While the music is second in most World Beer Festival patrons’ minds, this year’s line up could surprise a lot of people. As usual, for each session, there are two bands that each play a straight 90 minutes. First up at 12 noon is Big Daddy Love from Asheville, with its unique blend of jam, grassroots and rock. Strong vocals, sweet harmonies and great musicianship come together to create what they term ‘Appalachian Rock.’ At 2PM, it’s Children of the Horn for a truly eclectic sound. Their original compositions, driven by a front line of horns, showcase a diversity of styles-super-syncopated funk and Latin, swaggering New Orleans Second Line and classic Motown.
The second session opens at 6PM with the unique strains of Brushfire Stankgrass-mountain music mixed with Moog/electronic keyboard effects. In recent voting, they tied with The Steep Canyon Rangers & Steve Martin in the bluegrass/oldtime category, so the roots and musicianship are there, but the rest is to be experienced. And wrapping up at 8PM, it’s The BIG Something, a groove-based modern rock band from Burlington, NC. They have a big sound, and with their electronic embellishments and an alternative feel, they will close the festival with a blend of funk, soul and rock’n’roll supplying the party with some dancing music.
In the VIP section, there are two interesting and highly skilled jazz groups. For the afternoon session, Voodoo Flute plays bebop, fusion and Latin jazz, punctuated with strong solos. For the evening session, it’s the Paul Bomar Trio from Clayton, NC, members of which also play in Steel Belted Slinky, Evil Jungle, Human Beans, the 3tet, … (performance and studio).
To see more detail and links to the bands’ web sites, please go to www.allaboutbeer.com
A different way to see these bands and experience the festival is to volunteer, which supports Carolina Theatre. Interested persons can sign up at www.allaboutbeer.com/wbf/volunteer.
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World Beer Festivals are presented by All About Beer Magazine, based in Durham, NC. Located in unique settings, each festival is a source of anticipation and pride for the cities they visit. Its two longest-operating festivals sell to capacity, sometimes in days, with audiences of over 8,000 people. With their emphasis on education and moderation, they have significantly advanced area beer cultures, expanding retail offerings and raising consumer sophistication.
The Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that manages the city-owned Carolina Theatre at 309 W. Morgan Street, Durham, NC 27701. Carolina Theatre of Durham, Inc. is dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film and live performances that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region.
