The Reason for the Benefit

Why is it important to keep places like White Horse Black Mountain alive and well?

White Horse Black Mountain makes a difference in the lives of people.

The venue has been a huge asset for the people of Black Mountain and the surrounding areas of Western North Carolina. The venue has been praised by musicians, audience members, and members of the community for it's quality peformances and it's warm and welcoming spirit.

But it goes beyond that. White Horse Black Mountain has demonstrated that it truly cares about people and desires to make a difference in the lives of people; locally, regionally, and around the world.

During early March, White Horse Black Mountain held it's 2nd Help Haiti Heal Benefit event. Asheville resident and friend of White Horse, Lorin Mallorie, was in Haiti at the time and helped arrange and remote Skype broadcast of Haitian musicians who once again had a stage to share their lives and music with the world. Their performance was shown live on the huge screen at White Horse and White Horse arranged to have the performance webcast live ..... so that anyone in the world could see and hear the voices and music of Haiti.

Lorin Mallorie describes the impact of that event as follows:

On Saturday evening we stage a "live" concert via satellite call to White Horse Black Mountain, which is hosting a Haiti benefit. James Vergenau (aka Rebel) of the Haitian reggae band Yizra'el sings an original tune called "Mother Nature"; Jagat accompanies him on the hand drums. The smaller venues here are still closed for reconstruction, and it's Rebel's first performance since the quake two months ago.

They tell me the White Horse audience was in tears. But what stays with me from that night in Kenscoff is the look in Rebel's eyes, alive and inspired to once again be playing the music he loves — this time for a little town in far off America.





The Performers

The 2-day Pony Up Benefit for White Horse features a variety of regional favorites from a diverse range of genres. You'll hear everything from roots country to roots reggae and from blues to bluegrass. You'll hear native american flute, digeridoo, close harmonies, soaring rock guitar and vocals, old-time banjos, dobro, keyboaards, ...and even a light opera. One of the strengths of White Horse Black Mountain is it's wide ranging concerts from the entire musical spectrum....and that breadth and depth will be featured at Pony Up.
Performances include:
Appalachia Song, Ashley Chambliss, Billy Cardine and Jay Sanders, Chalwa, Chris Rosser, David Holt, Doug and Darcy Orr, Jim Arrendell, John Vorus (didjeridoo), Ken Kiser and Friends, Kim Hughes, Malcolm Holcombe, Marina Raye, Ol Hoopty, Parker Brooks, Peggy Ratusz, Richard Shulman, Twilite Broadcasters, Whitewater Bluegrass Company, ...and others