Friday, October 5, 2012

It Is Skunk Time

While there are a few REAL skunks around here, that is not the kind of skunk I am talking about.  If you want to see some real skunks, head over to Mountain Musings and see a trio that came visiting under the bird feeder.
Every October is the time for the Albino Skunk Music Festival.    We live about an hour and a half away from Greer, where the festival is located.   The first weekend in October there is a three day long music festival, or should I say F-E-S-T-I-VAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL, a common call heard throughout the day.
http://www.albinoskunk.com/
This takes place in a neighborhood where there are large lots.  Best guess on the attendance on Thursday when we went was over 300 people there.  It is better attended on Friday and Saturday.  Many folks camp out on the grounds. (We do not camp)  We picked the day that had artists that we wanted to see, it was hard, there are a lot of artists we like playing this year.  Our ABSOLUTE favorite to see was Elizabeth Cook, so we went on Thursday.

Driving up to Greer isn't hard, and as you get close to the neighborhood there are signs-- looks like we aren't the only  ones headed up there.


The next turn.....


And finally, to get into the parking area, or the front yard---


The first band, Ben Miller Band, from Joplin, MO, had car trouble, so the next group was getting ready to go on a little early.
The show started a little before 4:00 PM, and lasted well past 11:00 PM.

 The first band we saw was 'The Congress'-

These guys play rock and roll.  They are based in Denver CO -- lots of energy and great fun.  They played a second time, at the end of the evening.  We headed out as they started their second set.... it was late and we had a long drive.

From Denver we travel over the ocean to Dublin, Ireland for the next band.  Would you believe Irish Bluegrass?  This band was super!!!  Welcome 'I Draw Slow' This was their first time in the States, hope they come back again!!


After the Irish came the kids from Brooklyn.  What a diverse collection of bands.  'Food Will Win The War' is an Indie band the festival organizer found on Youtube.  Quoting from their Facebook page, they play "accordion-infused, violin-tinged glockenspiel rock"


Elizabeth Cook came on next and had the crowd hoppin'!






Final act for our evening was 'The Lee Boys' from Miami, FL. Sorry to say I didn't get a photo of the lead singer in front of  the group.  Their band is described as sacred steel,a form of Gospel music with a hard driving blues based beat, and boy did they get the crowd on their feet and dancing.  Just amazing.


So glad we went, plan on going again -- there IS a Spring Festivaaaaaal.  Anyone living close by should put it on your schedule!!!

©Copyright 2012 Janet. All rights reserved. Content created by Janet for The Queen of Seaford. words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.

30 comments:

  1. I just love Southern Fests! We come up with the greatest names dont we? LOL, accordion-infused, violin-tinged glockenspiel rock Now that is something to hear....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Skeeter, it is a great festival, glad you liked the accordion-infused violin tinged glockenspiel rock description.

      Delete
  2. This sounds like it was a lot of fun! Several years ago when I was visiting my son and DIL, I went to a local spot to see a handful of bluegrass bands play, because my DIL was playing fiddle in one of them, a band called Painted Blue. You might be able to see a video of them on Youtube if you search for the band name. She still plays, but I don't think she is in a band any more. My son and DIL go to a lot of bluegrass festivals. In fact, my DIL pulled out her fiddle and played at her own wedding, still in her wedding dress, that was fun!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sure sounds like a ton of fun. Wish I could have heard them. Love Southern string music.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lola, it was a ton of fun, looking forward to the spring festival.

      Delete
  4. I saw your comment on Facebook and was curious about albino skunks in your area...bands and a music festival--now, that makes sense:) Looks like so much fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rose, there were some albino skunks in the neighborhood of the festival, hence the name. It was great fun.

      Delete
  5. I believe bluegrass actually has its roots in Irish music and immigrants coming here...if you listen to Irish music you can hear it...we actually had a family of albino skunks living here that we had to move as they were too close for comfort...what a great event

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna@GEV, yes, Irish music has a great influence in our mountain music.

      Delete
  6. I must admit I wouldn't ordinarily be attracted to a skunk festival but you have certainly changed my mind. The music sounds wonderful. I'll check it out next year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carolyn, there is also a spring festival. Very close to you!! Will keep you posted on the event.

      Delete
  7. Looks like lots of fun. So glad it is not a festival of real skunks.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I had to laugh at the title because I was expecting you to be very fearless and catch a few critter waddling along.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I intuitively thought you had a skunk family that had moved in, LOL! This looks like a fun time!

    ReplyDelete
  10. When I read the title I was thinking - but the skunks are bedding down for winter now? OH, not that kind of skunk. Although I have to laugh thinking of people driving down the highway unknowingly seeing all those skunk signs. What a commotion that must cause!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marguerite, think I got a catchy title this time! No commotion, just a nice line of cars heading in the right direction.

      Delete
  11. I wish we did live nearby, that looks like a lot of fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kim and Victoria, yes, wish you lived closer for this too!

      Delete
  12. Sounds like fun!! Had I not been three states away, I would have gone! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Music festivals are always a lot of fun!
    Really, just about any kind of festival is fun!

    My Night-Blooming Cacti bloom twice a year - August and October.
    I have two plants and they usually bloom together, both on the same night.

    Have a wonderful day!
    Lea
    Lea's Menagerie




    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lea, we have been doing a lot of music festivals and concerts since retiring. Love it!
      Really interesting about your Night bloomer. I only have one, so not sure if I had a second one that it would bloom the same time. I have had this one bloom three or four times in one season.

      Delete
  14. That sounds really fun Janet, not too big to be crazy, but big enough to have a great atmosphere. Hard to beat good music heard in the open air.

    ReplyDelete

If you use "Anonymous" please sign your name so I know who you are...there is a lot of spam out there. Thanks for visiting today. The Queen would be pleased if you left a comment...... :-D thanks! I do respond to your comments, you can click on the email followup comments to have it in your inbox.

I am now moderating all comments. Too much spam is coming through. Sorry folks.