Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

This Week in FREE Live Music

Compiled by David Brewer

Banner Elk

Banner Elk Concerts in the Park
Thursdays, 6:00 p.m.
828-898-8395
7/10 Murphy & Main/Rox Trio
Rox Trio and Murphy & Main are both former members of the Whip Daddies and continue to perform under their former moniker on occasion. The musicians that comprise the groups have been around the Banner Elk area for more than a decade and still play several weddings a year together at Eseeola Lodge and the Apple Barn among other local spots. The bands specialize in pleasing music fans from 20- to 60-year-olds with a mixture of Motown, jazz, easy listening, blues, rock, country and dance music.

This week’s concert is presented by the Historic Little Main Street Inn of Banner Elk. A cozy retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the inn was built in the 1920s by the VonCanon family. Originally the VonCanon lumber company, the building has served several purposes including as a gymnasium for Lees-McRae College and the YMCA.

More than two decades ago, the building was converted into a combination condo/hotel known as Ivy’s Suite Options and Johnson’s Crossing, featuring an original hardwood basketball court.

The Historic Little Main Street Inn features full condominium-style suites, many with gas log fireplaces and Jacuzzi baths For more info, call 828-898-6109.

Beech Mountain

Fred’s Summer Sunday Concerts
Sundays, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
828-387-4838
7/13 Joe Shannon & The Mountain Home All Stars
Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and performer Joe Shannon is the founder of the Mountainhome Music Series, that features mountain music and entertainment for the whole family each year. Shannon and some of his talented musical cohorts will kick off the Summer Sunday Concert Series at Fred’s General Mercantile this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. with traditional favorites and maybe even a few surprises.

Boone

Jones House Concerts on the Lawn
Fridays, 5:00 p.m.
828-264-1789
7/11 The Neighbors/Fiddlers Competition #2
This week’s Watauga Arts Council Concerts on the Lawn will feature a performance by rowdy bluegrass and old-time outfit The Neighbors. With a mixture of good picking and a sense of humor, the band will undoubtedly keep the crowd stomping their feet and grinning from ear to ear. This Friday’s show will also feature the second of three miniature Fiddlers’ Contests taking place throughout the summer.

Valle Crucis

Valle Crucis Music in the Park
7:00 p.m.
828-963-6511, ext. 243
7/11 Brian McGee & The Hollow Speed
Whether they are playing noisy bars, tourist-filled street corners, punk shows or listening rooms, Brian McGee and The Hollow Speed deliver. McGee takes parts of punk rock and country music and rubs them together to ignite his rock and roll, which some may call alt. country or folk rock. Call it what you will, Brian McGee & The Hollow Speed pour on the heat and tug on the heart with a live show that crisscrosses genres.

Todd

Todd Summer Music Series
Walter & Annie Cook Memorial Park
Saturday, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
336-877-5401
7/12 The Corklickers
Avery County old-time pickers The Corklickers have a long history of making music together beginning in 1976. In addition to performing all over the High Country, the band has performed at the Carter Family Fold, Chicago Folk Festival, Kent State, and Brandywine Music Festival to name a few stops. The band has performed with the Hotmud Family, Red Clay Ramblers, White Top Mountain Band, Fat Meat Boys and so many more.

Although family and work commitments keep them closer to home now, The Corklickers still perform several times a year at places like the Down Home in Johnson City. They are regulars at the Todd New River Festival and have been playing on the depot stage at Cook Park since the Todd Music Series began in 2001.