Mountain Song Festival 2024

Local, regional and national acts to be featured

By F. B. Robinson

The Mountain Song Festival, now in its eighteenth year, is set to take place on September 6th and 7th at the Brevard Music Center in Brevard, North Carolina. The festival promises a blend of up-and-coming talent and nationally known acts. The festival's origin can be traced back to 2006, a year that marked the beginning of a serendipitous alignment of circumstances, personalities, and talents, all sparked by a mother's suggestion to her son. This rich history connects us all to the festival's roots and the spirit of community that it embodies.

Cindy Platt was a Brevard City Councilwoman with a penchant for civic duty and the reputation of knowing how to get things accomplished.  One of Cindy’s passions was The Transylvania Boys and Girls Club, of which she was a driving force.  She suggested to her son, Woody, a founding member of nationally-known Steep Canyon Rangers, that it would be a good idea to have a bluegrass festival to benefit the organization. Woody, along with the band, was well-versed in playing festivals. However, he had no experience producing one. But through a family connection, he knew someone who might help. His first call was to John Felty.

John, also a musician of stature, was a founding member of the band Jupiter Coyote. Jupiter Coyote had spent the last dozen years playing gigs nationwide and opened for bands such as The Allman Brothers. Jupiter Coyote had decided to stop touring, and John was in the middle of figuring out his “second act.”  During this period, John was running The White Squirrel Festival for Brevard and had booked The Steep Canyon Rangers for the closing act. The two men quickly established a singleness of vision and purpose. One of the first things they mutually decided was that the Mountain Song Festival needed to be a top-shelf musical experience. They both had extensive experience playing festivals and knew the first step in producing a first-class event was to showcase first-class talent. In 2006, few bluegrass talents were more iconic and bankable than the legendary Doc Watson. John called Doc’s agent, and the Mountain Song Festival was off and running.

Woody described the Mountain Song Festival as a “boutique festival.” It is a unique and intimate event that offers a memorable experience for both the audience and the performers. The Brevard Music Center, with its solid acoustics and comfortable seating, provides a different setting from the usual open fields and event-built stages.  No one is parking in the mud or walking long distances to their seats. The capacity, including the grassy areas surrounding the theater, is approximately 2300 people, and the event sells out for both nights, making it a truly exclusive experience.

Both John and Woody said that artists of the bluegrass/country/traditional style of music were generally easy to work with and mutually supportive. On more than one occasion, impromptu collaborations manifested on stage, giving the audience even more than they had come to expect.  The most famous of these collaborations was the first-time actor/comedian/musician Steve Martin joined The Steep Canyon Rangers on stage. John said people in the grassy areas rushed to the edge of the open-sided theater. Woody, who was on stage at the time, added that there were so many people that the sunlight was blocked and the theater went dim. Martin joined the Rangers for several years after that and is still associated with the band. The festival has attracted huge names in the music industry, including Maavis Staples, Taj Mahal, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Darrell Scott, and a second appearance by Doc Watson.

Cindy Platt, the visionary behind the festival, passed away unexpectedly in the summer of 2013, but not before attending several of the festivals. Woody shared that his mother was proud of the association between the Mountain Song Festival and The Boys and Girls Club. He also mentioned that playing the festival shortly following after her death was challenging, but he was deeply moved when the audience gave his mother a standing ovation. After her passing, the Boys and Girls Club was renamed the Cindy Platt Boys and Girls Club. The Mountain Song Festival has raised approximately 1.5 million dollars for the organization, a testament to the festival's significant and ongoing impact on the community.

The 2024 lineup is a mixture of rising stars and established artists. On Friday, September 6th, the gates open at 3 pm and The Steep Canyon Rangers take the stage at 5:30. They are followed by Shannon Whitworth and Woody Platt, who are followed by the headliner for the evening, the red-hot Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway. On Saturday, September 7th, the gates open at noon, with Hank, Pattie, & The Current taking the stage at 2 pm. The Trey Wellington Band follows them, then Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley. Later that evening, Zack Top takes the stage, an artist Woody Platt thinks is destined to be a star. After Zack Top concludes, The Steep Canyon Rangers, the host band for the event, closes out the festival with a two-hour concert.

So, if you are in the area or are thinking of a trip to picturesque Brevard, North Carolina, and would like to hear some great music while benefitting a great cause, come to the Mountain Song Festival. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a unique musical experience and support a worthy cause. Get your tickets now.

To get your tickets, go to www.mountainsongfestival.com