Reason #16: Charleston

With midterms in the past and a full schedule of fun shows planned, Friday was the start of our Fall Break. Not only did we get to dine with the one and only Johnny Williams, but we enjoyed practicing a few (new!) songs as well.

On Saturday, we ventured up through Virginia to Roanoke. We drove through gorgeous Franklin County with its horse farms, changing leaves, and Moonshine Capital of the World credibility (have y’all seen Lawless yet?). We made it to Roanoke County and played at Toast of the Valley wine festival along with the immensely talented Larry Gillis Band. They’re great players and kind folks and it was a treat to meet them!

Roanoke Farmer’s Market

We high-tailed it back to South Carolina for a show at Thornhill Farms. A hundred acres in the low with organic crops and some of the friendliest farm animals is also home to Adaptive Gardens, an incredible organization that enriches the lives of those with special needs through recreational horticulture activities. The Adaptive Gardens directors, Leslie and Jodie, are doing a wonderful thing for the community of McClellanvile and we’re blessed to have been apart of their Music on The Farm Benefit. The day wouldn’t have been possible without Awendaw Green (Eddie and the guys are the best! Thanks for handling the sound!), Dangermuffin, and Oh Valentino.  So cool to share the stage with these fine musicians.

Charlie, honorary Broadcaster and best sheepdog ever.

Reason #41: Meeting other music makers

And of course, any fall break would be incomplete without messing around at Yo! Burrito! Best burritos, beer, and bartenders in Charleston. Thanks Michael Hughes and our Charleston friends … scaring ourselves with new songs is fun with kind audiences like y’all!

Reason #5: Taco Madness

We ended our night with a trip to O’Hara & Flynn to hear our friends Nathan Koci, Bill Carson, and Jonathan Gray and their band Defektiva . These guys are killer. I was completely impressed. Give them a listen, or better yet, go to a show and tell me you don’t feel like you’re in Europe. Seriously.

Reason #22: Making friends with an accordion player

Just a few more stops and I’ll be back in The Old North State.

Reason #27 : Train Rides

On the way to Alabama, RDU proved to be the best airport once again. They didn’t make me check my banjo and they have free WiFi! I’m not going to lie, I felt like a rockstar. How often does a girl get to leave class early to fly to a show? Sometimes I wonder if I’m dreaming.

Despite the minor panic attack I had when I forgot about the time change (I thought I was going to have to tune my banjo and change into my “costume” mid-flight), the trip went very well.

David, Ivy and I fell in love with Lowe Mill – a renovated cotton mill with 100,000 square feet and three floors full of space for artists and entertainers to sell goods, teach classes, perform, and be inspired. There’s also The Happy Tummy, a vegetarian friendly spot which provided the perfect pre-show supper.

We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to perform in the Lowe Mill Concerts on the Dock series. From April to October, the city of Huntsville welcomes artists from all across the country to perform on the historic loading dock. The concert was so fun – super laid back with lots of families and four-legged pals. We just loved all of the hoopers, dancers, and our friends at Crave Sno Cones who treated us to a treat aka the best snow cone ever after the show.

Thanks, Crave Sno Cones!

SCB bumper stickers for our Huntsville friends!

And as if that wasn’t enough fun, we had the privilege to visit Bandito Southside to see our good friend Tucker and his band, Bourbon & Shamrocks. We couldn’t say no to their charming faces and rowdy songs, so when they asked, we hopped on stage for a few tunes ourselves. Thanks, guys! And thank you Huntsville! It was a very sweet trip to Alabama.

We’re doing some traveling this weekend. Come celebrate Fall Break with the Broadcasters at Toast of the Valley in Roanoke, Virginia, Music on the Farm at Adaptive Gardens, and one of our favorite local gigs, Yo Burrito . Just a few more midterms then I’m free. See y’all on down the road.

While we were in the area, we visited my home county for a show at the Burlington Carousel Festival. So much fun. We loved the amphitheater.

There’s so much to look forward to about fall (Fairs! Festivals! And pumpkin flavored everything!) but I think we’re all genuinely bummed that we’re done camping and competing for the year.

Catch David and Ivy tomorrow night at Seanachai Club on Johns Island.

Next week we’re trekking down to Alabama. Stay tuned, friends!