Ramble on Over!
When Dave Brewer arrived in Boone he took the High Country by storm as a working musician. “Boone is an un-fancy, come-as-you-are type of place,” Brewer told us. Over a decade later, Brewer and his band @possumjenkinsband began the mission of celebrating this funky vibe with friends & family. In 2014 the annual @carolina_ramble_reunion hosted by the Brayshaw farm began. “The earliest thing I had in mind was that The Ramble could serve as an excuse for people to come back to The High Country, relax, & be themselves,” said Brewer.
The Carolina Ramble and Reunion is more than just a music festival. “We aren’t trying to throw a wild and crazy field party,” Brewer laughed. Brewer likens the feel of the festival to that of a “good, ole’ southern family function infused with a good dose of High Country funky people.” Growing up going to church picnics & reunions, Brewer wanted the Carolina Ramble to embrace family activities like a three-legged race, face painting, & the famous cake walk. Even Dave’s partner & mom participate with famous pound cakes or creative new delicacies like Guinness chocolate cake with toffee glaze.
If baked goods are not enough to get you interested in the Ramble, their 2019 lineup will! Featuring artists like @dorifreeman & @mommamolasses; there’s truly something for everybody to enjoy!
“We’re gonna feed ya, entertain ya, give you a chance to win cakes & prizes in one of the most beautiful corners of the Blue Ridge,” Brewer says. There’s nothing like the familial vibe The Ramble has. This can only happen due to “the generous group of people & their extreme support of hauling golf carts, standing in a parking lot for hours, & chopping wood. It’s an amazing group effort that makes my heart swell every year.” Even Brewer’s students from his Split Rail Records class at @appstate join in & volunteer!
While the Ramble is a big part of Brewer’s life, it isn’t the only way he celebrates the Boone community. If he’s not working, he’s performing with the Junaluska Gospel Choir or sharing the stage with one of his bands during a benefit concert for Area Musicians Experience Need. It’s this love of community that makes Dave a true #boonie!