This Week in Free Music

Compiled by David Brewer

The High Country will be packed this weekend with tourists from all over the place heading into town for the plethora of happening holiday activities. As you might suspect, there will be plenty of free music taking place throughout the High Country. If you’re heading out to hear some tunes, be sure to leave early and prepare for lots of traffic.

Banner Elk
Banner Elk Chamber Summer Concerts in the Park
7/2 Billy Scott & the Party Prophets

The Banner Elk Chamber of Commerce will kick off its annual Concerts in the Park this Thursday, July 2, with a performance by Billy Scott & The Party Profits. A Beach Music Hall of Fame inductee, Scott and his veteran music group is well known for such beach music classics as “I Got The Fever,” “California,” “Beach Trip,” “Roll Around Rockin,” “Rockin’ Good Way,” and the smash #1 hit song for 21 weeks on the Rhythm ‘N Beach Top 40 Chart, “My Kind Of Girl.”

Boone
Watauga Arts Council Concerts on the Lawn
The Jones House
Fridays, 5:00 p.m.
7/3 Surefire/Meade Richter

Award-winning local bluegrass band Surefire will join forces will talented local fiddler Meade Richter for this Friday’s installment of the Watauga Arts Council’s Concerts on the Lawn. Winners of last year’s inaugural HayesGrass competition in Blowing Rock, Surefire blends youthful energy with classic bluegrass sensibilities for a sound that is equal parts hot picking and solid harmony.

Richter has been a fixture at the Jones House old-time jams for several years and is no stranger to the concert series.

The 2009 Concerts on the Lawn series is sponsored by Alpine Storage and Mast General Store. This week’s concert is sponsored by Appalachian Music Shoppe.

Valle Crucis
Music in the Valle
Valle Crucis Park
Fridays, 7:00 p.m.
7/3 Steve & Ruth Smith

Husband and wife duo Steve & Ruth Smith will bring their patented, melodic blend of guitar and hammered dulcimer to Valle Crucis Park this Friday, July 3. The Smiths have been playing music together for more than 30 years, perfecting their blend of “Celtic Appalachian” music. The duo have received national radio airplay and been featured on NPR’s “Thistle and Shamrock” and “All Songs Considered,” Highlander-Celtic online radio, XM satellite radio and Direct TV music channels.

Todd
Todd Summer Music Series
Cook Memorial Park
Saturdays, 4:00 p.m.
7/4 Buck Haggard Band

Classic country purveyors the Buck Haggard Band will return to Todd for the town’s annual Fouth of July celebration this Saturday. Named for legends Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, the band, led by George Wilson, has been playing classic country music all over the High Country for years.