www.brevard.edu/clarion
Volume 80, Issue 4 Web Edition SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
Happy
Con^itution
Day! Z
September 17, 2014
The Steep Canyon Rangers were one of many artists who performed at the 2014 Mountain Song Festivai at the Brevard Music Center. The annuai event is a
fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County.
Beer, bluegrass, Brevard
By Jonathan Purnell
staff Writer
Crowds of people flocked to this year’s Moun
tain Song Music Festival. Local food, beer, art
and music made the festival a rousing success.
Mountain Song was started by John Felty and
has been a Brevard tradition for the past 9 years.
Flosted by the Steep Canyon Rangers, this event at
the Brevard Music Center draws bluegrass artists
such as The Kruger Brothers, Sam Bush, Seldom
Scene, and many others. It is known for its sustain
able and eco-friendly mantra, with compost and
recycling around every comer.
Many local shops and eateries were set up ven
dor booths for the 2014 festival. Mud Dabber’s
Pottery, Local Color and Purple Bus Jewelry
were just a few of the local shops there. Festival-
goers also enjoyed Kiwi Gelato, Quotations Cafe,
HobNob, and Rollin’ Smoke Bar-B-Que to satisfy
their appetite.
With the good food, there was great beer. Oskar
Blues Brewery provided beer for this years’ fes
tival. Aaron Baker, an employee of the brewery.
said, “We have been sponsoring Mountain Song
for the past 5 years and we always love being a
part of it. John Felty, the founder of the festival,
is great friends with Dale Katechis, the owner of
the brewery.” One of the reasons that Oskar Blues
opened in Brevard is because of this friendship
with Felty.
Another aspect of this festival is its sustainable
atmosphere. Many volunteers helped make this
year’s festival as eco-friendly as possible. Marlee
Joyce, a volunteer from BC said, “As an environ
mental science major, I am super supportive of
this festival being so eco-friendly.”
Let’s not forget about the music. This year’s
lineup included the Steep Canyon Rangers, The
Kruger Brothers, Della Mae, The Seldom Scene,
and many other bluegrass acts. The Steep Canyon
Rangers opened the festival on Friday night with
an energetic welcome.
Later that night, The Kruger Brothers ended
the festivities for the day with an incredible
performance. The three piece act also brought in
the fiddle player from the Steep Canyon Rangers
for a set.
At the end of their performance they received a
standing ovation with thunderous applause.
Saturday, festival-goers arrived at noon and
were treated to more bluegrass action. Chatham
County Line started off followed by Shannon
Whitworth. The Seldom Scene, one of the most
prevalent bluegrass bands of the 20th century,
rocked the auditorium with some of their most
memorable songs.
To finish off the night, the Steep Canyon Rang
ers returned for a final send-off set. It was electric.
The crowd was treated to a special appearance of
Sam Bush, one of the fathers of bluegrass. Bush
and the Rangers filled the auditorium with rollick
ing tunes making the crowd cheer.
Mountain Song 2014 was an awesome experi
ence filled with music and good times. Look out
for 2015’s festival. Next year will be the 10 year
anniversary of the festival and it will be a weekend
you will not want to miss. For bluegrass, beer, and
fun. Mountain Song Music Festival in Brevard is
the place to be.