Bryan Rodgers

Widespread Panic and The Allman Brothers Band have been synonymous with Walnut Creek amphitheatre since the venue’s inception in 1991. Widespread Panic (WSP) have one of the longest existing relationships with the venue, having performed one of the very first shows there in 1991, and the Allman Brothers Band (ABB) have performed at the venue every year since it opened – an incredible streak that will never be rivaled.

[All photos by Dave Rogers of AWAY-TEAM.COM]

While Panic’s highly anticipated shows at the venue have traditionally taken place in the Spring and Summer, a down year for concerts prompted the powers that be to team WSP with another southern musical powerhouse for a season-ending Sunday double bill that was as historic as they come.

There was plenty of room throughout the venue for the duration of the show, and it’s a testament to our times that both bands would draw even lighter numbers at the massive shed for a show by themselves. Still, longtime followers of the bands know that Sunday shows are frequently above average, and WSP excited their fans with 100 minutes of stellar playing that rarely relented. Strong song selection is the key to a standout WSP show, and this set had that in spades, with a spirited Pigeons opener foreshadowing an engaging setlist.

READ ON for more from the Allmans and Panic in Raleigh…

Initially created as part of a class project by Appalachian State University student Jimmy Hunt, Music on the Mountaintop has surpassed everyone’s expectations in just two years of existence. Held on a perfectly-angled hillside at an old fairground just outside the charming mountain town of Boone, NC, the one-day music and green living smorgasbord is on the verge of becoming a local institution and another feather in North Carolina’s musical cap.

The efficient, earth-conscious event requires relatively little land space, and the organizers strive and succeeded in making the festival one of the most environmentally considerate in the country. Volunteers combed the grounds all day encouraging garbage gathering and recycling, while a village of eco-conscious organizations and companies greeted the nearly 4,200 attendees upon entry.

Music on the Mountaintop has an impressive musical history for such a young event, and there’s already a legacy of artistry being established via repeat performances from headliners and local favorites alike. Luminaries like Sam Bush, Acoustic Syndicate and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band have performed at both iterations, helping give the event an air of tradition waiting to take hold. READ ON for more from Bryan on Music On The Mountaintop…