Coot Williams Road Bluegrass Festival 2013 - September 7 & 8: Preview

 The Coot Williams Road Bluegrass Festival open a two day run on September 7  at the Coot Williams Road grounds, a few miles north of Cherryville, NC. The festivities open at 4:00 PM on Friday afternoon with local bands and the award winning Nashville band The Grascals headlining. The day begins with an open stage in which local bands are invited to show their wares. The Coot Williams Road site, a natural bowl surrounded by a large grassy area in what was once a part of co-promoter Linda Hunsucker's family's farm, is a delightful setting for a small, intimate festival. Sound and light by John Holder's Blue Ridge Sound assures that Coot Williams will have excellent sound, while a shed just up the hill will continue to serve home cooked food at reasonable prices to those attending. Vendors row usually features band merchandise tents, a quality ice cream vendor, and a variety of crafts and instrument vendors. While  remaining a small festival (sponsored as a non-profit by the Catawba Valley Revival), Coot Williams Road has all the ingredients to continue to grow and develop.

Linda & John Hunsucker

The Bands

 The Grascals (Friday)

This popular and highly entertaining group can always be counted on for a high energy musically appealing show consisting of classic bluegrass covers and original material that's easily recognized as their own. 

 Terry Eldredge

Danny Roberts

Kristin Scott Benson

Balsam Range

Nominated for seven awards this year at the IBMA World of Bluegrass, coming up on September 24 - 28 in Raleigh, NC, Balsam Range has emerged from Haywood County, in the heart of the Smokey Mountains in the past few years to take the bluegrass world by storm. Their instrumental and vocal strengths are now being recognized as among the best in the contemporary world of bluegrass. Much of their material comes from within the band and is carefully selected for its combination of ardent faith, driving sound, plaintive lyrical content, and good humor. Don't miss this band, wherever you get a chance to see them. 

Caleb Smith

Mark Pruett

Darin Nicholson

Tim Surette

Nu-Blu

Daniel Routh

It's hard to believe Nu-Blu has been together as a band for ten years. By dint of hard work, careful and thoughtful song writing and selection, as well as talent, this group has emerged from the crowd and has successfully widened its name recognition beyond the bounds of its native North Carolina. Fronted by married couple Daniel and Carolyn Routh, the band features Daniel and Carolyn's excellent song writing and has become increasingly tight with Levi Austin on banjo and Austin Koener on mandolin. If you don't know this band yet, you'll enjoy meeting them and then spreading the word about them.

Carolyn Routh

The Harris Brothers

Reggie Harris

For years the Harris Brothers have remained a well guarded secret of their many fans in western North Carolina. This unique brother duo features Reggie Harris, whose guitar wizardry ranges from Django Rhinehart to the best contemporary jazz and bluegrass pickers. Brother Ryan's supple and versatile voice can sound like Johnny Cash or moan the blues like Muddy Waters. Their range and eclectic appeal has recently extended beyond their usual stomping grounds in Lenoir, NC and the resort mountain village of Blowing Rock to reach out to Nashville, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Perhaps the most often heard comment about them is, "Where have these guys been?" as music fans from an increasingly wide range have come to appreciate their excellence.

Ryan Harris

Bill Yates & the Country Gentlemen Tribute Band

Fans of the great, revolutionary bluegrass band The Country Gentlemen enjoy hearing this band, led by former Gents bassman Bill Yates, reprise many favorite Country Gentlemen hits. The Country Gentlemen, formed in 1957, were revolutionary in their use of folk music, rockabilly, and rock music within the bluegrass framework to widen the level of acceptability of bluegrass as a more eclectic genre. Headed by the late Charley Waller until his death in 2004, the Gents were a ground breaking band. Bill Yates, unable to play any longer because of severe arthritis, continues on vocals and as emcee. Mike Phipps, on guitar, has a voice eerily reminiscent of Waller's. 

 Mike Phipps

Bill Yates

The Gospel Plowboys, Timber Ridge, Carolina Foxfire, and other un-announced local bands will also appear.  Look for a good variety of satisfying and enjoyable music at Coot Williams.

The Environment

Performance Area

Harold & Sharon Bess' Home Made Ice Cream

Under the Tent at Night

Food Vending

Vendor's Row

The Details

How to Get to Coot Williams Road

Click the larger map link on the bottom of the map

and input your location in "A" and press the button

View Larger Map 

For further information and tickets, check out the festival flyer HERE. Note that reduced price tickets are available until the end of August. Flush toilets and hot showers are available in a clean building just behind the food tent. While there are no hookups available, the site is a pleasant place for rough camping, with plenty of room.  Hosts Linda and John Hunsucker seek to offer a fan friendly, comfortable festival at a reasonable price. Folks from nearby or willing to travel a little further won't be disappointed. 

John Hunsucker

 Linda Hunsucker