Musical flavor at 2010 Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival

Published 12:55 pm Friday, June 11, 2010

Consistently one of the finest music events of the summer, the Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival, held June 11 and 12, delivers a lineup of live music on two outdoor stages (see map on page 10) at Harmon Field.

2010 boasts a wide-variety of musical sounds from The Belleville Outfit and Geoff Achison and the Souldiggers headlining on Friday night to April Verch Band and Seth Walker headlining on Saturday. For the schedule at a glance see the box on page 22.

Main Stage 2010

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Friday June 11

4 to 5 p.m.

Lone Derangers

Noted for harmonies and unique arrangements on both their originals and covers, this local favorite plays an eclectic repertoire that embraces Americana and Folk/Rock.

For more information or to hear clips, check out www.myspace.com/thelonederangers.

5:30 to 6:45 p.m.

Woody & The Stragglers

Woody & the Stragglers have been rocking the southeast for more than a decade. They serve a rootsy stew of Western Swing, Boogie-Woogie and vintage Rock n Roll with a pinch of Cajun and Latin spice.

For more information or to hear clips, check out www.myspace.com/stragglerswing.

7:15 to 8:45 p.m.

Geoff Achison

Equal parts New Orleans funk, driving blues, jazzy soul and outback mojo, this Southern-fried musician (that is southern Australia) is a crowd-pleasing guitar virtuoso with rich soulful vocals. His music has been featured on both CNN and NPR. Achisons band, The Souldiggers, consists of Yonrico Scott on drums (Derek Trucks Band), bass player Ted Peccio (Susan Tedeschi) and special guest Randall Bramblett.

Possibly one of the most gifted musicians to arrive on the scene…his playing verges on the miraculous. The Times, London – UK

For more information or to hear clips, visit www.geoffachison.com, or www.myspace.com/geoffachison.

9:15 to 11 p.m.

The Belleville Outfit

The core of this Austin phenomenon sprang from Spartanburgs very own and very popular DesChamps Band. Now joined with other musicians, they have grown into one of the most sought after bands on the Americana scene. Their last CD, Time to Stand, was #9 on WNCWs Top 100 of 2009. As soon as they hit the stage, The Belleville Outfits mix of swing, country, jazz, gypsy and blues will have you swingin and swayin and singin along.

the sextet (The Belleville Outfit) is one of Austins most musically accomplished and adventuresome, mixing gypsy swing, big-band jazz, a touch of bluegrass and some Walter Hyatt covers into a unique mix that flows like a whiskey river. – The Austin Chronicle

For more information or to hear clips, visit www.bellevilleoutfit.com.

Saturday June 12th

11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Rock & Roll Reunion

Get some barbeque, get comfortable and get ready to enoy the best in classic rock, beach and Blues. Based in Spartanburg, S.C., Rock and Roll Reunions front man is guitarist Tom Crabtree, one of the best-loved television news anchors (Channel 7/WSPA-TV) in the Carolinas.

12:45 to 2 p.m.

Gary Ray and the Heartwells

Putting the country in rock n roll or vice versa, Gary Ray & the Heartwells from Atlanta, Ga., have been described as Zac Brown Band meets Jason Aldean.

For more information or to hear clips, visit http://garyraymusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/garyrayofficial.

2:30 to 3:45 p.m.

South 85

With lyrics as entertaining as their licks, these muscians all hail from small towns along Hwy. 85 in South Carolina and the essence of their songs comes straight from those roots. Just as with their lyrics, their music is an easy yet sophisticated blend of country, folk, southern rock and bluegrass.

For more information or to hear clips, visit www.south85.com.

4:15 to 5:30 p.m.

The Nouveaux Honkies

If Johnny Cash and Freddy King had a baby it would be the Nouveaux Honkies, said South Floridas Sun Sentinel Online. This violin, guitar, bass and drum quartet is best described as roots n roll that rocks. A favorite of festivals from coast-to-coast, this band is guaranteed to get you out of your seat.

6 to 7:15 p.m.

April Verch

April Verch is a Canadian fiddle champion, step dancer and singer. Verch performed at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. The energy of her fiddle playing and step dancing gets her regularly compared to Natalie McMaster. Her voice causes comparisons to Alison Krauss.

ethereal-voiced Verch has blossomed from a Canadian fiddle champ and stepdancer into a triple-threat entertainer

Sun Chronicle

For more information or to hear clips, visit www.aprilverch.com.

7:45-9:15 p.m.

Seth Walker

The first time I heard Seth Walker at a small club in Nashville I was impressed like I havent been impressed in 30 years, with performance, presence, and great songs. – Delbert McClinton.

Austin based (though he grew up here in North Carolina), Walker is one of the fastest rising stars in blues and roots music. His 2009 release Leap of Faith is quickly climbing to the top of the America charts.

For more information or to hear clips, visit www.sethwalker.com.

9:45-11 p.m.

Scoot Pittman

Scoot Pittman consistently and seamlesly blends booty shakin rhythm with lasting, meaningful lyrics.

For more information or to hear clips, visit www.scootmusic.com.

Riverside Stage 2010

Saturday, June 12

12 to 1 p.m.

The Honeycutters

Steadily gaining momentum and a large and loyal fan base, The Honeycutters first studio release, Irene, is also gaining play on Americana radio. Based in Asheville, The Honeycutters orginal music combines country ballads, honk-a-billy and blues.

For more information or to hear clips, visit www.myspace.com/thehoneycutters or www.thehoneycutters.com/.

1:20 to 2:10 p.m.

Nouveaux Honkies

(see main stage description)

2:30 to 3:20 p.m.

April Verch

(see main stage discription)

3:40 to 4:30 p.m.

Hello Trouble

This smooth trio grew up together in a small WNC town and have played music together for many years. Their latest musical endeavor, Hello Trouble, is a distillation of all the musical genres they have loved and experiences they have had over those years distilling down to tons of fun and maybe a little trouble too. Amusing originals, a Dean Martin classic, and perhaps a jazzy romp with harmonies and stage banter only years together can produce.

Lead guitarist and your host for the Riverside Stage, Bob Sinclair says, Dont let their name scare you off – but dont hang around them after dark either – it could be trouble.

4:50 to 5:50 p.m.

Scoot Pittman

(see main stage description)

6:10 to 7:20 p.m.

The Honeycutters

(see description above)