THE BLACK MOUNTAIN MUSIC SCENE PRESENTS
A HONKY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
Saturday December 5th 8pm
at the Town Pump Tavern
Featuring
from Austin Texas
MARK STUART
and the BASTARD SONS
and the BASTARD SONS
from Austin TX and Charlotte NC
WINK KEZIAH
from Asheville NC
DAVE DESMELIK
from Athens GA
BETSY FRANCK
Western North Carolina boasts many musical celebrations throughout the holiday season, but 2009 marks the debut of one of the most unique holiday celebrations in western North Carolina.
Austin, Athens, Asheville ..... each town different but each with an established national reputation for producing quality music and muscians and each of the Triple A music powers is represented at the Honky Tonk Holiday Celebration.
When it comes to honky-tonk atmosphere in WNC, only one place comes to mind. The Town Pump Tavern in Black Mountain NC has been a mainstay in the regional music scene for over 25 years. The club is known for it's unique small-town authentic honky-tonk spirit and national musicians have chosen to include The Town Pump on their tour schedules in spite of it's small size.
When outlaw-country legend, Billy Joe Shaver, looked to include an tourdate in Western NC, he passed over many larger venues and chose to book his show at the Town Pump Tavern where good honky-tonk music is appreciated. Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons are arguably the most well-known Americana band to play the Town Pump since that well-remembered show by Billy Joe Shaver.
Mark Stuart and Bastard Sons are based out of Austin Texas and their music is a perfect example of the Texas Roadhouse sound that has made Austin famous the world over.
His current tour travels to several states over a 3 month period and the Black Mountain appearance is his only stop in North Carolina.
Stuart’s latest CD, Bend in the Road, has kept Mark Stuart and the Bastard Sons on the Americana airplay charts and Roots Music charts for several weeks. The recording currently sits at number 33 on the Americana Top 40, sandwiched in between Kris Kristofferson and Uncle Tupelo.
A recent live review in the Santa Barbara News Press commented: "Bands like [Mark Stuart and The Bastard Sons] are the reason country music is still vital…The group takes a classic sound, writes great original songs and plays the hell out of them." Mark Stuart has been a fixture on the national Americana music scene for several years. His recordings and live shows have garnered heavy media attention and extensive airplay. Stuart and the band have toured across America and their popularity carried them to Europe for a recent international tour.
A recent live review in the Santa Barbara News Press commented: "Bands like [Mark Stuart and The Bastard Sons] are the reason country music is still vital…The group takes a classic sound, writes great original songs and plays the hell out of them." Mark Stuart has been a fixture on the national Americana music scene for several years. His recordings and live shows have garnered heavy media attention and extensive airplay. Stuart and the band have toured across America and their popularity carried them to Europe for a recent international tour.
Also on the program is Wink Keziah.
Wink Keziah and his band, Delux Motel, have built a loyal following at the Town Pump Tavern through their appearances over the past few years. Wink embodies the spirit of honky-tonk and outlaw country and has found a perfect fit in the welcoming crowds at Western North Carolina oldest and most authentic honky-tonk bar, The Town Pump Tavern.
His new release, Hard Times, is a great follow-up to his previous CD, Working Songs for the Drinking Class. Hard Times , is the first solo outing for the veteran roots troubadour, who recently relocated to Austin, Texas from his native North Carolina.
Dave Desmelik (http://www.davedesmelik.com/ ) has repeatedly been voted a fan favorite in the annual "Best of" survey of readers of 
Mountain Xpress, a weekly paper in Asheville NC. Dave Desmelik is a favorite around the region but is also known throughout the country and across Europe. His recordings have made their way onto the Roots Music airplay charts both here and abroad. His CD, "Onlooker" was on Roots Music Report Folk Airplay Chart for three weeks reaching #17. Dave's CD "When Your Eyes Are Closed" reached #6 on the Euro Americana chart back in 2006.
Mountain Xpress, a weekly paper in Asheville NC. Dave Desmelik is a favorite around the region but is also known throughout the country and across Europe. His recordings have made their way onto the Roots Music airplay charts both here and abroad. His CD, "Onlooker" was on Roots Music Report Folk Airplay Chart for three weeks reaching #17. Dave's CD "When Your Eyes Are Closed" reached #6 on the Euro Americana chart back in 2006. Besty Franck, (http://www.bareknuckleband.net/ )is based out of Athens Georgia where she performs with the band, The Bare Knuckle Band. Betsy and BKB have played venues around the South including the Georgia Theatre, Tasty World, and the 40 Watt in Athens; Bragg Jam in Macon, Ga., Americana Fest in Newnan, Ga., and the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Accompanying Dave and Betsy will be dobroist, Josh Gibbs of Old Fort NC.
