May 18, 2012. “It started as an idea,” said Joe Shannon, executive director of Mountain Home Music. “The idea was to showcase local and regional performers. The first obstacle to implementation was obvious: would anyone pay to see someone they’ve never heard of? I knew friends and family might show up, but friends and family wouldn’t be enough to support a concert series. It was a pretty big challenge.”
ASU filmed the concerts for the first two years, and each concert aired on local access television.
“This helped to get the word out,” said Shannon. “It also demonstrated to a broader audience the quality of local performers.”
People did come. Larger venues were needed. Local churches volunteered their facilities and, when needed, ASU offered the Student Union and the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. The Boone and Blowing Rock business community also offered support through sponsorships.
Mountain Home Music (then called Music in the Mountains) grew. It moved from television to local radio and then to public radio. It also moved fall concerts to Blowing Rock.
“But all this movement took time and energy, and, truthfully, I tired,” said Shannon. “Selling local, not too famous musicians took constant work. More work was required than I could do.”
In 2003, Mountain Home Music became a nonprofit organization. Mountain Home Music became a team.
“And in a way,” she said, “it became a large extended family: volunteers, musicians, businesses and loyal patrons. Now, the beginning of each new season feels a lot like a family reunion. It’s been quite a journey, and I’m looking forward to the future.”
For more information about the 2012 season, go to www.mountainhomemusic.com or call 828-964-3392.
2012 Summer Schedule
Saturday, May 19, 8 p.m.
Banjo Jubilee: Steve Lewis, Edwin Lacy, Brandy Miller
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Sunday, May 27, 8 p.m.
Country, Gospel, and Piano Classics: David Johnson & Studio Band
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Saturday, June 2, 8 p.m.
Rural Roots, Mountain Songs: Dana and Susan Robinson
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Saturday, June 9, 8 p.m.
From Asheville to Boone: Red June
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Saturday, June 16, 7:30 p.m.
Creative Country, Singers and Songwriters: The Jeanne Jolly Band
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, downtown Boone
Saturday, June 23, 8 p.m.
Old Time Banjo, Fiddle, and Mandolin: Joe Newberry, Mike Compton
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Saturday, June 30, 8 p.m.
Gentle Rings, Dulcimer Strings: Ken Kolodner
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Wednesday, July 4, 7:30 p.m.
Bluegrass & Brass: MHM Bluegrass Boys, King Street Brass
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Sunday, July 8, 8 p.m.
Celtic Fiddle & Dance: The April Verch Band
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Sunday, July 22, 3:30 p.m.
Ballads and Bluegrass: Strictly Clean & Decent, The Sheets Family, and others
Grace Lutheran Church, downtown Boone
Saturday, August 4, 8 p.m.
Bluegrass, The Early Years, Vol. II: Dave Haney and Company
Meadowbrook Inn, downtown Blowing Rock
Saturday, August 11, 8 p.m.
Celtic Winds: Al Petteway & Amy White
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Saturday, August 18, 8 p.m.
The Colors of Country: David Johnson & Dixie Dawn
Blowing Rock School Auditorium
Sunday, September 2, 8 p.m.
A Labor Day Celebration: MHM Bluegrass Boys, Mark & Julee Weems
location TBA
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