of ideas to get to the product. The song is a

very emotional and solemn one, which required DaShawn Hickman and myself to really get connected into our feelings to make it what it needed to become.

In contrast, the “Walkin’ in Jerusalem” was a joy-filled number where I played banjo and sang on my own. The fun part of that one was that they had a different approach than I was used to in the bluegrass gospel versions I had heard, and we mashed that all together into something that represents of all of us.

We were collaborators and we learned about multiple things in this experience from each other. I think I got to explore different parts of my abilities and apply them in new ways through the collaboration.

As an artist, trying new things with other artists is really an amazing opportunity — and can be a scary one to take — but I am happy to say it has

made me better as a performer and more confident about trying new things again in the future.

The project hasn’t really ended because we now have shows together and may find ourselves working more in the future. We certainly have come out of it as friends and ongoing collaborators. I would say to someone considering the Fine Tuned project to go for it — you will learn things about music and yourself that are invaluable.

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Kelley Breiding has developed a deep relationship and understanding with the old-time music of northwestern North Carolina and the communities that surround those musical traditions. Kelley is particularly noted for her clawhammer banjo playing in the famed Surry County Round Peak style and her strong singing, and she showcases these skills in several regional bands.

“I think I got to explore different parts of my abilities and apply them in new ways through the collaboration.”

— KELLEY BREIDING

Kelley Breiding.

SPARKING THE FIRE

BRNHA CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

It was over two decades ago when Becky Anderson was walking across the bustling Pack Square in downtown Asheville, only to be approached by the late Gary Everhardt, who, at the time, was the superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

“He stopped me and said, ‘Hey, there’s this new thing the National Park Service is starting, these National Heritage Areas. And I want you to get us one,’ and then he just walked off,” Anderson recalled with a chuckle.

Back then, Anderson was transition-

ing from her position as the director of economic development for the Asheville Chamber of Commerce to a new role as the founding director for Handmade in America, and also helping develop projects for The Creative Economy.

And what Anderson and several other key leaders went to work on was the creation and implementation of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA), which celebrates 20 years in 2023. This new layer of federal designation for the 25 counties that comprise

the North Carolina mountains and foothills was added to the already robust Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail.

The BRNHA nonprofit organization preserves, cultivates and promotes the natural and cultural heritage of 25 Western North Carolina counties to benefit current and future generations. With five main areas of focus – agriculture, Cherokee, craft, music and natural heritage – BRNHA is now one of the marquee heritage entities in all of

Sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains. BILL LEA PHOTO

Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia.

BRNHA began under the tutelage of AdvantageWest, an economic development organization serving Western NC. In those early years, BRNHA established a major focus on heritage tourism development and promotion for the 25-county region. In 2007, the organization became a fully functioning nonprofit and then started a partnership with the Blue Ridge Parkway at its flagship visitor center in Asheville, providing information to travelers who wanted to explore the outdoors and cultural treasures of Western NC’s small towns and communities.

Another key entity involved in the BRNHA’s development was the North Carolina Arts Council. In the late 1990s into the early 2000s, the NCAC Director of Folklife was Wayne Martin, who was also the executive director of the NCAC from 2012 to 2021. Now the executive director of the North Carolina Arts Foundation, Martin was pivotal in the early days and the continued history of the BRNHA.

“In addition to the ‘Craft Trails,’ we decided to also create the ‘Music Trails’ and ‘Cherokee Trails,’” Martin said. “These trails are a way for people visiting the area to really dig deep and find their way around this incredible cultural place that is Western North Carolina.”

Martin noted that the underlying foundation of the success of the BRNHA and its cultural trails was the sincere connection between the nonprofit organization and the local communities it serves. Input as to what was available, what was needed, and what could potentially be offered, was sought after at every turn in the ongoing process and continued growth of the BRNHA.

“The main thing was the local leadership, that desire among the people in this region to see attention brought to these cultural assets,” Martin said. “We looked at what the communities had already chosen, and there are so many venues of cultural importance — they wanted to make sure these places were preserved and perpetuated, with the [Blue Ridge National] Heritage Area a good vehicle to make that happen.”

Aside from the emphasis on the natural environment, the arts and culture of Western North Carolina, another important corner of the BRNHA is its numerous programs aimed at informing and educating the younger generations. Especially through its grants to communities program, BRNHA has supported efforts like Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) which have been enormously successful in keeping mountain music alive in the 21st Century.

“And then, we also have the ‘Fine Tuned’ program, where we’re providing seasoned mentors to emerging musicians, teaming them up and recording the work they’ve created together — we’re mentoring, we’re teaching, we’re capturing their hard work,” Anderson said.

With 20 years now in the rearview mirror, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area stands tall and proud, and always with new projects on the horizon — one foot in tradition and a storied past, the

other in the promise and progress of tomorrow.

“The Museum of the Cherokee Indian was an early supporter of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area,” stated its Executive Director Shana Bushyhead Condill. “BRNHA’s latest cultural initiative, the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, gives us a new opportunity to amplify the Cherokee craft story in an authentic and innovative way through media coverage, networking, and training. Through intentional partnerships like ours with BRNHA, we center Cherokee voices, showcase our community of artists who are perpetuating and disrupting craft traditions, and share them with a growing audience.”

“The [Blue Ridge National] Heritage Area reminds us of our legacy, our heritage, and our role as citizens in this region,” Anderson said. “[In the last 20 years], we’ve gained respect not only in our region and our state, but nationally — [the BRNHA] got to the heart of who we are, and we keep it authentic.”

Balsam Range preforming at MerleFest. JEFF SMITH PHOTO

Doc Watson would have turned 100 in 2023.

‘HEARING A MASTER’

DOC WATSON AT 100

On March 3, 2023, the late Doc Watson would have turned 100 years young. A dazzling genius on the acoustic guitar, Watson remains an American musical institution and pillar of North Carolina culture and heritage.

“The first thing that comes to mind [about Doc Watson] is his innate soulfulness that reached out and touched people — you knew you were hearing a master,” said David Holt.

An iconic musician and storyteller in his own right, Holt befriended Watson many decades ago, ultimately perform-

ing alongside the six-string maestro from 1998 until Watson’s passing in 2012.

“Doc was in touch with his emotions and could put those feelings into his music,” Holt said. “Like any great singer, he imagined the story of the words.”

Born in Deep Gap (Watauga County) in 1923, Watson was raised in a small house in the rural countryside, the sixth of nine children. As a toddler, Watson lost his sight due to an eye infection.

“You have to remember he grew up blind and poor — it is amazing what he

accomplished,” Holt said. “Doc was one of America’s great musicians. For musicality, soulfulness, and instrumental technique, I would put him at the top of the list with other virtuosos.”

Aside from the vast accomplishments Watson achieved throughout his long and bountiful career, perhaps none was more meaningful than his creation of MerleFest in 1988. The gathering is dedicated to Watson’s son, Merle, who tragically passed away in an untimely accident.

The renowned annual gather-

(From right) David Holt and Doc Watson.

ing takes place on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro (Wilkes County). Each spring, MerleFest plays host to an array of marquee bluegrass, Americana, folk and country acts in front an audience of tens of thousands — and all with the memory of Doc at the heart of the event.

“Doc will be a touchstone for future generations. They’re responding to that deep soul that he delivered so naturally and powerfully,” Holt said. “There’s so much to appreciate and learn from Doc

Watson. He had it all — technique, taste, tone, and touch.”

A four-time Grammy Award winner, Holt took home the 2002 honor for “Best Traditional Folk Album” for his collaboration with Watson on the record “Legacy.” Watson himself garnered eight Grammys, including the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2004.

“[Doc] spent a great deal of time thinking about the words and building a story around them,” Holt said. “Then, he would add music to complement the

message of the song with his instrument and voice — it was always tasteful.”

Those sentiments about Watson are also shared by another guitar legend, Bryan Sutton. Hailing from Asheville and greater Buncombe County, Sutton is one of the most intricately talented players of the modern era.

A 10-time International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) “Guitar Player of the Year,” Sutton also took home the Grammy for “Best Coun-

“[Doc] spent a great deal of time thinking about the words and building a story around them. Then, he would add music to complement the message of the song with his instrument and voice — it was always tasteful.”

— DAVID HOLT

Merle Watson, David Holt and Doc Watson.

try Instrumental Performance” for “Whiskey Before Breakfast” with Watson in 2007.

“Doc was this perfect blend of clear articulation and discipline, but also a very casual kind of front porch fun and ease, ultimately,” Sutton said. “And anytime I was around him, he was always extremely generous with his time, with his words to me, and always treated me like a professional — he was just a real guy, he had it all.”

While still in high school, Holt first heard Watson in 1964 on his debut album, “Doc Watson,” which was released that same year. In 1971, the two finally crossed paths at the Lavonia Bluegrass Festival in Georgia.

“His music was so authentic, heartfelt, and real,” Holt said. “I liked the way he took old traditional tunes and made them sound modern and universal — he bent traditional songs, but he never broke them.”

Touring and performing coast-tocoast with Watson, Holt got to see first-hand the legend and lore of the late great guitar hero.

“We played a festival in Golden Gate Park [in San Francisco, California] for 500,000 people — the audience stretched as far as I could see,” Holt recalled. “And yet, the two of us were able to create a rhythm that brought people in, and with an intimacy that held them.”

For Holt and Sutton, and countless other guitar players and music lovers, the life and legacy of Doc Watson will carry on far into the 21st Century and beyond — his music as timeless, influential, poignant, nurturing, and vital today as ever before.

"If you're a singer-songwriter, you can get a lot from Doc Watson. If you're a flat-picker, you can get a lot from Doc Watson,” Sutton said. “His legacy, much like with [the ‘Father of Bluegrass’] Bill Monroe, is how you can be your own artist, and how you can kind of stay true to the traditions that inform you and define you stylistically, but also be your own sound as you interpret a lot of other things, as well."

David Holt.

Bryan Sutton.

With their upcoming fifth album, “Songs of Our Grandfathers,” rising Asheville Americana/folk duo Zoe & Cloyd decided to take a different approach to this latest musical endeavor.

“For the past eight years, we’ve been focusing primarily on original songwriting, kind of our own music and interpretations,” said fiddler/vocalist Natalya Zoe Weinstein. “And, with this project, we’re going back to our musical lineages of our grandfathers.”

ZOE & CLOYD

POPULAR DUO PAY HOMAGE TO FAMILY ROOTS

wrote — it’s become much more than just a heritage project.”

“[My grandfather] immigrated from Russia in 1923, and then came [to America] via Argentina because he couldn’t initially get into the United States,” Weinstein added. “And though we don’t have any recordings of my grandfather, we have all of these handwritten music notebooks of his — it’s been so fun to go through them.”

Geographically, Weinstein hails from Massachusetts, with her husband, Miller, a 12th generation North Carolinian. And as Miller was surrounded by bluegrass and mountain music as a youth raised in Southern Appalachia, Weinstein grew up playing classical violin, with her father a jazz pianist.

“Music was always around, and I was always passionate about it,” Weinstein said. “I did classical music for about 15 years, but got bored with it in college, reading notes on a page and so on. I wanted to do something different, only to fall in with folks who played bluegrass and old-time music.”

After college, Weinstein relocated to Asheville in 2004 and hasn’t looked back since finding herself in Western North Carolina.

“That ‘bridge moment’ came when I was home from college and hanging out with my grandfather,” Cloyd recalled. “I asked him, ‘Have you ever played ‘Pig In A Pen’? And he played it, he could [play?] everything on that record. He says, ‘Vassar Clements plays on that record, he’s a good friend of mine.’ I knew my grandfather was cool, but I didn’t know he knew all of these [music legends].”

Initially, Weinstein and Cloyd were part of Americana/roots group Red June. But, after the arrival of their daughter, they decided to venture out on their own, ultimately forming Zoe & Cloyd in 2015. From humble beginnings, the duo has toured extensively around the greater Southeast and beyond, gracing the stages of numerous legendary stages and festivals.

In 2021, Zoe & Cloyd were featured on the acclaimed PBS program “David Holt’s State of Music.” And the 2023 release of “Songs of Our Grandfathers” (Organic Records) will also signal Zoe & Cloyd’s first international gig, taking place in Northern Ireland later this year.

Those lineages at the core of the couple’s album are the klezmer and jazz stylings of Weinstein’s ancestors, and the traditional bluegrass tones of John Cloyd Miller’s grandfather, Jim Shumate, a pioneering fiddler in his own right.

“[Jim] was from Wilkes County and lived in Hickory,” Miller said. “So, we’re pulling from pieces that he recorded with Flatt & Scruggs, stuff he played with Bill Monroe, and songs that he

“I fell in love with bluegrass,” Weinstein said. “The more you listen to it, the more you hear the subtleties and the power in that music.”

For Miller, as a member of Gen X, he found himself more interested in the heavier sounds of 1990s grunge and popular music early on. But it was a deep love for The Grateful Dead that led him down the rabbit hole to iconic 1970s jam-grass group Old & In The Way, featuring Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia on banjo.

“Whereas I come from classical music theory and a formal background, John comes from the folk tradition of learning music by ear,” Weinstein said. “And I think because we come from different musical backgrounds, we complement each other with our skillsets and sensibilities.”

“We feel fortunate that we’re able to play music together, and to make stuff that people enjoy,” Miller added. “My grandfather didn’t have any kind of formal training on his instrument at all. And he always said to me that playing music is a gift, and he was right — it is a gift.”

Natalya Zoe Weinstein and John Cloyd Miller.

ORGANIC RECORDS PHOTOS

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA DISTINCTIONS IN TRADITIONAL MUSIC

NO OTHER PLACE HAS had more influence on the development of the banjo in America. Musicians from the western Piedmont and mountain region, including Earl Scruggs, Charlie Poole, and Snuffy Jenkins, among many, are recognized as the creators and popularizers of modern banjo styles.

THE FIDDLE AND BANJO ENSEMBLE tradition that developed in Surry County’s Round Peak community is embraced and emulated by young musicians around the world. The Mount Airy Fiddlers’ Convention is now an annual gathering place for thousands of young musicians influenced by Round Peak musicians.

TRADITIONAL DANCE EVOLVED over generations with music traditions and flat-footing. Clogging in Western North Carolina is recognized as one of the most highly-developed vernacular dance traditions in the country. Haywood County is where team square dancing first originated in the 1930s.

ONE OF THE LONGEST, unbroken ballad singing traditions in America is found in Madison County where singers were first documented by English folk song collector Cecil Sharp prior to World War I. The current generation of singers continues to perform a wide range of ballads, including some brought from the British Isles by early settlers.

THE MOUNTAIN DANCE AND FOLK FESTIVAL, started in Asheville by Bascom Lamar Lunsford in 1928, is the oldest continuous folk festival in the United States and is the model for the National Folk Festival.

MERLEFEST, presented at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro on the last weekend in April, is one of the nation’s largest and most influential “Americana” music events. It was founded in 1988 by Doc Watson in memory of his son Merle.

KEEP IN MIND

As you begin your journey, keep in mind that even though all the events listed occur on a regular basis, it is always best to verify the information before heading out. For the most up-to-date information on venues and events, please visit BlueRidgeMusicNC.com. Happy Trails!

WPAQ AM 740 IN MOUNT AIRY is the oldest live radio show that continues to program regional music from the Blue Ridge. The Merry Go Round program, which is broadcast live from the Downtown Cinema Theatre every Saturday, first signed on in 1948 and presents local old-time, bluegrass and gospel performers.

BLUE RIDGE MUSIC TRAILS

PODCAST

The “Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina” podcast highlights bluegrass, old time, and other traditional music stories, performers, and venues across the mountain and foothills counties of Western North Carolina.

The podcast is hosted by Laura Boosinger, a celebrated musician, folklorist, and storyteller, and produced by Corrie Askew of WNCW-FM.

Beginning with short and sweet three-minute episodes in seasons one and two, the popularity of the podcast warranted more content. From seasons three on, episodes have expanded to around nine-minutes long and often feature multiple musical tracks. These tracks have been assembled in a Spotify playlist called Music from Down the Road Podcast. “Down the Road” airs biweekly on WNCW-FM (88.7) at 8:50 am on Tuesday mornings (during NPR’s Morning Edition).

Episode topics include: interviews with musicians taking part in the Fine Tuned project, behind-the-scenes recordings of influential WNC instruments, a deep dive into the Earl Scruggs Music Festival, and much more.

You can find and listen to all the episodes at blueridgemusicnc.com/listen-and-learn/down-the-roadpodcast.

COMMUNITY CONNECTOR COWEE SCHOOL

COMMUNITY CONNECTOR COWEE SCHOOL

ARTS & HERITAGE CENTER

ARTS & HERITAGE CENTER

The better part of a century ago, a building was constructed by the federal government on a desolate stretch of road outside of Franklin. And what was ini-

“We want this place to be a hub for artists in the community, for live music, and for all kinds of programming that’s offered.”

tially a facility for the Civilian Conservation Corp is now regarded as a cultural crossroads for Macon County, in the far western corner of North Carolina.

“This is a commercial enterprise run by the local community,” said Laura Brooks, executive director of Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center. “We want this place to be a hub for artists in the community, for live music, and for all kinds of programming that’s offered.”

“It’s a community center, cultural cen-

ter, and heritage center all in one location,” added Barry Clinton, board chair/treasurer for Cowee School. “When we started, we wanted to attract artisans that represent the culture and history of this region, and we’ve been able to evolve into where we are today.”

Once the CCC vacated the property and the structure, known as the Cowee School, it became the education epicenter for the rural mountain communities of Macon County in 1943. By the early 2000s, the school was consolidated and closed, only to be preserved and repur-

posed as the Arts & Heritage Center in 2012.

“Between the pottery school, Summer Concert Series, artisan gallery, Franklin Area Folk Festival, Cowee Christmas, and other offerings, we’re continuing the mission we set out to do — become a destination for all types of activities,” Clinton said.

Aside from the several avenues of creative pursuits mentioned, the Cowee School is also home to a shared use kitchen, farmers’ market, community garden, event space, venue for

Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center.

mountain heritage and Cherokee preservation, and recreational/fitness facilities for local residents and visitors alike.

“It’s a little isolated out here, so there’s so much that we provide to this area of the county that nobody else does,” Brooks noted. “There are no public parks up this way, so we’re the only outdoor space for a lot of people. And we hold onto that rich history of this area, too — there’s nowhere else like it.”

“And we’ve had phenomenal support, both within the county and regionally,” Clinton added. “People from all over Southern Appalachia and the Southeast come here for the classes, exhibits, and our Summer Concert Series.”

Showcasing some of the finest Americana, bluegrass and indie-folk acts on the scene today, the 2023 Summer Concert Series will host Mountain Heart, Slocan Ramblers, Chatham Rabbits, The BorderCollies, and Unspoken Tradition, and the Blue Ridge Music Trails’ Fine Tuned Concert Series.

“We’ve been able to make a name for ourselves as a viable venue for quality live music,” Clinton said. “[Haywood County bluegrass stars] Balsam Range was our first act in 2012. From there, we’ve brought in national and international touring groups, and always sprinkling in up-andcoming performers.”

Currently celebrating over a decade of successful programming and hard-forged bonds within the communities it serves, the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center continues to push ahead in its original mission of bringing people together in the name of art, history, culture, and fellowship.

“Seeing this place come alive with people and activities makes it all worth it,” Brooks said. “It’s a lot of work, and we’re always on a small budget with a lot of volunteer hours. And to see people get excited about what we’ve put all that time into? It’s really rewarding.”

BOBBY HICKS

LEGENDARY FIDDLER SAYS HE’D DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN

Atop a small mountain in a holler, in the depths of rural Madison County, is an unassuming house. A winding dirt driveway leads to the front door. Entering the mud room, there are a handful of Grammy awards glistening on a shelf in the afternoon sunshine.

“One of my Grammys is on the desk of the [Madison County] sheriff,” 89-yearold Bobby Hicks chuckled in his livingroom recliner. “He’s always treated me well, and is only a phone call away.”

Aside from the Grammys garnered

throughout his incendiary career as a renowned bluegrass and country music fiddler, Hicks’ stairwell is lined with International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and Country Music Association (CMA) honors. There are also gold and platinum record plaques acquired during his tenure with the Bluegrass Album Band, and with Ricky Skaggs.

“If I was a young man, I’d do it all over again,” Hicks said about his whirlwind life and astounding career.

Born in Newtown (Catawba County)

in 1933, Hicks was raised in a musical family. His mother played banjo. One brother took on mandolin, while two others played guitar. The four brothers eventually formed a band, with Hicks picking up fiddle to round-out the group.

“When I was nine years old, my dad brought a three-quarter sized fiddle home one night. He’d bought it from somebody for $12.50,” Hicks noted of his first acquired instrument. “So, I started messing with it, trying to learn how to play it. There were a lot of people

Bobby Hicks and Bill Monroe.

Bobby Hicks at his home in Madison County.

GARRET K. WOODWARD PHOTO

who wanted to play in town, and I’d join in the jam with them.”

By the early 1950s, Hicks had made a name for himself around the Piedmont area of North Carolina. Then, in 1954, Hicks was hired as the bass player for Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys. Known as the “Father of Bluegrass,” Monroe was in need of a bassist while

touring the Greensboro region. Hicks got the gig and became a full-time member, soon switching back to fiddle for Monroe.

“I was 21 when I went to work for [Bill Monroe]. He treated me like a son, and he always looked after me,” Hicks said. “I lived and breathed the fiddle. And I learned a lot after I went to Nashville

[with Monroe] — there were so many good fiddle players there.”

Hicks played for Monroe from 1954 to 1956 before entering the military. Two years later, in 1958, Hicks was honorably discharged and joined back up with Monroe until 1960. From there, Hicks worked with country legend Porter Wagoner. After that, there

Bobby Hicks.

PAT FRANKLIN PHOTO

were a handful of stints playing around the Midwest and Montana.

“Then, I left Montana and went to Las Vegas. I walked into the Golden Nugget [casino] looking for a job,” Hicks said. “I had an empty gas tank in my car and $2 in my pocket — that was all the money I had. Walking into the Golden Nugget, [country star] Judy Lynn was in there, and she was looking for me [to play her Vegas residency].”

Lynn hired Hicks right on the spot. With another gig in his hands, Hicks and his trusty fiddle took on Las Vegas from 1963 through the early 1970s. By 1981, Skaggs asked Hicks to join his band, an invitation that led to an incredible 22-year run in the band, and all while Skaggs became a country music icon throughout the 1980s and beyond.

It was also during this time with Skaggs where Hicks was invited to be part of the immortal Bluegrass Album Band. Created as a murderers’ row of bluegrass masters, the initial group consisted of Hicks, guitarist Tony Rice, banjoist J.D. Crowe, mandolinist Doyle Lawson, and bassist Todd Phillips.

Nowadays, Hicks doesn’t venture too far from his mountaintop home. But, he will — like clockwork for the better part of the last 15 years — find himself down in nearby Marshall, a small county seat mountain town, to perform during the monthly bluegrass jam at Zuma Coffee.

“We’ve had people come to jam from all over the country,” Hicks said. “There’s even been folks from Japan, England, Italy, all over Europe — it’s a pretty special thing.”

Relaxing back into his recliner, with a slight glance over at all those glistening trophies and recognitions adorning his humble abode, Hicks can’t help but be grateful for the life he’s lived, and continues to wander — fiddle in-hand, always ready at the drop of a hat to bust out his beloved instrument for an impromptu jam.

“All I feel really good about is creating a style [of fiddle playing] that everybody likes,” Hicks said in a modest tone. “I just try to be nice to people and treat them like I would expect them to treat me. And I enjoy teaching the younger people that want to learn to play what I do.”

HAPPENINGS HAPPENINGS

FESTIVALS, CONCERT SERIES, JAM SESSIONS, MUSIC CAMPS, EXHIBITS AND MORE

YEAR ROUND 6

Alleghany Jubilee

SPARTA

alleghanyjubilee.com

Monday 6-8 pm, Tuesdays 7-9:30pm, Saturdays 7-10 pm

Blue Ridge & Beyond Concert Series

MOUNT AIRY

surryarts.org

Concerts year round, visit website

Bluegrass & Old-Time at Jack of the Wood

ASHEVILLE

jackofthewood.com

Wednesdays 7 pm Old-Time Jam, Thursdays 7 pm Bluegrass Jam, Friday-Saturday evening bands (visit website), Sunday 12-3 pm Bluegrass Brunch

Bluegrass Jam at the Reeves

ELKIN

ReevesTheater.com

Second Thursday each month, except major holidays, 6pm

Cherokee Homestead Exhibit

HAYESVILLE

cccra-nc.org

Daily, sunrise to sunset

Concerts

MARS HILL

mhu.edu/event

Events year round, visit website

Concerts & Events at Blowing

Rock Art & History Museum

BLOWING ROCK blowingrockmuseum.org

Concerts, lectures, and installations, visit website

Concerts Ashe Civic Center WEST JEFFERSON ashecivic.com

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at 185 King Street BREVARD 185kingst.com

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at Asheville Music Hall ASHEVILLE ashevillemusichall.com

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at Black Mountain Center for the Arts

BLACK MOUNTAIN blackmountainarts.org

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at Burnsville Town Center

BURNSVILLE burnsvilletowncenter.com

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at CCC & TI

HUDSON cccti.edu

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium MORGANTON commaonline.org

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at Highland Brewing Company

ASHEVILLE highlandbrewing.com

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at J.E. Broyhill Civic Center

LENOIR broyhillcenter.com

Concerts year round, visit website

PLEASE CHECK

The Down the Road events calendar was published when some venues and events were closed or canceled because of COVID-19. Please check with event organizers and venue contacts to confirm details prior to attending.

Concerts at Muddy Creek Café & Music Hall

SPARTA muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com

Concerts year round, visit website Concerts at Silverados

BLACK MOUNTAIN silveradoswnc.com

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts

FRANKLIN greatmountainmusic.com

Concerts year round, visit website Concerts at The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country BOONE apptheatre.org

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at the Don Gibson Theatre

SHELBY dongibsontheater.com

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at The Foundation Performing Arts Center

SPINDALE foundationshows.org

Concerts year round, visit website

Concerts at The Gem at Boojum Taproom

WAYNESVILLE boojumbrewing.com

Friday & Saturday evenings, visit website

Concerts at The Grey Eagle

ASHEVILLE thegreyeagle.com

Concerts year round, visit website Concerts at The Orange Peel ASHEVILLE theorangepeel.net

Concerts year round, visit website Concerts at the Reeves Theater

ELKIN ReevesTheater.com

Concerts year round, visit website Concerts at White Horse Black Mountain BLACK MOUNTAIN whitehorseblackmountain.com

Concerts year round, visit website Crouse House Pickers (Jam Session)

SPARTA townofsparta.org

Mondays 6 pm

Earl Scruggs Center: Music & Stories from the American South SHELBY earlscruggscenter.org

Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm

Fading Voices Festival ROBBINSVILLE grahamcountytravel.com/event/fading-voices

Saturday,10:00am - 4:00pm

FLETCHER

feedandseednc.com

Friday-Saturday 7:30-9:30 pm

Fiddling on the Hill Traditional Jam Session

MARS HILL

mhu.edu/event

Monthly, Tuesdays 5-7 pm

Jackson Arts Market

SYLVA

jacksonartsmarket.com

Saturday & Sunday 1 pm-5 pm

Jam Sessions at the Barber Shop

DREXEL

BlueRidgeMusicNC.com

Saturdays 10:30 am

Jimmy's Pick n Grin

ANDREWS

BlueRidgeMusicNC.com

Saturdays 7-11 pm

Jones House - Weekly Jam Session

BOONE

joneshouse.org

Thursday 7:30-10 pm

Madison County Arts Council

Concerts Series

MARSHALL

madisoncountyarts.com

Concerts year round, visit website

Meadowlark Smoky Mountain

Heritage Center Concerts & Events

MAGGIE VALLEY

meadowlarkmotel.com

Events year round, visit website

Mount Airy Museum of Regional History

MOUNT AIRY

northcarolinamuseum.org

Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm, visit website, May 29 - October 30 add Monday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 1 pm-5 pm

Mountain Gateway Museum and Sunday Afternoon Jam

OLD FORT

mgmnc.org

Sunday Jam Session 2 pm

Mountain Gateway Museum and Sunday Afternoon Jam

OLD FORT mgmnc.org

Tuesday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Sunday 2 pm-5 pm, Sunday Jam Session 2 pm

Mountain Music Jam at Oklawaha Brewing Company

HENDERSONVILLE oklawahabrewing.com

Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 pm

Music & History at Wilkes

Heritage Museum

WILKESBORO

wilkesheritagemuseum.com

Monday-Friday 10 am-4 pm

Music at the Depot

MARSHALL

visitmadisoncounty.com

Mondays and Thursdays, 7 pm, Fridays, 6:30 pm

Old-Time Music Heritage Hall

MOUNT AIRY surryarts.org

Monday-Friday 11 am-3 pm, Saturday 1:30 pm-3:30 pm, Sunday 1-3:30 pm

Round Robin Ballad Swaps

MARS HILL mhu.edu/event

Events year round, visit website

Saturday Bluegrass Jam – Weekly at the Earl Scruggs Center

SHELBY earlscruggscenter.org

Saturday, 1pm

Saturday Jam at the Todd Mercantile

TODD toddmercantile.com

Saturdays 1-3 pm

Saturday Morning Gospel Jam

MARION

BlueRidgeMusicNC.com

Saturdays 10 am-12 noon

Sims Country Bar-B-Que - Food, Music & Dancing

GRANITE FALLS

simscountrybbq.com

Friday and Saturday 5-9 pm

Thursday Night Jam at the Silvermont Mansion BREVARD silvermont.org

Thursday 7 pm

Thursday Open Mic

SPARTA

muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com

Open Mic Nights every Thursday, 7:00 pm

Tuesday Bluegrass Series

ASHEVILLE

highlandbrewing.com

Concerts year round, visit website

Tuesday Casual Collaborations

BREVARD

185kingst.com

Tuesdays 6pm

Wednesday Night Bluegrass

HIGHLANDS

theuglydogpub.com

Wednesdays 6:30 pm-9:00 pm

WPAQ Saturday Morning

Merry-Go Round

MOUNT AIRY

wpaq740.com

Saturdays 11 am-1:30pm

Yadkin Cultural Arts Center

Concert Series

YADKINVILLE

yadkinarts.org

Concerts year round, visit website

Zuma Coffee Bluegrass Jam Session

MARSHALL

zumascoffee.com

Every third Thursday, 7-9 pm

SEASONAL

Stories on the Square

HAYESVILLE

kanuterarey.com

January-November, 3rd Friday, 6 pm

Traditional Concert Series at Davidson College

DAVIDSON

davidson.edu/the-arts

February & April, one concert each month.

Music at the Mills

UNION MILLS

blueridgemusicnc.com

March - December, first friday of each month

Sunset Series at the Peterson Amphitheater

TRYON

tryonarts.org

April - June, Thursdays 6:30 pm

Red, White & Bluegrass Jam Session

BOONE

BlueRidgeMusicNC.com

April-October Weekly on Tuesdays 7 pm

Brasstown Community Civic Center Summer Concerts

BRASSTOWN

brasstowncommunitycenter.org

May-August, 2nd & 4th Saturdays 7 pm

And the Beat Goes On Music Series

SPARTA

alleghanyartscouncil.org

May, June, July, August, September, November, December, one concert a month, 8 pm

RADIO SHOWS

Enjoy the sounds of mountain music from the comfort of your home, cabin, or car by dialing in (or streaming) a radio show.

• BLUEGRASS REVIEW, 3-5 pm Sundays, WSQL 102.1 FM

• CLOSE TO HOME (old-time music), 8-10 pm Saturdays, WCQS 88.1 FM

• GOIN' ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN (bluegrass), 11am-7 pm Saturdays, WNCW 88.7 FM

• GOSPEL TRUTH (bluegrass gospel), 7-9 am Sundays, WNCW 88.7 FM

• MOUNTAIN MORNINGS (bluegrass), Sunday through Friday, 6-7 am, WNCW 88.7 FM

• THE TALL GRASS (bluegrass and roots music), 6-7 pm Saturdays, WNCW 88.7 FM

• THIS OLD PORCH (old-time music), 3-6 pm Sundays, WNCW 88.7 FM

• WPAQ 740 AM – bluegrass and old-time music

• WART 95.5 FM - a community station run by volunteers that presents dynamic programming with a healthy dose of traditional music

Check out our Down the Road Magazine 2023 Spotify Playlist to enjoy music from the stories you're reading.

Blue Ridge Music Center Roots of American Music Exhibition BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY MILEPOST 213 BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org

May (Thursday-Monday), June-October (daily), 10 am-5 pm

Pickin' on the Square FRANKLIN franklinnc.com

May-October, 2nd & 4th Saturday, 7-9 pm

Mid-Day Mountain Muisc at the Blue Ridge Music Center BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY MILEPOST 213 BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org

May-October, daily 12 noon-4 pm

Concerts at the Blue Ridge Music Center BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY MILEPOST 213 BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org

May-October, visit website

Friday Night Live HIGHLANDS highlandschamber.org

Mid-May through mid-October, Fridays 6 pm

Songwriter Showcase HAYESVILLE thepeacocknc.org

May 13, June 10, July 15, August 5, September 23, November 11, 7:30 pm

Unto These Hills CHEROKEE cherokeehistorical.org

May-August, Monday-Saturday, 8 pm

Concerts on the Creek at Bridge Park SYLVA mountainlovers.com

May 26-September 1, Fridays, and July 4th, 6:30 pm

Summer Concert Series On the Historic Hayesville Square HAYESVILLE cccra-nc.org

May 26-September 2, most Fridays 7 pm

Mountain Music Jam Sessions ROSMAN sycamoreflats.com

May-October, Thursdays 6 - 8pm

Live Mountain Music at the Orchard at Altapass SPRUCE PINE altapassorchard.org

May-October, Thursday-Sunday, visit website

Music & Dance at the Stompin' Ground MAGGIE VALLEY BlueRidgeMusicNC.com

May-October, Saturdays 8 pm-10:30 pm

Oconaluftee Old-Time Music Jam CHEROKEE nps.gov/grsm

May-December, 3rd Saturday year round, 1-3 pm

Summer Concerts at the Jones House BOONE joneshouse.org

June-August, Fridays 5:30 pm

Todd Summer Concert Series TODD toddnc.org

June-August, Saturdays 6 pm

An Appalachian Evening Summer Concert Series

ROBBINSVILLE stecoahvalleycenter.com

June 24-August 26, Saturdays 7:30

Saturdays in the Park SPARTA alleghanyartscouncil.org

June-September, 4th Saturday each month 6 pm-9 pm

Music on the Courthouse Square ROBBINSVILLE townofrobbinsville.com

June through mid-September, Fridays 810:30 pm

Brevard Music Center Concert Series BREVARD brevardmusic.org

June-September, multiple concerts, visit website

Music on Main in Sparta SPARTA alleghanyartscouncil.org

June-October, 1st Saturday 5 pm

Songcatchers Music Series BREVARD cradleofforestry.com

July Sundays, 2-5 pm

Shindig on the Green ASHEVILLE folkheritage.org

Jul 1, 8, 15, 22, Aug 12, 19, 26, Saturdays 7 pm

Joe Shannon's Mountain Home Music Concert Series BOONE & BLOWING ROCK mountainhomemusic.com

July-December, multiple concerts, visit website

Indoor Concerts at the Jones House BOONE joneshouse.org

September-May 7:30 pm, one to three concerts each month, visit website

Sacred Harp Singing SWANNANOA christianharmony.org

September-May, 3rd Sunday each month, 3 pm-5 pm

6

APRIL 6

APRIL 8

Quay Smathers Memorial Singing School CLYDE qssingingschool.org

Saturday, 9 am-4:30 pm

APRIL 15

Appalachian Dance Hootenanny WAYNESVILLE & WNC Haywoodarts.org

Saturday 6-9 pm

APRIL 21-23

Ola Belle Reed: A Songwriting Retreat WEST JEFFERSON ashecountyarts.org

Friday-Sunday, visit website

APRIL 22

Ola Belle Reed: Songwriters in Concert

WEST JEFFERSON ashecountyarts.org

Saturday 7:30 pm

APRIL 22

Yadkin Valley Bluegrass & Old Time Convention YADKINVILLE yadkinarts.org

Saturday 12 pm-10 pm

The Wailin' Jennys.

APRIL 27-APRIL 30 MerleFest WILKESBORO merlefest.org

Thursday 2:30-11 pm, Friday & Saturday 9 am-11 pm, Sunday 9 am-7 pm 6

MAY 6

MAY 6

Spring Etowah Christian Harmony Singing & School ETOWAH etowahshapenote.org

Saturday 9:15 am (lesson), 10 am-3 pm (singing)

MAY 11-14

LEAF Retreat BLACK MOUNTAIN theleaf.org

Thursday-Sunday, all day

MAY 24-28

The Way of the Dulcimer Spring & Fall Retreat

LITTLE SWITZERLAND donpedi.com

Wednesday 3-9 pm, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 8 am-10 pm, Sunday 8-11 am

MAY 26-SEPTEMBER 1

Groovin' on the Green Summer Concert Series CASHIERS villagegreencashiersnc.com

Memorial Day-Labor Day, Fridays 6:30 pm

MAY 27-28

Swain County Heritage Festival BRYSON CITY greatsmokies.com

Friday 5-10 pm, Saturday 9 am-9 pm, visit website

MAY 29

Carl Sandburg Folk Music Festival FLAT ROCK nps.gov/carl

Monday 10 am-4 pm

6

JUNE 6

JUNE 2-3

Mount Airy Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention MOUNT AIRY

mountairyfiddlersconvention.com

Friday 2:00-11:00 pm, Saturday 9:30 am11:00 pm

JUNE 4-10

Blue Ridge Old-Time Music Week

MARS HILL mhu.edu/conferences

Sunday-Saturday, week-long session

JUNE 8-10

Cherokee Bluegrass Festival

CHEROKEE evansmediasource.com

Thursday 12 noon-Saturday 10 pm

JUNE 10

Bluff Mountain Festival HOT SPRINGS madisoncountyarts.com

Saturday 10 am-6 pm

JUNE 15-17

Boonerang BOONE joneshouse.org

Thursday-Friday evening concerts, Saturday all day

JUNE 17-18

Blue Ridge Heritage Weekend

WAYNESVILLE sheltonhouse.org

Saturday 9:30 am-4 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm

JUNE 23-24

Backwoods Beat Music & Art Festival

SPARTA alleghanyartscouncil.org

Friday-Saturday evening concerts, Saturday Festival 10 am-5 pm

JUNE 24

Annual Heritage Day and Wood Kiln Opening LENOIR traditionspottery.com

Saturday 10am-4 pm

JUNE 25

Singing on the Mountain at MacRae Meadows

LINVILLE singingonthemountain.org

Sunday 9 am-2 pm

JUNE 25-JULY 1

Swannanoa Gathering Mando & Banjo Week

ASHEVILLE swangathering.com

Sunday-Saturday, week-long session

JUNE 25-JULY 1

Swannanoa Gathering Fiddle Week

ASHEVILLE swangathering.com

Sunday-Saturday, week-long session

JULY

JULY 2-8

Swannanoa Gathering Traditional Song Week

ASHEVILLE swangathering.com

Sunday-Saturday, week-long session

JULY 7-8

Christmas in July Festival WEST JEFFERSON ChristmasinJuly.info

Friday 3-10 pm, Saturday 9 am-7 pm

JULY 8

Coon Dog Day

SALUDA cityofsaludanc.com

Saturday 9 am-11 pm

JULY 14-15

Annual NC Blackberry Festival

LENOIR ncblackberryfestival.com

Thursday 6-9 pm, Friday 5-9 pm, Saturday 9 am-9 pm

JULY 14-16

Alleghany County Fiddlers Convention

SPARTA BlueRidgeMusicNC.com

Tghursday 4pm, Friday 5-10 pm, Saturday 11 am-11 pm

JULY 15

Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest 'N Sugar Grove

SUGAR GROVE

docwatsonmusicfest.org

Saturday morning-evening, visit website

JULY 16-22

Swannanoa Gathering Old-Time Week

ASHEVILLE swangathering.com

Sunday-Saturday week-long session

Feed & Seed in Fletcher.

October 21 • 7-9PM • $20 BURNSVILLE TOWN CENTER

Purchase Tickets at the door or online Eventbrite.com

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 • 3 PM

BURNSVILLE TOWN CENTER

Jontavious Willis: Exploring Regional Variations of the Blues. Willis will review the roots of the blues and demonstrate the regional variations of country blues, focusing on the Piedmont blues. Open to the public. Seminar sponsored by NC Humanities

Jontavious Willis

Jontavious is a great new voice of the 21st century in the acoustic blues. I love the way he plays.

McKinney

Sponsors Include:

- Taj Mahal, blues artist

JULY 22

Annual Swannanoa Shaped Note Singing ASHEVILLE christianharmony.org

Saturday 10 am-3 pm

JULY 22-SEPTEMBER 1

Summer Concerts in the Park BANNER ELK bannerelk.org

Thursday 6:30 pm

JULY 23-29

Swannanoa Gathering

Guitar Week ASHEVILLE swangathering.com

Sunday-Saturday, week-long session

JULY 27-30

Folkmoot Summerfest 2023

WAYNESVILLE & WNC folkmootusa.org

Daily performances and events, visit website

JULY 28-29

Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention

WEST JEFFERSON ashefiddlersconvention.org

Friday-Saturday 10 am-10 pm

JULY 28-29

LEAF Downtown

ASHEVILLE theleaf.org

Friday-Saturday 12 pm-11 pm

SEPTEMBER 6

SEPTEMBER 1-3

Earl Scruggs

Music Festival

TRYON

earlscruggsmusicfestival.com

Friday & Saturday, All Day

SEPTEMBER 1-3

Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention LENOIR blueridgemusicnc.com

Friday 7-11 pm, Saturday 11 am-11 pm, Sunday 10 am-6 pm

SEPTEMBER 2

Fall Etowah Christian Harmony Singing

ETOWAH etowahshapenote.org

Saturday 10 am-3 pm

SEPTEMBER 8-17

SEPTEMBER 16

Yadkin Valley Harvest Festival

YADKINVILLE yadkinarts.org

Saturday, 10 am-3:30 pm

SEPTEMBER 17

Cherokee Heritage Festival

HAYESVILLE cccra-nc.org

Saturday 10 am-3 pm

SEPTEMBER 23

Art on the Mountain WEST JEFFERSON

ashecountyarts.org

Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

SEPTEMBER 23

Art on the Island

MARSHALL madisoncountyarts.com

Saturday, 10:00am - 5:00pm

SEPTEMBER 22-23

Carolina in the Fall Music & Food Festival

WILKESBORO carolinainthefall.org

JULY, OCTOBER

Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands ASHEVILLE southernhighlandguild.org

Thursday-Sunday, July 20-23 and October 19-22,10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Mountain Music Festival at the Mountain State Fair FLETCHER wncagcenter.org

Performances throughout the 10-day event

SEPTEMBER 10

Music at the Mill WAYNESVILLE francismill.org

Saturday 10 am-4 pm

SEPTEMBER 10

Annual Old Folks Day ShapedNote Singing

Friday-Saturday 10 am-10 pm

SEPTEMBER 30

Mountain Heritage Day

CULLOWHEE

mountainheritageday.com

Saturday 10 am-5 pm 6

OCTOBER

OCTOBER 6

AUGUST 3-5

Mountain Dance and Folk Festival ASHEVILLE folkheritage.org

Thursday-Saturday 7:00-9:30 pm

AUGUST 12

Cold Mountain Music Festival CANTON coldmountainmusic.org

Friday 1-10 pm, Saturday 12 noon-11 pm

AUGUST 17-19

Annual North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival MARION evansmediasource.com

Thursday 12 noon-Saturday 10 pm

AUGUST 19

Franklin Area Folk Festival

FRANKLIN FranklinFolkFestival.com

Saturday 10 am-4 pm

CANTON qssingingschool.org

Sunday 12 noon-3 pm

SEPTEMBER 16

Mountain Heritage Festival

SPARTA alleghanycountychamber.com

Saturday 10 am-4:30 pm

SEPTEMBER 16

Heritage Weekend at the Folk Art Center

ASHEVILLE southernhighlandguild.org

Saturday 10 am-4 pm, Sunday 12 noon-5 pm

SEPTEMBER 16

Music in the Mountains Folk Festival

BURNSVILLE toeriverarts.org

Saturday 5:30-8:30 pm

BBQ for Books with a Side of Bluegrass KING

stokespfc.com

Friday 5 pm-9-pm

OCTOBER 6-8

Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival

CASHIERS

villagegreencashiersnc.com

Friday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 10 am-3 pm

OCTOBER 7

Bascom Lamar Lunsford "Minstrel of Appalachia" Festival

MARS HILL lunsfordfestival.com

Saturday 10 am-7 pm

OCTOBER 7

Spruce Pine BBQ Championship & Bluegrass Festival

SPRUCE PINE

sprucepinebbqbluegrass.org

Saturday 10 am-10 pm

LEAF Festival.

OCTOBER 7-8

John C. Campbell Folk SchoolConcerts, Dances & Fall Festival

BRASSTOWN folkschool.org

Year Round Events - Visit Website

OCTOBER 13-15

Autumn Leaves Festival

MOUNT AIRY autumnleavesfestival.com

Friday-Saturday 9 am-9 pm, Sunday 12 noon-6 pm

OCTOBER 14-16

Annual Church Street Art & Craft Show

WAYNESVILLE downtownwaynesville.com

Saturday 10 am-5 pm

OCTOBER 19-22

LEAF Festival

BLACK MOUNTAIN theleaf.org

Thursday 4:30-10 pm, Friday-Saturday 9 am-11 pm, Sunday 9 am-3 pm

OCTOBER 20-21

Punkin' Chunkin' Festival

HAYESVILLE claychambernc.com

Friday 6-9 pm, Saturday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm

OCTOBER 20-21

Stecoah's Harvest Festival

ROBBINSVILLE stecoahvalleycenter.com

October 3rd Weekend, Friday 6-8 pm, Saturday 10 am-6 pm

OCTOBER 21

Mush, Music & Mutts: NC's Official Fall Liver Mush Festival SHELBY tourclevelandcounty.com

Saturday 8:30am-4 pm

OCTOBER 21

Apple Harvest Festival WAYNESVILLE haywoodchamber.com

Saturday 10 am-5 pm

OCTOBER 21

RiddleFest BURNSVILLE TraditionalVoicesGroup.com

Saturday, 3-4 pm (seminar), 7-9 pm (concert)

OCTOBER 21-22

Woolly Worm Festival BANNER ELK WoollyWorm.com

Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Sunday 9 am-4 pm

OCTOBER 27-29

Mount Airy U

kulele Festival MOUNT AIRY surryarts.org

Friday-Sunday, visit website for registration

OCTOBER 28

North Carolina Ceramic Arts Festival ASHEVILLE

northcarolinaceramicartsfestival.com

Saturday 10 am-5 pm

OCTOBER 28

Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival

MAGGIE VALLEY Haywoodarts.org

Saturday 1-6 pm

6

NOVEMBER 6

NOVEMBER 11

Swannanoa Valley Shape Note Singing BLACK MOUNTAIN christianharmony.org

Saturday 10 am-3 pm

NOVEMBER 25

Annual Thanksgiving Kiln Opening LENOIR traditionspottery.com

Saturday 10 am-4 pm

6

DECEMBER

6

DECEMBER 1-2

Balsam Range Art of Music Festival

LAKE JUNALUSKA balsamrangeartofmusicfestival.com

Thursday 6-11:30 pm, Friday-Saturday 12 noon-11:30 pm

DECEMBER 2

Annual Singing on the French Broad River

MARSHALL madisoncountyarts.com

Saturday 9:30 am-3 pm

DECEMBER 30 & JANUARY 6, 2024

Breaking Up Christmas Dance MOUNT AIRY surryarts.org

Saturday 7-9:30pm

JANUARY 2024

Goin' Across the Mountain LIVE Saturday 7:30 pm-9:30 pm

FEBRUARY & MARCH 2024

Appalachian Clogging and Flatfoot Lessons

ASHEVILLE

facebook.com/ashevilleappalachiancloggingandflatfoot

Thursday 9:45am-12:00pm

FEBRUARY 2024

Bluegrass First Class ASHEVILLE bluegrassfirstclass.com

Friday-Sunday, visit website for dates

FEBRUARY 2024

Appalachian State Old-Time Fiddler’s Convention BOONE fiddle.appstate.edu

Friday evening-Saturday afternoon

FEBRUARY 2024

Tommy Jarrell Festival MOUNT AIRY surryarts.org

Thursday-Saturday

MARCH 2024

Annual Sandy Ridge School Bluegrass Show SANDY RIDGE BlueRidgeMusicNC.com

Saturday evening

MARCH 2024

Remembering Earl Fundraising Concert

SHELBY earlscruggscenter.org

Saturday, 6pm

MARCH 2024

Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase

LENOIR broyhillcenter.com

Saturday

Mountain Heritage Day in Cullowhee.