Futile Effort to Plan for Public Gathering is Cast Asunder by the Fickle Whim of Nature | Eastern North Carolina Now

    By 4:00 pm that afternoon, folks in the eastern Piedmont were dying. By 9:30 pm here Down East in Bertie County, folks were perishing in greater numbers. When I returned to the Civic Center about 6:45 pm for the Saturday night musical acts, the Civic Center was closing because of a region wide Tornado Watch, but the true music enthusiasts were not to be denied.

    With the City of Washington owned Civic Center closing because of the Tornado Watch, the Union Alley Coffeehouse, residing in, and a component of, the Artisan's Center on West Main Street, threw open it's doors to those who would not be denied their festival day. The Union Alley has long been a mainstay of the local traditional music scene, and provides a cramped, but accessible stage to those who love to play music, and those who wish to experience it live. I believe the musicians, and the fans alike, both appreciate the Artisan's Center filling in the gap this night, so these fans could experience what this BoCO Festival was supposed to be, even on this most foul-weathered-day.

    When I arrived at the Union Alley Coffeehouse, the Wilmington, NC band, Onward Soldiers, were already playing. After a number of their tunes were played with great conviction, the Artisan's Center Proprietor Bob Henkel announced, "everyone should stay calm, and remain in the building. A tornado was in the area.." The Tornado Watch had evolved into a Tornado Warning.

    Bob Henkel's warning was my invitation to leave the safer confines of the Artisan's Center to explore this immediate, and rain swept area, in search of the infamous tornado.
The rain abated long enough for me to make these images of the inclement weather. Looking up the Pamlico River into the thick crowds well beyond sunset: Above. Looking southeast at the expanding super-cell that eventually became the tornadoes that devastated Bertie County - taking 11 souls: Below.      images by Stan Deatherage

    The developing super-cell thunderstorm passed to the east of Washington, NC leaving Beaufort County unharmed. It did; however, continue northeast through Washington County, and then through Bertie County where so much havoc was wrought before making its way off the coast of North Carolina.

    I returned to Union Alley Coffeehouse for the completion of Onward Soldier's last set, and waited for the last two featured acts to ensue: local favorite Carolina Still and Lonnie Walker from Raleigh, NC. During the intermission of both bands, Nathan Drake reprised old and new favorites. I especially liked Nathan's rendition of Neil Young's "Heart of Gold."
Nathan Drake keeps the crowd entertained while Carolina Still sets up in the background: Above. Rob Cuthrell, of the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association, gives away this acoustic 6-string to a lucky, but absent winner: Below.      images by Stan Deatherage

    With the scare of an imminent tornado shortly passed, Carolina Still was next to crank up their rowdy, high energy approach to traditional Country Music, with just a hint of Rock 'n' Roll and Bluegrass. These guys really know how to keep their appreciative crowd stomping their feet.
Carolina Still from left to right - Adam Jones (upright bass), Robert Norman (fiddle), Justin Casey (Guitar), Billy Smith (Drums): Above. Robert Norman (fiddle) and Justin Casey (guitar) get some harmony going: Below.      images by Stan Deatherage

    The last band to play for the remnants of the BoCO Festival was Lonnie Walker. This four man ensemble is regionally known for eclectic approach to what might be considered by some as an "Indie" form of Rock music. My children especially enjoy the band, and my daughter, Meredith Deatherage Loughlin, does a good bit of the band's photography. Lonnie Walker actually played at my daughter's engagement party. Now they are recording and using Meredith's images of themselves to promote their music. It is most interesting how, at some point, we are all intertwined.
Lonnie Walker's turn to wow the crowd: Above from left to right - Eric Hill (guitar), Raymond Finn (drums), Brian Corum (guitar, lead vocals), Josh Bridgers (bass). Form left to right - Brian Corum (guitar, lead vocals), Josh Bridgers (bass): Below.      images by Stan Deatherage

    And as we are all truly intertwined, this article is as much about community as it is my short representation of the BoCO Music Festival's attempt, made near-futile by the worst of weather, to bring the best from this region to our many music-loving-people. The remaining folks that braved the threat of killer tornados, stayed for the conclusion of the festival at the Union Alley Coffeehouse. They are the distilled version of those who truly enjoy melody - "come hell or high water," or marauding winds that did sustain the ominous power to evolve into a vortex from hell.

    In light of what became the near-impossible-mission to complete the BoCO Music Festival, I truly believe we owe the oganizers of this festival, who believe we have the right here in eastern Beaufort County to enjoy ourselves, a hearty thank-you and a solid round of community applause.