Life

Rhythm & Brews flops stage, adds early show

By Bill Moss, Published: February 25, 2014

This year's edition of the popular Rhythm & Brews concert series will feature changes that organizers hope will ease crowded conditions, entertain early arrivers and fix the beer line problem once and for all.

During a recent meeting, the city committee that organized the event spent little time congratulating themselves, although they could have. The North Carolina Main Street organization named the concert series the Best Downtown Special Event or Series.
A year ago, the outdoor event in a parking lot between Third and Fourth avenues seemed like a bit of a risk.
A city-sponsored music concert offering beer and wine had never been tried before. After four concerts that got bigger every month and attracted a crowd of longtime local residents and tourists, the event ended its debut year an unqualified success.
"I didn't know what to expect," said Downtown Economic Development Director Lew Holloway. "We did better than what I thought we would do."
All that was old news for the Downtown Promotions Committee, which met recently to continue planning Year 2. Committee members discussed the new configuration, which moves the stage from the Third Avenue to the Fourth Avenue end and moves the beer and wine vendors to the Third Avenue end. The city also will close Third Avenue in addition to Fourth Avenue to create more room.
"The idea is that we take the beer line and wine line out of the middle of the viewing area and push it as far back as we can," Holloway said.
The Rhythm & Brews planners also decided to add an early act, called Tweeners, that will perform in front of the stage from 5 to 5:45 p.m.
"We have people that start showing up at 5," said committee member Ralph Freeman. "The idea was to use this to showcase some of their talent. They would just have a mike in front of the stage."
The early acts scheduled so far are Emily Bodley on May 15, Desiree Ricker on June 19, Chris Smith on July 17, Tommy Davis on Aug. 21 and the Stipe Brothers on Sept. 18.
The series line-up kicks off with two of last year's favorites.
The Broadcast returns on May 15 and regional bluegrass boys gone big Balsam Range headline the June 19 concert. The series will finish with three acts new to the R&B lineup — Asheville based funk masters The Fritz on July 17, Charleston based rock grove ensemble Sol Driven Train August 21st and to close out the series, another act out of Charleston, the Americana group Blue Dogs on Sept. 18. Opening acts are Letters to Abigail in May, Lonesome Road in June, The Empire Strikes Brass in July, Eric Congdon in August and Aaron Burdett in September.
Downtown Economic Development Director Lew Holloway told the Promotions Committee that he had secured several sponsors and was waiting to hear from other prospects. The event also makes money on beer and wine sales.
"We're now around $25,000 (in sponsorship money)," he said. "Last year it was $29,750. We're getting close. We need more this year. I set a goal of $45,000. If we have all five and they do what the concerts did last year (in revenue) we'll do well."