In search of the sound: WNC summer concert series
From welcoming backwoods front porches to raucous downtown stages, the music of Western North Carolina weaves together the rich history, passion and camaraderie of Southern Appalachia and its inhabitants. At the heart of this deep love and appreciation for music are the communities that proudly display their heritage by offering weekly performances for residents and visitors alike.
“[The summer concert series] provides opportunities to engage community members in the arts, cultural events and entertainment,” said Michael Corelli, coordinator for the Western Carolina University concert series. “I feel it is a valuable event for people to participate in because it gives individuals the chance to come out during the summer evenings and listen to performers fill the air with amazing music.”
And with the official kickoff to summer being Memorial Day weekend, numerous towns around the region will launch their free summer concert series. Everything from old-time bluegrass to gospel soul, rockabilly to honky-tonk country, will hit the stage for all to enjoy. History comes alive through harmonious voices, percussion and vibrating strings that echo into the ancient Great Smoky Mountains, as they have for generation after generation.
BRYSON CITY
Train Depot • Saturdays at 6:30 p.m.
June 7 — Boogertown Gap (folk/bluegrass)
June 14 — Juniper (Celtic/Americana)
June 21 — The Freight Hoppers (Americana/bluegrass)
June 28 — Lonesome Sound (old-time string)
July 5 — The Elderly Brothers (oldies)
July 12 — Chris Monteith (Elvis impersonator)
July 19 — The Grove Band (rock)
July 26 — Porch 40 (funk/Motown)
Aug. 2 — The Josh Fields Band (southern rock/country)
Aug. 9 — Liz & AJ Nance (singer-songwriter/folk)
Aug. 16 — The Barefoot Movement (folk/instrumental)
Aug. 23 — Carolina Bluegrass Boys
Aug. 30 — Caribbean Cowboys (reggae/rock)
Sept. 6 — Ian Moore & The Second Hand String Band (Americana/folk)
Sept. 13 — Larry Barnett & Friends (old-time/bluegrass)
Sept. 20 — The Rye Holler Boys (bluegrass/gospel)
Oct. 4 — To Be Announced
Oct. 11 — Johnny Floor & The Wrong Crowd (southern rock/Texas blues)
Oct. 18 — To Be Announced
Oct. 25 — Blue Eyed Girl (Appalachian roots)
CASHIERS
Groovin’ On The Green • Village Commons • Fridays at 6:30 p.m.
May 30 — Blind Lemon Phillips (blues/rock)
June 6 — Hurricane Creek (folk/rock)
June 20 — Soldier’s Heart (Americana/folk)
June 27 — Jackson Taylor Band (blues/jazz/rock/country)
July 4 — Fireworks Extravaganza with The Extraordinaires
July 11 — Joe Lasher Band (country/rock)
July 18 — Jeff Sipe Trio (jazz-fusion/rock)
July 25 — Erica Nicole (country/singer-songwriter)
Aug. 1 — Matt Joiner Band (rock)
Aug. 8 — Rockwell Scott & Friends (jazz)
Aug. 15 — Unspoken Tradition (bluegrass)
Aug. 22 — Hurricane Creek (folk/rock)
CHEROKEE
Music on the River • Oconaluftee River Stage • Select nights at 8 p.m.
May 16 — A-36 Band
May 17 — AM Superstars
May 23 — Amazing Grace Ministries
May 24 — Amazing Grace Ministries
May 30 — A-36 Band
May 31 — An Evening with Elvis
June 6 — Will Hayes Band
June 7 — AM Superstars
June 13 — Eastern Blue Band
June 14 — An Evening with Elvis
June 20 — A-36 Band
June 21 — Eastern Blue Band
June 27 — A-36 Band
June 28 — The Boomers
June 29 — AM Superstars
June 30 — Running Wolf Band
July 1 — Will Hayes Band
July 2 — Eastern Blue Band
July 3 — AM Superstars
July 4 — Amazing Grace Ministries
July 5 — Amazing Grace Ministries
July 6 — Amazing Grace Ministries
July 11 — Running Wolf Band
July 12 — AM Superstars
July 18 — Midnight Express Clogging Team
July 18 — A-36 Band
July 19 — Eastern Blue Band
July 25 — A-36 Band
July 26 — AM Superstars
Aug. 1 — Will Hayes Band
Aug. 2 — Running Wolf Band
Aug. 3 — Running Wolf Band
Aug. 8 — Will Hayes Band
Aug. 9 — Eastern Blue Band
Aug. 15 — A-36 Band
Aug. 16 — AM Superstars
Aug. 22 — Eastern Blue Band
Aug. 23 — AM Superstars
Aug. 29 — Amazing Grace Ministries
Aug. 30 — Amazing Grace Ministries
Aug. 31 — The Boomers
CULLOWHEE
Western Carolina University • Central Plaza • Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
June 10, June 24, July 8, July 15 and July 22.
Artist lineup to be announced.
FRANKLIN
Pickin’ on the Square • Town Hall • Saturdays at 7 p.m.
May 24 — Macon Grass (bluegrass)/Dixie Darling Cloggers
May 31 — The J.W. Band (country)
June 7 — The Band Sundown (70s/oldies)
June 14 — Taste of Scotland (festival)
June 21 — Curtis Blackwell & The Dixie Bluegrass Boys
June 28 — Gem City (gospel)
July 5 — The Lisa Price Band (variety)
July 12 — Earl Cowart (country)
July 19 — Mountain Faith (bluegrass/gospel)
July 26 — Elderly Brothers (doo wop/oldies)
Aug. 2 — Charlie Horse (variety)
Aug. 9 — Fast Gear (modern country)
Aug. 16 — Tugelo Holler (progressive bluegrass)
Aug. 23 — Michael Reno Harrell (singer-songwriter/storyteller)
Aug. 30 — The Frogtown Four (bluegrass)
Sept. 6 — Ms. Kitty & The Big City Band (variety/blues)
Sept. 13 — The Rick Morris Band (country)
Sept. 20 — The Remnants (rock)
Sept. 27 — Paradise 56 (soul/oldies)
Oct. 4 — Blue Ridge (gospel)
Oct. 11 — To Be Announced
Oct. 18 — The Thomas Family (gospel)
HIGHLANDS
Friday Night Live • Town Square • Fridays at 6 p.m.
June 13 — Johnny Webb Band
June 20 — Southern Highlands
June 27 — Mountain High Dulcimer Group
July 4 — Johnny Webb Band
July 11 — Macon Grass Band
July 18 — Southern Highlands
July 25 — Mountain High Dulcimer Group
Aug. 1 — Macon Grass Band
Aug. 8 — Fred Kopp
Aug. 15 — Johnny Webb Band
Aug. 22 — Macon Grass Band
Aug. 29 — Mountain High Dulcimer Group
Sept. 5 — Curtis Blackwell
Sept. 12 — Johnny Webb Band
Sept. 19 — Southern Highlands
Sept. 26 — Macon Grass Band
Oct. 3 — Mountain High Dulcimer Group
Oct. 10 — Johnny Webb Band
Oct. 17 — Southern Highlands
Oct. 24 — Macon Grass Band
HIGHLANDS
Saturdays on Pine • Kelsey-Hutchinson Park • Saturdays at 6 p.m.
June 21 — Well Strung
June 28 — Jerry Bones
July 5 — Shane Bridges
July 12 — Hobohemians
July 19 — Telico
July 26 — Ben Sutton Band
Aug. 2 — The Lonesome Road Band
Aug. 9 — Hi 5
Aug. 16 — Mangus Colorado
Aug. 23 — Copious Jones
Aug. 30 — Andrew Scotchie
SYLVA
Concerts on the Creek • Bridge Park • Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
May 23 — The Lisa Price Band
May 30 — Caribbean Cowboys
June 6 — Eddie Rose & Highway 40
June 13 — Buchanan Boys
June 20 — Johnny Webb Band
June 27 — Mountain Faith
July 4 — Dashboard Blue
July 11 — Emporium
July 18 — Soldier’s Heart
July 25 — Sundown
Aug. 1 — Whitewater Bluegrass
Aug. 8 — Asheville 96.5 House Band
Aug. 15 — Porch 40
Aug. 22 — Mangus Colorado
Aug. 29 — The Remnants
NONPROFIT CONCERT SERIES
Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center • “An Appalachian Evening” concert series • Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. • Admission prices vary.
June 28 — The Kruger Brothers (Americana/folk)
July 5 — Town Mountain (bluegrass)
July 12 — The Freight Hoppers (Americana/bluegrass)
July 19 — The Snyder Family (bluegrass/folk)
July 26 — The Special Consensus (bluegrass)
Aug. 2 — The Bankesters (Americana/bluegrass)
Aug. 9 — The Jeff Little Trio (Americana/old-time)
Aug. 16 — Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues
Aug. 23 — The Henhouse Prowlers (bluegrass)
Aug. 30 — Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys (Americana/traditional)
Sept. 6 — Balsam Range (bluegrass/gospel)
