Archived Arts & Entertainment

In search of the sound: WNC summer concert series

art frFrom 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)

 

ONGOING COMMUNITY JAMS

Bryson City • Marianna Black Library • First and third Thursday of the month, 6 p.m.

Canton • Pickin’ in the Park • Fridays at 7 p.m., early June through Labor Day

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