By Corrine Watson
July 29, 2019
The annual Reevestock Music Festival returns August 2-3 to Elkin, North Carolina with a stellar lineup of music, food, and beer. The two-day festival began as a community fundraiser in 2011 to benefit renovations of Reeves Theater. As of 2014, the theater was purchased and became a privately owned facility, which doubles as a music venue and cafe. Reevestock continues to give back to the community, as the proceeds of the festival now go towards the Reevestock Scholarship fund to assist local high school seniors seeking to further their education.
Organized by The Foothills Arts Council and Elkin’s own, Time Sawyer (who will be performing Saturday evening at 7 p.m.), this summer bash kicks off with a free Get Down block party at 5 p.m. on Friday evening, where guests are invited to enjoy the culture and beautiful rural scenery of Downtown Elkin with an acoustic set from Charlotte’s Swim In The Wild. The festival has seen past performances from The Marcus King Band, Cordovas, Todd Snider, Town Mountain, and other impressive names in Americana, rock, and country music, so you can always expect a lively soundtrack for the event.
After the block party, Grammy-nominated country singer-songwriter Brent Cobb will take the stage in Reeves Theater at 8 p.m. ($20-$30). This small town Georgia artist has been making quite a name for himself since the release of his debut album, Shine on Rainy Day. Cobb is a storyteller, using his lyrics to paint a picture of small town life, giving his songs a personal feel. This lyrical authenticity is brought together by Cobb’s unique twangy country funk sound, which will no doubt set the tone for the weekend. Following Cobb’s performance, an afterparty will continue into the Late Night Hoot, where attendees can venture to Angry Troll Brewing for a free performance from Charlotte-based funk band, Akita.
On Saturday, the main event will take place at Elkin’s Hidden Amphitheater, where attendees will have the opportunity to explore the privately owned outdoor venue. The grounds are tucked away in the Blue Ridge foothills, shaded by trees with interconnecting streams that surround the mainstage, giving the venue a campy feel. Kids will have the opportunity to take part in the “Elkin Rocks!” scavenger hunt, face painting, coloring, and more.
Reevesock also incorporates the community by bringing in local and regional food and beverage vendors with a wide variety of flavors like the hearty cooking of 13 Bones’ “Soon-to-Be-Famous” ribs and BBQ plates, street tacos from Tacos Costa Grande, or vegan/vegetarian sandwiches from The Snack Wagon. Attendees can also swing by the Elkin Amphitheater to grab a local craft beer or wine from Slightly Askew Winery, Skull Camp Brewing, and Angry Troll Brewing. Other vendors will include A-Maize-ing Kettle Korn, White Owl Snacks, Talia Espresso, Mama Crockett’s, and Vic the Chili Man (Friday only).
Between the food and family fun, the venue will be filled with rhythmic acoustic and vocal melodies from a range of masterful artists in bluegrass, rock, and country music.
Mipso
The festival will be headlined by Chapel Hill’s, Mipso. The quartet takes the traditional sound of bluegrass/folk music and tinkers with harmonies and instruments to create a unique modern style. Their latest album Edges Run maintains a folk tone spiked with the band’s personal funk. Mipso has a talent for making their live performances feel intimate, leaving room for strings and vocal melodies to guide the atmosphere of the venue. The band is currently in the middle of a cross-country tour.
Time Sawyer
Time Sawyer will undoubtedly energize their hometown audience with their alt-country rock stylings. As they flow between rhythm heavy crowd-pleasers to the bluesy ballads, you’ll get to see how the band is inspired by their surroundings and small-town roots. They have performed several festivals across the Southeast and continue to grow their fanbase as they bring a sense of community to each set.
Songs From the Road Band
Asheville’s, Songs From the Road Band, stands out as an all-star collaboration of members who have each earned their stripes within the industry. Their banjo and fiddle heavy songs, give their music live energy, while the rhythm of the bass and steady strum of the guitar give songs a more folk-blues sound. The band is currently touring the Southeast and will be making several stops in NC along the way.
Nicholas Jamerson
Since his days a part of the duo Sundy Best, Kentucky based singer song-writer Nicholas Jamerson has grown in his craft as a solo artist with the release of his solo album NJ. Jamerson’s songs shape a narrative of reflective honesty, with tempos mixed with an upbeat blend of strings with the occasional juxtaposition of a harmonica, which gives him a modern folk sound.
Isaac Smith
Georgia based singer, Isaac Smith honed his musical talent from an early age, playing in church. In 2013, he stepped into songwriting and released his album Young or Old in 2017. Smith’s music rings with southern soul refusing to be constrained by genre tropes as his sound carries traits of indie rock, yet remain grounded in Americana and folk.
Shay Martin Lovette
Shay Martin Lovette released his solo album Swift Drifting in July 2018, laying the groundwork for what is likely just the beginning of his emerging musical career. His lyrics go on an emotional exploration of loss, love, and family while maintaining hope. Between the smooth country blues, Lovette also incorporates his harmonica and stronger rhythms, giving the songs a lively country twang.
Check out more on Reevestock happening August 2-3 in Elkin, North Carolina.
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