Climbing the rungs with The Avett Brothers
August 14th, 2009 at 6:05 am
The Avett Brothers are moving onward and upward. Here, they sing a song called “November Blue,” a tune about leaving. They perform tonight at the Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival.
It’s been a slow and steady climb to success for The Avett Brothers.
They started gigging in their native North Carolina as a rootsy respite from a more straight-ahead rock group. They started to get a following and went on tour. As an independent band, they saw their 2008 EP “The Second Gleam,” hit No. 82 on the Billboard album charts when it debuted, quite a feat for a band without major-label backing.
They’ve also established themselves as a major concert draw. They will headline tonight’s (Aug. 14) festivities at the Mulberry Mountain Harvest Music Festival near Ozark. They are scheduled to perform from about 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
The group, composed of brothers Scott and Seth Avett and friend Bob Crawford, have taken what they hope will be the next move upward. Since releasing “The Second Gleam,” the brothers have signed with American Recordings, owned by Rick Rubin. Rubin’s producing credits are extensive, and he is credited with helping revive Johnny Cash‘s career in the late ’90s.
Crawford recently spoke with the Northwest Arkansas Times about the band’s ascension, which he compared to climbing a ladder. He also talked about touring and the band’s new album, “I And Love And You,” which will be released on Sept. 29.
He also chatted about the band’s performance at last year’s Harvest Festival.
You can read the story here.
The festival continues through Aug. 15.
Tickets are still available and are $94/two-day pass, $59/Saturday-only pass. Get them on the festival Web site or by calling (866) 667-1919.
Click on the ‘more’ link below for a schedule of the remaining performances.
See you there.
Aug. 14
Main Festival Stage
Noon to 1 p.m. — William Elliot Whitmore
1:30-2:30 p.m. — Steep Canyon Rangers
3-4:15 p.m. — Hot Buttered Rum w/Peter Rowan
4:45-6 p.m. — Railroad Earth
6:30-8 p.m. — Tea Leaf Green
8:30-10 p.m. — Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. — The Avett Brothers
Downhome Stage
Noon to 1:15 p.m. — The Lovell Sisters
1:45-3 p.m. — Mountain Sprout
3:30-4:45 p.m. — Dirtfoot
5:15-6:30 p.m. — Split Lip Rayfield
7-8:15 p.m. — Peter Rowan
8:45-10 p.m. — My-Tea Kind
10:30-11:45 p.m. — Cindy Woolf Band
12:15-2:15 a.m. — Cornmeal
Harvest Tent Stage
10 p.m. to midnight — Squirrel Nut Zippers
12:30-3 a.m. — Blue Turtle Seduction
Aug. 15
Main Festival Stage
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — Big Smith
2-3:15 p.m. — The Duhks
3:45-5:15 p.m. — Corey Smith
5:45-7:15 p.m. — Squirrel Nut Zippers
7:45-9:45 p.m. — Ozark Mountain Daredevils
10:15 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. — Umphrey’s McGee
Downhome Stage
10:45-11:45 a.m. — 3 Penny Acre
Noon to 1:15 p.m. — Randy Crouch
1:45-3 p.m. — Ten Mile Tide
3:30-4:45 p.m. — Mountain Sprout
5:15-6:30 p.m. — Hackensaw Boys
7-8:15 p.m. — Green Sky Bluegrass
8:45-10 p.m. — Cletus Got Shot
10:30-11:45 p.m. — Elephant Revival
12:15-2:15 a.m. — The Duhks
Harvest Tent Stage
9:45-11:45 p.m. — The Lost Pines
12:30–3 a.m. — Tea Leaf Green