Feb. 12, 2018. The King Bees – the High Country’s premier blues ambassadors – are known for rocking the local festivals and parks with a big sound. You might have even seen guitarist Rob Baskerville walking through the crowds, playing slide guitar with water bottles, umbrellas, and lawn chairs of wide-eyed onlookers. This Friday, February 16, the Bees are released indoors, as The King Bees perform a special indoor concert at the Jones House Cultural and Community Center in downtown Boone. / Read more…

Feb. 2, 2018. A musical showcase highlighting Black Roots of American folk music will take place this Saturday evening at the Jones House Cultural and Community Center in downtown Boone. The concert is part of the on-going series of Black & Global Roots Concerts in collaboration with Dr. Cece Conway, exploring the West African influences upon American banjo music and later Piecmont blues. / Read more…

Jan. 19, 2018. MerleFest, presented by Window World and slated for April 26 – 29, is proud to announce five additions to the 2018 lineup: The Mavericks, Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn, Mandolin Orange, Alison Brown, and Brandy Clark. The annual homecoming of musicians and music fans returns to the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. MerleFest has already announced over 75 artists for 2018, including Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, Rodney Crowell, Rhiannon Giddens, Elephant Revival, The Devil Makes Three, aMidnight Jam hosted by Town Mountain and Jim Lauderdale, and many more. The rest of the distinguished lineup for MerleFest 2018 will roll out over the next few months. / Read more…

October 25, 2017. Blue Ridge Mountain Club hosted six Chambers of Commerce for a business after-hours event at its new fitness center and event terrace on October 17, a sneak preview of its Amenity Center that will open fully in the spring of 2018. Boasting 180-degree, 50-mile views, the setting in the community’s Village was the largest business/professional gathering Blue Ridge Mountain Club has hosted to date with more than 400 Chamber officials and business professionals from Western North Carolina’s Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Wilkes, Blowing Rock and Boone Counties. / Read more…

What’s going on in your community? Here’s a brief update on the emails we received today. Check back each day for an updated list of events going on in the area. As always, please feel free to email us about your event or update.

Domestic Violence Includes Elder Abuse, October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Poetry Reading by Lees-McRae Professor, Melissa Mercer: A Lees-McRae College Stephenson Center for Appalachia Lecture, 10/31 

Greenway Baptist Peewee Basketball Sign-Up Open Now – 12/3

WCEA and the Watauga Humane Society Adoption Event, Sponsored by S.N.I.P.S. 10/31

Children’s Book Author Visits ASU and Boone Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Speaks on the Uses of Fantasy, 10/29

Watauga County Gospel Singing, 10/28 

The Walker Center presents “Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage” on Friday, 11/10

National Parks at the Crossroads, 11/2

Read more…
Compiled by Kate Herman

October 17, 2017. The colors, flavors, sights and sounds of the mountain harvest season all come together at the Valle Country Fair in beautiful Valle Crucis, North Carolina, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 21st. Volunteers from all over the Valle forge friendships and build community while working together for a cause greater than themselves. The job of hosting thousands of guests each fall is small sacrifice when that volunteerism results in tens of thousands of dollars being raised for High Country charities each year. / Read more…

Sep. 19, 2017. Social dancing is an ageless art where dancers of all ages can experience the joy of rhythm and beat together. On Saturday, September 30th, the Boone Shag Club and Appalachian State University Department of Theater and Dance will host the 2nd Annual Community-Wide Fall Shag Dance. The event will take place on Appalachian State University’s campus at the Reich College of Education Building.Tickets are available for $25, which includes dinner, the live band, and dance. By Kate Herman – Photos by Ken Ketchie and Sandi Solomon / Read more…

Sept. 5, 2017. The King Bees duo, Penny “Queen Bee” Zamagni and Rob “Hound Dog” Baskerville, celebrated its 15th New River Blues Festival in Ashe County this past weekend. The lineup included Johnny Rawls, Lakota John, Ike and Val Woods, The King Bees and more.“ There was such a great turnout and all the artists were completely on their game and sounded great,” said Zamagni. By Jesse Wood • Photo by Frederica Georgia / Read more…

Aug. 23, 2017. The High Country celebrates the Tenth Annual Beer Fest at the High Country Fairgrounds on Saturday August 26, 2017 from 3:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. By Kate Herman / Read more…

July 18, 2017. Prog powerhouse of the ’70s Yes will make the second stop of its summer “Yestival” tour at Appalachian State University’s Holmes Convocation Center on Saturday, August 5 this year. Joining the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will be internationally-famous Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy. The English-born band, which broke through to fans on both sides of the Atlantic with classics “Roundabout” and “I’ve Seen All Good People,” among others, will perform hits from the band’s golden years, ranging from Yes’ beginnings in 1968 through the 1978 release of Tormato. By Bailey Faulkner / Read more…

July 21, 2017. For many, a daylong, 13-act concert is all it takes to wipe the calendar clean for a Saturday afternoon and evening. Luckily for music lovers of the High Country, The Local’s Saturday, July 22 show will be much more than that. Boone native and musician Brian Russell Collins will host his yearly charity event A Cause to Rock at the downtown Boone venue to help raise money for Winston-Salem’s Darryl Gaines, a North Forsyth High School student-athlete and recent graduate diagnosed with stage III lymphoma. Collins founded A Cause to Rock in 2015, focusing the first annual event on raising money for Wilmington community members with autism and their families. By Bailey Faulkner / Read more…

July 13, 2017. If you haven’t had the time to make the short drive out to Todd for some great tunes this summer, you’re not too late! Although High Country veteran string outfit Amantha Mill and duo Wayne Henderson and Helen White have already taken the stage at downtown Todd’s Cook Park this year, the latter half of the summer will offer music lovers of the area a chance to see both new and familiar faces at the popular outdoor music series. By Bailey Faulkner – Photo Courtesy of Melissa Reaves / Read more…

June 30, 2017. The High Country may play host to some of the country’s most famous traveling musicians and artists, but this area of the Blue Ridge Mountains offers some homegrown talent of its own. Boone local and internationally-renowned embodiment of all things rock Melissa Reaves will take to Neighborhood Yoga for an “intimately explosive concert” with longtime friend and fellow musician Masa Takahashi this Friday, June 30. By Bailey Faulkner – Photos courtesy of Melissa Reaves / Read more…

June 29, 2017. Cane Mill Road’s new album Five Speed debuted in the Top 10 at #9 on the Billboard Bluegrass Album Chart on Tuesday. Cane Mill Road is an IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Showcase Band for 2017. IBMA selected Cane Mill Road from hundreds of applicants as one of 30 bands to showcase during its annual conference/festival as part of the Bluegrass Ramble. / Read more…

June 6, 2017. The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce and Boone Sunrise Rotary Club have teamed up to host a two-day celebration of the High Country’s most popular restaurants and businesses. The inaugural High Country Toast, a “local showcase of food, drink, and attractions that will entertain visitors and locals alike,” is slated for Friday, June 23 at the Jones House in downtown Boone and Saturday, June 24 at Appalachian Ski Mountain. By Bailey Faulkner / Read more…

Mountain Minor – Trailer from WonderlandWoods.TV on Vimeo.

May 24, 2017. On Friday, June 2 at noon, there will be a Lunch And Learn about The Mountain Minor movie at the Jones House Community Center. The Mountain Minor is a movie about Appalachian music and culture that will be filmed in Todd this summer. / Read more…

May 23, 2017. Jazz fans of the High Country: clear your calendars for a special night in Boone this Sunday, May 28. Local jazz singer Maureen Renihan will take the stage with guitarist Troy Conn and bassist Mike Holstein at The Local for her debut album release show from 7-10 p.m. Renihan’s recently-released debut, Softly, marks the beginning of a new chapter in the established jazz musician’s five-year career. By Bailey Faulkner / Read more…

May 18, 2017. While seeing high-caliber indoor football in the High Country is a reward in itself, the High Country Grizzlies have something special to offer fans attending the team’s Saturday, May 27 matchup against the Columbus Lions. Up-and-coming pop artist Vance Fite will entertain the crowd at the Holmes Convocation Center in support of his latest single, “All Your Love.” By Bailey Faulkner / Read more…

May 17, 2017. Twenty-four years and counting – that is how many seasons Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music has been a staple of the concert scene in the High Country. In celebration of this legacy, JSMHM is pleased to announce its 2017 Indoor Concert Series. Joe Shannon, the beloved founder of Mountain Home Music, died of cancer in the spring of 2014, leaving behind a strong foundation of presenting entertaining concerts of both regional and nationally known performers. / Read more…

May. 4, 2017. High Country lovers of music, native cuisine and local craft beer, wine and cocktails should mark their calendars for next Saturday, May 13 when the Old Hampton Store in Linville will kick off Ramp Festival 2017. The festival will feature live music from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and local dishes and drinks, many of which are inspired by the famous plant of Appalachian folklore.
By Bailey Faulkner / Read more…

May 11, 2017. The four-time Grammy award-winning group David Holt and the Lightning Bolts will be performing live at Tweetsie Railroad on Saturday, May 27, 2017. Come enjoy the group’s all-American sound at one (or both!) of the shows at noon and 3:00 p.m. David Holt and the Lighting Bolts provide entertainment for the whole family by performing authentic mountain music and sharing humorous stories. / Read more…

May 9, 2017 2016 Queen City Music Awards “Americana/Folk Artist of the Year” recipient Mitch Hayes continues on his spring and summer Heroes Tour, named for his critically-acclaimed album. The Mitch Hayes Trio, also featuring Hayes’ daughter Erin Hayes on vocals and flute, will perform at Twigs Restaurant and Bar in Blowing Rock on Saturday, May 20. / Read more…

May. 2, 2017. The High Country Jazz Society will kick off its summer concert series at the Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock this Mother’s Day, May 14 with the Chad Eby Group. Eby, a renowned saxophonist and jazz faculty member at UNC Greensboro, and his band will perform as the first installment in the High Country Jazz Society’s 2017 season, which includes six concerts that will take place between Mother’s Day and October 8. By Bailey Faulkner / Read more…

May. 2, 2017. On Sunday, May 7th at 3:00 p.m. at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church, a benefit concert will be held featuring vocalist Melissa Tausche, Classical Soprano and Jonathon Asbell on the piano. There is a suggested donation of $15 to attend and all proceeds go to Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. / Read more…

May 1, 2017. The Austin Stage was packed for MerleFest 2017’s 25th Annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest. Kari Estrin, co-founder of the contest, appeared as a special guest at the contest. Writers of the following 12 songs were selected from 846 entries and competed on the Austin Stage at MerleFest on Friday, April 28. MerleFest, presented by Window World, congratulates the 2017 winners. / Read more…

Apr. 27, 2017. The Jones House will continue its star-studded indoor concert series on Saturday, May 20 with nationally-renowned folk musician John McCutcheon. McCutcheon, also highly respected as a storyteller and multi-instrumentalist, will perform at the Jones House in support of his latest album, Trolling for Dreams. By Bailey Faulkner – Photo by Irene Young / Read more…

Apr. 20, 2017. Considering that the ASU Department of Theatre and Dance’s upcoming production of Flight from the Mahabharath is based around an ancient Indian epic, audience members might not realize that the play’s musical compositions also have roots in the High Country. Banner Elk’s Todd Bush, a lifelong student of Indian music and culture, has worked alongside of the play’s cast to create all-original score for the play’s world premier on Wednesday, April 26 at the Valborg Theater on ASU’s campus. By Bailey Faulkner – Photos Courtesy of Todd Bush / Read more…

April. 18, 2015. This year Earth Day marks the long awaited return of Dr. Bacon to the High Country. The group will be coming back to Boone this Saturday by for a one night stand at The Local. Arson Daily, another local favorite will kick off the night. Doors open at 9 p.m. to anyone over 21 with a mind to dance and 5 bucks for the cover. By Cramer Lewis / Read more…

April. 6, 2017. Mary Frances is best known in Boone as “mama funk.” Keyboardist and vocalist of Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Frances is also an alumna of the Hayes School of Music at ASU. With 5 Booty Band records and a Grammy winning collaboration with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo under her belt, Frances has now released her first solo record, A New Perspective. By Cramer Lewis / Read more…

Mar. 30, 2017. The building that now houses local favorite Café Portofino has seen its fair share of changes over the years. Formerly the original maintenance station for the historic Tweetsie Railroad, the over-century-old building is now the site of an exciting new era in the history of Café Portofino. By Bailey Faulkner – Photo Courtesy of Ken Ketchie and Olga Esterson / Read more…

March 23, 2017. America’s top roots music festival MerleFest, presented by Window World and slated for April 27-30, 2017, is pleased to announce the return of two well-known, innovative Saturday night events for late night festival revelers. / Read more…

Mar. 21, 2017. Feeling groovy? Dave Brewer’s Blues Benders will lead a night of blues dancing on Thursday, March 30 at Reckless Arts on West King Street in Boone, marking the first night of live music for the venue’s Blues Dance Thursday series. The event will kick off with a beginner lesson at 8 p.m. with the band taking the stage at 9 p.m. By Bailey Faulkner – Photo Courtesy of the Boone Unified Dance Scene / Read more…

March 16, 2017. Under Byron Hedgepeth’s direction, the Steely Pan Steel Band of Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music will perform at 3 p.m. March 26 in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts on campus. Admission is free. The program will boast a wide range of styles, from rock to opera. It will consist of music originally written or arranged for steel band. Hedgepeth is an adjunct instructor of percussion at Appalachian. / Read more…

March 14, 2017. The Southern Appalachian region is well-known for strong old-time and bluegrass fiddling traditions. Southern Louisiana has a strong fiddling culture of its own that helps drive Cajun music. These traditions come together at the Jones House on Sunday, March 26, when Joel Savoy and Kelli Jones-Savoy present Cajun fiddle workshops and an evening house-concert performance. / Read more…

Feb. 28, 2017. Legends of the High Country’s old-time string band scene The Corklickers will take the stage at the Jones House in Boone on Saturday, March 11. The band’s performance will be the next installment of the Jones House’s winter indoor concerts series. By Bailey Faulkner – Photos Courtesy of The Corklickers and Jones House / Read more…