ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Come on out and enjoy the warm spring air while you listen to live on-stage performances by our amazing local talent. While you tap your feet to the beat, come browse our beer garden – you’ll find many unique craft brews in our roped-off area close to the stage. Peruse beautiful handcrafted artwork and browse our car show while enjoying our local cuisine, restaurants throughout downtown Murphy will be joining in the celebration.

ANDREW CHASTAIN

Growing up in the small town of Murphy, located in the Appalachian mountains of Western North Carolina, Andrew developed an interest in music at an early age. He would later go on to sing on the local radio station, WKRK, during Sunday morning preaching. After the release of their first EP in April 2016, the band kept momentum going by playing gigs in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and touring in Florida.  The band is currently working on new material and gearing up for new stages and new songs!

HEIDI HOLTON

Heidi Holton is turning heads with her mastery of the music of the deep south.  Original and fresh, her songwriting shines like the sweat glistening on the brow of a Piedmont preacher behind the pulpit on a sultry Sunday afternoon. Following in the footsteps of guitar-slingers like Memphis Minnie and Reverend Gary Davis, Heidi Holton is making a name for herself in the blues community.

It wasn’t long before people began to take notice, including blues woman and national treasure Rory Block, who has produced Holton’s sophomore release “Why Mama Cries.”

SAMMY ENSLEY

Sammy Ensley is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter whose phrasing and wit have produced some of the Tri-State area’s most memorable songs.  He’s been compared to artists like Roger Miller and John Prine as well as Beck and Ween. He’s authentic and funny with an obvious penchant for the irreverent.  His live shows are equal parts: solo guitar and full arrangement with backing tracks. Whether it’s a radio jingle or a folk-rap song, you’ll appreciate his catchy arrangements and musical stylings.

TROY UNDERWOOD

The Appalachian Monk is Troy Underwood. And Troy Underwood is a soul man. With a voice that would be the envy of any in Nashville, and a groove as bone-deep as any blue-eyed soulsters’, Underwood can paint on as broad an aural landscape as he wishes. His voice… world weary yet hopeful, a gravelly drawl that carries weight, the voice of an old, old soul.  He hails from Ringgold, GA and performs all over the Southeast.

BIRD IN HAND

The road less traveled has always been the way for husband and wife duo Bird in Hand. Bryan and Megan Thurman call the Smoky Mountains of Western NC home and the region is directly reflected in their music. Bird in Hand is upbeat and new while still rooted in the traditions of American folk.

The two have played all over the Appalachian region as well as across the country, and share an on-stage chemistry that demands attention. They need to be seen live to understand the meaning of “Appalachian Thunder Folk.”

OMB – CHRISTOPHER WAYNE

Christopher Wayne OMB is a one man band, singing & playing guitar, banjo, harmonica & drums. He is a high-energy musician influenced by blues, bluegrass, rock-n-roll, country & folk! He has been singing & playing most of his life, & writes from his experiences from travels all over the world. This is a show you don’t want to miss!

LINDSEY BETH HARPER

Lindsay Beth Harper is an Alt. Country/Americana singer-songwriter from the mountains of Blue Ridge, GA. She combines sounds of traditional and modern country with poetic, lyric-driven songs and emotionally textured vocals to create a uniquely appealing sound.

While at college, Lindsay recorded and released “Take it All.” In early 2018, Lindsay met a well-known, local producer/sound engineer, James S. Smith from Blairsville, GA. After trying out a couple demos, Lindsay wanted to make a record like never before. Her first full EP, “A Woman Like That,” is now available to stream, download, and buy at shows.