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Mountain Home Music Set to Begin 19th Season of Honoring the Music and Musicians of Appalachia

 

Steve Lewis, member of the Banjo Jubilee

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