By Jesse Wood
One of the great things about the High Country during the summer time is the free outdoor concerts; “Fresh Air, Free Tunes” is what we call them. No matter what part of the High Country you happen to be at this summer, free tunes in the fresh air abound. Multiple series of concerts will take place in Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Boone and Valle Crucis from late May to the end of September. Bring some cash for a snack or donation, and don’t forget a blanket or a chair to enjoy the show.
Concerts on the Lawn at the Jones House
The Jones House Community Center in downtown Boone celebrates its 20th season of Concerts on the Lawn this summer. The concerts are free, though a donation box exists. New for this year is the extra concert (in italics) on the first Friday of the month in conjunction with Art Crawl. The extra concert takes place from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m., while the rest of the concerts happen from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. For more info, click to www.watauga-arts.org or call 828-264-1789.
June 1 Meade Richter, Swing Guitars and Major Sevens
June 8 Wayne Henderson and Elkville String Band
June 15 Doc Watson celebration with Kruger Brothers and Charles Welch
June 22 New River Boys and Roan Mountain Hilltoppers
June 29 20th Season Celebration with Becca Eggers-Gryder, Amantha Mill and Diane Hackworth
July 6 Cowboy poet Keith Ward, Worthless Son-In-Laws and Possum Jenkins
July 13 Bag piper Fox Kinsman and Forget-Me-Nots and Todd Wright and Friends
July 20 Melissa Reaves and The Lazybirds
July 27 Bluegrass showcase with Surefire and The Dollar Brothers and Carolina Crossing
August 3 Old-time showcase with Steve Kruger, Crooked Road Ramblers and The Sheets Family Band
August 10 TBD (likely Songwriters and Storytellers Night)
August 17 Boone Mennonite Brethren Choir and Soul Benefactor
August 24 Buck Haggard Band and Strictly Clean & Decent
August 31 Dashboard Hula Boys and Kilby, Welch & Stone
September 7 TBD (likely Watauga Youth showcase)
September 14 Rhonda Gouge and King Bees Duo
September 21 TBD
Music in the Valle at Valle Crucis Community Park
Music in the Valle is celebrating its 10th annual season this summer at the Valle Crucis Community Park, which is a nonprofit. Admission is free, though a $5 donation is recommended. All the concerts take place at 7:00 p.m. Also, a 10th anniversary kickoff celebration and fundraiser takes place on May 19. For more information about the celebration and the rest of the concert series, click to www.vallecrucispark.com or call Caroline Gandy at 828-963-9239.
May 25 Ital Seeds
June 1 Brother Gravity
June 8 The Mountain Laurels
June 15 Sound Traveler
June 22 The Major Sevens
June 29 The Worthless Son in Laws
July 6 Creekside Grass
July 13 The Wild Rumpus
July 20 Kent Doobrow & Midnight Sun
July 27 High Standards
August 3 Dashboard Hula Boys
August 10 The Neighbors
August 17 8 Miles Apart
August 24 Folk and Dagger
August 31 Zephyr Lightning Bolts
Banner Elk Chamber Presents Summer Concerts in the Park
Presented by the Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce, the Summer Concerts in the Park series takes place every Thursday from June 21 to August 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Tate-Evans Park. Food vendors will be on site, or bring your own picnic. Raffle tickets are sold. For more info, call 828-898-8395 or click to www.bannerelkchamber.com.
June 21 ToneBlazers (Americana, Bluegrass and Country)
June 28 Billy Scott and the Party Prophets (Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Beach and Retro)
July 5 Buck Haggard (Classic Country)
July 12 Dashboard Blue (R&B, Rock and Timeless Dance Grooves)
July 19 Jeff Luckadoo & Southern Wave (Country)
July 26 Mad Dog Johnson with Don Vallarta (Pop, Rock and Dance)
August 2 Mountain Soul (Bluegrass-Inspired Americana)
August 9 Wolf Creek (Bluegrass, Classic Country, Blues and Rock)
August 16 Dallas Reese (Pop, Rock and Country)
The Best Cellar’s Concerts on the Green
Located on Sunset Drive in Blowing Rock, The Best Cellar hosts the Concerts on the Green in its big yard at the Inn at Ragged Gardens on Friday nights. All shows our free and begin at 5:30 p.m. Food is available. For more info, call The Best Cellar at 828-295-9703 or click to www.ragged-gardens.com.
May 11 ramajohns
May 18 Soul Benefactor
May 24 The Harris Brothers
June 1 The Harris Brothers
June 8 Soul Benefactor
June 15 The Harris Brothers
June 22 The Klee and Mike Show
June 29 The Harris Brothers
Bayou Smokehouse’s Concerts in the Courtyard
Located on Main Street in Banner Elk, the Bayou Smokehouse hosts Concerts in the Courtyard on Wednesday evenings. Food is available. Concerts are free and start at 6:00 p.m. For more information, call 828-898-8952.
May 9 The Get Downs
May 16 Whip Daddys
May 23 The Get Downs
May 30 Whip Daddys
June 6 The Get Downs
June 13 Whip Daddys
June 20 The Get Downs
June 27 Whip Daddys
July 4 The Get Downs
July 11 Whip Daddys
July 18 The Get Downs
July 25 Whip Daddys
August 1 The Get Downs
August 8 Whip Daddys
August 15 The Get Downs
August 22 Whip Daddys
August 29 The Get Downs
September 5 Whip Daddys
September 12 The Get Downs
September 19 Whip Daddys
September 26 The Get Downs
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