If you like good music, a beautiful venue, and a worthwhile cause, the place you need to be this weekend (September 13 – 14) is the 8th Annual Mountain Song Festival hosted at The Brevard Music Center. This family-fun event benefits the Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County, and ticket sales help support educational opportunities for both children and adults. The festivities get started this coming Friday evening at the Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium – a stunning open-air space nestled under the Pisgah National Forest that’s equipped for rain or sun. Let’s count on sun, though.
The lineup is chock-full of talent and twang. Brevard’s own Grammy winning Steep Canyon Rangers will kick things off on Friday evening starting at 5:30 p.m. Tim O’Brien will be joined by his sister, Mollie, for a set followed by the Carolina Chocolate Drops, another Grammy winning band, picking until the wee hours of the night. Gates open at noon on Saturday where a number local acts, such as Balsam Range and Shannon Whitworth, are featured throughout the afternoon. Bluegrass power couple, yes they’re married, Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn go on at 6:15 p.m. with The Steep Canyon Rangers wrapping up the weekend at 8 p.m. You can’t go wrong here, people.
Food, beer, and art vendors will be out in full force, so there’s no need to bring anything into the venue. While camping is not allowed on festival grounds, there are a number of great spots around Transylvania County as well as in the Pisgah National Forest to pitch a tent. You can order your tickets online or by phone. Prices range from $30 to $40. Can’t commit to both days? No worries. You can purchase tickets individually. And for you moms and dads out there, children under 10 get in free.
All in all, it’s a great way to spend the last weekend of summer and prepare for the coming of fall.