Mountain Home Music’s 16th season opens Saturday

As done in the past, the series features local and regional musicians who reflect the heritage of the Appalachian region.  The opening concert will feature Skeeter and the Skidmarks.The Skidmarks are an old-time band from Southwest Virginia. They were popular throughout the Appalachian region in the ’90s, boasting a signature sound that blended Celtic traditions with a bluegrass style, and an offbeat humor that kept audiences in anticipation of each tune and every word. 

They had a clawhammer (old-time) banjo player who could play many different styles of music, an award-winning fiddler and mandolin player, a highly acclaimed singer, songwriter and pencil artist, and a bass player who sang with passion and clarity. 

The verb “had” is used because, as the century turned, life pulled the Skidmarks in different directions and to different parts of the country. But their personal bonds and love of music was ever-present. Last year, the Skidmarks reunited for an event to honor one of their own.

This Saturday night, May 23, Skeeter and the Skidmarks will open the 16th season of Mountain Home Music. The Skidmarks now, as in the past, include banjo player Edwin Lacy; fiddler and mandolin player Scott Freeman; singer, songwriter and nationally acclaimed pencil artist Willard Gayheart; and bass player Sandy Grover.

In 2008, band member Willard Gayheart was honored by the Blue Ridge Music Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway for his contributions to Appalachian culture. Also in 2008, along with Bob Timberlake, Doc Watson and others, he received a Best of Blue Ridge Award given by Blue Ridge Magazine. Gayheart is also the subject of the book, “Willard Gayheart: Appalachian Artist” by award winning writer, Donia S. Eley, and he was given the honor of Colonel by his home state of Kentucky.

Willard Gayheart will have some of his artwork on display.All Mountain Home Music concerts include the music and stories of Mountain Home Music founder and host Joe Shannon.  Since it started in 1994, Mountain Home Music has provided a stage for three National Folk-life Award winners, seven North Carolina Folk Heritage Award winners, three members of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame, and more than 1,000 local and regional performers. Select concerts have been broadcast over local and public radio and regional television.

The concert will be held at the Blowing Rock School Auditorium, and starting time is 8 p.m.

Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets for college and high school students are $10 (at the door only). Tickets may be purchased at Mast General Store locations, Rydell Music Center, Pandora’s Mailbox in Blowing Rock, and Fred’s Mercantile on Beech Mountain.  Tickets may also be purchased online at www.mountainhomemusic.com.

On Sunday, May 31, Mountain Home Music will feature Mike Craver, Bill Hicks and Jim Watson of the Original Red Clay Ramblers, with Joe Newberry.

The purpose of Mountain Home Music is to honor the music and musicians of the Appalachian region. It is affiliated with the Blue Ridge Music Trails, a project of the North Carolina Arts Council.For more information, visit the Mountain Home Music Web site at www.mountainhomemusic.com or call (828) 964-3392.