RTP-area local music and culture

[Heather LaGarde <heather AT barnstarvintage.com>]

It's that time of year again!  Bring your appetite, your lawn chairs  
or picnic blankets and bathing suits for the kids, and come on out to  
Saxapahaw for the Saxapahaw Rivermill Farmer's Market and Music Series!

Saturdays in Saxapahaw Start May 5th with THE STEEP CANYON RANGERS  
coming in for a special performance to kick off the series!  The  
Steep Canyon Rangers have carved out a special spot in the world of  
bluegrass music, creating a sound that looks forward and backwards at  
the same time. With an ensemble approach using fierce dynamics and  
seamless harmonies, the Rangers draw on the sounds of early  
bluegrass, honky tonk, and blues. We are thrilled to have them open  
the series and we hope you will join us and spread the word! The  
Summer Schedule is attached below - It's a great line-up all summer  
long!

The Farmers' Market has grown and will be expanding its space with  
more farmers and more options including 2 cheese vendors, eggs, meat,  
pastries in addition to a variety of fresh local and organic produce,  
breads,  jams and chutneys, flowers, honey, and locally produced  
wine.  We'll have more artists and arts and crafts vendors this year  
with jewelry, pottery, woodwork and sculptures.

Every week, CERES, Saxapahaw's local quality of life organization  
sets up exciting events and activities for children including the  
Famous Zipboat ( a kayak on a zipwire - low to the ground) the  
Environmentally Engineered Slip-N-Slide, created in the shape of the  
Haw River this year complete with tributaries!  A new children's  
musical village, face painting, children's arts & crafts and a weekly  
kid's parade.

Festivities take place in central Saxapahaw next to the Post Office  
and across from the Saxapahaw Rivermill every Saturday from 5pm-8pm  
through the end of August.  Admission is free though donations are  
appreciated, organizers pass around a "Swan Bucket" each week for the  
band.

The series is sponsored by the Saxapahaw Rivermill and by local  
businesses including Open Eye Cafe, Fifth Season Gardening, Townsend  
Bertram and The Barbecue Joint who will be setting up shop weekly  
offering fresh dinners for picnicers, including vegetarian options at  
the festival throughout the summer.

Saturday events take place outside in downtown Saxapahaw next to the  
Post Office.  The Farmers Market and Children's Activities run from  
5-8 and bands play on the Haywagon Stage at the Meadow Amphitheater  
from 6-8.  For more information, a schedule of bands and farmers,  
directions, pictures and more please visit www.rivermillvillage.com  
or call 336 376 5694.  COME ON OVER!


BAND SCHEDULE:
May
5       Steep Canyon Rangers

12      Guilty Pleasures

19      Hooverville

26      Polecat Creek

June

2       Gospel Jubilators

9       Great Big Gone (formerly Brown Mountain Lights)

16  	Jimmy Magoo & Friends at 6 ( Special Opening Band Performance  
for kids by Baron von Rumblebuss at 5!!)


23  Big Medicine

30  The Jonathan Byrd Band

July

7       The Maudlin Brothers

14      The Two Dollar Pistols

21      Wood & Steel

28      Memphis

August

4       Randy Whitt & The Grits

11      Django Haskins

18      Tommy Edwards & Friends

25      The Kickin Grass Band


Oktoberfest - October 20th: The Parsons, SouthPaw, Memphis, Wood & Steel



SAXAPAHAW & ENVIRONS & other GREAT EVENTS:

Friends of Nolan Benefit Art Auction, May 4th  6:30- 10:00 at the  
Durham Armory Acclaimed Artists Join Together for Special Benefit  
Auction

Artists from around the state have come together to donate valuable  
works of art to help raise funds for a very special, very tiny  
miracle baby born to artist parents in the Triangle. Over 160 items  
valued at well over $20,000 have been donated for the Friends of  
Nolan Benefit Art Auction May 4th, 2007. Auction items include works  
by Mark Hewitt, Ben Owen III, John Rosenthal, Rusty Sieck, Nell  
Chandler, Cynthia Bringle, Nick Joerling, Bernadette Curran, Hiroshi  
Sueyoshi , David Voorhees, Siglinda Scarpa, Doug Dotson, Marty  
Fielding, Conrad Weiser, Linda Christianson, Malcolm Davis, Paul  
Hrusovsky and Mark Peters with special collectors items including a  
Sally Bowen Prange vase and a Karen Karnes lidded vessel. The Auction  
features Sculptures, Pottery, Glass, Textiles, Paintings and Jewelry;  
precious art for a precious child.

Nolan LaRue Ikenberry Peterson was born three months early on  
September 14, 2006, to Kara Ikenberry and Ronan Peterson. While 12%  
of babies in the US are born prematurely, less than 1% of babies are  
born at 28 weeks or less. Nolan was small, even for a 26 week baby,  
weighing in at 515 grams at birth. He is a tiny bundle of miracles  
who inspired hundreds of people with his determination in just his  
first few weeks out of the womb.Nolan spent the first five months of  
his life in intensive care before he was strong enough to go home  
with his parents. Unfortunately, the same treatments that saved his  
life have caused damage that will take years to heal. His lungs are  
scarred from months of mechanical ventilation. Oxygen may have  
damaged his eyes. Steroid treatment increased his already high risk  
of developmental problems, which would require intensive intervention  
and therapy over a number of years. Raising Nolan will take the love  
and energy of many people. Nolans parents, Kara Ikenberry and Ronan  
Peterson, met while living and studying at Penland School of Crafts.  
They were married in September 2002, and a few months later moved to  
Chapel Hill, where they now live and make art. Kara is a blacksmith.  
Her smithy, Ikensmith ,is located in a barn in the countryside about  
10 miles outside of Chapel Hill. Ronan is a potter. His studio, Nine  
Toes Pottery is in Chapel Hill.

Family and friends have joined together, drawing upon the talent,  
kindness and generosity of North Carolinas great artists to create a  
festive gala and benefit auction to raise funds for the family. All  
money raised will be placed in a non-profit fund for Nolans parents  
to use for his continuing care. The Benefit Auction will take place  
at the Durham Armory with live music, hor doeuvres, beer, wine, and  
heavy bidding directed by Gary Philips, auctioneer. A $20 donation is  
recommended for a ticket to the Benefit Auction which can be  
purchased at the event or you can donate to the family online. For  
more information, pictures, auction items and directions visit  
www.FriendsofNolan.com




Art On the Haw River Wine Trail, May 5th & 6th

What goes together better than fine wine and fine art?  On Saturday  
and Sunday, May 5 and 6, 2007, the five wineries of the Haw River  
Wine Trail are presenting a two-day art and wine event, combining  
winery tastings and tours with fine art demonstrations and sales by  
local artisans.  The event, called Art on the Haw River Wine Trail,  
is a unique approach to the traditional artist studio tours where the  
venues are the five local wineries (Benjamin Vineyards & Winery in  
Saxapahaw, Creek Side Winery in Elon, GlenMarie Winery in Burlington,  
Grove Winery in Gibsonville, and Iron Gate Winery in Mebane) along  
the river in Alamance and Guilford counties.

Each site will host local artists who will be showcasing and selling  
a selection of the area's most creative works.  In addition to wine  
tastings and winery tours, there will be music and opportunities for  
visitors to view art and craft demonstrations.  Tour goers can travel  
the 50-mile long scenic drive through the heart of rural Piedmont  
North Carolina to find handmade, uniquely designed furniture, hand  
blown glass, pottery, metal sculptures, paintings, photography,  
quilting, fiber arts, jewelry, and much more at the five vineyard  
venues.  Located between Raleigh and Greensboro, this area's close  
proximity to both the Triad and the Triangle make Art on the Haw  
River Wine Trail a convenient, leisurely afternoon adventure with  
unequaled rewards at each location.

The hours for the event on Saturday are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and  
on Sunday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. There will be drawings for prizes  
(art pieces donated by the artists or wine donated by the wineries)  
for folks who visit all five wineries.  Best of all, the event is free!

For additional information about Art on the Haw River Wine Trail,  
contact the Burlington/Alamance Convention and Visitor Bureau at  
336-570-1444 or Nancy Zeman at Benjamin Vineyards & Winery  
(336-376-1080).  The list of artists and their winery locations for  
the event can be found at www.burlington-area-nc.org.


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