BackPorch Bluegrass: Home

NEW for 2008
North Carolina Banjo Championship

North Carolina is considered the banjo state and has produced world renowned banjo players - Snuffy Jenkins, Earl Scruggs, Jonny Whisnant, Merle Watson, Doc Walsh and Jim Mills. To honor the banjo tradition of the great state of North Carolina, Carolina in the Fall will introduce the North Carolina Banjo Championship at the 2008 festival. Keep checking www.carolinainthefall.com for updates.

Tickets are available in advance and at the gate. Children 12 & under - free with paying adult.

Friday October 17, 2008
Advance Tickets: $15
At the Gate: $20

Saturday October 18, 2008
Advance Tickets: $20
At the Gate: $25


Purchase Advance Tickets
At the present time we are not set up to handle credit cards. Mail us your check and your tickets will be sent to you in the mail.

Carolina in the Fall
579 Armory Road
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

By JERRY LANKFORD
Record Editor

BackPorch Bluegrass has become the most prolific band in the area in regards to churning out quality CD’s. And, they’ve done it again.

BackPorch Bluegrass: LIVE from Carolina in the Fall offers music lovers, particularly bluegrass fans a 20-track treat.
Although a few of the tracks are stage talk during October’s Carolina in the Fall festival – annually hosted by The Kruger Brothers at the Shepherd Farm in North Wilkesboro – there’s plenty of music.
Many of the tracks are new to the band’s set list, including Ashokan Farewell. Rodney Reavis’ fiddle work on that tune is almost too pretty to listen to.

The Kruger Brothers also appear as special guests on Little Georgia Rose. It’s interesting to hear the interaction between the banjos of Jens Kruger and Billy Ray Summerlin. Its give and take and meshes with melodic ease. Uwe Kruger’s guitar work is, as always, something to behold. But, despite the heavy-hitting special guests, this band is just plain good.

Lead man David Culler’s voice remains clear, high and lonesome as he takes you on journeys both sad and joyful, while his guitar holds it all together. Josh Winter’s mandolin is lightning fast and full of flavor as is his rich vocals. Summerlin’s banjo is always on the move, roaming the hills, howling at the moon, fussing at the revenuers and rattling curvy mountain roads. Bassist Randall Couch work on the CD is rock solid. This was Couch’s last performance with the band, however. Wilkes musician Tony Joines, who is known for playing everything from banjo to Dobro, has filled the bass player’s slot for the group.

Tracks on BackPorch Bluegrass: LIVE from Carolina in the Fall include: Pike County Breakdown, Salty Dog Blues, Cold Summer Day in Georgia, John Hardy, Little Maggie, Darkest Hour, Hallelujah I’m Ready, Ashokan Farewell, Whiskey Before Breakfast, Old Joe Clark, Carolina Mountain Boy, Running our of Track, Mountain Dew, Steel Guitar Rag, Rough and Rocky, How Mountain Girls Can Love and Sweet Georgia Rose.

The CD offers a clean, crisp audio that is reminiscent of the chilly fall night on which it was recorded. The CD is produced by BackPorch Bluegrass. It was recorded by Dave Fairall and mixed by Philip Zanon. Bill Ellis of Freedom Recording in Millers Creek mastered the album. Ellis and his wife, Therese also did the graphic designs and duplication of the CD.

BackPorch Bluegrass: LIVE from Carolina in the Fall is another great CD from one of the area’s finest bluegrass ensembles and is a great pick for any Americana music fan.

For more information go to www.backporchbluegrass.com
(The Record, North Wilkesboro, NC. Jan 23, 2008)

Billy Ray Summerlin, Banjo virtuoso, married his long time companion, Wanda Kay Church at 1:00pm today in a beautiful private ceremony at Harvest Time Church in North Wilkesboro, NC.

BPBG had the honor of providing the music for the ceremony. Please join us in wishing Billy Ray and Wanda a long and happy life together!

You can send them your regards to billyray@backporchbluegrass.com