Steph Stewart’s voice is haunting, post-Appalachain lull married to sweet and smoky honky-tonk. Her ethereal twang feeds an audience, easing into the gut like honey, accented by hoppy mandolin picking and bright fiddle melodies. Together, Steph Stewart & the Boyfriends deliver a sound both unique and satisfyingly familiar, fusing old Appalachia and top-shelf Americana. Earlier this year, they released their second album, Nobody’s Darlin’, which has been heralded as “…an entrancing, rich record, worthy of the same scene that has spawned recent modern folk gems like Mandolin Orange, Hiss Golden Messenger and Mipso.” (Corbie Hill, IndyWeek) The band is fronted by singer-songwriter Stewart on guitar and banjo and features Omar Ruiz-Lopez on fiddle and mandolin, Mario Arnez on guitar, and Nicholas Vandenberg on upright bass. In June of 2013, the group released their debut album, Over the World Below. Also in 2013, the band was nominated by the Carolina Music Awards for the Americana Performer of the Year.
Bring a picnic, leashed pets, a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the music. Food will also be available for purchase on-site. Concert-goers are reminded that alcoholic beverages, smoking, firearms, and unleashed pets are prohibited at Joyner Park. In the event of inclement weather, updated concert information will be e-mailed to PineCone’s e-mail lists and posted to the PineCone Facebook and Twitter feeds, and information will also be available by 3 p.m. on the day of the concert on Wake Forest TV 10, on the Town of Wake Forest’s Facebook page, or by calling the Wake Forest Weather Line at 919-435-9569. Smart phone users who have downloaded the Town of Wake Forest app will receive a push notification message informing them of any schedule changes. Download the Wake Forest app.
