High Windy

From Black Mountain Times:


Press Release: Monday September 19, 2005
Black Mountain based band takes top honors at the North Carolina State Fair.
High Windy, based out of Black Mountain, was successful in winning first place at this years Bluegrass band competition held every year at the Western North Carolina State Fair. The group was started a few years back by Black Mountain residents Joel Emory, Banjo, and Ty Gilpin, Mandolin, along with Brevard fiddler, Tim Gardner. With the recent addition of Shane Lail, Guitar, and Mark Davis, Bass, the group has honed in to perfect an overall band sound. The hard work paid off for the group over weekend with the win. Bands from all over the region compete yearly in the competition and aside from a cash award, the winning group opens for the Fair’s headlining act. This passed Sunday the 18th; High Windy joined the stage with Bluegrass super group Mountain Heart to close out the weeklong events held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center.
High Windy describes themselves as a contemporary Bluegrass group that has grown out or respect for the genres traditional roots. “In some ways it’s good ole Bluegrass but we are into creating an original sound, so there are a lot of NEW sounds that are present there.” says the groups Mandolinist Ty Gilpin from Black Mountain. “It’s not like the Bluegrass our Grandfathers played but it comes from there.”
The group will continue to play in the region this fall. Other awards for the band include: #1 Guitar and #1 vocal, Shane Lail. #1 Mandolin, Ty gilpin, #2 Bass, Mark Davis, and
#3 fiddle, Tim Gardner.

- Black Mountain News

From The Asheville Citizen Times


Local Band Wins Award

The High Windy Band of Asheville, NC took the top Bluegrass Band award at this years historic 82nd Annual Fiddler’s Grove Festival in Union Grove, NC. Legendary Fiddler’s Grove is the oldest continuous fiddler’s festival and band competition in the world. Every year on Memorial Day weekend more that 50 traditional bands in Old time and Bluegrass divisions vie for the coveted championships for the festival. Honored by the Library of Congress in 2000, Fiddler’s Grove is considered a pinnacle of southern music culture and tradition.
The High Windy Band is the current WNC State Champion band and continues to perform locally with their mix of progressive and original music that has pushed them to the forefront of the areas roots music scene. The group competed in the preliminary rounds Friday night and continued on to the finals on Saturday which tops off the festival as one of its main highlights.
Band members that opted for individual instrument competitions included High Windy Band fiddler Tim Gardner of Brevard, NC who took 2nd Runner Up, Shane Lail of Asheville, NC who took 1st Runner Up and Mark Davis of Asheville, NC who took the First Place Bass award.
All winners receive cash prizes and the honor or being included amongst the best traditional musicians in the world as Fiddler’s Grove Champions. For more information on The high Windy Band visit: www.highwindyband.com . For more information on The Fiddler’s Grove Festival visit: www.fiddlersgrove.com
- Asheville Citizen Times