by Violet Rebecca Jones
I love bluegrass music, so when I heard there is a venue that has free bluegrass concerts within fifty miles of me, I knew I had to go.
The Venue
Fletcher Feed & Seed in Fletcher, NC is as "old-time country" as one can get. Located in an old feed and seed store built in 1919, and still bearing many original features including the tin ceiling tiles, the venue is not far from I-26 just outside Asheville, NC.
The building reminded me of the old hardware store that I used to visit with my parents when I was a little girl. It is a gem from times gone by. The shelves appear to be original, and they are filled with many nostalgic mementos such as old table radios.
There is no cover charge for this small concert hall, and there is free coffee for all. They do sell soft drinks and snacks, and donations for the band are welcomed, but no one is made to feel they have to buy snacks or contribute money. Some did, others did not. It is a nonalcoholic hall that also conducts a Sunday church service and a mid-week bible study and potluck dinner for all who would like to attend.
The Audience
The atmosphere is one of wholesomeness and there were all ages present, from two-year-olds to ninety-year olds. However, the majority of the audience was either senior citizens or teenagers, which was an unusual but interesting mix.The fascinating part was that the older audience members
could keep up with the teenagers in the impromptu clogging competition that seemed to spring up spontaneously without any announcements from the band. However, dancing is encouraged, and there was everything including clogging, two-stepping, and waltzes. There is a hardwood dance floor, and it was full for every song except the gospel numbers, when people were asked to not dance.
It was obvious that many of the dancers were regulars, and they even came dressed in their tap shoes for the clogging. One couple was especially "decked out", but I could never get a good picture of them. He was dressed in a black beret ( not very country, but interesting) with a black and red shirt that had pictures of guitars on the back with the words "Instruments of Bass Destruction". She was dressed in black leggings, a red tulle mini skirt with ruffled layers, a black western-style shirt with red embroidery, and a straw fedora hat with a black satin ribbon and a gold charm on the band. She was wearing ankle high embossed cowboy(girl) boots. They definitely stood out from the crowd who were mostly dressed in casual clothes and possibly their dancing shoes. Many of the people seemed to know one another, so there was a sense of family and community.
The Band
The night I was there, the featured band was the Travis Frye and Blue Mountain Band, and they were superb . The fiddle player is a two-time North Carolina state champion, but the entire band did an awesome job. The mandolin player and lead singer is father to the lead guitarist and band manager ( They explained all this during the show). Apparently, the father is a disc jockey at a radio station in Mt. Airy, NC during the day. At one point, the band brought in a young lad about twelve years of age to do a guest dueling banjos number with the guitarist. He wasn't too bad.
Seating
As I said, the venue is in an old feed store that still retains much of its earlier character. The seating is an eclectic mix of old church pews, rocking chairs, stacking metal chairs, and some theater seats that were apparently taken from a theater at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN during renovations there. There were also a few people sitting on a ledge near the windows. The only problem was the support pillars that are located at four central points and can block one's view if you are unlucky enough to have to sit behind one of them. However, there were not assigned seats, so if someone left, you were welcome to take their seat. It was easy to move around, get to the restrooms ( which were surprisingly nice and very clean), get concessions, walk outside for fresh air, etc.
It was an evening that ended long before I wanted it to, but I know that I will be back to hear the music of the mountains.
Text and Pictures Copyright 2014 Violet Rebecca Jones
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| http://www.feedandseednc.com/about.htm |
The Venue
Fletcher Feed & Seed in Fletcher, NC is as "old-time country" as one can get. Located in an old feed and seed store built in 1919, and still bearing many original features including the tin ceiling tiles, the venue is not far from I-26 just outside Asheville, NC.
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| Click on any photo to enlarge |
The building reminded me of the old hardware store that I used to visit with my parents when I was a little girl. It is a gem from times gone by. The shelves appear to be original, and they are filled with many nostalgic mementos such as old table radios.
The Audience
The atmosphere is one of wholesomeness and there were all ages present, from two-year-olds to ninety-year olds. However, the majority of the audience was either senior citizens or teenagers, which was an unusual but interesting mix.The fascinating part was that the older audience members
could keep up with the teenagers in the impromptu clogging competition that seemed to spring up spontaneously without any announcements from the band. However, dancing is encouraged, and there was everything including clogging, two-stepping, and waltzes. There is a hardwood dance floor, and it was full for every song except the gospel numbers, when people were asked to not dance.
The Band
 |
| https://www.facebook.com/TravisFryeandBlueMountain |
Seating
As I said, the venue is in an old feed store that still retains much of its earlier character. The seating is an eclectic mix of old church pews, rocking chairs, stacking metal chairs, and some theater seats that were apparently taken from a theater at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN during renovations there. There were also a few people sitting on a ledge near the windows. The only problem was the support pillars that are located at four central points and can block one's view if you are unlucky enough to have to sit behind one of them. However, there were not assigned seats, so if someone left, you were welcome to take their seat. It was easy to move around, get to the restrooms ( which were surprisingly nice and very clean), get concessions, walk outside for fresh air, etc.
It was an evening that ended long before I wanted it to, but I know that I will be back to hear the music of the mountains.
Text and Pictures Copyright 2014 Violet Rebecca Jones
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