Moutenot helped oversee the construction of a new outdoor stage and prepare the grounds for festival camping. Saloon Studios: “This was only the beginning,” Blasting & Broadcasting from Moutenot says. “We plan to continue growing and improving the site for a the Past to the Present lot more events in the future.” By Mark Freed The Woodstock scene exempli- fied what makes the Saloon Studios such a unique venue—the dichotomy of old and new: the old mountains and new stage; the old west and new equipment; the old rockers and the new pickers-and-grinners. outenot, a rock-n-roll drum- to highlight some of the up-and-coming Back inside the saloon, these mer, producer, and veteran tour- local and regional talent, like the High seeming contradictions make for a ingM artist, serves as the Saloon Studios Country’s Cane Mill Road. fascinating environment. Pictures Keith Bryant, 365 Entertainment Director, and he is helping The Studios boast a VIP experience of old gun slingers secretly serve as bring to life the vision of owners Mike with shows limited to 100 people that Seven galleries l Contemporary art sound baffling devices; leather saddles and Laura Jones. includes meet-and-greet opportunities Changing exhibitions l Free admission The Nelsons playing inside the Saloon are repurposed as bar stools; old-time The Joneses started vacationing in with the artists, snacks and drinks, and western decor hides high-tech cam- Turchin Center Ashe County about 20 years ago, falling comfortable seating in an interesting ar- eras and lighting. in love with the mountains and surround- rangement that does not have a bad seat for the From the secret upstairs con- ing communities. When a piece of prop- in the house. Visual Arts trol room, where students from erty became available near their summer It has certainly drawn the attention of Appalachian State University’s audio 423 W. King Street, Boone, NC home, they decided to fulfill a dream, performers who relish an opportunity to production program intern, one gets 828.262.3017 • tvca.org combining their love of old western mov- perform in such a small venue, like Kenn a glance at the hidden production ies and classic rock-n-roll. Moutenot, who first experienced it play- potential of Saloon Studios. With Mike’s vision was lofty. He wanted to ing drums with Derringer. high-def cameras and audio produc- build a music venue where people could Moutenot hit it off with the Joneses tion equipment, the saloon serves not hear top-notch artists in an intimate and and shared their enthusiasm and vision. only as a performance venue, but as a relaxed environment—away from the Moutenot started working with top-notch audio and video recording long lines and crowds of amphitheaters Saloon Studios in the beginning of 2019, Reprinted from CML Autumn 2019 issue. space. and arenas. Mike also wanted to build a bringing in his decades of experience, nu- © 2019 Carolina Mountain Life Magazine, Inc, Linville NC USA This technology will allow Saloon saloon, harking back to a love of old west- merous connections to the music indus- All Rights Reserved. John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful) Studios to reach a much broader au- ern movies and a growing collection of try, and a vision for making his first year on the Open Air Stage dience. While attending a concert at western paraphernalia. The vision grew. a celebration of classic rock-n-roll. He the Studios is a VIP experience lim- Laura says, “Mike decided he needed spent more than four decades touring and ited to 100, anyone with an Internet an old west town.” working with greats like Buddy Miles and “We’re all about connection can jump on the website, They went about constructing a gor- Rick Derringer. With 2019 being the 50th the ‘60s,” says Kenn which has links to live streams of geous western-style saloon with 100 seats anniversary of Woodstock, Moutenot de- concerts and footage of past events. and equipped with a stage and top-notch cided to create his own celebration of the Moutenot of Ashe Saloon Studios is planning to offer production gear. They also built an entire famed festival. County’s Saloon Studios, annual streaming subscriptions that town with a working cantina, jail, post of- Utilizing his industry connections, will inflate one penny a year. fice, an undertaker, a bank, a blacksmith Moutenot put together two weekends one of the newest music “To start, folks will pay $20.19, to shop, stables, a general store, and a dress of performances featuring a host of venues in the Carolina match the calendar year,” Moutenot shop—Laura’s favorite space in town, musicians who played at the original shares. “The following year, the price where she creates and displays embroi- Woodstock festival. The 50th anniver- Mountain Life region. will be $20.20, and so on.” dered wares. sary celebration, dubbed the WE2019 “The 1860s and the Moutenot hopes the streaming The Joneses’ Saloon Studios started Experience, brought members of Canned service will broaden their audience, Custom, Hand-Crafted, Artistic, opening its doors to the public in 2018, Heat, Jefferson Starship, Ten Years After, 1960s.” giving people from all over the world featuring a series of concerts with rock- Iron Butterfly, Melanie, and many more to Natural Edge Wood Furnishings a chance to see into the CML region’s n-roll legends. Some of the classic rockers the Ashe County venue in August 2019. newest boutique music venue. And, Showroom: 2710 Tynecastle Hwy, Banner Elk 28604 who have graced the stage include Dave “There was not a more authentic for those readers already in the re- Studio: 65 Orchard Lane, Banner Elk, NC Mason of Traffic, Steve Cropper of STAX Woodstock line up,” Moutenot says gion, go to saloonstudioslive.com to Phone: 828-898-9663 records, Foghat, and Rick Derringer. proudly. find out more and check out upcom- They also started a “Rising Stars” series ...continued on next page Please visit RustikByUnderwood.com or Facebook.com/RustikByUnderwood ing shows that you can attend.

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