BEACHIN' BLUEGRASS: Bluegrass by the Beach returns, benefits Brunswick Habitat for Humanity

Shannon Rae Gentry
6 days ago
3 min read

What I love about the “things to do” in our community and surrounding Cape Fear area is how the “things to do” almost always also raise money for causes that directly serve my community and the people in it. Giving back to the community is as easy as going out for a good time. And while you might not have a Saturday to dedicate to help build a house this weekend, you can still help ensure that home stands by just spending your Saturday enjoying live music and food trucks—at the Second Annual Bluegrass by the Beach.

Hosted at Silver Coast Winery in Ocean Isle this Saturday, Oct. 25 from 12-8 p.m., this is the day at the beach that some folks might have in mind when they think of where we live: food, live music, local vendors, and mild fall weather. Plus, a portion of proceeds benefit the Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity and their mission to build homes for local families.

You can purchase tickets in advance here, or day-of at the door. RSVP and see the full music and vendor line-up details on the Facebook event page.

Local bluegrass staples Massive Grass, Folkstone Stringband, and Dear Maribella & the Pigkickers will join Tennessee’s Mountain Highway Band, E. Walter Smith from Georgia, and headliners Ralph Stanley II & The Clinch Mountain Boys.

Festival organizer, Mary Anne Hewett, will also take to the stage. Hewett and co-organizer Melissa Hunt also own Full Spectrum Design, and told encore more about their growing vision for the Bluegrass by the Beach.

encore (e): What are the biggest differences between the inaugural festival and this year that make it bigger and better?

Melissa Hunt (MH): This one has more performers and more announcements from Full Spectrum! Mary Anne is a musician and was a recording and touring artist for years before injury and illness in her band changed her path. She got her design degree and we founded Full Spectrum Design.

We were looking for fun ways to promote our services to the community, and we thought about Mary Anne's music background and connections. Last year we announced our internship program called “Supply and Demand,” and the turnout was so great that we decided to do it again. This year, we are announcing Full Spectrum Builders, the fabrication and construction aspect of our business.

Grammy winner Ralph Stanley II is back, but we have many more performers this year- another well known touring Bluegrass band called Mountain Highway who is new to us, but also many returning bands from the bluegrass scene in Wilmington. And Mary Anne will be performing too!

e: Tell us more about your connection to Brunswick Habitat for Humanity and why it's important to support their mission right now?

Mary Anne Hewett (MAH): We've been a major supporter of Brunswick Habitat for as long as we can remember, utilizing items from the ReStore in designs and teaching people how to do the same. I'd say 90% of our office furnishings are from the Habitat Restore!

We feel connected to the work of Habitat through our business of building and designing places to live. As home builders and designers, we understand the importance of home and what that means: we are currently working on a project with Novant Health and Brunswick Habitat for Humanity to create affordable housing.

Music brings people together and helps spread awareness about the good work being done, and bluegrass music reminds you of being at home on the porch with the family, picking songs and telling stories.

e: What do you enjoy about bluegrass and the bands we'll see this weekend?

MH: Mary Anne's family was always into Bluegrass, going to festivals like this one. They used to follow Ralph Stanley II and eventually got friendly, and through that connection the idea of the Bluegrass by the Beach festival was born. Ralph Stanley II is keeping his father's music alive, music that came from family oriented folks who wanted to entertain themselves and tell stories. We wanted to bring that history and that music here into the Brunswick County area. We're excited about our returning bands and the new ones joining us- one of the bands, Massive Grass, was chosen for the North Carolina State Fair this year! There is a lot of talent.

e: Anything else you'd like to note about the performances, food or anything else about Bluegrass by the Beach?

MAH: We will have food trucks, vendors—some vendors that are related to construction, building, real estate and the other connections between our business and Brunswick Habitat—and the beautiful venue, Silver Coast Winery, will have their goods to try and for sale of course!