Todd Music Series Set For 2004 Popular Events Begin With Resonator Guitar Festival Memorial Day Weekend By Miles Tager The High Country holds two world-class music series every summer; the long-standing Appalachian Summer Festival and the newer kid on the block, the Todd Summer Music Series. The ‘block’ is the Walter and Annie Cook Memorial Park in beautiful downtown Todd, and the series features some of the most memorable – and unusual – musical offerings anywhere. After the retirement of initiator Joe Morgan, the former owner of the Todd General Store who instituted the series as Community Coordinator with sponsor Todd Community Preservation Organization (CPO), members of the group had debated how, or if, to proceed with the events. “There was some discussion about not continuing the series,” according to current music series coordinator Emily Enzmann, owner of the Todd Mercantile just across from the park. “I said one of the main ideas of the series was to promote economic development in the area,” Enzmann said; “the series was one reason I opened my business in Todd.” With James Parsons – ‘Crow’ – and other members of an ad hoc music committee, Enzmann confirmed the run of events from the end of May through mid-September, with again an amazing lineup of talent for a small, unincorporated community straddling the Ashe-Watauga county line. The series begins Memorial Day weekend with the 2nd Annual Resonator Guitar Festival, once again organized by Blue Moon Music in West Jefferson owner Randy Pasley. The festival is the first and only national competition for the American original instrument, the resonator guitar, and in its inaugural year brought top players from all over the country. Signups for contestants shows even more interest for the 2004 event, with registrations coming from as far away as Canada and Texas. The two other signature events, the High Country Blues Festival – first and only annual blues event in the area organized by the local resident and King Bees founder Rob Baskerville – and the Doc Watson concert, are confirmed this year for August 14 and August 28, Enzmann said, with tickets printed and soon to go on sale. Those TCPO charges $10 advance ($15 at the gate) for the festival and Doc, with his performance preceded by regional groups Whitewater and Pasley’s Alternate Roots; all of the other Saturday music series events are free. The Todd Community Preservation Organization is a non-profit group dedicated to the well-being of the Todd Community, with a variety of services to its citizens including the creation of the Todd Island Park; the group is currently raising funds to buy the Walter and Annie Cook Memorial Park. “We currently need another $6,000 to buy the park,” Enzmann said. In deciding to run with the series again, the TCPO “had to turn performers” down who had heard about the great venue at the Depot Stage, the family atmosphere and appreciative audiences, Enzmann said. “Everyone likes to play in Todd,” Enzmann said; “bands are still calling wanting to perform.” One of the other most highly anticipated concerts will be the Guitar Extravaganza on July 4, featuring the top talents of guitar virtuosos Steve Lewis, Steve Kilby, Wayne Henderson, and Randy Greer; Todd resident Lewis and friends also conduct a guitar and banjo workshop in September. Top local bands Rock Bottom, Cork Lickers and Amantha Mill all perform in June. Other Todd highlights include the Friday night traditional music jam at the Todd General Store and the Todd Ruritan-sponsored Fall Festival October 9. For more information on the Todd Summer Music Series call the Todd Mercantile at 336-877-5401; for more information on the Todd Community Preservation Organization call 336-877-4780.