The student-run music festival returns to Boone, NC.  Sam Bush and Keller Williams headline a bill that showcases talent on the local and national level. 

 

Boone, NC April 24, 2009 – Music on the Mountaintop, the follow-up to last year’s Music on the Mountain, will be held again at the Old State Fairgrounds in Boone, NC; on August 29, 2009.  Music on the Mountaintop will feature a return from 2008’s headliner, Sam Bush, Keller Williams, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Acoustic Syndicate, and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, as well as 15 regional and local acts from the western part of North Carolina.

 

The festival returns with a green theme, using a solar powered stage, precise recycling and waste disposal programs, compostable cups and utensils, and the integration of renewable energy non-profit organizations. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s festival will go to the AIRE (Appalachian Institute for Renewable Energy) and the Appalachian Energy Center.

 

AIRE's director and founder, Steve Owen, comments on the collaboration, "AIRE is extremely honored, flattered and excited to be Music on the Mountaintop’s feature environmental non-profit organization for 2009! We couldn’t be more delighted to be part of a great scene with the best music in the world, and to join with other area groups working for a more sustainable world. I know the inaugural event last August was a huge success. We’re impressed that Music on the Mountaintop has worked so hard to make this year even better".

 

Similarly to last year’s festival, which had over 2,500 in total attendance, Music on the Mountaintop 2009 will showcase 3 stages of music, a Green Village, 35 foot climbing wall, and many local and organic food and craft vendors from the Boone area.  This year’s festival will also feature a River Cleanup Initiative that will take place on Friday August 28, 2009 from 3-6 PM at the fairgrounds.

 

The festival is being organized and produced by Yellow Dog Entertainment, LLC, a company founded by Jimmy Hunt initially for this purpose. Hunt, a senior at Appalachian State University, had the idea for the festival spawn from one of his classes.

 

“I was taking a class and needed a business plan. I always wanted to do a large scale music festival in Boone and the class gave me the tools to go after it. I ended up dropping the class but kept the business plan. Once I started working on it outside of class, it really just snowballed,” said Hunt.

 

Yellow Dog Entertainment will coordinate the River Cleanup Initiative with the help of the Sustainable Development Department at Appalachian State and other local non-profit organizations. The project, which will last from 3-6 PM on that Friday at the Old State Fairgrounds, is “another way for us to communicate with the town. We really want to work with the community to promote sustainability”, said Hunt.

 

Camping will be available on site, August 29th. Camping spots are limited but will be announced for purchase on the festivals website.
The gates will be open to the public at the Old State Fairgrounds on August 29th at 10 AM and the music will begin at 11.  Tickets will be available for purchase through the Music on the Mountaintop website (www.musiconthemountaintop.com) or at Green Mother Goods later this summer. For additional information on Music on the Mountaintop 2009, contact Jimmy Hunt or visit www.musiconthemountaintop.com.  
 
About Yellow Dog Entertainment, LLC:
Yellow Dog Entertainment, LLC was created to bridge the gap between traditional business and environmental stewardship. Through the medium of music and community events, we educate while entertaining. At our events, such as Music on the Mountaintop, we combine non profit organizations that specialize in renewable and alternative energy research, with first class musical talent on the local and national levels.