October 10, 2023 • 20 mins
Are you ready to explore the hidden treasures of North Carolina's Foothills region? Join us as we recap our captivating journey to Happy Valley, where we enjoyed an immersive day of music, art, and local history. We'll share our impressions from the inaugural Coalesce Fest as well as delve into local bands, as we also take you behind the scenes of the Western North Carolina Sculpture Center and Park and historic Fort Defience - all right off of the Upper Yadkin Scenic Byway.
Hot links:
https://www.wncsculpture.org/
https://www.wncsculpture.org/wnc-sculpture-center
https://www.historicfortdefiancenc.org/about-the-fort
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094324192729
https://www.facebook.com/andrew.massey3
This program brought to you by:
The Angler Magazine
Sunrift Adventures
Thank you for listening to this program. Please visit BizRadio.US for hundreds of other great conversational shows and be sure to bookmark Matt & Michele Outdoors on your browser for all sorts of great content.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Matt Mittan (00:17):
Good day and welcome to another episode of
Matt and Michelle Odyssey.
I'm Matt.
Matan, I'm Michelle Sheath, andboy did we have a fun day trip
that we can't wait to tell youabout on this episode.
Michele Scheve (00:26):
Oh my gosh, it was so good, it was so, so fun.
Matt Mittan (00:29):
And it could have been a weekend trip.
It really but we just reallyoverbooked ourselves and we did.
Michele Scheve (00:35):
And this was a festival.
It was their first time, so itwas one of those things of, like
, you know, next year we'll knowa little bit more about, about
what we're doing.
Matt Mittan (00:45):
And we are talking about the inaugural coalesced
fest which was held in HappyValley, north Carolina, just
outside Lenore, north Carolina,in the northwest corner in the
foothills in North Carolina.
We always seem to overbookourselves whenever we travel to
that part of the Appalachianmountains and foothills.
Michele Scheve (01:02):
I don't think people realize.
I don't think I would realizeunless I was actively out there
looking at all these festivals.
They have in these areas, somany great activities and great
stuff to do on regular schedules.
It's not even special events.
Matt Mittan (01:17):
Yes, but we love it and you know, like I think
people who listen to us on aregular basis know, wilkesboro
is kind of our unofficialadopted second hometown.
Yes, and, but we were there forthe coalesced fest.
But just to give a little bitof information, it was held at
the Western North CarolinaSculpture Center and Park, which
we'll talk about a little bitmore as we go, but it was
(01:39):
located on NC 268, which is thescenic byway, part of the Upper
Yadkin Scenic Byway, the NorthCarolina Highway 268, and it was
gorgeous.
Michele Scheve (01:52):
So beautiful, and the day could not have been
better.
Matt Mittan (01:55):
Oh yeah.
Michele Scheve (01:55):
I can't think of any way it could have been
better.
Can you think of a way it couldhave been better?
Matt Mittan (01:59):
if we had camped overnight, because we could have
camped, but we we bookedourselves in multiple times.
Michele Scheve (02:05):
Oh the weather, yeah, it was too perfect.
Matt Mittan (02:06):
No, it was.
Michele Scheve (02:07):
It was what like 65, 70 degrees, there was a
breeze, full blue jean weatherand, and yeah, gorgeous blue
skies.
Matt Mittan (02:18):
Yeah, it was fantastic and and had such a
great time too, because itfeatured all local music.
Yes from Lenore, morganton,hickory, wilkesboro area.
Yeah, it was all local artistsand Michelle and I we co-founded
and co-own a radio stationbased in Asheville, north
Carolina, called Buzz radio, andit features just Original
(02:39):
artists of all styles from allacross Western North Carolina,
and so for us it was kind oflike a homecoming Slash meet and
greet, because there were somany bands we knew but there
were so many that we knew buthadn't met face-to-face.
Michele Scheve (02:54):
And it just had seen live, hadn't seen live, and
that was.
That was absolutely One of themost exciting things, if not, it
probably was.
The most exciting thing aboutthe day is that there were Five
I would say five bands, thatthat we were very I love, but
hadn't seen live.
That were very familiar withtheir music, that that we could
(03:18):
dance to you and sing along.
It was just really Really greatIn that way, and there there
was so many things about the daythat that was really fun,
really enjoyable.
Matt Mittan (03:30):
And it was a great chance to be introduced to the
Western North Carolina sculpturecenter in park which we had
never, been to, and but you wentto art school not far from
there.
Michele Scheve (03:40):
Well, I went to school in Pinland and it's very
much if they turned the, if theyturned the sculpture park into
more of an art school, whichthere's talk of them doing Kind
of on a vibe, where you can haveResidencies there, and we were
talking to some art studentsWhile some local artists in town
(04:05):
that you tried to adopt that.
Matt Mittan (04:07):
I did want to adopt them.
Michele Scheve (04:09):
They were.
They were lovely artists, yes,and and really sweet and fun and
but but yeah, so we weregetting some, some of the inside
information about how theymight do a Like a little artists
colony type stuff as they buildup the, the sculpture park and
(04:30):
and that was very similar ideato what Pinland is, which anyone
can Google Pinland art schools,well known all over the world,
yeah, so and and so it wasreally cool because it's a
working.
Matt Mittan (04:42):
I guess it used to be an old gymnasium as part of
the school campus that's rightin that area, yeah, and they've
converted it into it's like aforge you know, and, and it was
neat seeing the whole bigpallets of coal and everything
else and blacksmiths andeverything.
As a matter of fact, I got alist right here.
Let me just read.
So yeah, it's a 10,000 squarefoot former gymnasium from the
(05:04):
Patterson School Foundationgrounds, and so you know, they
took over all this land and thebuilding and everything, but
inside there they have a foundry, you know, with iron furnaces,
sand mixers, resins, catalysts,ramming tools, all kind of stuff
metal fabrication,blacksmithing, woodworking and
they've got all of that rightthere in this space and it's and
(05:24):
it's available for people to goin in the sculpture center and
do their work and because it'sgot such high ceilings, they can
do big projects.
Yeah, and then there's places todisplay it, and you were
mentioning like you can walkaround this walking trails and
the sculptures everywhere, ofevery kind you can imagine it on
beautiful, just postcardgrounds, right, just absolutely
(05:45):
wonderful and had such a greattime there.
And Also, the other thing aboutthe about the programs that
they're doing there and thingsthat they're starting to launch
out Is they're gonna be doingspecial programs, like they have
military veteran workshops formilitary veterans.
Michele Scheve (06:00):
Are you gonna do that?
Matt Mittan (06:01):
Well, I was, look I'm.
That's why I'm bringing it up.
You wanna shout out because Imight want to follow up and
schedule some time to be thereon the grounds and attend a
Blacksmithing workshop.
Right, they have metal forging,blacksmithing, woodworking
things and, as you knowlisteners may not know this, but
I do a lot of I used to do alot of work furniture I built
Right contraptions around thehouse and things like that, but
(06:24):
the blacksmithing is fascinatingto me.
Yeah, you know, I would love toexperience that, but they hold
events there.
They've got volunteeropportunities and everything.
It is a.
It's a nonprofit organization,but if you're looking to have a
day trip and go and check it out, they do have the park grounds
which are open to the public.
I and it's from dawn till duskand so people can go and you can
(06:45):
walk around.
Michele Scheve (06:46):
There's a nice little pond with a dock, you
know, so there's water featuresand Although I bet they could do
like a corn maze without themaze with all the sculptures
there, and like run around atnight.
Wouldn't that be fun?
Matt Mittan (07:00):
Oh, that would To do like a Halloween.
That could be really scary.
Yeah, it could be totally scary.
Michele Scheve (07:05):
Cause you're out in the middle, you're way out,
you're way out.
Matt Mittan (07:08):
It really is a setup.
You're out in rural area.
Michele Scheve (07:10):
yes, Okay, it is a setup for a horror story.
So, but during the day it'squite lovely, I mean, and the
Patterson school has a lot ofhistory to it as well.
Matt Mittan (07:21):
And that's right across the scenic byway from the
sculpture center in park, andso there's a lot of history
there too, but other than thatit's beautiful vistas and farms.
There's not really much elseout there, but one of the other
things that's nearby.
I just wanted to shout this outbefore we got into talking
about the bands and theexperience.
(07:42):
But Fort Defiance, northCarolina, is right near this
location as well.
As a matter of fact, as you'redriving in to the sculpture
center, you'll see the signs forthe historic Fort Defiance, and
I just wanted to read a littlebit.
You know you never want to readon radio, but I just wanted to
go ahead and read this.
It says the home was built byWilliam.
(08:02):
It's a historic home and it wasnamed well.
I'll just read it instead of metrying to summarize it.
The home was built by WilliamLenore, beginning in 1788 and
was finished in 1792.
Now, if you're paying attentionat home and you're checking off
the bingo card, the sculpturecenter is right outside Lenore.
Yes, this is the namesake.
So the namesake for the town ofLenore, this is the Lenore
(08:26):
family homestead that was builtin the 1700s.
When the house was originallyconstructed, there were five
outbuildings built within a75-yard radius a smokehouse, a
loom house, a dairy, a summerkitchen and corn crib.
And today the smokehouse is theonly original building still
standing.
But the Lenore's home was namedfor the original Fort Defiance,
built prior to the AmericanRevolution.
(08:47):
By the time construction of thehouse started, the fort was
abandoned and nothing remains ofit today.
But the home was altered by thefamily over the years, but in
1972, I think it was 1972 ormaybe it was 1961.
I don't remember.
Michele Scheve (09:01):
Don't tell me there was a fire.
Matt Mittan (09:04):
No.
When the family turned it overto for historic preservation and
created a nonprofit, they wentahead and restored the original
house.
They took off the additionsthat had been put on and put
other parts back on that hadbeen taken off.
Michele Scheve (09:18):
And when you drive into the sculpture center,
is that the original house thatwe see?
Matt Mittan (09:23):
No, no this is nearby.
Michele Scheve (09:24):
Oh, nearby, yeah , it's nearby.
Matt Mittan (09:26):
But for people that are looking to do a day trip.
You can go ahead and hit thesculpture center, you can enjoy
the scenic byway which runs Ishould probably mention this the
scenic byway, the Upper Yadkinscenic byway runs from US 321,
which anyone who's traveledthrough that area knows that
highway well.
It connects from there over toKerr-Scott Reservoir, which
we've also done an episode ofMMO at.
And so if you want to take thatscenic rural drive, it's
(09:49):
beautiful.
And you can hit Fort Defiance,you can hit the sculpture center
and things like that, butduring the history of the house
parts of it were used as alumber office.
It also was used as a US postoffice for a time for the
community out there, and thefamily lived in the house from
1792 until 1961.
Wow.
Michele Scheve (10:09):
Isn't that?
Matt Mittan (10:09):
crazy.
Yeah, that's so awesome andanyway.
So it's now open, it'savailable and the nonprofit, the
501C3 nonprofit, fort DefianceIncorporated, oversees the
operation of the historic homeand grounds and you can check
them out online historic FortDefiance Fort DefianceNCorg.
(10:30):
And really beautiful, likecolonial style, and it's not a
lot of colonial architecture.
Michele Scheve (10:35):
So did you see it.
Matt Mittan (10:36):
No, we didn't go to it because we had so many
events we just went there,that's right.
But that's why we do the show.
Michele Scheve (10:41):
I didn't know if you would see it before, but we
definitely gotta go back.
You're a Fort guy.
Matt Mittan (10:46):
Well, I knew about Fort Defiance from the
Revolution of War, and when Isaw the sign saying Fort
Defiance I was like wait one, Idon't know that we're in the
right area too.
I didn't think it was stillaround, and so now I know the
history.
Michele Scheve (10:58):
And it was inspired by that.
Matt Mittan (11:00):
So cool, yeah.
So just a cool thing.
All right back to Coalesce Fest.
Michele Scheve (11:03):
Yes.
Matt Mittan (11:04):
So big shout out to Andrew Massey.
Michele Scheve (11:06):
Right.
So Andrew Massey, from AndrewMassey and the Midnight American
.
Matt Mittan (11:14):
And Sycamore Bones.
Michele Scheve (11:15):
Sycamore Bones.
He has been a figure and he hasbeen someone in the Lenore
community that has been bringingthe art scene, the music scene,
together for many years now,and so to do it on this level is
just a beautiful thing, towitness Someone taking it up a
(11:37):
notch.
Matt Mittan (11:38):
It's had two music stages, had all kinds of food
trucks there.
There were activities for kids.
It was like a little carnival,like old school kind of small
town carnival type things withthe different games and things
like that.
But then you also had a wholebunch of artisans set up all
around the grounds to be able toshop and see their work and
(11:58):
many people were out there doingthe stuff Right.
They're on site.
And that's where myblacksmithing conversation.
I got into a conversation withthe blacksmith and he was like
you know, let's come over on theother side of the rope here
I'll let you bang out some iron.
I'm like oh, I'd love to, butif I start I won't make it to my
next thing on time.
Michele Scheve (12:14):
Yes.
Matt Mittan (12:15):
But it was really good.
But you mentioned, you know,getting to see bands.
We got to see so many diversebands.
It's one of the things I wantto say about the Lenore,
morganton, hickory area, becauseand this isn't really a
commentary as much as it is justan observation the venues in
those areas do not supportoriginal music.
(12:35):
They just don't you know, and soit's like you got to play
covers to get a gig, and that'sone of the reasons why I think
this festival was even organized, because the bands that we're
playing were all playingoriginal music Right, which we
celebrate.
I mean, we go looking for that.
Michele Scheve (12:50):
You know it's like cover bands.
Matt Mittan (12:51):
Nothing against you , but we're not gonna spend
money to go see a cover band.
We wanna go see original musicand it speaks to the region and
the area where they're at, andsome of the standout bands from
the area we wanna give shoutouts because the music in that
area around Lenore is just sooutstanding.
And yet, you know, other thanBuzz Radio in Asheville, there's
(13:12):
not really anywhere that a lotof these bands are getting any
airtime, and so we wanted tointroduce some of them to our
audience on MMO.
Michele Scheve (13:20):
Right, okay, so, like you said, there's the
truck stage, which was an actualtruck, so quaint.
Matt Mittan (13:27):
Yeah, flatbed.
Michele Scheve (13:28):
It was really well done.
And then the mural stage, whichwas right, where there was a
mural as well, and so the muralstage, which was smaller, had
Jimmy Griffith, Cody Romadette,the Zebra Ninjas which is
amazing which was another bandof Andrew.
Matt Mittan (13:46):
Massey, andrew, massey, yep for kids and stuff,
yeah so cool.
Michele Scheve (13:50):
Georgie Harris Squatch, which is one of the
bands that we know and love.
Matt Mittan (13:55):
Got to see live.
Finally Got to see live.
Michele Scheve (13:57):
finally, the Neighbors and Dear Cavalier.
So that was on the mural stage,which was the smaller stage,
and they all killed it.
And then over on the truckstage, it was the Rostakustik,
will, willis and Friends andthen Truvair that was another
one we loved.
(14:18):
Truvair yeah, quite an amazingsongwriter, so fantastic, so
great to see him and his band.
Matt Mittan (14:24):
And we'd actually seen them live in Asheville.
Michele Scheve (14:26):
We have seen them at the Gray Eagle in
Asheville and then John Boyd inLefty Sycamore Bones.
Matt Mittan (14:33):
One of Andrew Massey's bands.
They played my favorite song.
Michele Scheve (14:36):
It made me so happy.
Matt Mittan (14:37):
Look up Lake Fever.
Michele Scheve (14:39):
Yeah, lake Fever , such a good song.
Phantom X, which, like I'mwearing their t-shirt now I got
at the festival.
Matt Mittan (14:46):
I was drinking out of their Cousi a little bit
earlier.
Yes, no, in Phantom X too.
I mean like all stop I meanjust the energy and the attitude
and the musicianship andperformance.
And Abigail, yeah, the leadsinger Just coming off that
stage, just pushed the treesback another 50 feet, I mean
just unbelievable progressivepunk metal.
(15:09):
I don't know what youcategorize them as.
Michele Scheve (15:14):
It's really hard for me to categorize them, you
know, even though I know they'rein the progressive punk metal
type area, but some of the wordsto their music, I mean, they're
screamed.
These words are screaming.
Matt Mittan (15:31):
But then other melodies are so soothing and
beautiful.
Michele Scheve (15:34):
It's poetry, it really is Such a big fan.
And then, of course, john KirbyJr and the new seniors and
Bobby Snakes.
And so that's who covered it.
That was a great first festivallineup for them.
Matt Mittan (15:50):
Yeah, and you know, one of the things we love to do
with MMO is we say we like totravel.
We travel intentionally,unintentionally, you know,
intentionally unintentional withour travels.
And this was an exception ofthat.
We went very much excited tospecifically be able to
celebrate this little corner ofthe Southern.
Appalachia foothills and themusic and the art and the
(16:13):
artisans of that area, and youknow so.
If you're looking for, peopleask us all the time where's a
place to go that many peopledon't know about.
There you go.
We've just given you one righthere.
We've ruined so many places,y'all that was actually some of
the conversation with peopleabout.
Like you know, we want peopleto know, we want to support the
music and the artists, but atthe same time, it's like, well,
(16:33):
you know, but we don't want youknow.
Three million people showing upin the valley all of a sudden.
Michele Scheve (16:39):
Yeah, yeah, I mean honestly.
Yeah, we really don't.
We really don't, y'all.
So go only only if you'rereally gonna be present there.
Also, shout out to the food.
There were a couple of foodtrucks.
Matt Mittan (16:53):
There were three food trucks.
All of them were phenomenal.
Michele Scheve (16:56):
Yeah, all of them were phenomenal, I think.
Matt Mittan (17:01):
I should have written down the names of them.
Michele Scheve (17:03):
Yeah, I feel bad that I don't, you don't have
their names, but they are foodtrucks in the Lenore area and if
you go to the, the, the NCsculpture org in find the
coalesce fast, I'm sure they'restill listed there.
Matt Mittan (17:20):
So go ahead and set a reminder you know.
Go ahead and follow on Facebookor something you know.
Look up Andy Andrew Massey.
For all the great stuff.
He's really an ambassador.
Yes for the art and music sceneof that area.
But you know, if you're lookingto do a multi-day trip, you
know We've got a few episodes inthe Wilkes County area that
(17:40):
we've done Leatherwood.
Michele Scheve (17:41):
Resort.
Reservoir Wilkesburg areaPhenomenal and.
Matt Mittan (17:46):
I think we've also done Lake Hickory as an episode
as well.
I think I'm not sure I knowwe've been there.
Michele Scheve (17:52):
You know I was the one where we almost died so
much time there that I'm notsure I know we almost got run
over by a big yacht in our canoe.
Anyway, maybe we didn't do anepisode on that one.
Matt Mittan (18:02):
We should, though, anyway.
So check it out.
Lenore area local breweries,restaurants.
It's really an up-and-comingcommunity, and the creative arts
scene in the music scene justhit so far above its weight, and
, and every single person rightdown to you know, from kids to
Aged or anything in betweeneverybody was so friendly, so
(18:24):
accommodating, so proud of theircommunity and we got walked out
of the event by a goose.
Oh yeah, we had a Canadiangoose walk us out the traffic,
walk us out like a trafficcalmer.
I was like okay, okay, they werejust crawling like two miles an
hour behind this goose thatjust walked us out.
Michele Scheve (18:42):
So check out our social media for pictures,
videos, etc.
Matt Mittan (18:46):
All right.
So there's your to-do list forthe day trip there.
You've got the Western NorthCarolina Sculpture Center in
Park.
You've got Fort Defiance.
You've also you've got thehistoric school right the
Patterson school is right thereand of course, the upper Yadkin
scenic byway that can connectyou back over to Wilkesboro and
Kerscott Reservoir andappreciate y'all tuning in.
Good day and welcome to another episode of
Matt and Michelle Odyssey.
I'm Matt.
Matan, I'm Michelle Sheath, andboy did we have a fun day trip
that we can't wait to tell youabout on this episode.
Michele Scheve (00:26):
Oh my gosh, it was so good, it was so, so fun.
Matt Mittan (00:29):
And it could have been a weekend trip.
It really but we just reallyoverbooked ourselves and we did.
Michele Scheve (00:35):
And this was a festival.
It was their first time, so itwas one of those things of, like
, you know, next year we'll knowa little bit more about, about
what we're doing.
Matt Mittan (00:45):
And we are talking about the inaugural coalesced
fest which was held in HappyValley, north Carolina, just
outside Lenore, north Carolina,in the northwest corner in the
foothills in North Carolina.
We always seem to overbookourselves whenever we travel to
that part of the Appalachianmountains and foothills.
Michele Scheve (01:02):
I don't think people realize.
I don't think I would realizeunless I was actively out there
looking at all these festivals.
They have in these areas, somany great activities and great
stuff to do on regular schedules.
It's not even special events.
Matt Mittan (01:17):
Yes, but we love it and you know, like I think
people who listen to us on aregular basis know, wilkesboro
is kind of our unofficialadopted second hometown.
Yes, and, but we were there forthe coalesced fest.
But just to give a little bitof information, it was held at
the Western North CarolinaSculpture Center and Park, which
we'll talk about a little bitmore as we go, but it was
(01:39):
located on NC 268, which is thescenic byway, part of the Upper
Yadkin Scenic Byway, the NorthCarolina Highway 268, and it was
gorgeous.
Michele Scheve (01:52):
So beautiful, and the day could not have been
better.
Matt Mittan (01:55):
Oh yeah.
Michele Scheve (01:55):
I can't think of any way it could have been
better.
Can you think of a way it couldhave been better?
Matt Mittan (01:59):
if we had camped overnight, because we could have
camped, but we we bookedourselves in multiple times.
Michele Scheve (02:05):
Oh the weather, yeah, it was too perfect.
Matt Mittan (02:06):
No, it was.
Michele Scheve (02:07):
It was what like 65, 70 degrees, there was a
breeze, full blue jean weatherand, and yeah, gorgeous blue
skies.
Matt Mittan (02:18):
Yeah, it was fantastic and and had such a
great time too, because itfeatured all local music.
Yes from Lenore, morganton,hickory, wilkesboro area.
Yeah, it was all local artistsand Michelle and I we co-founded
and co-own a radio stationbased in Asheville, north
Carolina, called Buzz radio, andit features just Original
(02:39):
artists of all styles from allacross Western North Carolina,
and so for us it was kind oflike a homecoming Slash meet and
greet, because there were somany bands we knew but there
were so many that we knew buthadn't met face-to-face.
Michele Scheve (02:54):
And it just had seen live, hadn't seen live, and
that was.
That was absolutely One of themost exciting things, if not, it
probably was.
The most exciting thing aboutthe day is that there were Five
I would say five bands, thatthat we were very I love, but
hadn't seen live.
That were very familiar withtheir music, that that we could
(03:18):
dance to you and sing along.
It was just really Really greatIn that way, and there there
was so many things about the daythat that was really fun,
really enjoyable.
Matt Mittan (03:30):
And it was a great chance to be introduced to the
Western North Carolina sculpturecenter in park which we had
never, been to, and but you wentto art school not far from
there.
Michele Scheve (03:40):
Well, I went to school in Pinland and it's very
much if they turned the, if theyturned the sculpture park into
more of an art school, whichthere's talk of them doing Kind
of on a vibe, where you can haveResidencies there, and we were
talking to some art studentsWhile some local artists in town
(04:05):
that you tried to adopt that.
Matt Mittan (04:07):
I did want to adopt them.
Michele Scheve (04:09):
They were.
They were lovely artists, yes,and and really sweet and fun and
but but yeah, so we weregetting some, some of the inside
information about how theymight do a Like a little artists
colony type stuff as they buildup the, the sculpture park and
(04:30):
and that was very similar ideato what Pinland is, which anyone
can Google Pinland art schools,well known all over the world,
yeah, so and and so it wasreally cool because it's a
working.
Matt Mittan (04:42):
I guess it used to be an old gymnasium as part of
the school campus that's rightin that area, yeah, and they've
converted it into it's like aforge you know, and, and it was
neat seeing the whole bigpallets of coal and everything
else and blacksmiths andeverything.
As a matter of fact, I got alist right here.
Let me just read.
So yeah, it's a 10,000 squarefoot former gymnasium from the
(05:04):
Patterson School Foundationgrounds, and so you know, they
took over all this land and thebuilding and everything, but
inside there they have a foundry, you know, with iron furnaces,
sand mixers, resins, catalysts,ramming tools, all kind of stuff
metal fabrication,blacksmithing, woodworking and
they've got all of that rightthere in this space and it's and
(05:24):
it's available for people to goin in the sculpture center and
do their work and because it'sgot such high ceilings, they can
do big projects.
Yeah, and then there's places todisplay it, and you were
mentioning like you can walkaround this walking trails and
the sculptures everywhere, ofevery kind you can imagine it on
beautiful, just postcardgrounds, right, just absolutely
(05:45):
wonderful and had such a greattime there.
And Also, the other thing aboutthe about the programs that
they're doing there and thingsthat they're starting to launch
out Is they're gonna be doingspecial programs, like they have
military veteran workshops formilitary veterans.
Michele Scheve (06:00):
Are you gonna do that?
Matt Mittan (06:01):
Well, I was, look I'm.
That's why I'm bringing it up.
You wanna shout out because Imight want to follow up and
schedule some time to be thereon the grounds and attend a
Blacksmithing workshop.
Right, they have metal forging,blacksmithing, woodworking
things and, as you knowlisteners may not know this, but
I do a lot of I used to do alot of work furniture I built
Right contraptions around thehouse and things like that, but
(06:24):
the blacksmithing is fascinatingto me.
Yeah, you know, I would love toexperience that, but they hold
events there.
They've got volunteeropportunities and everything.
It is a.
It's a nonprofit organization,but if you're looking to have a
day trip and go and check it out, they do have the park grounds
which are open to the public.
I and it's from dawn till duskand so people can go and you can
(06:45):
walk around.
Michele Scheve (06:46):
There's a nice little pond with a dock, you
know, so there's water featuresand Although I bet they could do
like a corn maze without themaze with all the sculptures
there, and like run around atnight.
Wouldn't that be fun?
Matt Mittan (07:00):
Oh, that would To do like a Halloween.
That could be really scary.
Yeah, it could be totally scary.
Michele Scheve (07:05):
Cause you're out in the middle, you're way out,
you're way out.
Matt Mittan (07:08):
It really is a setup.
You're out in rural area.
Michele Scheve (07:10):
yes, Okay, it is a setup for a horror story.
So, but during the day it'squite lovely, I mean, and the
Patterson school has a lot ofhistory to it as well.
Matt Mittan (07:21):
And that's right across the scenic byway from the
sculpture center in park, andso there's a lot of history
there too, but other than thatit's beautiful vistas and farms.
There's not really much elseout there, but one of the other
things that's nearby.
I just wanted to shout this outbefore we got into talking
about the bands and theexperience.
(07:42):
But Fort Defiance, northCarolina, is right near this
location as well.
As a matter of fact, as you'redriving in to the sculpture
center, you'll see the signs forthe historic Fort Defiance, and
I just wanted to read a littlebit.
You know you never want to readon radio, but I just wanted to
go ahead and read this.
It says the home was built byWilliam.
(08:02):
It's a historic home and it wasnamed well.
I'll just read it instead of metrying to summarize it.
The home was built by WilliamLenore, beginning in 1788 and
was finished in 1792.
Now, if you're paying attentionat home and you're checking off
the bingo card, the sculpturecenter is right outside Lenore.
Yes, this is the namesake.
So the namesake for the town ofLenore, this is the Lenore
(08:26):
family homestead that was builtin the 1700s.
When the house was originallyconstructed, there were five
outbuildings built within a75-yard radius a smokehouse, a
loom house, a dairy, a summerkitchen and corn crib.
And today the smokehouse is theonly original building still
standing.
But the Lenore's home was namedfor the original Fort Defiance,
built prior to the AmericanRevolution.
(08:47):
By the time construction of thehouse started, the fort was
abandoned and nothing remains ofit today.
But the home was altered by thefamily over the years, but in
1972, I think it was 1972 ormaybe it was 1961.
I don't remember.
Michele Scheve (09:01):
Don't tell me there was a fire.
Matt Mittan (09:04):
No.
When the family turned it overto for historic preservation and
created a nonprofit, they wentahead and restored the original
house.
They took off the additionsthat had been put on and put
other parts back on that hadbeen taken off.
Michele Scheve (09:18):
And when you drive into the sculpture center,
is that the original house thatwe see?
Matt Mittan (09:23):
No, no this is nearby.
Michele Scheve (09:24):
Oh, nearby, yeah , it's nearby.
Matt Mittan (09:26):
But for people that are looking to do a day trip.
You can go ahead and hit thesculpture center, you can enjoy
the scenic byway which runs Ishould probably mention this the
scenic byway, the Upper Yadkinscenic byway runs from US 321,
which anyone who's traveledthrough that area knows that
highway well.
It connects from there over toKerr-Scott Reservoir, which
we've also done an episode ofMMO at.
And so if you want to take thatscenic rural drive, it's
(09:49):
beautiful.
And you can hit Fort Defiance,you can hit the sculpture center
and things like that, butduring the history of the house
parts of it were used as alumber office.
It also was used as a US postoffice for a time for the
community out there, and thefamily lived in the house from
1792 until 1961.
Wow.
Michele Scheve (10:09):
Isn't that?
Matt Mittan (10:09):
crazy.
Yeah, that's so awesome andanyway.
So it's now open, it'savailable and the nonprofit, the
501C3 nonprofit, fort DefianceIncorporated, oversees the
operation of the historic homeand grounds and you can check
them out online historic FortDefiance Fort DefianceNCorg.
(10:30):
And really beautiful, likecolonial style, and it's not a
lot of colonial architecture.
Michele Scheve (10:35):
So did you see it.
Matt Mittan (10:36):
No, we didn't go to it because we had so many
events we just went there,that's right.
But that's why we do the show.
Michele Scheve (10:41):
I didn't know if you would see it before, but we
definitely gotta go back.
You're a Fort guy.
Matt Mittan (10:46):
Well, I knew about Fort Defiance from the
Revolution of War, and when Isaw the sign saying Fort
Defiance I was like wait one, Idon't know that we're in the
right area too.
I didn't think it was stillaround, and so now I know the
history.
Michele Scheve (10:58):
And it was inspired by that.
Matt Mittan (11:00):
So cool, yeah.
So just a cool thing.
All right back to Coalesce Fest.
Michele Scheve (11:03):
Yes.
Matt Mittan (11:04):
So big shout out to Andrew Massey.
Michele Scheve (11:06):
Right.
So Andrew Massey, from AndrewMassey and the Midnight American
.
Matt Mittan (11:14):
And Sycamore Bones.
Michele Scheve (11:15):
Sycamore Bones.
He has been a figure and he hasbeen someone in the Lenore
community that has been bringingthe art scene, the music scene,
together for many years now,and so to do it on this level is
just a beautiful thing, towitness Someone taking it up a
(11:37):
notch.
Matt Mittan (11:38):
It's had two music stages, had all kinds of food
trucks there.
There were activities for kids.
It was like a little carnival,like old school kind of small
town carnival type things withthe different games and things
like that.
But then you also had a wholebunch of artisans set up all
around the grounds to be able toshop and see their work and
(11:58):
many people were out there doingthe stuff Right.
They're on site.
And that's where myblacksmithing conversation.
I got into a conversation withthe blacksmith and he was like
you know, let's come over on theother side of the rope here
I'll let you bang out some iron.
I'm like oh, I'd love to, butif I start I won't make it to my
next thing on time.
Michele Scheve (12:14):
Yes.
Matt Mittan (12:15):
But it was really good.
But you mentioned, you know,getting to see bands.
We got to see so many diversebands.
It's one of the things I wantto say about the Lenore,
morganton, hickory area, becauseand this isn't really a
commentary as much as it is justan observation the venues in
those areas do not supportoriginal music.
(12:35):
They just don't you know, and soit's like you got to play
covers to get a gig, and that'sone of the reasons why I think
this festival was even organized, because the bands that we're
playing were all playingoriginal music Right, which we
celebrate.
I mean, we go looking for that.
Michele Scheve (12:50):
You know it's like cover bands.
Matt Mittan (12:51):
Nothing against you , but we're not gonna spend
money to go see a cover band.
We wanna go see original musicand it speaks to the region and
the area where they're at, andsome of the standout bands from
the area we wanna give shoutouts because the music in that
area around Lenore is just sooutstanding.
And yet, you know, other thanBuzz Radio in Asheville, there's
(13:12):
not really anywhere that a lotof these bands are getting any
airtime, and so we wanted tointroduce some of them to our
audience on MMO.
Michele Scheve (13:20):
Right, okay, so, like you said, there's the
truck stage, which was an actualtruck, so quaint.
Matt Mittan (13:27):
Yeah, flatbed.
Michele Scheve (13:28):
It was really well done.
And then the mural stage, whichwas right, where there was a
mural as well, and so the muralstage, which was smaller, had
Jimmy Griffith, Cody Romadette,the Zebra Ninjas which is
amazing which was another bandof Andrew.
Matt Mittan (13:46):
Massey, andrew, massey, yep for kids and stuff,
yeah so cool.
Michele Scheve (13:50):
Georgie Harris Squatch, which is one of the
bands that we know and love.
Matt Mittan (13:55):
Got to see live.
Finally Got to see live.
Michele Scheve (13:57):
finally, the Neighbors and Dear Cavalier.
So that was on the mural stage,which was the smaller stage,
and they all killed it.
And then over on the truckstage, it was the Rostakustik,
will, willis and Friends andthen Truvair that was another
one we loved.
(14:18):
Truvair yeah, quite an amazingsongwriter, so fantastic, so
great to see him and his band.
Matt Mittan (14:24):
And we'd actually seen them live in Asheville.
Michele Scheve (14:26):
We have seen them at the Gray Eagle in
Asheville and then John Boyd inLefty Sycamore Bones.
Matt Mittan (14:33):
One of Andrew Massey's bands.
They played my favorite song.
Michele Scheve (14:36):
It made me so happy.
Matt Mittan (14:37):
Look up Lake Fever.
Michele Scheve (14:39):
Yeah, lake Fever , such a good song.
Phantom X, which, like I'mwearing their t-shirt now I got
at the festival.
Matt Mittan (14:46):
I was drinking out of their Cousi a little bit
earlier.
Yes, no, in Phantom X too.
I mean like all stop I meanjust the energy and the attitude
and the musicianship andperformance.
And Abigail, yeah, the leadsinger Just coming off that
stage, just pushed the treesback another 50 feet, I mean
just unbelievable progressivepunk metal.
(15:09):
I don't know what youcategorize them as.
Michele Scheve (15:14):
It's really hard for me to categorize them, you
know, even though I know they'rein the progressive punk metal
type area, but some of the wordsto their music, I mean, they're
screamed.
These words are screaming.
Matt Mittan (15:31):
But then other melodies are so soothing and
beautiful.
Michele Scheve (15:34):
It's poetry, it really is Such a big fan.
And then, of course, john KirbyJr and the new seniors and
Bobby Snakes.
And so that's who covered it.
That was a great first festivallineup for them.
Matt Mittan (15:50):
Yeah, and you know, one of the things we love to do
with MMO is we say we like totravel.
We travel intentionally,unintentionally, you know,
intentionally unintentional withour travels.
And this was an exception ofthat.
We went very much excited tospecifically be able to
celebrate this little corner ofthe Southern.
Appalachia foothills and themusic and the art and the
(16:13):
artisans of that area, and youknow so.
If you're looking for, peopleask us all the time where's a
place to go that many peopledon't know about.
There you go.
We've just given you one righthere.
We've ruined so many places,y'all that was actually some of
the conversation with peopleabout.
Like you know, we want peopleto know, we want to support the
music and the artists, but atthe same time, it's like, well,
(16:33):
you know, but we don't want youknow.
Three million people showing upin the valley all of a sudden.
Michele Scheve (16:39):
Yeah, yeah, I mean honestly.
Yeah, we really don't.
We really don't, y'all.
So go only only if you'rereally gonna be present there.
Also, shout out to the food.
There were a couple of foodtrucks.
Matt Mittan (16:53):
There were three food trucks.
All of them were phenomenal.
Michele Scheve (16:56):
Yeah, all of them were phenomenal, I think.
Matt Mittan (17:01):
I should have written down the names of them.
Michele Scheve (17:03):
Yeah, I feel bad that I don't, you don't have
their names, but they are foodtrucks in the Lenore area and if
you go to the, the, the NCsculpture org in find the
coalesce fast, I'm sure they'restill listed there.
Matt Mittan (17:20):
So go ahead and set a reminder you know.
Go ahead and follow on Facebookor something you know.
Look up Andy Andrew Massey.
For all the great stuff.
He's really an ambassador.
Yes for the art and music sceneof that area.
But you know, if you're lookingto do a multi-day trip, you
know We've got a few episodes inthe Wilkes County area that
(17:40):
we've done Leatherwood.
Michele Scheve (17:41):
Resort.
Reservoir Wilkesburg areaPhenomenal and.
Matt Mittan (17:46):
I think we've also done Lake Hickory as an episode
as well.
I think I'm not sure I knowwe've been there.
Michele Scheve (17:52):
You know I was the one where we almost died so
much time there that I'm notsure I know we almost got run
over by a big yacht in our canoe.
Anyway, maybe we didn't do anepisode on that one.
Matt Mittan (18:02):
We should, though, anyway.
So check it out.
Lenore area local breweries,restaurants.
It's really an up-and-comingcommunity, and the creative arts
scene in the music scene justhit so far above its weight, and
, and every single person rightdown to you know, from kids to
Aged or anything in betweeneverybody was so friendly, so
(18:24):
accommodating, so proud of theircommunity and we got walked out
of the event by a goose.
Oh yeah, we had a Canadiangoose walk us out the traffic,
walk us out like a trafficcalmer.
I was like okay, okay, they werejust crawling like two miles an
hour behind this goose thatjust walked us out.
Michele Scheve (18:42):
So check out our social media for pictures,
videos, etc.
Matt Mittan (18:46):
All right.
So there's your to-do list forthe day trip there.
You've got the Western NorthCarolina Sculpture Center in
Park.
You've got Fort Defiance.
You've also you've got thehistoric school right the
Patterson school is right thereand of course, the upper Yadkin
scenic byway that can connectyou back over to Wilkesboro and
Kerscott Reservoir andappreciate y'all tuning in.
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