Balsam Range performing Thursday evening at the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival.Great Music on the Outer Banks Stage
We had a chance to check out the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival yesterday and for any of our Joe Lamb Jr., & Associates guests visiting the Outer Banks this weekend, Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo is the place to be.
The weather is looking absolutely spectacular through the weekend, although the festival wraps up on Saturday.
Yesterday we caught Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Balsam Range, and Steep Canyon Rangers at the festival. That's three very big names in the world of bluegrass and they lived up to their billing.
The Rage is probably the most traditional of the groups, but Vincent has surrounded herself with amazing musicians and the result is bluegrass done right.
The vocals that Balsam Range brings to the stage is almost otherworldly they're so good. How good? Good enough that they have been named Vocal Group of the Year and lead singer Buddy Melton has been named Male Vocalist of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.
And then there's Steep Canyon Rangers who have taken the traditions of bluegrass and stood them on their heads combining elements of rock, blues and classical in to their arrangements—and yet retaining a very pure traditional sound.
There's more great music on tap.
Tonight—Friday—Rhonda Vincent comes back for an encore performance beginning at 7:45. Gene Watson closes out night with a 9:15 show.
Look for the Soggy Mountain Boys closing the show tomorrow night, but don't come just for the last act; the Bluegrass Festival is an all day event and Roanoke Island Festival Park is a beautiful setting for the event.
