Sunshine & Music Make Wally Palooza 2 Hot Hot Hot!
Wally Palooza 2 ~ Day One
Wally Palooza II occurred at High Water Social in Washington, NC, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 21-23, 2024. It featured 24 acts throughout the weekend. Sunshine and high temperatures were also a highlighted feature. Festival organizer Wally Peterson (above left) found out the hard way on his first day in the field. He was put on time out by a staff member at High Water Social on Friday after spending too much time in the heat without proper nourishment. Thanks to the quick thinking of a staff member, Peterson avoided having a heat stroke, and almost everything else went on as scheduled.
Five acts were scheduled for Friday evening, but only four had performed. Of the four, I caught three of them. Nic, Keane, and Nannette opened the show, and my friend Nancy Mason was there and got the credit for the picture below. Several years ago, I first caught this trio on stage for an open mic night at Backwater Jacks. The boys have grown up, and Nannette has grown young in their company. I am sorry I missed their show. Nannette Garrett also plays in a duo with C Conoley Blake, Voices Carry. You can catch those girls tonight at Cru Bar & Wine Store, where they will rock all the familiar favorites from 7 pm until 10 pm.
I did make it in time to catch Noah Cobb. The 17-year-old singer-songwriter teamed up with some heavy hitters from our local scene. Joining Cobb on stage were Brian Burke on bass and Chuck Phillips on drums. They were billed as Noah Cobb and the Back 40. This young man has an impressive vocal range, and his guitar skills match. The trio offered a complete set of original music for the growing crowd. Keep your eyes on this young man. He won't be in Greenville, NC, forever.
Next up was Brian Burke, aka Back Pocket Buddha, offered a robust set of original tunes, including several new tracks and a few selections from his last release, Constellations. An album that was recorded in 2023 at Chuck Phillips Studio. Be sure to check out Burke soon. He shares much of his life in his music and is worthy of your ears.
One of the bands was canceled due to a medical emergency. Afreyed Knot’s bass player, Taylor Bright, was hospitalized with some cardiac concerns. He was released from the hospital early this week and hopes to be rocking with the band later this weekend, on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Turnage Theater.
Closing out the first night of Wally Palooza 2 was one of the area's hardest-working music makers. Morgan Hudson has been blazing on my Facebook feed since 2022. Even though I was not publishing anything then, I was still watching the scene via my Facebook feed, and she always had exciting updates. She still does. This week, she started things off on our local news for Music Monday with Shannon Baker. Next week, the performer will compete to appear in Rolling Stone Magazine. Be sure to cast your vote her way!
MoCo Morgan and Company
Morgan Hudson, lead singer and acoustic guitarist, was joined on stage to close out the evening by Brian Burke on bass, Kurt Hauser on drums, and Ryan Griffin on lead guitar. Overall, this quartet represents a powerhouse of talent supporting our scene uniquely.
I want to take a minute to applaud Brian Burke, who always lends a hand or assists area music makers when needed. He still hosts open mic nights in the area and lends his time and talent when he can. Last Friday night was a good example; he played with three of the four performing acts. See the gallery above.
In many behind-the-scenes stories, the musicians are the glue, and the club owners are the posterboard that helps them stick. However, this case is a little different as guitarist Ryan Griffin and drummer Kurt Hauser provide the venue and perform with one of the area's hottest bands, which, by the way, was formed in their establishment. The two musicians and friends own Nash in downtown Greenville. It is within those four walls that dreams unfolded and music blossomed. Griffin and Hauser are long-time friends, yet neither acknowledged their love of music until Griffin dusted off his dream book and brought his idea of owning a restaurant that offered southern cooking and live music to his buddy. When the downtown location opened, so did Nash.
During an open mic night, the two pals learned of the other's desire to play music, and singer-songwriter Morgan Hudson heard the two jamming, and by the end of the night, she was proposing they form a band. That was several years ago, but I finally caught that band on Friday, June 21, 2024, and they were rocking like they've been jamming together for decades. Below is a video of their performance as the sun set and the full moon rose over Lil Washington, NC, to the sounds of MoCo.
Along with great originals, the band shared a few familiar songs. Check them out on all streaming platforms and social media outlets.
**********
Media Recap for Wally Palooza 2 ~ Day 1
Wally Palooza 2 ~ Day Three
On Sunday, June 23, 2024, I caught seven of the ten acts scheduled to appear. It was another scorcher of a day, but most bands and their fans braved the brutal heat to rock the day away.
When I arrived, Blayke Scott was sharing his jams. This young lad is another inspiring one to watch. The guitarist is based in Chocowinity and has many country flavors in his stylings.
Following his performance, James Warren graced the stage to share a set of popular tunes. I met Warren several years ago at an open mic night in Greenville. It was nice to hear him sharing sounds again.
The Hot Dog Professor, Erik Everhart, was the third act on stage, and sadly, I stepped out for a quick snack. When I returned, Thankfully Departed were jamming their grooves. The Grateful Dead tribute band is new on the scene. Their drummer, Craig, told me that Wally Palooza 2 marked their fourth gig as a band.
Ronnie Cottle was the next act to grace the stage in the mid-afternoon heat. This solo act is a seasoned player who also helped run sound on Friday evening. This stinger has a few shows in the weeks ahead, so watch for those on the calendar below.
The Feuston Brothers are an original band from the Edenton area. I have been friends with vocalist and guitarist Darren Feuston for years on Facebook, but we met face-to-face on Sunday, and I got to hear the band. Wow. I love the music they are making. The Brothers are Darren and David Feuston on drums. Their good friend, guitarist Jon Royce, is the first to inspire the brothers to play music as kids and the last to join the band. The band got together in 2013. Their bass player, Robbie Weber, joined them in 2014. They look forward to finishing and releasing a new recording later this year. They do have a couple of shows coming up. You can catch them tonight at Nash on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The music starts at 7 pm. On Thursday, July 4th, you can see them live at Sagos on the River in Elizabeth City, NC. I hope more clubs in our area will consider these guys for showcasing original music. Below is a snippet of their song The Water's Edge:
Honeybee Kind was another fun act. The acoustic duo is dynamic and entertaining. Sarah Baumgartner and Jordan Dixon have been jamming together for more than a decade, and they also have partnered together in life and have worked on several band projects over the years. They were based in Raleigh and recently moved to our downeast region, so they are looking for more places to play around Pitt, Craven, Carteret, and Beaufort Counties. If anyone is looking for a fun duo, they fit the bill. Those wanting to see them soon are in luck; they are gigging this evening at Nauti Dawg Brewing Co. You can reach out to them via their Facebook page. Click the photo below to get there.
Closing out the three-day event was the popular party band TrainWreck. These boys always bring the fun to the stage, whether four or twelve pieces. They are always tight in their delivery and play the songs that make you dance. Friends and fans looking to catch TrainWreck have several opportunities available in July. 4- Mulberry House Roof Top in Washington, NC; 21- Greenville Music In The Park; 26- (Wilmington) Pantana Bobs; and 27- Gaffers EI. To follow the band, click on the picture below.
***********
Media Recap for Wally Palooza 2 ~ Day 3
11th Annual SilosPalooza in Oriental on Saturday
It was also hot to trot in Oriental last weekend. I made it out to the 11th Annual SilosPalooza hosted by The Silos Restaurant in their backyard at the Red Rooster Music Pavilion. They used the big stage on Saturday to host four bands from all over the state.
The Stagger Brothers—Jimmy, Jeter, Jeb Moe, and Jagger hail from the backwoods of NC's Orange and Pamlico Counties and play eclectic Americana roots music with an Afro-Caribbean twist, just like their daddy and mamas taught them. The Stagger Bros. have been making music since 2019 and have managed to stay under the radar primarily by doing impromptu gigs at local bars, breweries, and parties in the Chapel Hill/Durham area when the wind blows right. The Stagger Brothers feature Jimmy (alias Bryan Gibson) on guitar and vocals, Jeter (aka Shawn Aldridge) on guitar, lap steel, harmonica, and vocals, Jeb Moe (alias Richard Tazewell) on keyboards and vocals, and Jagger (aka David Shore) on drums. The Staggers Brothers were excited and honored to have Mr. Bernard Purdie, one of history's most recorded session drummers and 2013 inductee into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame!
Next on the big stage was Heart Stop. This classic rock band is based in Carteret County but has been making its rounds around the region. The quartet features Dan Brenenstuhl, lead guitar, vocals; Mike Cofone, drums; Lee Butt, lead vocals, guitar, saxophones, and keyboards and AJ Busenbark, bass, vocals. Heart Stop will keep the toes tapping by offering popular songs that bring you back in time. If you missed them last weekend, catch them next weekend at the 44th Annual Croaker Festival on Saturday, July 6, 2024.
Headlining the 11th Annual SilosPalooza was the Asheville-based trio Lua Flora featuring the music of Evan Button, songwriter, singer, and guitar, Chad Van Dyke on guitar, vocals, and mandolin, and Elias Grimsley on drums. I have enjoyed their music in my car since parting ways with them. They have a fun vibe that is not easily described. It's almost like reggae moved to the mountains and then rolled back to the beach! Saturday night was their second time playing to folks in the little harbor town. They debuted last fall during the Ol Front Porch Festival.
I missed their debut but met up with the band in Greensboro a few nights before their show here and enjoyed it so much that I didn't want to leave the Flat Iron on Thursday, June 20, 2024. They surprised me with their unique blend of music cultures. They stay busy playing the Southeast territory where Buttons hails. The composer was raised in Virginia Beach, where a lot of reggae music was playing around the house. Those vibes remain in the talented artist's works, but interestingly enough, he often expresses himself in a folk style. His ability to blend the two styles with present-day technology adds to the band's allure. One of the Hellcats within my earshot said, "He has a good knowledge of sound and how it works."
They have a show closer to home in Asheville on Saturday, July 13, 2024. According to a March Facebook post, this much-anticipated event is now in our sights, so don't miss out.
Asheville! We are stoked to bring you Asheville River Day at The Outpost, presented by MountainTrue. Grab some tubing tickets during the day, then float with us all night with music from Lua Flora, Sons of Paradise, Yesterdays Clothes, BIG FUR, Cigarettes At Sunset, and Strawhouse.
Tickets on sale now: https://www.etix.com/.../outpostasheville-river-day-wlua...
You can catch them the following week at Neptune's Parlour in Raleigh on Friday, July 19, 2024. The music is set for 7 pm.
If you can't make a show, Button says that's cool. You can just head to Lua Flora to buy some merch or download their music on Spotify if that is your avenue.
Closing out the event on Saturday, June 22, 2024, was Pamlico County's Southern Hellcats. The rockabilly quartet comes with Connor Daniels, saxophone and backing vocals; Jake Ross, drums; Mike Sandvig, bass and supporting vocals; Chris Daniels, guitar, and lead vocals. If you missed the band last weekend, you can catch them tonight at Gaffer's in Emerald Isle. Music starts at 6:30 PM. Next weekend, the band will headline the 44th Annual Croaker Festival on Friday, July 5, 2024.
***********
Media Recap for the 11th Annual SilosPalooza 2024
Hats Off to Hosts and Hostesses of These Events
Last year, Wally Palooza came together in a local musician's backyard out of protest. It was a big middle finger to corporate greed and waste created by Wally Peterson, who was offended that the city where he lives brings in slightly better-known acts and high-priced up-and-comers to perform at events when they have a great scene that our locals connect with regularly.
This year's festival featured twice as many bands, more days, and a venue. Laura Scoble, owner of the High Water Social, got behind Peterson's idea and offered her second venue. During the pandemic, Scoble and her partner opened the bar, and it has become a fun place for music lovers and players to gather.
It is located at the river's edge and is an excellent location for community events such as Wally Palooza.
The next big celebration featuring live music is coming your way in the week ahead. This Joint Is Jumpin' will be held on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Live music starts at 11 a.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m.
There will be six bands throughout the day.
Though they have only been open briefly, Scoble and her partner Kathy are no strangers to the business. The couple also owns Backwater Jack's Tiki Bar & Grill, where Scoble built a stage with a bar and front-row seating and paired it with delicious food at affordable prices. Pebble Beach stage boasts live music every Wednesday through Sunday.
I happen to understand both sides of the debate that created WallyPalooza. I do think towns do better with both kinds of events. And considering all the cities I visit, they all do an excellent job of providing both. I can add to the debate: I believe all local musicians deserve a considerable raise, so when towns and established businesses put together events, I would ask them to spend a total gig price, maybe more, for a quick set. The bands bring the customers. They deserve the bonus. Scoble understands this, too.
She agrees with me that no one deserves that break more than the local music maker who shows up to host local open mic nights for their community of musicians. I find these players are never in it for the money first but rather for the love of music. Their passion deserves its fair due.
In the three years, I have known Wally Peterson, I have known him to go above and beyond for our local music makers. He is genuinely a constant hum on the local music scene of Beaufort and Pitt Counties. He brings passion and love to the stage when he sets out to build an event to display local music, which is why so many players offer their time and talent to support his efforts.
That being said, as Peterson reflects on the event, he says he would do everything differently next time, but first and foremost, forming a committee is the next step. He also foresees moving it to a cooler season during the calendar year.
A committee can make all the difference in the world. Like minds often think alike but bring new perspectives to the table. One of the beautiful things about a group organization is that everyone knows someone they can reach out to to bring $$$ to the cause. This will raise awareness of the event, the causes they are promoting, and the musicians that grace the stage. That money raised by the committee reaching out to local business owners for sponsorship will secure pay for the bands and a promotion opportunity for the sponsor.
Given the level of commitment by the bands and the promoter, I pledge to be a part of Peterson's 2025 Planning Committee so that WP3 happens. If you want to be a part of making this event more spectacular, send Wally a message Wally Palooza Past & Future
Meet The SiloPalooza People!
Regarding the SiloPalooza, a committee of only two is needed to make the event fly. Chris and Kim Daniels do their part to support local live music while feeding the community they serve. Married for 21 years, the couple opened The Silos Restaurant in 2010. Not long after they opened their doors, they offered a stage to local music makers with a mid-week open mic night. That jam still takes place each Wednesday on the stage of the Silos Restaurant. All are welcome to participate in the fun; bring your instrument and tell the boss you want to play!
After a couple of years of meeting the local music makers, SiloPalooza was born in the parking lot of The Silos. As the years passed, the couple built an empire with a fun backyard for all to enjoy. The Red Rooster Music Pavilion is located behind the restaurant and has two stages, a covered bar, a pond, and a beautiful landscape. The big stage is used for the bigger productions, while the small stage hosts live music every Friday evening from 7-10 p.m.
This couple stays very busy, not only with their businesses (yes, they have several) but also as members of many committees and organizations and sit on the boards of local nonprofits that benefit the community in the town where they thrive.
The pair is dynamic because they both bring a lot to the table. Chris incorporates music into the program because he is a musician, currently shredding notes with the rockabilly band Southern Hellcats, while his wife Kim is a productions person. That is why you can find the duo behind the soundboard united in their efforts to support live music.
They are a big part of the production piece for the town's annual celebration. Next weekend, the Croaker Festival will celebrate 44 years on Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6, 2024.
You will also find their contributions to the town with the Ol Front Porch Music Festival.
A few weeks ago, Daniels used his stage and band, The Southern Hellcats, to raise money for the fall music event, Ol Front Porch Music Festival. Next week, the rockabilly quartet will headline the Croaker Festival on Friday night with music at 7 pm.
The Calendar at a Glance
One of the features I like about this site is the calendar of events, which I have placed in the footer. I use Facebook and email invitations to build this calendar. I click interested on the Facebook event and then add it to my Google Calendar. Sometimes, I create events based on emails from various groups. Depending upon the location of the event will depend on the color it is assigned. RED events are located in New Bern, NC. BLUE events are located along the Crystal Coast and throughout the plains region of North Carolina. YELLOW events highlight the Piedmont Region. That is also where many big cities, including Raliegh, Durham, and Charlotte, are located. The GRAY area covers the westernmost regions of the state.
I welcome all bands and venues throughout the state to share their events with me on Facebook, ncmz.live. You may also send your info to my email, tracey.stones.writer@gmail.com.
Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed your time here, please subscribe for more music updates.
###
コメント