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High Country Throwdown Offers Great Tunes for Better Cause at Boone Saloon Friday Night

By Jesse Wood

Dec. 19, 2013. For the annual benefit concert known as High Country Throwdown, some of the best musicians in the High Country will perform at the Boone Saloon on Friday, Dec. 20. 

Organized by David Brewer, a musician in a number of established bands in the area, the High Country Throwdown continues a tradition of supporting a good cause during the holiday season with rockin’ local tunes in a relaxed atmosphere. Suggested cover is $10, and the show starts at 9 p.m.

For this year’s event, Brewer has put together another unique showcase that features “Soul Benefactor, Possum JenkinsThe Worthless Son-in-LawsNaked Gods, (musicians of) The Junaluska Gospel Choir, Bafoodus, The Karloffs and lord knows who else. Perhaps we’ll even entice our friend Melissa Reaves to join us!,” a Facebook event page noted.

The Jonestown Massacre, the Do Right Band and special guests are also expected to perform, Brewer said on Thursday. It’s an eclectic, hodgepodge of musicians with sounds that Brewer said will lean on the funkier side. However, The Jonestown Massacre, for example, is a country band, so the sets will be diverse. Brewer added that  attendees should expect some unique collaborations between the groups, too.

“We aren’t pretending to be the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam or anything,” Brewer said. “There just aren’t that many occasions where a large group of really some of the best musicians in the High Country can get together and rock out for a change in a no pressure situation, where everyone comes in expecting to collaborate, have a good time and go with the flow.”

While Brewer has held this style holiday benefit concert for several years now, this will be the third year that the Boone Saloon has hosted the event.

“There are so many worthy causes, I am really sorry we can’t do it more,” Brewer said.

This year, the performance benefits Barry Chappell, a fellow musician who has collaborated with many of the musicians on the bill and who is currently battling cancer. Many may know Chappell from when he ran the Mountain Pirate in downtown Boone for many years.

“We want to show him how much we love and appreciate him and all he has done for the local music scene,” Brewer said.

For more information, click here or call the Boone Saloon at 828-264-1811.