Asheville News

No doubt about it: Asheville’s Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks was break-out band of Merlefest 2011

Jason Sandford May 3, 2011

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

There’s no doubt that Asheville band Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks was the break-out band of Merlefest 2011. It’s already been noted over at BlogAsheville, so I’ll just add my voice to the chorus because I was there to see it with my own two.

The pizz-azzy band, which looks straight out of The Great Depression and specializes in old-time music from that era, has mostly played small venues around Asheville and on the street. The crowds they played for in Wilkesboro were by far the biggest for the group, which seemed to me to be a little nervous about it all. Nonetheless, the Merlefesters showered nothing but love on Blind Boy Chocolate.

Catch these guys as soon as you can. They’re blowing up. From the Wilkes Journal Patriot:

The festival is known for finding and introducing talented newcomers to the MerleFest crowd, and this year was no exception.

One of the crowd favorites was “Blind Boy Chocolate and the Milk Sheiks,” featuring young musicians playing a washtub bass, washboard and a handsaw in addition to a banjo, guitar and mandolin. Over 1,000 people crowded into the Dance Tent for the group’s Saturday morning performance, leaving little room for anyone to dance.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

Jonathan Scales @ Merlefest 2011

Sammie and the stick

3 Comments

Corley May 5, 2011

I've seen the guitar player on the streets of Asheville – he's fantastic! Glad to hear they were well received.

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Tim May 4, 2011

Snoozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

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Jennifer S. May 3, 2011

Congrats to Nicky, Dwight, Aaron and the whole band! I've been a fan since Thanksgiving 2010, when they played a house concert, and frontman Dwight gave everybody saw lessons and lessons in American music history.

Show tonight at 5 at French Broad brewery! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202185389819765

Y'all are allowed to get famous but please don't move away or quit busking downtown.

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