Laurel Cove Music Festival changes venue

Published 12:15 pm Thursday, June 6, 2019

It has been just over three months since the announcement of the much anticipated Laurel Cove Music Festival. After a few months of waiting, the event is finally here. Friday kicks off the two-day festival where 21 musical artist take the stage at the Pine Mountain State Resort Park Lodge. The event will be held in the conference room.

Originally, the event was slated to be held at the Laurel Cove Amphitheater, but the site had to be moved at the last minute due to impending severe weather in the area.

“It’s always aggravating, frustrating and sad to have to move an event indoors or even to cancel an event due to weather,” said Pineville Main Street Director Jacob Roan. “Jon (Grace) and I wanted to make sure that this amazing lineup stays intact for the weekend. Most festivals would have simply cancelled and foregone the entire event. Thankfully, Pine Mountain State Park and Sanctuary Sound were able to work with us to see that we are still able to hold this inaugural event. The lodge is going to be turned into an awesome concert hall. This will still be an amazing event.”

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Bell County Tourism Director Jon Grace said the team deliberated over whether or not to change the venue, but with there being a 90 percent chance of storms on Friday and Saturday, they decided to move it.

“If it was going to be just a passing shower or two, then that’s one thing — but all day thunderstorms Friday and Saturday with a 90 percent chance,” said Grace. “We had to make the tough call to move it from the Cove. As far as all the stuff we were going to have, it will still be much in the same. The crafters, we will still have an area for them. There is still going to be food and drinks up there, and the seats will be arranged largely similar to what they were. So, we’re hoping there won’t be a lot of dynamic changes.”

The biggest change that will affect the event are ticket sales. With the change in venue, the decision has been made to cut day-of ticket sales because of space concerns.

“We sold just enough tickets to where we can fit people in the conference room, so…I had to cut the sales off because we sold what we can fit in there,” said Grace. “If people got their tickets, then they are in good shape. This space is a little bit more confined, in the conference room, than it is at the Cove.

“Obviously, we are disappointed. The reason we wanted to do it up there is because of the Cove, but I know…what’s more important is people’s safety and enjoyment and the music and fellowship up there. It’s unfortunate that we can’t have it there at the Cove, but we’re still going to do our best to put on a quality show.”

Below is the schedule for the festival:

Friday

Chris Blake — 1 p.m.

Jordan King — 1:45 p.m.

Lauren Beeler — 2:30 p.m.

Brandon Fulson — 3:15 p.m.

Charlie Woods and Deep Hollow — 4 p.m.

Tiffany Williams — 5 p.m.

Blake Berglund/Belle Plaine — 6 p.m.

Nicholas Jamerson — 7 p.m.

Justin Wells — 8:15 p.m.

Arlo McKinley and the Lonesome Sound — 9:30 p.m.

Saturday

Dalton Mills — 11:30 a.m.

Dave Shoemaker — 12:15 p.m.

Tyler Smith and the Still Runners — 1 p.m.

John Clay — 2 p.m.

Coby Langham — 3 p.m.

Eric Bolander — 4 p.m.

Luna and the Mountain Jets —5 p.m.

John R. Miller and the Engine Lights — 6 p.m.

Josh Morningstar — 7 p.m.

The Wooks — 8:15 p.m.

John Moreland — 9:30 p.m.