100 Years of Arts, Music, and Mountain Culture JOHN
100 Years of Arts, Music, and Mountain Culture
CONTENTS
Annie Fain Barralon is the programs development manager for the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown (Clay County), which is also her hometown where she’s a musician, painter and bookmaker amongst other artistic endeavors.
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.
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. ©2025/26
SMOKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
PUBLISHER · Scott McLeod info@smokymountainnews.com
GENERAL MANAGER
Greg Boothroyd greg@smokymountainnews.com
ADVERTISING
Amanda Bradley amanda.b@smokymountainnews.com
Maddie Woodard maddie.w@smokymountainnews.com
DESIGN
Micah McClure micah@smokymountainnews.com
Jessica Murray jessica.m@smokymountainnews.com
Jack Synder
jack.s@smokymountainnews.com
· Garret K. Woodward garret@smokymountainnews.com
FROM THE DIRECTOR FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to the seventh edition of Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails Magazine. This guide is designed to help you find your way through the small towns and back roads of the North Carolina mountains and foothills to discover the depth and breadth of traditional music styles in Western North Carolina.
The Blue Ridge Music Trails is a collection of more than 255 venues, festivals, and jam sessions across a 29-county region where you will hear a vast array of musical styles, from old-time, to bluegrass, gospel, blues, ballad singing, and Cherokee music and dance.
The roots of American music and dance run deep in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, and our region continues to be a fertile ground of European, African, and Cherokee influences. Sounds from a variety of cultures and innovations from emerging artists are mingling to create new rhythms and musical styles.
Western North Carolina was devastated by Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024. While hurricanes have come
through our region before, this one was especially catastrophic, breaking the bounds of our collective imaginations. Yet, Western North Carolinians are known for their gumption and resilience, however, and music artists and the places they play are no different.
As our region begins to
rebuild and move forward, we must continue to support the work of our talented musicians and keep the music alive because it is very much a part of our culture, and it will help us heal.
You will find many opportunities to support our musicians and homegrown music halls on the pages of
SUPPORT THE BLUE RIDGE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA
this magazine. You’ll also find a map and comprehensive listing of all Blue Ridge Music Trails sites. Please be sure to call or check websites before you visit to ensure locations are open. To explore even deeper, visit blueridgemusictrailsnc.com.
We are also pleased to partner with the Jazz Foundation of America for a series of concerts that will support our musicians and help communities. Please visit our website for more information about these shows, which will launch in June 2025.
Please consider donating to Blue Ridge Music Trails. If you love the mountain culture of Western North Carolina join our efforts to support and preserve all that we hold dear. Thank you for joining us on this musical journey, “Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails.” We look forward to seeing you along the way.
Angie Chandler Executive Director
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
• Listen to Down the Road Podcasts now featuring six seasons of traditional music profiles and history; they can be heard at blueridgemusicnc.com, wncw.org, and podomatic.com.
• Visit BlueRidgeNationalHeritage.com to learn more about the heritage of WNC. Explore itineraries for trip ideas, check out upcoming events, and learn about the Blue Ridge Craft Trails.
• Mail donations to Blue Ridge Music Trails Hurricane Relief, 31 College Place, Ste. 20, Asheville, NC 28801 We love connecting with our donors, partners, and program participants. Reach out to us at info@blueridgeheritage.com with questions and comments. We serve the entire region of Western North Carolina.
RARE BIRD FARM FOCUSES ON MUSICAL HERITAGE
In 2024, Rare Bird Farm hosted the Fine Tuned Sessions, with proceeds going to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. The daylong event was a successful gathering of Appalachian music-lovers, artists, and supporters of the Blue Ridge region.
One year later, Rare Bird Farm, now home to the Rare Bird Cultural Arts, is kicking off the Doggett Gap Tiny Music & Heritage Festival. The festival will be held across May 2 and 3, 2025, featuring a lineup of local and national artists, music and dance workshops, and creative activities. 50% of the proceeds will go to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit RareBirdFarm.org.
BLUE RIDGE ROOTS REVIVAL: A CONCERT SERIES CELEBRATING MUSIC OF WNC
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) and the Jazz Foundation of America are hosting the Blue Ridge Roots Revival concert series. The region’s music scene was significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene, with some venues closing temporarily and permanently, musicians losing out on gigs, and audiences dwindling.
The Jazz Foundation will fund the artists for the events, while the BRNHA will connect artists to venues along the Blue Ridge Music Trails to create a summer-long series to highlight the region’s unique music and talent. Visit BlueRidgeMusicNC.com for concert announcements.
J.D. Pinkus is one of the Western North Carolina musicians who appears on the “Caverns of Gold” compilation album.
GARRET K. WOODWARD PHOTO
MOUNTAIN POWER
“CAVERNS OF GOLD” COMPILATION ALBUM
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, there have been numerous initiatives put forth by local Western North Carolina musicians to raise funds and provide aid to those in need in our backyard.
From benefit concerts to much-needed supply drives, backyard jam sessions and art functions, all with the same ethos in mind: “anything helps and everything counts.” Which is why this latest musical project — “Caverns of Gold” — is so impressive in nature when it comes to collaboration, camaraderie and community.
“What this project has taught me is that, even in hard times, we can find moments of joy and should allow ourselves to feel them,” said Alex Deutsch,
an Asheville musician who helped organize the effort to produce “Caverns of Gold.” “Art might not be all we need, but it sure is a positive force for good.”
A compilation album featuring melodies from 280 artists, “Caverns of Gold” was initially conjured by a handful of local artists and folks heavily involved in the WNC music scene, including Deutsch, Joe Hooten, Jason Bugg, Kelly Minnis and Chad Nance.
“We all play in several musical projects based out of Asheville,” Deutsch said. “[And] we had similar ideas to do some sort of compilation album to utilize the vast WNC music to raise money.”
Proceeds from the sales of the digital album will go to BeLoved Asheville, a
storied nonprofit providing immediate resources to those affected by the recent natural disaster.
“We chose BeLoved Asheville because it has a wider scope,” Deutsch said. “They were supplying, feeding and housing people even before the storm and have stepped up in a huge way to help WNC post-Helene.”
The album itself is priced at $10. Folks can also donate more than the retail cost of the record to the cause. To that, there was a “Caverns of Gold” album release and benefit show in November 2024 at the Sly Grog Lounge in Asheville. Since its release, “Caverns of Gold” has raised over $10,000 and counting.
“We’re all big believers in the
Underhill Rose.
SANDLIN GAITHER PHOTO
mutual aid model of support,” Deutsch said. “We also wanted [the album] to be accessible to most people. So, despite ending up with about 20 typical albums worth of music on this compilation, we set a minimum price of $10, though people [are] welcome to donate more and many did.”
Clocking in at 19 hours, the album itself is an incredibly intricate collage of marquee acts, regional heavy-hitters and rising local artists — the sum of which this melodic ode to the human spirit in the face of unimaginable tragedy and despair.
“We have such a wide and diverse music scene and we wanted to showcase it,” Deutsch said specifically of the WNC musicians and groups selected.
“We all have a stake in our community and think everyone deserves an equal voice in representing and supporting it.”
In terms of big names and rising national artists, R.E.M., Drivin N Cryin’s Kevn Kinney, Leftover Salmon, Steep Canyon Rangers, Milk Carton Kids, North Mississippi Allstars, Larry Keel, Tyler Ramsey, Jay Gonzalez, Dangermuffin, Dylan Walshe, Acoustic Syndicate, Papadosio, Abe Partridge and moe. each offered up a track.
“[‘Caverns of Gold’] also [exposes] a wide audience outside the region to what those of us who live here already know — we have a world-class music scene filled with an immense amount of music,” Deutsch said.
“We have such a wide and diverse music scene and we wanted to showcase it. We all have a stake in our community and think everyone deserves an equal voice in representing and supporting it.”
— ALEX DEUTSCH
From our neck of the woods, it’s the rich, vibrant talents of local/regional musicians: the late Malcolm Holcombe, Underhill Rose, The Get Right Band, Dulci Ellengerger, J.D. Pinkus, Andrew Scotchie, Powder Horns, Santiago y Los Gatos, The Dirty French Broads, The Moon & You, Arnold Hill, The 40-20-10s, Drunken Prayer, Planefolk and more all contributed numbers.
“Many [from WNC] who [donated songs] just got power back, had their homes destroyed [or] still don’t have potable water [were] willing to enthusiastically set aside their troubles and donate their talents,” Deutsch said. “The beauty of that generosity is matched only by that of the music this project has gathered together.”
WANT TO DONATE?
A vibrant compilation of songs from over 270 musicians from Western North Carolina and beyond, the “Caverns of Gold: A Benefit for WNC Hurricane Relief” album is now available for purchase.
The release seeks to raise crucial funds for those affected by Hurricane Helene, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting BeLoved Asheville, a local nonprofit dedicated to providing immediate assistance and long-term support for those affected by the disaster.
The cost of “Caverns of Gold” is $10. To obtain the digital album, go to cavernsofgold. bandcamp.com.
Santiago y Los Gatos. TOM FARR PHOTO
A LIVING WORD
A LIVING WORD
100 YEARS OF ARTS, MUSIC, AND MOUNTAIN CULTURE
100 YEARS OF ARTS, MUSIC, AND MOUNTAIN CULTURE
Dancers in an undated photo from the John C. Campbell Folk School, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. JOHN C. CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL PHOTO
CCelebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, the storied John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown (Clay County) remains a cultural bastion for the arts, music and dance in Western North Carolina.
“[The school] had an effect of kind of changing what traditional music and dance was in the region,” said T-Claw Crawford, music and dance coordinator for JCCFS.
Located on 300 acres of fields and rolling hills, the institution is the oldest and largest school of its kind in the country. In seemingly every corner of the property are jovial faces — instructors and pupils alike — coming together to let their minds and bodies go with the flow of the creative spirit.
“We promise ‘joy’ in our mission statement,” said Annie Fain Barralon, programs development manager for JCCFS. “And sometimes when you’re trying something new, it’s not always comfortable. So, there’s this discomfort we need to be open to supporting. Here, the teacher learns as much as the student and vice versa — it’s this feedback loop instead of a hierarchy.”
Photos provided by John C. Campbell Folk School
The idea for, and eventual creation of, the JCCFS came from Campbell’s widow, Olive Dame Campbell, and her colleague, Marguerite Butler. The duo headed to Europe to cultivate and bring back the teachings and traditions they found to WNC to share and complement the mountain culture that was already established.
“And Olive was a connector of people,” Barralon said. “She knew — from traveling to folk schools in Scandinavia — that song, music and dance was a part of the glue and of the community feeling.”
On campus, the school offered hundreds of classes throughout the year, with a seemingly endless selection of artistic mediums and musical opportunities available to locals and visitors — woodcarving, blacksmithing, gardening, writing, cooking, etc.
Come Tuesday night, like clockwork, Crawford runs a community dance, one where contra styles are featured alongside a bevy of live music ranging from bluegrass to folk, Americana to blues.
“Those are a way to overlap the community and the students,” Crawford noted. “And it’s the music, dance and singing element that’s one thing that [separates us] from a craft school.”
When it comes to music and dance, Crawford estimates that he alone books upwards of 300 events each year for just those aspects of the JCCFS programming, the culmination of which being the Fall Festival (Oct. 4-5). With two stages, dozens of local and regional acts perform to an estimated 20,000 folks who attend the event and wander the hundreds of craft vendor booths.
“My lens on life is just trying to include everyone,” Crawford said. “So, what type of programs, events, gatherings and spaces can we create a shared culture that’s more harmonious?”
That genuine sense of togetherness is what lies at the foundation of JCCFS. It’s this steadfast ethos of connecting people, places and things within this storied space of creativity and cultivation.
“People move here because there are not many small communities with such a robust music and dance culture,” Crawford said. “And everyone [around here] has their own little side trade, too.”
With the 100th anniversary celebration now underway at JCCFS, Barralon has taken time to pause and reflect on just what this property means to human beings in the fast-paced 21st century.
“We’re all humans and we know this feels good,” Barralon said of JCCFS’s intersection of art, nature and community. “But, modern life pulls us away from this good feeling — our folk school is about togetherness.”
“It’s excitement. It’s joy. It’s really refreshing for people who come here,” Crawford added. “They get caught up in another energetic state than they would be in their regular day-to-day. So, it’s important for people to have an experience like this if at all possible.”
20 YEARS OF UNCONVENTIONAL SOUND TOWN MOUNTAIN
It’s safe to say that the whirlwind sounds and vibrant tones of Town Mountain (now referred to as “Americana”) were ahead of their time when the band first came to fruition in 2005 in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
“Twenty years ago, I wasn’t thinking about anything but pretty girls, big buses and G-runs [on the guitar],” said guitarist Robert Greer. “I certainly wasn’t thinking about being a sustain-
able small business owner.”
Back then, Town Mountain was (and remains) this captivating sonic blend of country, bluegrass and honky-tonk music. Too loud and rambunctious for old-time bluegrass festivals. Too acoustic to market as a bonafide rock act. And yet, it’s that square peg trying to fit in a round hole vibe that resides at the heart of what makes the group so unique and special — they are simply themselves.
Alongside Greer, there’s mandolinist
Phil Barker, fiddler Bobby Britt, bassist Zach Smith and drummer Camry Harris. From taking the stage at back-alley dive bars to the bright lights of Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the ongoing journey of Town Mountain is one of pure passion and grit, of this unrelenting thirst for musical discovery coupled with the sacred magic of what it means to perform live.
“To look around the stage during
The members of Town Mountain are marking 20 years of making music together. DAVID SIMCHOCK PHOTO
a live performance and see those two dudes right there with me? Well, that’s badass and something I don’t take lightly,” Greer said of his 15-year musical relationship with Barker and Britt. “The continuity that length of run brings doesn’t grow on trees. What a privilege Town Mountain has been and the honor is all mine.”
Town Mountain turns 20 years old in 2025. What do you think about that number, 20, when you place it against what was, what is and what will be with the band?
Phil Barker: That’s kind of crazy. I honestly didn’t even realize that until just now. That’s a significant number. For me, it represents the commitment to the craft, years of hard work and thousands of miles traveled. Catching a few breaks and missing our share, as well. Twenty years is a testament to the belief we have in each other and a belief in what we have to say as artists.
Specifically, what runs through your mind when you reflect on the long, winding road to the here and now?
“To look around the stage during a live performance and see those two dudes right there with me? Well, that’s badass and something I don’t take lightly. The continuity that length of run brings doesn’t grow on trees. What a privilege Town Mountain has been and the honor is all mine.”
— ROBERT GREER
PB: Off the top of my head, I’m picturing all five of us sleeping on the floor of our buddy’s house in Berkley, California. Or hanging out in an American frontier reenactment camp at a festival in the middle of a forest in Finland. Or picking on the back of a flatbed truck as it drives down the street as part of a “festival” in Nome, Alaska. Or taking the stage at Red Rocks [Amphitheatre in Colorado]. Honestly, it [has been] kind of a blur of adventures and circumstances.
When you reminisce about the early days of Town Mountain, what vividly sticks out about what the original intent was, where the passion and zest was cultivated from to make a go at this as a career, and what were the initial seeds planted that eventually grew into the band itself?
PB: For me, the intent has always been to play original music with energy and authenticity. From the beginning, we’ve been trying to bring together elements of our favorite styles of music, whether it’s bluegrass, country swing or singer-songwriter and come up with
our own voice. And, hopefully, that voice moves the audience and we can make a connection.
To that, how does the current intent of Town Mountain changed or remained the same compared to the starting line? Especially when you place that current intent against the current state of the haphazard music industry, this rapidly changing sonic landscape in often-choppy waters to properly navigate?
PB: The current lineup definitely has the same core intent, just painted with a broader brush. The addition of drums and pedal steel gives us the chance to continue to challenge ourselves artistically and explore what we’re capable of. It [has] definitely been met with levels of resistance, as change normally is, from some of our listeners, but, for us right now as artists, it [has] been a great evolution.
And as far as our position in the music industry, it definitely feels like we’re outsiders. And that’s fine. We’ll just keep doing what we do and let someone else deal with the labels.
JAKE ROTHWELL PHOTO
CREATING COMMUNITY
ARTS CENTER IGNITES CULTURAL RENAISSANCE
When it comes to the Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts, the mission is simple — revitalize, celebrate and teach and support.
“We’re primarily focused on preserving the culture and arts of the region,” said Kevin Little, program and events director at Lost Province. “The other prong of our mission is to restore the stone schoolhouse and make sure it’s there for another 80 years.”
Located in the historic Lansing
School in Ashe County, Lost Province has become a beacon of creativity, connectivity, hope and harmony in this pastoral corner of Western North Carolina.
And when you delve into those three principals, they go as follows: revitalize the historic Lansing School, celebrate and teach Southern Appalachian culture and skills, and support the local community.
To note, the school itself was a com-
munity hub from 1938 to 1992. After its closure, there were many ideas on what to do with the large property. Little himself was also a student there before it closed.
“It was the center of everything,” Little said of the school. “It went through a plethora of owners, but a lot of things never took hold.”
Nobody in the community wanted to see the beloved structure torn down, but something had to fill the
“We’re primarily focused on preserving the culture and arts of the region.”
— KEVIN LITTLE, PROGRAM AND EVENTS DIRECTOR
The Lost Province Center for Cultural Arts was a schoolhouse in Ashe County from 1938 until 1992. DONATED PHOTO
space, which is two-stories and nearly 17,000 square feet in size. By 2018, Lost Province formed as a nonprofit and quickly offered an array of arts/culture programming.
“We went from 50 students that first year in the arts program to over 600 last year,” Little said.
Once Lost Province started inhabiting the school, the extensive renovations of the property began. Stripping down walls and replacing old infrastructure offers up a symbolic blank canvas as to what can, will, and now does
take place within its walls.
“So now, we’ve actually got a living, breathing, functional space,” Little said.
Within the cultural programming offered at Lost Province is a slew of workshops for adults and children alike ranging from photography to pottery, food preservation to printmaking, fly fishing to painting, songwriting classes to winemaking, and much more.
In terms of music, Lost Province hosts its popular
“LanSing Jams” on Thursday evenings. The property is also a host for numerous live acts throughout the year, whether it be performers onstage during the “High Country Boil” culinary extravaganza or its Mardi Gras Party.
“We don’t want to be competitive with anybody. We want to be collaborative,” Little said of the musical possibilities for the property. “We’ve got such a great venue and we’re looking to host more music.”
Another key event is the Fly Around Music & Arts Festival. Taking place Aug. 1-2, the gathering will showcase sets by Joan Shelley & Nathan Salsburg, Myriam Gendron, Magic Tuber Stringband, Black Twig Pickers, Sammy Osmond & The No Hellers, and others.
“It’s all indie artists, who are steeped in traditional music, but put their own spin on it,” Little said.
In its inaugural outing, Fly Around will not only celebrate the cultural and musical essence of Southern Appalachia, it’ll also be a fundraiser for the continued recovery in the area following the devastation from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
“As terrible as Helene was, it really brought [Lost Province] back to the forefront because we became a relief distribution center,” Little said.
Little estimates that Lost Province served meals to around 600 people a day, with another 500 coming through each day for supplies.
“It’s been an instrumental experience to prove the worth and value of the space and the organization,” Little said. “And to see what a huge impact a building can have on an entire group of people.”
With the historic school now headlong into this new, bountiful lease on life through Lost Province, Little can’t help but harbor a sense of gratitude that the building he once wandered into as a student long ago is now the same place still bringing folks together.
“So many hundreds and thousands of people went through this building [as students]. It just altered their lives, the experiences they had here,” Little said. “And we’re hopeful to do that with the arts programming — to give people a path and a way to improve their station and their situation in life with the arts.”
BLENDING BLUEGRASS TRADITION WITH MODERN SOUND CAROLINA DETOUR
When she was just in elementary school, fiddler/vocalist Lake Carver graced the cover of the “Down the Road” magazine. Much like her current life, Carver was heavily invested in the music scene in her native Wilkes County, finding herself headlong in local jams, all while soaking in as much knowledge and technical ability as possible.
“It was just so crazy,” the 15-year-old said. “I was so young and it was so cool to me [to be on the cover].”
Growing up in Wilkesboro, there was always music around in the Carver household. And when she was just four years old, Carver was handed a fiddle. “It was the smallest thing that could fit into my hands,” Carver chuckled.
“And I like just being able to get into a simple jam, where you don’t even have to know anybody and you can just connect by playing fiddle.”
Attending her first MerleFest as a newborn, Carver hasn’t missed one spring installment of the cherished Wilkesboro musical gathering, which showcases the finest local, regional, national and international acts in the realms of bluegrass, folk, Americana and country music.
“We know so many people [at MerleFest] and it’s such a great community to play music and be with friends and family,” Carver said.
Carver fondly remembers those early days of jamming with other musical children on the at MerleFest during the
“Acoustic Kids with Andy May” portion of the weekend.
Eventually, as with all young aspiring musicians, comes the notion to finally put together a band of your own, an ensemble of talent, passion and purpose that ideally radiates all the intricate influences that make up not only your unique sound, but also your love for music.
Cue the group Carolina Detour. Formed three years ago, the outfit features Carver, guitarist/vocalist Lyla Cherry (Mooresville), guitarist/mandolinist Tae Childress (Statesville), banjo/ vocalist Malachi Bulman (Pinnacle), bassist Elijah Bulman (Pinnacle) and mandolinist/vocalist Cooper Eades (Catawba).
The young musicians who form Carolina Detour take part in many shows and competitions. DONATED PHOTO
“We’ve been playing gigs, competitions and festivals,” Carver said. “I just can’t imagine playing with anybody else, honestly. They’re all so talented.”
With a thick thread of bluegrass running through Carolina Detour, the group blends traditional acoustic melodies with contemporary takes on modern songs. The quintet has not only performed at MerleFest, but also other esteemed festivals, including FloydFest, The Caverns and Shakori Hills.
“We have a playlist that we add songs to that we want to do,” Carver said. “And when we do get to see each other and practice, we think about the [playlist] songs, write them down and play them. If we like them, we keep them. If we’re not feeling it, we’ll just move on to the next one.”
At this juncture, Carolina Detour is aiming to gather enough original material to finally head into the studio and record a debut album.
“Right now, we’re trying to work together and write songs,” Carver noted.
And with a personal motto of “captivating hearts, transcending genres,” Carolina Detour is well on its way to finding not only its own signature tone, but also its way in the vast world of live performance.
“It’s kind of just taking people on a bluegrass journey in a way,” Carver said. “Bluegrass tells so many stories in so many different ways. Bluegrass is just heartfelt. You can either fire it up with a bunch of fiddle playing or you can slow it down. It brings people together. It’s just so beautiful.”
Fiddler Lake Carver appeared on the cover of the first edition of “Down the Road,” the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s annual Music Trail magazine.
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.
“DOWN
THE ROAD” PODCAST FROM BLUE RIDGE MUSIC TRAILS OF WNC
The “Down the Road” 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 and scripted by Laura Boosinger, musician, folklorist, and storyteller; and produced by Jaclyn Anthony and Joe Kendrick of WNCW-FM.
Beginning with short and sweet three-minute episodes in seasons one and two, the podcast’s popularity warranted more content. Episodes have expanded to around nine minutes long and often feature multiple musical tracks showcasing the sounds of traditional music.
Episodes highlight historical and contemporary musicians and events. Through stories and interviews, the podcast helps weave together the sounds, venues, and voices behind traditional music across Western North Carolina.
You can find new episodes and the podcast archives at blueridgemusicnc.com, wncw.org, and podomatic.com.
WARREN WILSON COLLEGE SOUNDS OF APPALACHIA
When it comes to the roots and foundation of American music, much of what we know today as bluegrass, country, folk and blues originated from the mountains of Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia.
And at the heart of the preservation and perpetuation of those sounds is the rich music programs at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, located just outside of Black Mountain.
“We offer an eclectic mix of music that you wouldn’t necessarily find at most institutions,” said Natalya Weinstein
Miller, instructor of music at WWC. “And I would say a big focus of ours is on old-time and bluegrass music.”
Providing in-depth programs and degrees in a wide-range of subjects involving the history, legend, lore and legacy of certain musical genres in our backyard, WWC aims to spotlight and showcase the intricate musicianship and captivating presence of the ancient tones.
“Warren Wilson is very focused on a sense of place,” Miller noted. “And I would say that purpose plays into the mission and practice.”
“It’s really exciting to see the students learn new things and be exposed to the traditions that have been happening in this area for hundreds of years — traditions that are still happening even to this day.”
— NATALYA
SWANNANOA GATHERING
Started in 1991 as a way to bring together some of the finest and most talented musicians (bluegrass, old-time, folk) and traditional dancers from Western North Carolina and beyond, the annual Swannanoa Gathering takes place each summer on the campus of Warren Wilson College.
Providing a variety of workshops, jam sessions and performances, the programming lasts five weeks throughout July and August, the culmination of which being the preservation and perpetuation of mountain culture.
For more information and a full schedule of events and activities, click on swangathering.com.
From Appalachian music history to ballad singing, songwriting to live performance, string band sessions to clogging classes, the instruction and inspiration behind WWC’s musical programs is world-renowned.
“People can kind of tap into the Appalachian music vein,” Miller said. “We really lean into the traditional music program. A lot of studying about musicians from this region, different types of music that developed here or exist here today, where different musicians came from and what modern musicians are doing here in Appalachia today.”
A lifelong musician, Miller first came to Western North Carolina from her native Massachusetts in 2004. Initially, she came to know and appreciate WWC through its annual longtime Swannanoa gathering, a weeklong immersive summer music program on campus.
“The more you dig, the more roots you find, the more branches there are, too,” Miller said of the vast musical spectrum offered at WWC. “And there’s definitely been a growth in our program and interest lately. And a lot of that has to do with things like [renowned musician] Billy Strings and the ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ [film] phenomenon of the early 2000s.”
For Miller, her colleagues and students, being able to fully immerse oneself in the real, tangible history of Appalachian music comes to the forefront of not only her instruction, but also her passion for performance, seeing as all of these different varieties of sounds are seemingly available at any local jam session or show in our region.
“And I love the dovetail of teaching and performing. I think they really inform each other.”
“It’s very cool to have at your fingertips all these people that we’re talking about and all these different styles right here and accessible to us,” Miller said. “And it’s really exciting to see the students learn new things and be exposed to the traditions that have been happening in this area for hundreds of years — traditions that are still happening even to this day.”
Miller is also part of acclaimed Americana/indie-folk group Zoe & Cloyd, which includes her husband, John Cloyd Miller. The act is a mix of both of their family’s deep musical influences — from bluegrass to old-time music, American roots to world stylings. All of which plays into the couple’s unrelenting thirst to learn as much as possible from those storied musicians (past and present) here in Appalachia.
“I really appreciate the opportunities that I’ve had to get to sit knee-to-knee with these people and learn from them,” Natalya said. “And I love the dovetail of teaching and performing. I think they really inform each other.”
And now with over 20 years of living and working in Western North Carolina, a place where she’s cultivated a family and a career onstage and off, Natalya couldn’t imagine calling any other place home.
“What I’ve found in my experience [here] is just everybody supporting each other,” Natalya said. “It’s just such a caring community.”
Natalya Weinstein Miller. SARAH JOHNSTON PHOTO
APPALACHIAN AIRWAVES
WNCW CELEBRATES 35 YEARS
It’s not lost on Joe Kendrick just how beloved WNCW remains some 35 years since its inception. Not only as a vital radio station for the masses of Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia, but also this unique source of community and connectivity right here in our backyard.
“For us, we hope to keep doing what we love to do and being able to do it in the way that we’ve been doing it, essentially,” Kendrick said. “You can’t take for granted how important what you’re doing day-today really is for a lot of people.”
Joe Kendrick. WMOT PHOTO
brand, something he doesn’t take lightly.
“The more things change, the more they stay the same,” Kendrick noted. “When we started, these freewheeling stations like WNCW were incredibly rare. And what we did was help prove that a completely against the grain approach could work.”
Director of programming and operations for WNCW (which is located in Spindale), Kendrick initially started at the station as a volunteer in the early 1990s, only to work his way up the ranks to nowadays being regarded as a longtime pillar of the
In a modern era of streaming services, podcasts and YouTube, what WNCW provides is actual human connection with folks who live and work in your community. These are real voices who you’ve come to know and appreciate over the years, those providing quality music programming, live on-air studio performances and important local news coverage.
“And we’re still able to keep a core group of [listeners], with a lot of young people that also get turned on to
Malcolm Holcombe.
VICKI DAMERON PHOTO
WNCW,” Kendrick said. “We’re doing podcasts and also streaming our broadcasts. So, we’re always making sure we’re where people are in that regard.”
ing music. As good as an algorithm can be, it’s only a reflection of the person that set it up — and it’s not alive, it’s not in that moment,” Kendrick chuckled.
“Nothing beats a real person choosing music. As good as an algorithm can be, it’s only a reflection of the person that set it up — and it’s not alive, it’s not in that moment.”
— JOE KENDRICK
tunes in each day, each passing year.
“Well, that’s what we’re here for. We do this because we love it — that’s the bottom line,” Kendrick said. “We love being in a central part of the community, the fabric of Western North Carolina, Upstate South Carolina and East Tennessee. We love connecting with people through music first, but also all of the news and information programming.”
One of the key aspects of WNCW loyal listeners look forward to is the keen sonic taste of the radio disc jockeys. It harkens back to the old days of the corner record store, this sacred space where the person behind the counter could suggest your new favorite band without you even knowing who they were when you walked in.
“Nothing beats a real person choos-
“But, when you’re listening to a DJ or host on the radio, that person is breathing and thinking — they’re improvising like a musician onstage.”
When it comes to the core ethos and mission of WNCW, Kendrick points to the mere fact the station itself is currently in the midst of celebrating its 35th anniversary — the number itself a testament to the audience itself who
And it’s that sincere sense of passion and purpose within Kendrick and his colleagues that keeps WNCW as vibrant and real as ever.
“[With WNCW], you don’t have the sort of growth imperatives and the necessity to please shareholders [of corporate radio],” Kendrick said. “So that you [we] stay true to [our] mission and exist and have whatever growth [we] can over time — to survive and thrive in our own way.”
Chatham Rabbits. WNCW PHOTO
STECOAH’S SPIRIT
TRADITION TRIUMPHS
AFTER A SILENT INTERLUDE
If there’s one thing we can agree on at the supper table, it’s that the world is changing. The virus that upended much of our lives in 2020 did not leave the music world untouched. Due to caution, mandates, and industry instability, An Appalachian Evening came to a halt for the first time since its inception. Without live music, artists and venues alike were left in uncertainty. The inability to hold live concerts left them without needed revenue to continue their work. The region that Stecoah Valley Center is nestled in is no stranger to such poverty or adversity. In fact, it preserves and promotes a culture and people whose dialect, mannerisms, interests, and beliefs were born out of such struggles. Eighty-seven miles
southwest, down the Appalachian ridge, lives a man who sings the unique tribulation and jubilation of our people.
Barry Abernathy knows his roots well. As a teenager in Ellijay, Georgia, he played the banjo and sang the gospel quartet songs he had learned in church. He moved through the bluegrass ranks with Silver Creek, IIIrd Tyme Out, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and Mountain Heart, playing at times for as many as 40,000 people. Anyone who has ever attended a church service in Graham County has likely heard There Is A God without knowing it was Barry’s lead voice they were echoing.
“Those old male quartets, buddy, those shaped note hymns – Oh, I like that. I loved that part about playing with
Doyle. But some of my fondest musical memories are of my preacher. He didn’t even know he was a singer, really. He had a sound that you just can’t replicate. Folks here from the early 1900s hadn’t been integrated with everybody else. They just talked like their family talked and sang the way their family sang. I can remember several times being out in the woods and hearing him off on a ridge somewhere praying. It was almost like a song with a cadence and a rhythm.”
The theme of honoring the past and finding a way through the present is one most Appalachians know. Now one of the most sought-after frontmen in bluegrass, Abernathy pioneered a way to play one of the more difficult
Barry Abernathy.
instruments despite a birth defect in his left hand – and he excels at it. But that’s the mountain way. It’ll get done, but it’ll rarely be in the way one would expect. “You know how hard-headed Appalachians are. But they’re hard working, tough, resilient people. If they like something or they believe in something they’re gonna stick with it.”
Many might not realize that the man Barry was so influenced by – the legendary Doyle Lawson – was born with a cleft palate. “They told him he would never be able to sing and now the bluegrass industry’s never seen better vocal bands than what Doyle’s had.”
Doyle, who is rightfully a musical legend, is also known in the industry for his head for business, his work ethic, and high standards. Having Quicksilver in your band resume is often seen as having gone to bluegrass bootcamp. “Doyle’s dad raised him and taught him how to do things. He told me he would hoe a row of corn half a mile or longer on the river bottom and if it wasn’t straight his dad would make him go back and do the whole thing again. A lot of people ask, ‘Why is Doyle like he is? Why is his standard so high?’ But that’s the way he was raised. That comes from generation to generation. You have a lot to be said about people like that.”
Four years ago, after decades of playing with award-winning bands, Abernathy struck off on a similar endeavor to entertain audiences by sharing mountain culture and history through music – and Appalachian Roadshow has taken the country by storm. Their show features true stories recited in a somber tone as well as a masterful musical delivery of songs with regional significance.
our heart and take that out to people. I’d love to be able to take it to other countries and present that culture to themEngland, Ireland, Scotland, West Africa; that’s where this originated to form what we’ve got.”
After three standing ovations at Stecoah, Barry reflected on the gravity of a nearly century-old room. “The way it looks and smells just takes you back to another time. Literally, in the last 20 years, that’s the only venue I’ve played like that. Our auditorium here in Ellijay was very similar. I went and saw Doyle Lawson there in ‘86. They’ve tore most of them down. You really want to see places like that thrive and you can tell there’s a lot of passion for the local culture at Stecoah.”
Any director of Stecoah over the years will tell you it’s been no easy task to keep the Center standing proud to reach this anniversary milestone. But through community, hard work, ingenuity, and gumption, it remains. The same is true with the An Appalachian Evening concert series – some bands quit entirely during the pandemic – and there were ven¬ues that closed indefinitely. We were all suddenly aware of how soon professional cultural music might be yanked away after so many years of being nurtured and invested in. Fortunately, the music has returned.
“Jim VanCleve came up with the road show part of it years ago. We’re from Appalachia and we’ve seen and lived this culture, all the way from people actually living off their land, milking cows, and raising chickens and horses. That didn’t last long after I was born but I’ve seen those days. The musical culture comes from church houses. Local players play what their family taught them, on their grandparent’s instruments. We wanted to take songs that were passed down from generation to generation the way we learned how to play them and write some of our stuff too in the same theme. It’s important to us that we’re able to present what’s in
Many things are certainly different than they were five years ago, but some things are still the same. Sonny’s jokes, handshakes and howdies with performers, cinnamon rolls at intermission. Live music, and by extension, An Appalachian Evening has been back in full swing for almost four years now. It took great performers, dedicated staff and volunteers, and a faithful crowd. What does it take to keep the stage lights on mountain music? Abernathy says a performer, a venue, and an audience. “If any of those three go down, the others go with it. But to have artists, crowds, and auditoriums that are all invested in preserving the culture around them, that’s something special. If you love it and you want to see it keep going, just support live music.”
Barry’s pretty sharp on where culture and industry meet: “Billy Strings is out there drawing the masses with the Grateful Dead jam band thing, and I’m glad for him. There’s a huge crowd there and that’s their culture and they feel comfortable, they feel at home there. That’s how I feel in these old schoolhouses singing ballads and old hymns and picking fiddle tunes. It’s my people. I think Stecoah has those seats ready for whoever wants to feel at home there.”
KEVIN HENSLEY PHOTO
BEACON OF HOPE
FUNDRAISER SPARKS REBUILDING EFFORTS AFTER FLOOD
When Hurricane Helene roared through Western North Carolina in September 2024, the storm ravaged and decimated several small mountain towns. One of the most devastated communities was Marshall (pop: 777) in the rural landscape of Madison County.
Located at the corner of North Main Street and Baileys Branch Road in downtown Marshall, Zuma Coffee was one numerous businesses taken out by the floodwaters of the nearby French Broad River, with the wall of water estimated to have been over 27 feet high.
Founded by Joel Friedman in 2001,
Zuma is cherished as this beacon of connectivity, compassion and culture within Marshall, all atop its world-renowned status as a bluegrass bastion for its weekly jam sessions. To note, a special fundraising concert was held this past winter at the Grey Eagle Music Hall in Asheville.
“It’s the generosity of the people. It’s the beauty of the area,” Friedman reflected on the shop in a 2023 interview. “And it’s the sense of accomplishment of bringing this sort of thing to a community, watching it grow and thrive.”
Local singer-songwriters Ashley
Heath, Hannah Kaminer and Pierce Edens spoke at-length about not only the fundraiser for Zuma they all performed at, but also just what makes that coffee shop such a special place in the hearts of all who cross its threshold.
Give me a sense of not only what Zuma Coffee means to you, but also what that place means to locals and visitors alike?
Ashley Heath: Zuma was my very first job in 2006. I worked for Joel when I was just graduating from Madison High School and also when I moved back home after graduating college.
“We have a brilliant and inspiring community here. It has deep roots. Not only did I see a wealth of spirit, but also a wealth of willingness to do whatever was necessary. None of us had a job. We all took what job was necessary. I’ve never been prouder to be part of something.”
— PIERCE EDENS
Working at Zuma’s — and also growing up in Marshall — everyone is a big family and knows everyone. But, Zuma, in particular, allowed me to meet many of the iconic figures in music in our area and know them on a personal level when I was a teenager. I would be working the nights of these jams and would sneak out from behind the bar and sing a few songs with everyone. The community there raised me and took me under their wing and always encouraged me to get up there and sing. I feel very lucky to have been placed in such an encouraging and inspiring place, especially as a young musician.
Hannah Kaminer: Zuma is a pillar of the Marshall community and also a place where magic can happen. One time I played a “Songwriters in the Round” gig there and met [bluegrass
legend] Bobby Hicks and a long-lost relative who happens to live in Madison County — all at the same gig.
Pierce Edens: Joel was one of the first people to take a standing interest in Marshall. Downtown had sort of been passed over in the decades before. The courthouse was still there. The daily grind of keeping community living was still going on for the local folks.
He gave us all something we actually wanted — a cup of coffee and a friendly face. It really brought back a reason to go downtown.
Beyond the devastation of the flood itself, what’s been your biggest takeaway from your experience — what you saw, heard, felt, etc. — now that you’ve been able to reflect on everything?
AH: Through the devastation and destruction I’ve seen and been through in
the last few months, communities have been there for each other preparing hubs for food, resources, clothes and raising money for those in need. I also learned that storms are going to come through and what’s important is that we gather together and repair the best we can.
HK: We’re all a lot stronger and a lot more fragile than we realize. I want to spend more of my time nurturing my relationships with people and less time worrying about where I’m going in life. Who knows what will happen or where we will all be tomorrow? But, we can work to take care of each other at this moment — today — even if we are strangers.
PE: We have a brilliant and inspiring community here. It has deep roots. Not only did I see a wealth of spirit, but also a wealth of willingness to do whatever was necessary. None of us had
Ashley Heath. Pierce Edens.
a job. We all took what job was necessary. I’ve never been prouder to be part of something.
This fundraiser is one of countless events around our area aimed at helping and rebuilding local businesses. What does that say about the spirit and character of folks here in Western North Carolina?
AH: Musicians and artists are some of the first to be called when disaster strikes. The benefit shows are not only to raise money, but to raise our community spirit. Bring people together. Share memories and make more together. And create some sense of normalcy.
It’s important for everyone to know they’re not alone in this. I feel really grateful to be amongst a community who appreciates the significance of the arts and how much we need expression for our livelihood.
HK: Concerts like this remind me of what’s important — community, friendship, music, taking care of each other and sharing what we have. I think this is the mountain spirit, [where] we seem fiercely independent here in Western North Carolina, but it’s not individualism. And our music scene is built around open mics and jams and potlucks, not just performances and shows. Those are communal experiences. Playing music together to help a venue rebuild is really encouraging to me — emotionally and spiritually we are depleted and need each other in order to rebuild.
PE: We’re building back our community — one brick at a time. Getting together has always been a part of the “how we do that.” Music has always been woven into that fabric. Clearly, we need it. So, playing tunes seems as necessary as mold remediation.
Hannah Kaminer. LYSIANNE PEACOCK PHOTO
HAPPENINGS HAPPENINGS
FESTIVALS, CONCERT SERIES, JAM SESSIONS, MUSIC CAMPS, EXHIBITS AND MORE ALWAYS CHECK BEFORE HEADING OUT. THINGS HAPPEN.
SEASONAL
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Amphitheater Series
TRYON tryonarts.org
April-June, Thursdays 6:30 pm
An Appalachian Evening Summer Concert Series
ROBBINSVILLE stecoahvalleycenter.com
June 28-August 30, Saturdays 7:30
Blue Ridge Music Center Milepost Music
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY MILEPOST 213 BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org
June-September, Sundays 2pm-4pm visit website
Boonerang
BOONE joneshouse.org
Third weekend in June. Thursday-Friday evening concerts, Saturday all day
Brasstown Community Civic Center Summer Concerts
BRASSTOWN brasstowncommunitycenter.org
May-August, 2nd & 4th Saturdays, 7 pm
Concerts at the Blue Ridge Music Center
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY MILEPOST 213 BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org
May-August, visit website
Concerts on the Creek at Bridge Park
SYLVA mountainlovers.com
May 23-August 29, Fridays 7 pm, & July 4th 6:30 pm
Concerts at the Rock
VALDESE visitvaldese.com
October 2024-April 2025, one Saturday a month 7:30 pm
Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
ASHEVILLE southernhighlandguild.org
Thursday-Sunday, July 17-20 and October 16-19,10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Earl Scruggs Center’s Pickin’ on the Square SHELBY earlscruggscenter.org
June-July, 2nd Saturday, 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Fading Voices Festival
ROBBINSVILLE grahamcountytravel.com/event/fading-voices/ Saturday,11 am - 4 pm
Fain Alley Music Series
MURPHY cherokeeartscouncil.org
May-October, Last Saturday, 6 pm
Friday Night Live HIGHLANDS highlandschamber.org
Mid-May through mid-August, Fridays 6 pm
Heritage Weekend at the Folk Art Center ASHEVILLE southernhighlandguild.org
Mid-September, Saturday 10 am-4 pm, Sunday 12 noon-4 pm
Historic Cowee School Concert Series
FRANKLIN coweeschool.org
March-September, Saturdays & Sundays, see website
Indoor Concerts at the Jones House BOONE joneshouse.org
Several concerts, visit website
Live Mountain Music at the Orchard at Altapass SPRUCE PINE altapassorchard.org
June-October, Saturdays and Sundays 2-4 pm, visit website
Mid-Day Mountain Music at the Blue Ridge Music Center
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY MILEPOST 213 blueridgemusiccenter.org
May-October, visit website
Music on the Courthouse Square ROBBINSVILLE grahamcountytravel.com
May through mid-August, Fridays 7:3010:30 pm
Music at the Mills UNION MILLS unionmillslearningcenter.com
March-December, Fridays - see website for info
Music on Main in Sparta SPARTA alleghanyartscouncil.org
May-August, 1st Saturday 5 pm - see website
Oconaluftee Old-Time Music Jam CHEROKEE nps.gov/grsm
May-December, 3rd Saturday year round, 1-3 pm
Pickin at Priddy’s DANBURY facebook.com/est.1888
Every Saturday in October, except October 4, 2025, 3-5:30 pm
Pickin’ on the Square FRANKLIN franklinnc.com
May-October, 2nd & 4th Saturday, 6 pm
Rare Bird Farm SPRING CREEK rarebirdfarm.org
April-September, multiple concerts, visit website
Sacred Harp Singing SWANNANOA christianharmony.org
September-May, 3rd Sunday each month, 3 pm-5 pm
Saturdays in the Park SPARTA alleghanyartscouncil.org
June-September, 3rd Saturday each month 6 pm-9 pm
Shindig on the Green ASHEVILLE folkheritage.org
July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 9, 16, 23, Saturdays 7 pm
Songwriter Showcase HAYESVILLE thepeacocknc.org
April-September, one Saturday a month 7:30 pm
Summer Concerts at the Jones House BOONE joneshouse.org
June-August, Fridays 5:30 pm
Summer Concerts in the Park BANNER ELK bannerelk.org
June-August, Thursday evenings, see website
Summer Concert Series On the Historic Hayesville Square HAYESVILLE
cccra-nc.org
May 23-September 5, most Fridays 7 pm
Summer Tracks Concert Series
TRYON summertracks.com
June-August, two concerts a month, visit website
Traditional Concert Series at Davidson College DAVIDSON davidson.edu/the-arts
March & April, one concert each month, see website
Unto These Hills
CHEROKEE cherokeehistorical.org
May 31-August 23, Pre-Show 7:30, Main Show 8 pm
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YEAR
ROUND
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Yadkin Cultural Arts Center Concert Series
YADKINVILLE yadkinarts.org
Concerts year round, visit website
Music & History at Wilkes Heritage Museum
WILKESBORO wilkesheritagemuseum.com
Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm
Concerts Ashe Civic Center
WEST JEFFERSON ashecivic.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Concerts at The Gem at Boojum Taproom
WAYNESVILLE boojumbrewing.com
Friday & Saturday evenings, visit website
Jackson Arts Market
SYLVA jacksonartsmarket.com
Saturday & Sunday 1 pm-5 pm
Concerts at The Foundation Performing Arts Center
SPINDALE foundationshows.org
Concerts year round, visit website
Alleghany Jubilee
SPARTA alleghanyjubilee.com
Saturdays 7-9:30 pm
Concerts at Muddy Creek Café & Music Hall
SPARTA
muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Crouse House Pickers (Jam Session)
SPARTA townofsparta.org
Mondays 6 pm
Contra Dance
SPARTA townofsparta.org
3rd Fridays, 7-10 pm
Thursday Open Mic
SPARTA
muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com
Open Mic Nights every Thursday, 7:00 pm
Concerts at the Don Gibson
Theatre
SHELBY dongibsontheater.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Earl Scruggs Center: Music & Stories from the American South
SHELBY earlscruggscenter.org
Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm
Live Music at The Purple Onion
SALUDA purpleonionsaluda.com
Year Round, see website
Blue Ridge & Beyond Concert Series
MOUNT AIRY surryarts.org
Concerts year round, visit website
Mount Airy Museum of Regional History
MOUNT AIRY northcarolinamuseum.org
Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, visit website
Old-Time Music Heritage Hall
MOUNT AIRY surryarts.org
Monday-Friday 12-2 pm, Saturday 11:00 am-1:30 pm, Sunday 1:30-4:30 pm
WPAQ Saturday Morning Merry-Go Round
MOUNT AIRY wpaq740.com
Saturdays 11 am-1:30pm
Concerts at City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium
MORGANTON CoMMAOnline.org
Concerts year round, visit website
Ballad Night at the Old Marshall Jail Hotel
MARSHALL facebook.com/oldmarshalljail
Year Round, Second Wednesday each month, 6 pm
Madison County Arts Council
Concerts Series
MARSHALL madisoncountyarts.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Music at the Depot
MARSHALL facebook.com/patrfranklin
See Facebook for up to date info and programs post Hurricane Helene
Zuma Coffee Bluegrass Jam
Session
MARSHALL zumascoffee.com
Every third Thursday, 6-8 pm Visit website
Concerts
MARS HILL mhu.edu/event
Events year round, visit website
Square Dance at MHU
MARS HILL mhu.edu/event
Dances year round, visit website
Meadowlark Smoky Mountain Heritage Center
Concerts & Events
MAGGIE VALLEY meadowlarkmotel.com
Events year round, visit website
Concerts at J.E. Broyhill Civic Center
LENOIR broyhillcenter.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Phipps General Store Jam
LANSING facebook.com/100057275815434
Fridays 7-11 pm
Concert Series at the PAC
HIGHLANDS highlandsperformingarts.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Wednesday Night Bluegrass
HIGHLANDS theuglydogpub.com
Wednesdays 6:30 pm-9:30 pm
FBVMA Mountain Music Old Time Music Jam at Trailside Brewing Company
HENDERSONVILLE trailsidebrews.com
Wednesdays 6:00-8:30 pm
Cherokee Homestead Exhibit
HAYESVILLE cccra-nc.org
Daily, sunrise to sunset
The Peacock’s Main Stage Series
HAYESVILLE thepeacocknc.org
Concerts year round, visit website
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. Here’s a sampling:
• BLUEGRASS REVIEW, 3-5 pm Sundays, WSQL 102.1 FM
• BLUEGRASS TOP 20, 10 am-12 pm Sundays, WART 95.5 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
• LET’S GO LOCAL (ballads, oldtime, mountain music), 12 pm Saturdays, WART 95.5 FM
• MADISON COUNTY AUDIO ARCHIVES, 7:05 pm Mondays, WART 95.5 FM
• MORTAL COIL, 2 pm Tuesdays, WART 95.5 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, Oldtime, Gospel
• WPVM 103.7 FM - Bluegrass, Oldtime, Gospel. You can also listen to our “Down the Road on the Blue Ridge Music Trails “podcast daily, Monday - Saturday at 1 pm.
Sims Country Bar-B-Que - Food, Music & Dancing GRANITE FALLS simscountrybbq.com
Friday and Saturday 5-9 pm
Concerts at Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts FRANKLIN greatmountainmusic.com
Concerts year round, visit website Feed & Seed FLETCHER feedandseednc.com
Friday-Saturday 7:30-9:30 pm
Old-Time Jam at the Reeves ELKIN ReevesTheater.com
Fourth Thursday each month, except major holidays, 5:30 pm
Concerts at the Reeves Theater ELKIN ReevesTheater.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Jam Sessions at the Barber Shop DREXEL facebook.com/100063786660363 Saturdays 10:30 am
Concerts at Burnsville Town Center BURNSVILLE burnsvilletowncenter.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Concerts at 185 King Street BREVARD
185kingst.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Tuesday Casual Collaborations BREVARD
185kingst.com Tuesdays 6pm
John C. Campbell Folk SchoolConcerts, Dances & Fall Festival BRASSTOWN folkschool.org
Year Round Events - Visit Website
Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music Concert Series
BOONE & BLOWING ROCK mountainhomemusic.com
Multiple concerts, visit website
Concerts at The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country
BOONE apptheatre.org
Concerts year round, visit website
Jones House - Old Time Accoustic Jams
BOONE joneshouse.org
Thursday 7-10 pm
Concerts & Events at Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
BLOWING ROCK blowingrockmuseum.org
Concerts, lectures, and installations, visit website
Concerts at Black Mountain Center for the Arts
BLACK MOUNTAIN blackmountainarts.org
Concerts year round, visit website
Concerts at Silverados
BLACK MOUNTAIN silveradoswnc.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Concerts at White Horse Black Mountain
BLACK MOUNTAIN
whitehorseblackmountain.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Appalachian Clogging and Flatfoot Lessons
ASHEVILLE
facebook.com/ashevilleappalachiancloggingandflatfoot
Beginner & Intermediate Lessons, see website for info
Bluegrass & Old Time at Jack of the Wood
ASHEVILLE jackofthewood.com
Wednesdays 5-10 pm Old-Time Jam, Thursdays 7-9:30 pm Bluegrass Jam, Friday-Saturday evening bands (visit website), Saturday afternoon - Nobody’s Darling 4-6pm, Sunday 12-2 pm Bluegrass Brunch
Concerts at Asheville Music Hall ASHEVILLE ashevillemusichall.com
Concerts year round, visit website
Concerts at Highland Brewing Company ASHEVILLE highlandbrewing.com
Concerts year round, 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 Jimmy’s Pick n Grin ANDREWS facebook.com/p/jimmys-pick-n-grinmusic-hall-steve-jordan-band Saturdays 7-11 pm, visit website
Stories on the Square
HAYESVILLE
kanuterarey.com
3rd Friday, 6-7:30 pm
6
APRIL
6
APRIL 3-6
The Way of the Dulcimer Spring & Fall Retreat
LITTLE SWITZERLAND donpedi.com
Thursday 4-10 pm, Friday & Saturday 8 am-10 pm, Sunday 8-10 am
APRIL 5
Yadkin Valley Bluegrass & Old Time Convention
YADKINVILLE yadkinarts.org
Saturday 12 pm-10 pm
APRIL 11-13
Ola Belle Reed: A Songwriting Retreat
WEST JEFFERSON ashecountyarts.org
Friday-Sunday, visit website
APRIL 13
Ola Belle Reed: Songwriters in Concert
WEST JEFFERSON ashecountyarts.org
Saturday 7:30 pm
APRIL 24-27
MerleFest
WILKESBORO merlefest.org
Thursday 2:30-11:30 pm, Friday & Saturday 11 am-11:30 pm, Sunday 11 am-6 pm
6
MAY
6
MAY 3
Appalachian Heritage Weekend WAYNESVILLE sheltonhouse.org
Saturday10 am-4 pm
MAY 3
Rare Bird Farm’s Doggett Gap Tiny Music & Heritage Festival
SPRING CREEK rarebirdfarm.org
Friday 6 pm - Saturday 9 pm
MAY 3
Spring Etowah Christian Harmony
Singing & School
ETOWAH christianharmony.org
Saturday 10 am-3 pm
Pickin’ on the Square.
MAY 8-11
LEAF Retreat BLACK MOUNTAIN theleaf.org
Thursday 4:30 pm-Sunday 5 pm
MAY 23-24
Swain County Heritage Festival BRYSON CITY greatsmokies.com
Friday 5-10 pm, Saturday 9 am-9 pm, visit website
MAY 23-AUGUST 29
Groovin’ on the Green Summer Concert Series
CASHIERS
villagegreencashiersnc.com
Memorial Day-Labor Day, Fridays 6 pm
JUNE
JUNE 5-7
Cherokee Bluegrass Festival
CHEROKEE
evansmediasource.com
Thursday 12 noon-Saturday 10 pm
JUNE 6-7
Mount Airy Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention
MOUNT AIRY
mountairyfiddlersconvention.com
Friday 7:00 pm, Saturday 9:30 am
JUNE 8-14
Blue Ridge Old-Time Music Week MARS HILL mhu.edu/conferences
Sunday-Friday, see website
JUNE 14
Bluff Mountain Festival HOT SPRINGS madisoncountyarts.com
Saturday 10 am-6 pm
JUNE 29-JULY 5
Swannanoa Gathering Mando & Banjo Week
ASHEVILLE swangathering.com
Sunday-Saturday, week-long session
JUNE 29-JULY 5
Swannanoa Gathering Fiddle Week
ASHEVILLE swangathering.com
Sunday-Saturday, week-long session
6
JULY 6
JULY 4-5
Christmas in July Festival WEST JEFFERSON christmasinjulyfestival.com
Friday 3-10 pm, Saturday 9 am-7 pm
JULY 6-12
Swannanoa Gathering Traditional Song Week ASHEVILLE swangathering.com
Sunday-Saturday, week-long session
JULY 7-11
Surry Old Time Music Camp DOBSON surry.edu
Monday - Friday 9 am-2 pm
JULY 11-12
Annual NC Blackberry Festival LENOIR ncblackberryfestival.com
Friday 5 pm - Saturday 9 pm
JULY 11-13
Festival on the Square HAYESVILLE clayhistoryartsnc.org
Friday 7pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm
JULY 12
Coon Dog Day
SALUDA cityofsaludanc.com
Saturday 8 am-11 pm
JULY 17-19
Alleghany County Fiddlers Convention SPARTA alleghanycountyfiddlers.com
Thursday 4 pm, Friday 5 pm, Saturday 11 am
JULY 18-19
Doc & Rosa Lee Watson MusicFest ‘N Sugar Grove
SUGAR GROVE docwatsonmusicfest.org
Friday and Saturday, see website
JULY 20-26
Swannanoa Gathering Old-Time Week
ASHEVILLE swangathering.com
Sunday-Saturday week-long session
JULY 25-26
Ashe County Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention
WEST JEFFERSON ashefiddlersconvention.org
Friday-Saturday 10 am-10 pm
JULY 26
Annual Swannanoa Shaped Note
Singing
ASHEVILLE christianharmony.org
Saturday 10 am-3 pm
JULY 27-AUGUST 2
Swannanoa Gathering Guitar Week
ASHEVILLE swangathering.com
Sunday-Saturday, week-long session
JULY 31-AUGUST 2
Mountain Dance and Folk Festival
ASHEVILLE folkheritage.org
Thursday-Saturday 7:00-10 pm 6
AUGUST 6
AUGUST 9-10
Blue Ridge Heritage Weekend WAYNESVILLE sheltonhouse.org
Saturday 9:00 am-5 pm, Sunday 11 am-4 pm
AUGUST 14-16
Annual North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival MARION evansmediasource.com
Thursday 12 noon-Saturday 10 pm
AUGUST 15-16
Doc Watson Day BOONE joneshouse.org
Friday 5:00 pm - Saturday - see website for details
AUGUST 22-23
Carolina Hills FiddleFest
UNION GROVE carolinahillsfiddlefest.com
Thursday 6 pm-Sunday 3 pm
AUGUST 29-31
Earl Scruggs Music Festival
TRYON earlscruggsmusicfest.com
Friday-Sunday, All Day
AUGUST 29-31
Happy Valley Jamboree
LENOIR happyvalleyfiddlers.org/
Friday 7 pm-Sunday 3 pm
Groovin’ on the Green.
SEPTEMBER 6
SEPTEMBER 5-14
Mountain Music Festival at the Mountain State Fair FLETCHER wncagcenter.org
Performances throughout the 10-day event
SEPTEMBER 6
Fall Etowah Christian Harmony Singing ETOWAH christianharmony.org
Saturday 10 am-3 pm
SEPTEMBER 6
Music at the Mill WAYNESVILLE francismill.org
Saturday 10 am-4 pm
SEPTEMBER 13
Music in the Mountains Folk Festival BURNSVILLE toeriverarts.org
Saturday 5:30-8:30 pm, see website
SEPTEMBER 20
Cherokee Heritage Festival in Hayesville HAYESVILLE cccra-nc.org Saturday 10 am-3 pm
SEPTEMBER 20 Yadkin Valley Harvest Festival YADKINVILLE yadkinarts.org Saturday 10 am-3 pm
SEPTEMBER 20
Mountain Heritage Festival
SPARTA alleghanycountychamber.com
Saturday 10 am-4:30 pm
SEPTEMBER 26
Art on the Island MARSHALL madisoncountyarts.com
Saturday, see website
OCTOBER
6
OCTOBER 3
BBQ for Books with a Side of Bluegrass KING stokespfc.com Friday 6 pm-9 pm
OCTOBER 10-12
Autumn Leaves Festival
MOUNT AIRY
autumnleavesfestival.com
Friday-Saturday 9 am-9 pm, Sunday 12
noon-6 pm
OCTOBER 10-12
Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival CASHIERS
villagegreencashiersnc.com
Friday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 10 am-3 pm
OCTOBER 11
Annual Church Street Art & Craft Show
WAYNESVILLE downtownwaynesville.com
Saturday 10 am-5 pm
OCTOBER 16-19
LEAF Festival
BLACK MOUNTAIN theleaf.org
OCTOBER 18
NOVEMBER 6
NOVEMBER 8
ROAD TRIP! 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.
Thursday 4:30 pm-Sunday 5 pm
Apple Harvest Festival
WAYNESVILLE haywoodchamber.com
Saturday 10 am-5 pm
OCTOBER 18
Valle Country Fair
VALLE CRUCIS
vallecountryfair.org
Saturday 9 am-4 pm
OCTOBER 18-19
Stecoah’s Harvest Festival
ROBBINSVILLE stecoahvalleycenter.com
October 3rd Weekend, Friday 6 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm
OCTOBER 18-19
Woolly Worm Festival BANNER ELK WoollyWorm.com
Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Sunday 9 am-4 pm
OCTOBER 18-20
Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival HAYESVILLE claychambernc.com
Friday 6-9 pm, Saturday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm
OCTOBER 23-26
Mount Airy Ukulele Retreat MOUNT AIRY surryarts.org
Thursday-Sunday, visit website for registration
OCTOBER 25
Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival
MAGGIE VALLEY Haywoodarts.org
Swannanoa Valley Shape Note
Singing
BLACK MOUNTAIN christianharmony.org
Saturday 10 am-3 pm
NOVEMBER 29
Annual Thanksgiving Kiln Opening LENOIR exploreboone.com
Saturday 10 am-4 pm
6
2026 6
FEBRUARY 2026
Tommy Jarrell Festival MOUNT AIRY surryarts.org
Thursday-Saturday
FEBRUARY 2026
We provide the playlist. You choose the volume.
Appalachian State Old-Time
Fiddler’s Convention BOONE fiddle.appstate.edu
Friday evening-Saturday afternoon
FEBRUARY 2026
Bluegrass First Class
ASHEVILLE bluegrassfirstclass.com
Friday-Sunday, visit website for times
MARCH 2026
Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
WILKESBORO wilkesheritagemuseum.com
Saturday, 6 pm
MARCH 2026
Remembering Earl Fundraising Concert
SHELBY earlscruggscenter.org
Saturday, 6 pm
MARCH 2026
Annual Sandy Ridge School Bluegrass Show
SANDY RIDGE
BlueRidgeMusicNC.com
Saturday evening
MARCH 2026
Saturday 11 am-6 pm 6
Caldwell Traditional Musicians Showcase
LENOIR broyhillcenter.com
Saturday evening
We provide the playlist . You choose the volume.
We . provide the playlist You the volume.
ROAD TRIP!
ROADTRIP!
Weprovide the playlist. Youcontrol the volume.
Put on your favorite tunes and let our scenic mountain vistas create nature’s playlist. Turn up the volume with mountainous zip lines and vigorous hikes. Or wind down with creekside walks 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.
ROAD TRIP! Put on your favorite tunes and let our scenic mountain vistas create nature’s playlist. Turn up the volume with mountainous zip lines and vigorous hikes. Or wind down with creekside walks and wine tastings. Choose a mountain inn or a log cabin that’s just right. Enjoy the twists and turns around Historic Saluda, and Columbus just 90 minutes west of Charlotte.
ROAD TRIP! Put on your favorite tunes and let our scenic mountain vistas create nature’s playlist. Turn up the volume with mountainous zip lines and . Or wind down with 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.
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.
FirstPeakVisitor Center, Columbus,
FirstPeakVisitor Center, Columbus, NC
First Peak Visitor Center, Columbus, NC firstpeaknc.com• 800-440-7848
FirstPeakVisitor Center, Columbus, firstpeaknc.com• 800-440-7848
