Blog - Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance

The Tan & Sober Gentlemen: They Are None of the Three

July 26, 2019 by David Dean Leave a Comment

When it comes to Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival staples, perhaps there is no act that quite embodies the zest for life and enjoyment of their craft quite like the Tan & Sober Gentlemen. Now on their fourth performance with us, the band consistently promises a set that is designed for the audience to really get involved. Yet, they also never take themselves too seriously, as evident by the story of their namesake.

Ben Noblit, bass player for the band, explained, “One of the very first shows that we played was up at this Irish pub in Raleigh, it was called Tir na Nog. We weren’t really a band yet, it was just a bunch of people playing music, and she (pub owner Annie Britton-Nice) introduced us as that because we weren’t any of the three. It went over really well so they invited us back, and before we knew it we were stuck with the name.”

The name ‘Tan & Sober Gentlemen’ has become nearly as iconic of a name as the sound that the band creates. Plus, as Noblit said, “it comes up first on Google.”

The Tan & Sober Gentlemen are a 7-piece coalition that fuse together the folk influences of North Carolina and the old familiar sounds of the Scottish Highlands, with the energy and fire of a punk-rock band. This combination is lovingly deemed “Celtic-punk-grass,” a name which feels as unique and spunky as the band members themselves. Yet, all three elements come earnestly from a lifelong love of each form of music, and a dedication to the genres that formed who they are today.

Noblit continued, “We all grew up playing North Carolina traditional music. We’re all Scottish and Irish to one degree or another. And all of that music, bluegrass, old-time music, country music, that all comes from Scotland and Ireland originally, and some from Africa also. And we wanted to kind of explore the Celtic roots of our kind of music, bring it back home a bit. We also like to play fast and drink liquor and have a good time.”

Having a “good time” has become what the band is truly known for. With their fast-paced tunes and a general enthusiasm for the music that they create, The Tan & Sober Gentlemen have gained a reputation as a kind of party band. Their focus is on creating an atmosphere where a crowd feels comfortable letting loose, and can experience this kind of music as it was meant to be experienced – through dancing.

“This kind of music, like old time fiddle music, it used to be dance music. Those boys were cutting loose as hard as they knew how. It’s party music…I would rather play to a place where people are up-close-and-personal with you, and are willing to interact with you and give you back your energy, and not put you on a pedestal. I want everyone being involved,” said Noblit.

Currently, the Tan & Sober Gentlemen are bringing their unique sound to the homeland of Celtic music. They will be touring through Scotland and Ireland, with stops in Cork, Dublin, Wexford, and Waterford. In Waterford, they will be playing at the Summer in the City Festival, which is a fairly big deal for the North Carolina-based band.

As for Shakori Hills, Noblit said, “Expect absolutely nothing different. It’s gonna be exactly the same as everything else we do. It’s gonna be the drum playing the same beat, and lot’s of fiddles and banjos…I’m very happy and blessed to be where we’re at, and I hope people come out.”

Look out for the Tan & Sober Gentlemen this fall, and make sure to check out their website at tanandsober.com.

School of Rock Chapel Hill: Where Kids Find Their Tribe

July 19, 2019 by David Dean Leave a Comment

When you walk up to the doors of School of Rock in Chapel Hill, the first thing that you’ll see is a smashed guitar. Hanging on by just a few pieces of wire and sheer determination, it proudly welcomes you to the establishment. It is the last of four guitars that were smashed at the grand opening of School of Rock two years ago. The other three lie somewhere in the boneyard, as sacrifices to the craft of Rock n’ Roll.

As you open the doors, you’re transported into an old rock n’ roll diner, complete with booths and a walk up bar. Posters signed by young and hopeful future rockstars line the walls, all boasting past shows and sweet memories. As I walk in to begin the interview with the owner, David Joseph, I am invited to sign the bathroom wall, which is a tradition for newcomers. As a massive fan of the 2003 Jack Black film ‘School of Rock,’ I decided to write, “Stick it to the man” with a hot pink sharpie. It quickly becomes obvious to me that this isn’t your everyday school of music.

School of Rock is a music school which teaches students how to play as a team. Much like the aforementioned 2003 Jack Black film, students create a rock band together to learn how to play music. The lessons consist of one private one-on-one lesson, and one band practice per week, to give students, as Joseph puts it, “ the good stuff, and then the broccoli and potatoes.”

Students range in age from 6-19, and are sectioned off by ability and interest. The beginners go into rookie lessons, where they can try out several different instruments to figure out where their interests lie. Once they’ve got their instrument and a little bit of experience, they upgrade to Rock 101. These students age from 8-13, and learn the meat and potatoes of playing music. Upon completion of Rock 101, they can enter the Performance Program, where they will have the opportunity to play on stage.

If you happened to catch School of Rock’s mind-blowing set last fall, you may not see the same kids playing this year. The traveling group that will be coming to rock the grounds of Shakori Hills are called the House Band, where students can be a “gigging musician in [their] community.” These students alternate based on talent, time-commitment, and of course aging in and out of the program. This year’s official House Band will be chosen in August from the nearly 200 students currently enrolled in School of Rock.

Until then, students will be honing their talents with a variety of showcases. Just recently, the House Band came back from a 6-city tour where they played alongside kids from other Schools of Rock around the Tarheel State. In the coming weeks, they will be performing pieces by some of the greats, such as Elton John, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and Heart. They will also perform with the School of Rock AllStars, which is comprised of the top 1% School of Rock’s students internationally.

Yet, for the students of School of Rock, it’s not all about becoming the next David Bowie, at least not entirely. It’s about the community created within the school. Students come early and stay late to spend time with their bandmates, and many of these connections last long after the bands have gone their separate ways. Once they’ve aged out of the program, many of these students come back to teach, and thus the cycle begins again.

For School of Rock Chapel Hill owner, David Joseph, it’s the community aspect of School of Rock that really makes it worth doing. The most important part about the organization is its contribution to the community. From the community created in practice rooms, to the greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro community, it’s these connections that are the very foundation of School of Rock’s mission. In fact, this community-based environment was recognized by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce who named School of Rock Chapel Hill the 2019 New Business of the Year.

Previously, the school has auctioned off free months of lessons in schools throughout Carrboro and Chapel Hill, a donation which only becomes more important as school music programs are becoming increasingly defunded. Recently, the organization has partnered with the Ronald McDonald foundation to sponsor a room for one year. Joseph plans to continue to do this as long as he can.

Joseph said, “From day one, I felt that it was important to give back to the community. Anything that helps kids, [brings] a little joy to people’s lives, [shares] the healing power of music, I want to support.”

Come and learn with the School of Rock when they perform this fall at Shakori Hills, and check out their showcases and class information on their website, www.locations.schoolofrock.com/chapelhill.

If you happen to be in Chapel Hill during rush hour traffic, drive by the School of Rock itself. You might just get to hear their latest gig, if the garage door is open, or be invited to sign the bathroom wall.

Caique Vidal and Batuque: Bringing the Beats of Brazil to Shakori Hills

July 5, 2019 by David Dean Leave a Comment

The hot sun has just set, and a full moon has taken to the sky, as Caique Vidal and Batuque take the stage. Under the electric yellow lights of the dance tent, your heartbeat is quickening to match the beat of the drum. Whether you’ve just taken your first samba lesson, or you’ve been dancing for years, you feel at home busting a move out on the dance floor. It’s moments like these that are what Caique Vidal and Batuque specialize in.

Caique Vidal, the Brazilian-born frontman, leads a ten piece band based in Durham, NC named Batuque (pronounced Ba-too-KEE). Caique brings the sounds of samba to life with the kind of passion that only comes with a life-long love of learning to play music. Vidal is the chief songwriter and, as such, the band’s songs focus heavily on the traditional Afro-Brazilian influences that drew him to music in the first place.

Caique brings the sounds of samba to life with the kind of passion that only comes with a life-long love of learning to play music. Yet, his beginnings were humble, having discovered percussion when he was brought along to his mother’s dance class.

“I kept annoying the drummer, asking him to play his drums. And he was like, you know what? Just take this cowbell, go to the corner, just stay there in the corner. He thought that I had rhythm, and he was like ‘yo, your kid is actually good!”

Vidal’s love of Afro-Brazilian music only blossomed from there. After seeing several children playing the Djembe, he began to branch out into learning more and more instruments. This passion led him to join Olodum Mirin, which was a traveling band focusing on the social, racial, economical. During his time as a percussionist in the group, Olodum Mirin was featured in Michael Jackson’s They Don’t Care About Us.

“I was one of the 300 people to play behind Michael Jackson. Of course, you cannot spot me even in slow motion, but it was a blessing to be a part of that group, to get that training… I was there with the process of making the beat for percussion, to the original track that Michael Jackson has, I was there and it was such a great experience.”

From there, Vidal became a dancer with a premiere Brazilian Afro-Brazilian group called Balé Folclórico da Bahia. As part of their ensemble, he ended up traveling the world, which became an invaluable opportunity to share his culture with a world that was eager to learn. Yet, with long hours of rehearsal and many weeks spent on tour, it was also a crash course in being a professional artist, which Vidal took to kindly.

After his time with Balé Folclórico da Bahia, Caique Vidal came to North Carolina, and immediately became interested in the local music scene. He attended many local performances to learn more about how the music scene worked in the region. It wasn’t long before he began teaching his own classes in Durham about Afro-Brazilian music and culture, which he still does today. It was through his teaching that he met the members of Batuque.

“Through those lessons, I started learning about all of the positions for music and performing, and when I say that it’s a big family, it is true… Members of the band will say, ‘Hey I have this friend who likes the band and he plays this, he plays that, he would like to come to one of the rehearsals.’ Most of the time, these people do not stay. I started the band with five people, and now we have doubled and that is how I met the folks that I have today… The people who stay just really appreciate the music and have a respect and I have mutual respect for them as well.”

Caique Vidal and Batuque have really made a name for themselves in Durham and however inadvertently, gotten involved in civic issues. The group began hosting open-air rehearsals in Durham Central Park, a move which became controversial after several noise complaints were filed by residents in neighboring apartments. After several months of complaints, the Durham City Council decided to move the city’s noise ordinance to 9 PM to allow Vidal, and any other artist, to use the space for practice and performance.

As far as Caique Vidal’s music, he draws significantly from his life and his culture for inspiration. For their song T.Y.S.M. (Thank You So Much), the song combined the energy of the group’s shows with a thank you to Vidal’s ancestors, who paved the way for artists like him to create traditional music.

“A lot of people were killed and pursued to make sure we can practice today, so that we could know Samba, so we could speak a little bit of the Agumba and play the African rhythms that we play today. Without these people in the past, we would not be able to exist today.”

Songs like T.Y.S.M. and the rest of Caique Vidal and Batuque’s first album will be played at the fall festival, as well as three new songs from the group’s next album. Vidal is also hoping to make this year’s performance bigger and better than ever, to create a night that the audience will not forget. One of those surprises may include a 20-30 piece percussion ensemble called Oxembe, but the logistics of that are still being worked out.

Caique Vidal and Batuque will visit Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival for the second time this fall. The band’s spring 2018 performance in the Dance Tent was very well received and festival organizers know Shakori fans appreciate local and World Music so it only made sense to bring them back.

Vidal said the experience of Shakori Hills is, “not just a music festival, it’s a place we go to share music with people, and people really get into it. It’s a carefree [place] where the main mission is to have fun. It’s really fun to me, I love it, I’m actually really happy to come back.”

Caique Vidal and Batuque’s music is available on all major streaming sites, and you can practice your samba at their live rehearsals every Monday night from 6:30-8:30 PM in Durham Central Park. Learn more about the band at www.caiquevidal.com.

Cas Haley: A New Kind of Grassroots

June 25, 2019 by David Dean Leave a Comment

In 2007, Cas Haley made a name for himself as a reggae artist by coming in second place on America’s Got Talent. Fame and fortune had, seemingly, been hand delivered to the Texas-based singer-songwriter on a platter. Yet, with all of the glamour of a big-name record deal came a huge amount of pressure to conform to a specific image. For Haley, that left very little room for exploring the more personal aspects of identity, especially as an artist.

When it comes to musicians self-identifying as, “grassroots,” they often mean that they are starting out in the music industry, or establishing a local base of fans. For Cas Haley however, his grassroots identity refers to a more homegrown sound, and a slower, more mindful pace. This identity comes after nearly thirteen years in the industry, and it’s a title that he wears with pride.

“I hadn’t really realized who I was as an individual or a person. It was a very vulnerable situation to be put into where companies have millions of dollars invested in you, and they’re going to portray you in a certain way and they’re going to write songs for you, when [music] had always been such a personal thing for me and sort of self-therapy.”

In the years since his big break, Haley’s music has returned to that self-therapy that had initially made music so important for him. While many of Haley’s songs do incorporate the island-style reggae tunes that he became famous for, many more of his songs draw on the blues-country influences of his childhood. With every record, Haley’s music becomes more personal, and better showcases him as an individual, and as an artist.

With his latest album, Lessons and Blessings, Haley brings a more personal and evocative view into his life, and into his music. The album was written over the past year after his wife, Cassy, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. Yet, their family remained optimistic, only growing closer together through her treatment. It was during this time that Cas and Cassy were able to create an album that was truly special for them.

“Over half of the album, me and my wife wrote together. A lot of it was centered around the things that came up through dealing with her cancer, dealing with this whole thing. Me and my wife have been together for 20 years, and we never were creative together in writing songs or anything. It was a really new and interesting relationship, y’know what I mean? 20 years and we’ve never done this, it’s so exciting and so fun. I think it’s the best tunes I’ve gotten to be a part of.”

The album was released on June 21, and was recorded entirely on the Haley family farm, allowing the whole family to be a part of the process. His family has also been accompanying him on tour, making his entourage one of the more supportive in show business.“We know the kinds of places we wanna go, and so our approach has become more mindful rather than just shooting from the hip and playing every rock club we can.”

This fall, their tour schedule will be bringing the family down to Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival for a weekend of grassroots fun in the sun. Though Haley is a newcomer to the festival, he will definitely be an act to remember. As for his performance, Haley says that he and his band will, “try to keep it as real as we possibly can, so we’ll bring our hearts to the table, it’s what we do every time and it’s what we’ll do at Shakori Hills.”

Before seeing him in October check out his YouTube channel to get to know Cas and his family better. Also make sure to check out his website and stream Cas Haley’s latest album, Lessons and Blessings on all major online outlets.

The Fritz Returns!

June 18, 2019 by David Dean 1 Comment

Hailing from the high trees and low tones of Asheville, NC, a funky-fresh new kind of sound has been taking over the nation. For the past eight years, The Fritz has been bringing a fresh new take on funk and soul music to the Tar Heel State and beyond. The band will return this fall to the farm for their second performance at Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance. During a moment of rest for the band, we sat down with guitarist Jamie Hendrickson to learn more about what makes The Fritz so electric.

The Fritz specialize in live shows that are built for dancing, grooving and moving. A typical week for the band includes dates in multiple states and the band embraces the live experience in their writing.

“At the heart of our being, we’re a live band. So everything is kind of made for high energy dance music, and everything that we write is written for the stage rather than for…an album and heavily produced. All of our releases so far have been pretty much how we would do them live. We overdub a little bit, but for the most part it’s just us in a room playing.”

Though the live shows are what they are known for, simply sitting in a room and playing seems to be what really gave The Fritz their unique sound. The band members are masters at improvisation, which helps to keep the energy high. From unworldly keyboard solos that sound like something off of Parliament’s ‘Mothership’, to face-melting guitar solos which channel the very essence of Jimi Hendrix, The Fritz knows how to create the kind of sound that gains a reputation.

The band met while each member was studying music at the University of North Florida. It was here that the group began to hone in on exactly what kind of band they wanted to start, a process which continued through their move to Asheville, and the subsequent eight years. Hendrickson attributes the band’s unique sound to the different musical tastes that each person brings to the group.

“Every person in the band has drastically different influences. Jamar was a classical piano major in college, and then some of the other guys were jazz performance…our bass player loves acoustic, celtic and bluegrass. So we just kinda listen to so many different things. When we do The Fritz, we kind of try to put away our individual influences and just see what collectively works best for what we’re trying to do.”

The Fritz’s sound continues to evolve every year, always reaching bigger and better heights. ECHO, the band’s 2018 release, recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Recording Studios, features a tight horn section comprised of Justin Stanton (trumpet) and Chris Bullock (sax) from Snarky Puppy and Natalie Cressman (trombone) from the Trey Anastasio Band.

Since the release of ECHO last fall, the band has been in “songwriting mode” and planning out the next release. According to Hendrickson, “we’ll hopefully have some more details in the near future about that.”

As for their upcoming Shakori Hills GrassRoots performance, Henderickson says that the festival feels more like a “hometown festival” for the band after several months of touring. Though the location is convenient to their hometown of Asheville, the best part about Shakori Hills for The Fritz, is the energy of the crowd.

“The energy of the Shakori crowd is amazing, [there are] some great music listeners who really pay attention, and at the same time they like to have fun and like to party. We love the people at Shakori, it was a blast!”

The Fritz will surely be an act not to miss this fall. Their music is available online through all of the major streaming sites, with videos of their incredible live performances up on their YouTube page.

Watch the video for ‘Nothing to Find’ below, which was recorded at Echo Mountain Studios and features Chris Bullock, Natalie Cressman, and Justin Stanton.

Sound Advice

May 2, 2019 by David Dean 2 Comments

Guest Blog submitted by Ray Goodrich, Marketing Director Foothills Brewing

Our Five Senses are largely how we perceive the world around us. Sight, Sound, Smell, Taste, and Touch. Everything you know, everything you feel, everything that’s ever happened to you . . . has been aided, abetted or initiated by those senses. And the beautiful thing is, there’s a relationship between all of them. Smell helps taste, hearing helps sight, touch helps . . . well, all of them. And if one stops working? The others will take over and become stronger as a result. The Senses weave together a corporeal tapestry that allows us to immerse ourselves in the known universe.

I bring this up because . . . well, I’m convinced that good beer makes good music sound better. And good music makes good beer taste better.

Now, hear me out. (ha!) Not just any beer, mind you. And not just any music. Well, almost any music. But in particular, live music.

Let’s say you’re at a show (like Shakori Hills). You can be there enjoying the music (sound). You can see the band and the crowd (sight). Smell and touch are in play too (though decorum prohibits me from elaborating).

What’s missing? Taste! Sure, there are probably great food options available at your show. But who wants to rock out while juggling a Philly cheesesteak? Each has their place – just not, in my opinion, to be enjoyed together.

No, what every truly transcendent music experience calls for is an equally superior craft beer. One that stimulates you with the cold touch of the cup, the aromatic whiff of the hops, and the heady sight of white foam atop golden liquid – and ultimately, with the superior taste that this particular situation demands. A taste that, under these circumstances, only a cold craft beer can provide.

When (not if) you come to Shakori Hills this year, please feel free to put this theory to the test. You may find yourself transferring the good vibe you’re feeling from the music to that cold Hoppyum in your hand – and vice versa.

Regional Acts Not to Miss – Spring 2019

May 1, 2019 by David Dean Leave a Comment

Guest Blog submitted by Grant Golden, regional talent buyer for Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance

Arson Daily

If you’re not familiar with these no-frills indie rockers (above photo by Kendall Atwater) then you’ve likely been living under a very dense rock. Arson Daily nearly stole the festival when they played last Shakori and they’ve been swiftly building steam ever since. They land somewhere between alt-rock, blues, garage rock and indie and they’re liable to switch their energy up at the drop of a dime. These boys started out playing the front porch stage with a suitcase as their kick drum, won the band competition, and now have become one of the most anticipated acts of the festival. You’d be foolish to miss one of their two sets this year.

Grove Stage, Friday, 7:15 p.m.

Dance Tent, Saturday, 9:15 p.m.

www.arsondaily.com

Victoria Victoria

This Triad-based crew represents everything good and pure about pop music. Vocalist Tori Elliott’s lyricism is focused on self-reflection, body positivity and self-love and it delicately glides atop creamy soundscapes that bounce between R&B and folk leaning structures. It’s easy to get lost in their sounds, and what better place to do so than the Meadow Stage on a Friday afternoon?

Meadow Stage, Friday, 3:30 p.m.

www.victoriavictoria.org

Young Bull

If you’ve ever been to Shakori Hills before then you know that once the sun goes down, something magical fills the air on our 72-acre farm. Folks dance a little harder, cheer a little louder, and the bands have a way of connecting with that energy to make for unforgettable moments. That’s why I couldn’t be more excited to have Durham’s Young Bull close out the Friday festivities for us. Young Bull is an eclectic hip-hop crew with R&B and Soul leanings. Bouncing seamlessly between smooth ear-worm melodies and swiftly spat bars, Young Bull will compel the Shakori crowd to bounce, shout and sway along to their silky smooth grooves.

Cabaret Tent, Friday, 11:30 p.m.

www.youngbullmusic.bandcamp.com

Chris Frisina

Every good festival attendee knows that your weekend is a marathon and not a sprint. You can’t be boogeyin’ and jiving the whole time, so it’s important to wind down every now and then. I can’t think of a better way to do so than by catching one of Chris’ two sets this festival. Whether it’s his Saturday morning jaunt on the Meadow stage or if you plop yourself down on the Dance Tent floor on Sunday morning, you’d be remiss to miss one of these sets. Frisina’s work is timeless, it’s steeped in country and folk tradition but still feels contemporary and authentic.

Meadow Stage, Saturday, 11:15 a.m.

Dance Tent, Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

www.chrisfrisinamusic.com

Guest Blog: Volunteer for the Tickets, Stay for the Magic

March 18, 2019 by David Dean 2 Comments

Written by Guest Blogger: Taari Coleman, longtime Shakori Hills GrassRoots Volunteer

The first time you volunteer for the festival it will likely be for the ticket. And no one faults you for that, it’s the same reason most of us did.

You’ll sign up to do set up, or work in the kid’s tent, or in one of the food booths and as you scroll through the application you’ll be casually thrown by how many ways you can offer your time, how many ways you can make a difference.

Because it’s your first time, when you arrive at the Festival Grounds, you might be a bit nervous. And no one faults you for that either. Most are nervous when faced with meeting new people and potentially embarking on a new task. But the nerves quickly fade as you realize that everyone around you is exactly where they want to be, and very happy to be there.

And then you’re put to work. You’re painting faces, scooping ice cream, directing drivers to parking spaces, checking wristbands, or riding around with the trash and recycling crew. And everyone is excited to see you, even if they’ve just met you a half hour ago. Maybe you weren’t aware that the spirit of Shakori exists not only in each individual person, but in the very ground itself, in the effort put in to make this thing happen and make it good, in the way people smile and cheer as they pull slowly up the gravel driveway, but you know that now, because you helped pull it off and you feel it the way you can feel the beginnings of rain on your skin.

So the first time you volunteer it’ll probably be for the ticket; but the second time you volunteer for the festival, it’ll be because you know that the magic is real and you want to be a part of that.

Click here to volunteer.

A Conversation With Ellis Dyson of Ellis Dyson & The Shambles

March 16, 2019 by David Dean Leave a Comment

Ellis Dyson & The Shambles are a rowdy bunch of swinging jazz cats harkening a sound of the past. They don’t just “try” to play like old-time jazz musicians—they create new material in a language in which few are currently fluent. Ellis Dyson & The Shambles live and breathe jazz styles many have abandoned. Swing, traditional New Orleans jazz, ragtime, old-time, gypsy jazz and other styles ring as real as if penned during the Prohibition Era in a shotgun shack on Frenchmen St.

They are preserving a nearly lost form of American music and bringing past into the present with a sound so authentic it will make you think you’ve stepped back in time. GrassRoots had a chat with Ellis Dyson & the Shambles’ banjo player and frontman, Ellis Dyson, where he talked about his in-depth exploration of sounds from the past and how he hopes to preserve them.

Dyson started listening to swing and old-time music and playing old-time banjo when he was 18. Once he started on the path, he went “down a rabbit hole,” devouring 19th and early 20th-century music. That voracity has never left Dyson, and he remains a serious student of old-time sounds. According to Dyson, “A lot of what I try to do is musicology. I try to keep a clear mind about where the music we are playing comes from and who created it. I want to preserve those traditions, but still exist in the modern realm of music.”

Roscoe Holcomb was the old-time banjo player that started it all for Dyson. Holcomb was a coal miner from the mountains of Kentucky who is known for his falsetto voice and his unique style of banjo playing. Dyson dove into old recordings and learned Holcomb’s repertoire, but was also led to old-time jazz via Louis Armstrong.

“My ear evolved, I started understanding the music more, and I started exploring more,” said Dyson. “There is so much old-time jazz, and I am trying to get to as much of it as I can. It never ends, and I have to accept that I can’t listen to it all.” It sounds like Dyson is trying to get it all in his ear, anyway, and that effort shines through his music. “A lot of the music I play is basic and direct at heart,” explained Dyson. “It’s the nuance of it I have had to work most on. The hardest part for me has been making these innately simple songs really swing. The more I listen to the greats, the more I understand how to do that.”

About six years ago, when Dyson felt he was getting better as a musician, he sought out other musicians playing in the styles he was pursuing. Slowly and surely, members of The Shambles stumbled in from the UNC-Chapel Hill Music Department. “Danny Abrahams and I were the first two,” shared Dyson. “We would rehearse in Kenan Music building on campus, and we were right there in the thick of it. There is a great jazz program at Carolina. Neither Danny nor I were majoring in music while in school, but Danny was minoring in it, and he was involved in all the jazz groups at school. I got lucky falling in with all these great musicians who had a much deeper understanding of music than I did.”

Dyson may have started this journey as a listener and a novice player, but he has evolved into a confident bandleader who can make a dance floor shimmy, sweat, and sin. His dedication to his craft and study of American music history, mostly through intense listening, has not only moved crowds but inspired listeners to dig deeper into these nearly long lost musical styles. “I hope the music pushes listeners to explore as I do,” revealed Dyson. “Of course, I want them to buy a ticket and see us again, and buy our CD, but ultimately I want to preserve these traditional forms of music. This is music that was built here in our country in a time when there was tremendous adversity. It shouldn’t just die out. It’s not fair to the music or the people who created it. It’s damn good music.”

You can join Ellis Dyson & The Shambles on their mission to preserve early forms of American music at the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance in our Dance Tent on Friday, May 3rd. Ellis Dyson & The Shambles are also involved in our Roots in the Schools program, which you can learn more about here.

BUY TICKETS FOR SHAKORI GRASSROOTS FESTIVAL OF MUSIC & DANCE HERE

LEARN MORE ABOUT ELLIS DYSON & THE SHAMBLES HERE

Photos by Kendall Atwater

Your Happy Place – Camping at Shakori Hills GrassRoots

March 7, 2019 by David Dean 5 Comments

Camping at Shakori Hills GrassRoots Music & Dance doesn’t just provide lodging during the Festival; it completes your Shakori Hills GrassRoots Experience. Tents are nestled in the woods where the environment is shady and cool. Thousands of campers shout, “Happy Shakori!” to each other as they wander the trails. Passing theme camps and impromptu jam sessions as they make their way towards the sounds floating from the stages.

If tents aren’t adequate shelter in your book, RVs are welcome. If the late-night hangs aren’t up your alley, set up in our Family/Quiet Camping Area. No matter the camping experience you desire, you will find your happy place here at Shakori Hills GrassRoots.

If you want to extend your stay here and have a more extensive selection of spots to call home, early camping is encouraged. Find out more about early camping and anything else you would want to know about camping in the details below. See you at The Festival!

BUY CAMPING PASSES HERE

CAMPING GUIDELINES

Most importantly be respectful of your neighbors and the land! Please clean up your campsites and take home with you what you brought, we appreciate it. We offer trash and recycling bags at the ticket booth for sorting your trash.

Please keep the following guidelines in mind so everyone can enjoy their festival experience:

-Vehicle and RV camping area is limited, please park closely and considerately.
-Vehicle/RV and tent camping in designated areas only. There are marked nature preserve areas, please respect this and do not camp here or have fires here.
-Vehicle/RV campers must display vehicle camping pass on the upper driver’s side windshield. On an RV/camper without windshield: on the door of the RV/camper. The sticker must be on a vehicle that is camping, if you want to come in and out with a vehicle, you are towing the camper, etc. with you need to purchase a 4-day parking pass and park in the lot near the festival entrance.
-Regretfully, we must enforce towing in the marked NO PARKING zones. -Vehicles parked in no parking zones will be towed by a professional towing service to a parking area on-site.
-For safety, comfort and the environment please no driving around the festival grounds. If you are using a vehicle camping pass and need to leave the festival grounds, we request that you do so between 8 a.m. and noon.
-No driving in campsites after dark! If you arrive after dark and wish to vehicle camp, you must camp in the vehicle camping section of the main parking lot.
Motorized Vehicles are not allowed, if you have special mobility needs, please contact us in advance.
-Bicycles must have lights after dark.
-Camp Rangers are available to help you — look for people wearing Camp Ranger t-shirts.
-Outdoor hot-water showers are available

-ALCOHOL POLICY: We have a No Public Display of Alcohol Policy — meaning you must keep your alcoholic beverage in a cup – bottles and cans are no longer permitted in the stage and festival areas. We will ask you to conceal your alcoholic beverage if displayed.

-No radios, amplified music, generators or idling vehicles will be allowed.
-No outside firewood, please. It brings in bugs and tree diseases that our trees are not used to. We have firewood available for purchase on site.
-Sorry, NO DOGS! Service dogs will be permitted if they are for the service of the human they are with. Please check service animals in at the Ticket Booth upon arrival. See below in “Nearby Lodging” for pet boarding.
-Public intoxication and drug abuse are not acceptable, and we reserve the right to (and will) intervene if we believe anyone is acting inappropriate and/or disrespectful.
-Please take only memories, leave only footprints.

TENT CAMPING

Tent camping on-site is based on price per tent (no matter how many nights). Tent camping is $25 in advance and $30 at the gate. Each tent camping pass is good for a 10×10 tent/canopy/tarp or smaller, anything larger will need two passes. Tent campers note: Early tent camping (before Thursday) is an additional $10.

All camping is on a first come, first serve basis. Roping to save space is not welcome!

Shuttle: Tent campers without vehicle camping passes cannot drive a vehicle into the campsite, but there is a shuttle that runs from the parking lot to the tent camping areas.

Please read further vehicle camping guidelines below.

RV & VEHICLE CAMPING (for 4-Day ticket holders)

Vehicle and RV Camping is for 4-day ticket buyers only. After Thursday, we can’t guarantee that there will be room for vehicles in the campgrounds.
A Vehicle Camping Pass (car or camper under 25 feet *not including tow vehicle*) is $84 in advance and $94 at the gate and includes space for a)one vehicle and b)one big tent/canopy (larger than 10×10) or two small tents. You can receive up to two tent camping passes with your Vehicle Pass. Tents larger than 10×10 will require two passes. For the vehicle/camper to enter the camping area (to drive past the ticket booth) a Camping Pass has to be adhered on the vehicle: on the upper driver’s side windshield; or on an RV/camper without windshield: on the door of the RV/camper.

An RV Camping Pass (camper + tow vehicle or RV/camper 25 feet or over) is $125 in advance and $135 at the gate and includes space for a)one camper + tow vehicle or large camper and b)one big tent/canopy (larger than 10×10) or two small tents. You can receive up to two tent camping passes with your Vehicle Pass. Tents larger than 10×10 will require two passes. For the vehicle/camper to enter the camping area (to drive past the ticket booth) a Camping Pass has to be adhered on the vehicle: on the upper driver’s side windshield; or on an RV/camper without windshield: on the door of the RV/camper.

Wednesday Vehicle and RV camping are an additional $10, you must check in when you arrive.

If you have a Camper (under 25 feet) + Tow Vehicle and don’t wish to pay the RV price, you are welcome to tow your camper to the campgrounds, unhook, and then park the tow vehicle in our main parking lot; otherwise, you must pay the RV price.

Large vehicle owners also note that RVs and buses 35 feet and over will be limited to the front camping area adjacent to the main parking lot.

Vehicle camping sticker needs to be displayed on each vehicle that is camping. If you are camping with a vehicle and a camper, each vehicle/camper must have a sticker. If you want to park the vehicle that is towing the camper in the parking lot, you can purchase a 4-day parking pass for it.

Sorry, there are no hook-ups and generators are not allowed!

FAMILY/QUIET CAMPING AREA

If you have children with you or enjoy quiet at the festival, you may want to consider camping in the family/quiet camping area. We have two of those on site, and they both contain tent and vehicle camping. Ask the parking crew where this is upon arrival.

EARLY CAMPING/SET-UP

We allow people to begin camping or set up camp starting the Saturday before the festival. There is a $10 early set-up fee. Early Vehicle or RV Camping is $10 per day.
If you plan to set up early or camp early, please pay your fee and pick up your camping passes upon entry to the grounds. Do not set up without receiving a camping pass! You may set up as much as you want, but you cannot rope off extra space to be used later.

CAMPFIRES