As the dust settles and the last piece of garbage is thrown away, it becomes apparent how amazing this past weekend was. And to be honest, how amazing the past 5 years have been. To wake up everyday and have Music on the Mountaintop as my job has been unreal and unfair. When we started 5 years ago, none of us ever dreamed of still being in the game 5 years down the line. We’ve had success and failures, achievements and disappointments but at the end of the day, we’ve been so lucky to bring amazing music to the community of Boone & the High Country. To all the artist, we thank you for performances, especially Sam Bush and Railroad Earth, two returning MOTM staples. To our staff – Billy Herring, Mary Webner, Jason Balcome, David Blackwell, Wes Hight, Matt Gould, and our friends from Brevard at Mountain Song Productions - you truly are the reason behind our success. Your sacrifice and support has carried us every step of the way. To my family and friends (which turns out to be a lot of my staff), I personally want to thank you for your continued support and love. And lastly, to our fans…I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It sounds simple but is true; we do this for you. The greatest feeling of the entire weekend is when I get to walk up on stage and see thousands of smiling faces. We’re glad to bring so much joy, to so many people.
Thank you to all our wonderful bands and sponsors. The 5th annual is gearing up to be something special. See you on the Mountaintop in 7 DAYS! For more info visit, Music on the Mountaintop.
9:30am – Gates Open
10:00am – 10:45pm – Stoney Creek Boys
11:10am – Noon – Salem Speaks
12:30pm – 2:00pm – Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
2:30pm – 4:00pm – Railroad Earth Super Jam featuring: Sam Bush, Larry & Jenny Keel, members of Monroeville, special guests & more!
4:30pm – 6:30pm – Sam Bush
MUSIC ON THE MOUNTAINTOP ANNOUNCES RAILROAD EARTH CURATED WORKSHOPS
Workshops to Include: Zen and the Art of Improvisation, Introduction to Weird Instruments, Mandolin 101, and Morning Meditation with TIm Carbone
Special All-Star Tribute to Woody Guthrie Announced Featuring Railroad Earth, Sam Bush Band, Larry & Natural Bridge, and members of Monroeville
Single Day Tickets Now Available
Boone, North Carolina(August 02, 2012) - Music On the Mountaintop has announced a series of workshops curated by festival hosts Railroad Earth during the fifth annual three-day music festival outside of Boone, North Carolina this August 24-26, 2012. Taking place throughout the weekend, the members of Railroad Earth have created a series of interactive workshops designed to compliment the festival and bringing fans closer to their creative process. Workshops are to include: Zen and the Art of Improvisation featuring Railroad Earth’s Tim Carbone, Greensky Bluegrass’ Anders Beck and Railroad Earth’s Andrew Altman; Introduction to Weird Instruments featuring Railroad Earth’s Andy Goessling; Mandolin 101 with Railroad Earth’s John Skehan, Sam Bush and Andy Goessling; and Morning Meditation with Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth.
The weekend of workshops will culminate with an All-Star Jam celebrating the 100th birthday of Woody Guthrie. Joining Railroad Earth in celebrating the music of this legendary folk musician will be the Sam Bush Band, Larry & Natural Bridge and members of Monroeville. Additionally, Monroeville along with the Stoney Creek Boys are the most recent addition to this year’s lineup for Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop. For a complete look at the lineup and to day-to-day schedule visit www.musiconthemountaintop.com.
Music On the Mountaintop will return for a second year to the Grandfather Campgrounds in Foscoe, North Carolina. The picturesque venue is located approximately ten miles from Boone, North Carolina, providing potable water throughout, several public restrooms and bathhouses, a public store, and plenty of shaded campsites. Additionally, Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop will expand to include late night shows on Friday and Saturday, VIP, Summit VIP and all-inclusive ticket options, daily yoga classes, cabin rental options, and a new offsite parking location just miles away.
Tickets are on sale now starting at $99 for the weekend. The price includes three days of music, camping, and an alcohol fee. Daily tickets are also available, for $50 for Friday and Saturday entry and $40 for Sunday. A limited number of pop-up sites are still available, without hook-ups and there is ample camping on a first come, first serve basis. RV camping spots have sold out. Tickets and camping options are available online at www.musiconthemountaintop.com.
Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop is produced by Yellow Dog Entertainment and hosted by Railroad Earth. Visit www.musiconthemountaintop.com for the most up to date information.
Boonetown is about to throwdown some serious jams come August. Music on the Mountaintop has just confirmed its second round of artists for the 5th Annual festival located right outside of Boone (Foscoe, NC) this August 24th, 25th & 26th, 2012. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Greensky Bluegrass, Naked Gods, Rose’s Pawn Shop, SalemSpeaks and DJ Sahgah have recently added to an already eclectic and diverse lineup.
Our host this year, Railroad Earth, will perform all 3 nights at the beautiful Grandfather Campgrounds – “Railroad Earth is thrilled to be bringing our energy and fan base together with Music on the Mountaintop, to build this into something for years to come,” said Railroad Earth general manager Brian Ross. Also, we’re ecstatic to have the following artists this year in the High Country – Dr. Dog, JJ Grey and Mofro, Sam Bush, The Futurebirds, River Whyless, The Hackensaw Boys, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Holy Ghost Tent Revival and The Black Lillies.
Early Bird 3-day tickets are on sale for $85 till July 4th! For tickets and more information about camping, music workshops, cabin rentals, late night shows & more, click here.
Want to play at this year’s Music on the Mountaintop Festival, alongside Dr. Dog? ReverbNation is providing a free submission contest for bands and aspiring artists… you must submit by July 1st, 2012! For more details, click here.
Railroad Earth's Music On the Mountaintop, the annual music festival held outside Boone, North Carolina, will take place this August 24-26. Other artists who will be playing festival alongside hosts Railroad Earth include; Dr. Dog; JJ Grey and Mofro; Sam Bush; The Futurebirds; River Whyless; the Hackensaw Boys; Larry Keel & Natural Bridge; Holy Ghost Tent Revival; The Black Lillies; and more.
Festival season is among us my friends. If you’re looking for a great time in the High Country of North Carolina… check out Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop! This year we’re extremely excited to announce our partnership with Railroad Earth, have old favorites back like Sam Bush and Larry Keel and bring in the new sounds of Dr. Dog and Futurebirds to the Boone area. We just released the 5th annual Music on the Mountaintop Initial Lineup for August 24-26, 2012 right outside Boone, NC… stay tuned for many more coming soon!
For early bird ticket info, click here. And listen to our Spotify Playlist, here. Hope to see you in the High Country this summer! Stay tuned for another wave of artists coming soon.
Partnership with Railroad Earth To Bring Added Creative To Festival
Tickets On Sale Friday, April 5, 2012 at 10 a.m. EST
Boone, NC(March 27, 2012) - Music On the Mountaintop, the annual music festival outside Boone, North Carolina has announced that the eclectic festival will return this August 24-26, 2012 as Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop. Celebrating its fifth year, Music on the Mountaintop is expanding to include three full days of music, including two nights of Railroad Earth and other special events on Sunday with the band. Having played the previous two Music on the Mountaintop festivals the Americana-based band will be taking on a bigger role, helping to curate the lineup for 2012. More artists and festival details will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Railroad Earth is thrilled to be bringing our energy and fan base together with Music on the Mountaintop, to build this into something for years to come,” said Railroad Earth general manager Brian Ross.
Music On the Mountaintop will return for a second year to the Grandfather Campgrounds in Foscoe, North Carolina. The picturesque venue is located approximately ten miles from Boone, North Carolina, providing potable water throughout, several public restrooms and bathhouses, a public store, and plenty of shaded campsites. Additionally, Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop will expand to include late night shows (Friday and Saturday), VIP, Summit VIP and All-Inclusive ticket options, music workshops, daily yoga classes, cabin rental options, and a new offsite parking location just miles away.
“Over the last four years we’ve only scratched the surface with what we want to do with Music on the Mountaintop,” says festival director James Hunt. As we near year five, we are ready to make the big changes that will continue to establish Music on the Mountaintop as the premier festival in the region.”
This year, the ecologically driven festival will also include environmental and cultural workshops to better create awareness on pressing environmental issues. Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop will continue its work with Mountain Alliance and Appalachian Voices, to continue efforts for a cleaner more sustainable world.
A limited allotment of early bird tickets will go on sale Wednesday, April 5 at 10 a.m. EST for $85, before general admission tickets are offered starting at $99. Depending on availability tickets can be purchased at the gate for $120. The price includes three days of music, camping, and an alcohol fee. VIP packages will be made available this year with two levels, Ridge VIP and Summit VIP. Details on the VIP experiences will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets are available online at www.musiconthemountaintop.com.
Railroad Earth’s Music on the Mountaintop is produced by Yellowdog Entertainment and hosted by Railroad Earth. Visit www.musiconthemountaintop.com for the most up to date information.
River Whyless (Ryan, Halli, Alex and Matt) are bringing a new creative style to the Indie / Folk Rock scene and spreading their roots in the high country of Western North Carolina. Good friends from the Boone days and regulars at Music on the Mountaintop (interview @ 3:40), River Whyless (formerly Do it to Julia) based out of Asheville, NC are about to drop a brand new album this winter - A Stone, A Leaf, an Unfound Door - a quote from the famous American author and Asheville native, Thomas Wolfe. Fitting. Powerful harmonies, bittersweet lyrics, eclectic strings… the record is Wilco meets The Decemberists meets The Head and the Heart… but with their own unique angle and NC twang. Fresh off a two month tour, sprawling cross-country… the foursome is sounding, performing, looking better than ever (especially you, Ryan. wink wink). Listen, follow, watch, love, share, dance to River Whyless. They’re blowing up.
My good friend David Shehi from Honest Tune just dropped another video of the ‘King of Bluegrass’ from Music on the Mountaintop:
“If there ever was a festival that’s sound is summed up in its name, it is Music on the Mountaintop. Held near the highest point in the Blue Ridge mountain range, Grandfather Mountain, organically grown mountain music reigns supreme at the event that was born from a college environmental project.
A couple of months ago, we were pleased to present a few acoustic performances — featuring Railroad Earth, Acoustic Syndicate and The New Familiars — that were recorded on the mountain.
Thanks to a super busy summer, we would like to now present you with the first piece from our latest series, Fresh from the Archive. And since it is the first in a series, we thought we would go big with the King of Newgrass, four-time Grammy winner, current CMA Musician of the Year nominee and the gentleman who was awarded with the Living Legend Award on that August weekend on the mountain– Sam Bush and crew performing “Ridin’ That Bluegrass Train” live, backstage and unplugged at Music on the Mountaintop exclusively for Honest Tune.”
Keller’s a good friend with the MOTM crew. We had him headline the 2009 and 2010 festival in Boone, NC. I got to catch up with him in Telluride recently at the KOTO Doo-Dah show with Larry and Jenny Keel. Hilarious, quirky, strange, humble, and a FREEK on the guitar. Hope to have him back at Music on the Mountaintop down the road!
Video of KW in Telluride:
Keller Williams’ WIFLIF – The Whenever I Feel Like It Freek
This year, Music on the Mountaintop weathered Hurricane Irene, took on a brand new venue, and delivered an incredible lineup at the 4th annual music festival held at the Grandfather Campgrounds in Foscoe, NC. As the first week of classes at Appalachian State University wrapped up, the first weekend of the school year was much appreciated and celebrated with some great live music. Just a few miles outside Boone, NC, the brand new venue was a huge hit – offering more space for vendors, campers, and happy dancing festivarians. While Hurricane Irene was hitting the east coast of North Carolina, the High Country received the tail-ends of the rain and wind… but nothing to stop the great bluegrass pickin’, family-friendly activities, camping under the stars, and more than 20 artists who performed on the three-stage event.
The 4th annual festival brought a lineup second to none… bringing back old favorites – the legendary Sam Bush, Railroad Earth, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Acoustic Syndicate. Along with some new (awesome) faces on the festival circuit – 7 Walkers featuring Grateful Dead’s drummer Bill Kreutzmann, Greensky Bluegrass, Sol Driven Train, Frontier Ruckus, The Mantras and more. The two-day event also included local favorites like Naked Gods, Uncle Mountain, River Whyless, Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, Secret B-Sides, The Great Funktier and Town Mountain. Overall, the 4th annual lineup was one of the most eclectic lineups the festival has ever brought to the table – a good mixture of rock ‘n roll, bluegrass, jam, folk, and funk.
In addition to providing a high-profile music festival atmosphere, Music on the Mountaintop stands firm in giving back a percentage of its income to local, nonprofit organizations. This year’s recipients were Appalachian Voices and the Mountain Alliance. Appalachian Voices is “an award-winning, environmental organization committed to protecting the land, air and water of the central and southern Appalachian region and advancing a vision for a cleaner energy future”. Mountain Alliance is “a community of individuals committed to providing Watauga County high school-aged youth with opportunities to explore and develop their leadership potential through experiential learning”. Another non-profit organization Music on the Mountaintop brought back this year was drum-STRONG – the Charlotte-based organization originated after the founder’s son was diagnosed with cancer in 2004; they raise money and awareness for cancer treatment and research. Giving back to local non-profits helps make Music on the Mountaintop so unique and different then other festivals… while also building a strong, close-knit community.
Music on the Mountaintop could not function without the great support of our sponsors. This year, New Belgium, Chaco, Footsloggers, Osprey, Royal Robbins, Stick Boy Bread Company, Boone Takeout, eno, Peabody’s, Our Daily Bread, Cheerwine, Mountain Khaki and many others supported the 2-day festival. They have been so kind to support the festival year after year and help give back to a greater cause – a one of a kind, ecologically driven large-scale music festival, offering first class entertainment as well as educational awareness on current environmental issues. Thank you for all your support!
