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Music

Southern Appalachian Historical Association Announces Theatre Director for “Horn in the West”® 2025 Season – Boone Native Clarinda Ross

January 22, 2025. The Southern Appalachian Historical Association (SAHA) is thrilled to announce plans for the 2025 season of “Horn in the West”®.  As repairs by the Town of Boone will be underway at the Daniel Boone Amphitheater, this year’s performance will be held in the mini-amphitheater area located at Hickory Ridge History Museum, fondly known as “Hickory Ridge Homestead”. HORN will be celebrating our heritage with a return to our historical roots as a fully community-based production, using a local cast.  The drama will run for 4 weeks, 3 nights a week, and will be staged in and amongest the cabins for an immersive audience experience. Clarinda Ross is a celebrated professional actor, director, and playwright whose deep local ties and national accolades make her a perfect fit to helm this community-driven performance.

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Exciting Addition to 2025 Blowing Rock WinterFest: WinterFest After Dark!

January 14, 2025. Blowing Rock WinterFest, held this year from January 23rd-26th 2025, is bringing even more reasons to step out of hibernation and celebrate! For the first time, this annual celebration of the season will feature an After Dark experience with live music, and stores open late adding a lively new twist to the lineup of activities. Mark your calendars for Friday, January 24th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, and prepare to embark on a memorable evening in the heart of Blowing Rock. This exciting addition invites participants to visit local establishments and enjoy live music from local artists along the way.

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Seven New Acts Join the Lineup for FloydFest 25~Aurora (July 23-27), With More to Come

January 14, 2025. FLOYD, VA — Writing that “FloydFest has set a standard for thriving independent music festivals by annually bringing a devoted crowd back to a scenic site in southwest Virginia for a carefully curated, eclectic lineup of roots music,” Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine once-again named FloydFest ‘Best Music Festival’ in its ‘Best of the Blue Ridge 2025’ earlier this month. “It’s a big deal to us to win this award again, especially in a region rich in world-class events and creatives,” said Sam Calhoun, FloydFest co-owner and chief operating officer. “Congrats to all of the honorees, and a special shoutout to the myriad Floyd-based businesses who also took home top honors, including Floyd Country Store, Red Rooster, Chateau Morrisette, Hotel Floyd and Buffalo Mountain Ziplines.”

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Award-Winning Songwriters Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz to Perform at the Historic Jones House Friday, January 17

January 3, 2025  Noted and influential International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award-winning artists Tim Stafford and Thomm Jutz will bring their extraordinary talents to the Jones House Cultural Center on Friday, January 17, 2025, for a special evening of music and storytelling. The event begins with a free songwriting workshop at 5:00 PM, where Stafford and Jutz will share their expertise and insights into the art of songwriting. Following the workshop, the evening culminates in an intimate concert at 7:30 PM, showcasing their evocative songs and masterful musicianship. With only 40 seats available, this exclusive performance promises a one-of-a-kind experience.

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New Year’s Eve Fundraiser Organized by The Lucky Strikes and fizzEd to Benefit the Todd Community

December 26, 2024 Get ready to break out the spandex and teased hair for a totally awesome ’80s-themed News Year’s Eve bash, organized by High Country band The Lucky Strikes and Boone-based restaurant and bar fizzEd. The event, to take place at fizzEd on Tuesday, Dec. 31, with live music from 9 p.m. to just after midnight, doubles as a fundraiser to benefit the Todd community, which was devastated by the impacts of Hurricane Helene. It is free and open to the public (aged 21 and over). Optional donations and special VIP seating funds will directly support the Todd Community Preservation Organization (TCPO) and its Hurricane Helene Recovery Fund, which is dedicated to rebuilding TCPO’s two parks: Cook Memorial Park, home to the Todd Summer Concert Series, and Todd Island Park, both of which were decimated by Helene.

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FloydFest 25~Aurora New Holiday Merch Available; 11 New Acts Join the Lineup

December 17, 2024 With ticket prices increasing in 15 days, on Jan. 1, 2025, Blue Cow Arts Foundation & Across-the-Way Productions add 11 new acts to the emerging lineup of FloydFest 25~Aurora, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier, award-winning, summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 23 to 27, 2025, at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. Also announced, new holiday-themed merchandise for FloydFest 25~Aurora is now available on the FloydFest Online Store.

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Ensemble Stage 2024 Holiday Show is Back On Track with First of Seven Shows Starting Tonight

December 6, 2024 Thanks to the amazing work of countless volunteers, local and out-of-town contractors, many local businesses and non-profits, along with the superior planning and relief response of our town administration, it looks like the entire town of Banner Elk will be back up and running at full speed in record time. So, thanks to all those people and businesses, Ensemble Stage WILL be presenting its 2024 Holiday Musical Variety Show.

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Studio K Presents The Nutcracker at the Schaefer Center This Weekend, December 6-8

December 5, 2024  If ever there was a time to get lost in a dream surrounded by all that is magical, this would be it. Four presentations of  the enchanting ballet, The Nutcracker, will make it all possible this coming weekend, as one of the  season’s most treasured traditions returns to the High Country. Nowhere is the ballet more anticipated and cherished than it is in Boone, where for nearly four decades, Studio K Youth Ballet Company has produced the enchanting presentation this time each year. From Friday, Dec. 6 — Sunday, Dec. 8, audiences of all ages will fill the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts in Boone, where more than 350 local dancers — from ages 2 to 70 — will bring the magic to life once again. By Sherrie Norris

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MerleFest Has Announced the Full Artist Lineup for its 2025 Festival Taking Place April 24-27

December 4, 2024 MerleFest, presented by Window World, has added I’m With Her, Leftover Salmon, Stephen Wilson Jr., The Steel Wheels, Tami Neilson, Becky Buller, and more to its 2025 lineup. Taking place April 24-27, 2025, on the campus of Wilkes Community College, the annual celebration of founding legend, Doc Watson, will play host to both legendary names and exciting up and comers, including fast-rising honky-tonk starlet Emily Nenni, Colorado-rooted newgrass ensemble The Fretliners, blues-drenched guitar virtuoso Cristina Vane, and dozens of others. View the complete lineup below

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Boone JAM Fall Recital Showcases Young Musical Talent on Tuesday, December 10th

December 2, 2024 Celebrate the rich musical traditions of Appalachia as the Boone Junior Appalachian Musicians (Boone JAM) program presents its fall recital on Tuesday, December 10th. This special event will be held at the historic Appalachian Theatre in downtown Boone and begins at 5:30 PM. Admission is free and open to the public. The Boone JAM program, run by the Town of Boone and coordinated by the Jones House, provides group music lessons to youth aged 8 and up, fostering a love for traditional Appalachian music. Students learn to play Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle, and Ukulele in a supportive group setting.

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Ring in the Holidays with the Legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band Thursday, Dec. 12

November 26, 2024 The Schaefer Center Presents (SCP) performing arts series, presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, welcomes NOLA’s legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band in Creole Christmas, a seasonal celebration of New Orleans classics as well as some of the best-loved holiday selections with a twist. The performance takes place Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets range from $15-$45, and may be purchased at TheSchaeferCenter.org, in person at the Schaefer Center box office (733 Rivers Street), or by calling 828-262-4046.

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Fourteen New Acts Join the Lineup for FloydFest 25~Aurora (July 23-27, 2025), More to Come

November 20, 2024 Also announced today, new merchandise for FloydFest 25~Aurora (and prior) is now available on the FloydFest Online Store, including new hoodies, hats, shirts and stickers, with even more on the way soon: https://shop.presspressmerch.com/collections/floydfest. Patrons are encouraged to sign up for FloydFest’s e-blast newsletters and new-and-improved Text Club so they don’t miss a minute of all of the ‘Aurora’ news and announcements that are fit to print:

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Festive Community Carol Sing Returns to Banner Elk Dec. 7 at the Banner Elk Presbyterian Church

November 18, 2024 On Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 3 PM, join a joyous sing-along of familiar Christmas carols in the sanctuary of the historic Banner Elk Presbyterian Church. The fourth annual Community Carol Sing is a 45-minute casual service that includes a dozen favorite songs, ranging from “White Christmas” to “Joy to the World”, for all ages to enjoy. To allow the audience to rest their voices occasionally, the Lees-McRae Highlanders, church choir and soloists will sing beloved classics including O Holy Night, Rocking Around the Christmas Tree and a jazzy Deck the Halls.

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“A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas” Returns December 6 – 8 & 14, 2024 Expanded Schedule, 10th Anniversary Edition Awaits App Theatre & Ashe Civic Center Audiences

November 13, 2024. Celebrating their 10th Anniversary, having experienced sold out performances at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, “A Carolina Snowbelle Christmas” returns to the venerable, state-of-the-art facility with an expanded performance schedule of four public performances and an additional performance at the Ashe Civic Center with an encore family event to enhance their standing as the region’s newest must-see family holiday tradition. This stage spectacular takes audience members on new adventures and dancers tap dance their way from the Arctic glaciers of the North Pole to the city streets of Manhattan in New York City with a cast of 30 new, emerging, and established artists gracing the App Theatre stage in a series of elaborately choreographed works.

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MerleFest Announces Initial Lineup and Return of the Late Night Jam for April 24-27, 2025 Event 

November 12, 2024. MerleFest, presented by Window World, has announced the initial lineup ahead of the annual event, taking place April 24-27, 2025 on the campus of Wilkes Community College. This year’s leading acts include two North Carolina-based heavyweights: folk-rock trailblazers The Avett Brothers and Appalachian-rooted duo Watchhouse, as well as legendary singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt and Canadian folk and bluegrass ensemble The Dead South. MerleFest 2025 will feature a surprise return of the Late Night Jam, hosted by Sam Bush, and additional festival performances by Kruger Brothers, Jim Lauderdale, and more. Also set to appear are industry forerunners like Wyatt Flores, The War And Treaty, The SteelDrivers, Asleep at the Wheel, Brent Cobb, Alison Brown, and Della Mae. View the initial lineup below.

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Lees-McRae Theatre Arts Season to Return with 1960s Musical “Sweet Charity” November 21

November 8, 2024 Fans of romcoms, classical musical theatre, and Bob Fosse choreography will not want to miss the first production of the season from Lees-McRae Theatre Arts, “Sweet Charity.” While it was initially delayed due to Hurricane Helene, the show will make it to the stage Thursday, Nov. 21 through Sunday, Nov. 24. The dance-forward musical tells the story of Charity, a taxi dancer in 1960s New York City who is looking for love in all the wrong places. “The tagline from the beginning of the show has been, ‘The adventures of a girl who wanted to be loved,’” junior Musical Theatre major LillyRuth Beck, who plays the titular role, said.

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FloydFest Announces Their 2025 Festival – Tickets Now on Sale!

November 1, 2024 FLOYD, VA — World-famous legendary rock visionaries The Black Crowes, indie-folk phenoms Mt. Joy and the funkified, front-porch Southern soul-rockers JJ Grey & Mofro top Blue Cow Arts Foundation & Across-the-Way Production’s November 1 announcement of FloydFest 25~Aurora, the latest annual offering of the Southeast’s premier, award-winning, summer outdoor music festival, taking place Wednesday to Sunday, July 23 to 27, 2025, at its new home, FestivalPark, located at 5826 Floyd Highway North in Check, Va. 

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Join Us for the Boone Fall Fest Weekend: Buskers Fest and Boonetoberfest! Oct. 4 and 5

September 18, 2024 This fall, the streets of Downtown Boone will come alive with music, art, food, and festivities! The Watauga Arts Council, in partnership with the Downtown Boone Development Association, is proud to present the 4th Annual Buskers Fest and the brand-new Boonetoberfest on October 4th and 5th, 2024, for a Boone Fall Fest weekend. Mark your calendars for a weekend packed with vibrant entertainment, local talent, and fun for the whole family. On Friday, October 4th, from 5 PM to 9 PM, the streets of Boone will be filled with artists and performers for Buskers Fest—a unique celebration of the arts where local musicians, magicians, dancers, and visual artists showcase their creativity in unexpected places. From fire dancers to live painting, there’s something to delight everyone!

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Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer to Perform in Concert and Lead Workshops on October 13

September 11, 2024 On Sunday, October 13, Two-Time GRAMMY® Award winners Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer will be bringing their musical talents to The Jones House Cultural Center in downtown Boone, offering both a live concert and a series of educational workshops. The event will kick off with two free workshops from 4:00 to 5:00 PM, where participants can learn from these master musicians. Although the workshops are free to attend, an RSVP is encouraged to ensure a spot.

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Homegrown Meets Handmade at the Valle Country Fair on Saturday, October 19, 2024

September 9, 2024 Saturday, October 19 marks the 46th consecutive year that Holy Cross Episcopal Church and the Valle Crucis Conference Center have invited the public to join them in the heart of one of the most ethereal valleys in Western North Carolina for their annual fall festival, the Valle Country Fair. Harvest flavors of Brunswick Stew, Western NC barbecue, homemade apple butter, and hundreds of cakes, pies and breads are served up in this elevation of all things homegrown, handmade and local.

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High Country Caregivers to hold “A Night at Chetola” on Thursday, September 12

September 3, 2024 Sponsored by one of the North Carolina Mountains’ most worthwhile and needed charitable organizations—High Country Caregivers (HCC)–the 5th Annual “A Night at Chetola” will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2024. This much-anticipated event will begin at 5:30 p.m. under the tent by the lake at the Chetola Resort, located at 185 Chetola Lake Drive in Blowing Rock. This exclusive fundraising event, set against the majestic and picturesque backdrop of Chetola Resort’s lakeside, promises to be an extraordinary experience with a delectable meal, an open bar, a captivating silent auction, and live music with dancing entertainment.

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23rd Annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Music Festival Slated for Sept. 13-15

August 30, 2024 Plan your strategy for the 23rd annual Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival! The event’s free mobile app has dropped, along with the full schedule, and single day passes are on sale now! The three-day event is slated for Sept. 13-15 along State Street, where Tennessee and Virginia meet and the 1927 Bristol Sessions created the “big bang of country music.” Produced by the nonprofit Birthplace of Country Music and presented by Ballad Health, Bristol Rhythm is listed among USA Today’s top 10 music festivals in the country.

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Milepost Music Brings Live Music to The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park in September

August 29, 2024 Milepost Music is bringing live mountain music to The Bluffs Restaurant at Doughton Park, located at milepost 241 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Laurel Springs, N.C. Free outdoor concerts will take place from 2 to 4 p.m., on the second and fourth Sundays in September. These will be the final concerts of this year’s Milepost Music season to take place at Doughton Park.

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