ate Drops
a Chocol The Carolin
rops ocolate D h C a n li the Caro y night. The winners y m e Frida m a sound a r G njo-B-Qu ased band has a B e th the headline orth Carolina, b usic from usic, m k c la N b , dm Durham passes Southern , jug-ban ic s u m m d that enco ’30s — string-ban d zz. 1920s an m, and early ja been u r and has d 5 0 d 0 n 2 a in fe fi e band is ens, d d forme s ever since. Th Gidd The ban e hiannon dienc R u s a r e g b in m t artist, entertain mprised of me d a gues n a s s o c in y k Jen member currentl , Hubby er band s n th ut o o b , m e h ly le arate llo. T p e e Dom F c s n t s o li a jo, ts to cCall tring ban strumen -s Leyla M in 4 y y n la a p y too m them the play far three of e th n e the music betwe much of e those . o le S d . d it fi n d r genre o dolin an ally befo ills, man t’s hard to pin a came re u t q a , th s e ff n I o tu “ drum, b lay the s nding ns said. o, snare ,” Gidde ountry, but we p been spe ens. o s z e e a r ’v k n y e , e g a th ic y d ‘n’ roll, c season,” ccording to Gid f so man , harmon “festival a uitar, jug the foundation o blues, jazz, rock , g is ns n , e e it r d jo e d n id s il a r,” G all ch becau u m d to s n 5-string b ic we play is at on to becoming u a h o l it y a w I’ve got el ppe less s a wide a y when you trav ally can’t do un ith my family, so “The mu ended up going d fast.” e v a h s p e ll play late Dro hard an , especia sic, which you r e, and I travel w that we formed a Choco ups and downs u n e r tim m li e o fe of r y r w u a m o s C y and as its touring li laying h d p e t o categorie at you will, the d a th fo n h g a r T u in . le o h ring envision ew peop h control over y Call it w on the road tou d when eeting n te c m n u , a e and r m e e s g r y m r r u ti e of co ll the tim ing v take fo a v e r a lot of s a e a . k h w y c t ts t a il o r a n a n m s th st p re of a fa parts are xpecting al things “The be g else.” taking ca lt because he’s e he worst y practic n T to a “ s . r anythin d time, Giddens m e d fo e e m b o in th u c t c la jo fi u it p .” e if o x d n e th oo e ab sd oa on the r said. “It’ e wouldn’t trade ’s sure to be a g t face wh n’t think it r two kids ple probably do enges they migh r-old,” Giddens ys su nd o I’m alwa me but I tour schedule a t. chall o 4-yea h lo e a t a th a h Most pe it y ia o ll w g d y to Geor uth. s, especia a big issue now the road like we olate Drops’ bus in the so “We like coming to it.” musician c is n k o g o c h a in C ls b a th a g e n d ns said. to playin forward e Caroli ooked m “The foo looking ,” Gidde k home-c nother stop on th ys looks forward e o ’m m o I ti c o d ’t s o n , is a alwa south we ca e a go jo-B-Que and hav en I play in the lina, she The Ban om North Caro thing we’ve got h w s g fr appines very special h said. Bein oking to bring e a e v a h I “We’re lo y wherever, but pla happy to
BAR-B-QUE
For the approximately 60 competitive barbecuers fighting for $40,000 in total prize money, the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-sanctioned BanjoB-Que might be a battleground. But for those who love barbecue, it’s a little piece of heaven within the confines of Evans Towne Center Park. Since its inception four years ago, the Banjo-B-Que has been a top tier KCBS event, drawing the best
CHATHAM COUNTY LINE
competitive barbecuers in the world. And according to A.B. Beverage Vice President Doug Varnadore, the competition is only getting more intense. “Last year [the first at Evans Towne Center Park] we cut it off at 45 or 50 just to make sure we had room,” he says. “But we found out we had plenty of room, so we’re going to be at 55 or 60 this year.” One thing that makes the Banjo-B-Que competition different from most competitive barbecue events — there is no backyard division, meaning the entire field is competing in the professional division. Winners of each of the four events — butts, beef
JERRY DOUGLAS
THE LITTLE ROY & LIZZY SHOW
brisket, chicken and ribs — win $2,500, while the grand prize winner walks home with a check for $5,000. “The grand prize winner is going to have a big payday, because to qualify for the grand prize, you’ve got to be in the top three of the classes,” Varnadore says. “So he’s probably going to pick up somewhere in the neighborhood of $8,000-$10,000.” All of this is important for bragging rights and the pocketbooks of the competitors, but what’s in it for the public? In short — awesome barbecue. “One of the main reasons we do a KCBSsanctioned event is because the people coming can eat barbecue,” he says. “Who wants to come smell barbecue all day and not be able to eat it?” In addition to the regular food vendors, Varnadore
THE RAMBLIN’ FEVERS