The Barbecue Festival is 'On the Air'

Be listening and watching on June 9 and 10 as various members of the Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival committee and other Festival supporters appear on radio and television shows.

On Wednesday, June 9, Peter Eisenbrown, the Festival’s entertainment director, and Shane Blackwell, barbecue chef extraordinaire and owner/operator of Mountain View Barbecue and Deli, will be interviewed on "Noon News with Fred Cunningham" on WSPA-TV (Channel 7).

Also on Wednesday Geoff Achison’s band will perform live on WNCW 88.7 FM Radio at 3pm. This band will be performing Friday evening, June 11, at the Festival. The radio schedule is not yet confirmed, so check with the WNCW website, www.WNCW.org.

On Thursday, June 10, Allison Gillespie will be the Festival spokesperson on the "MY40 in the Morning" show which airs from 8-9 am on WMYA (Channel 40). Two members of The Honeycutters, one of the music groups scheduled to entertain at the Festival this year, will also be featured.

That same day at 10 am, Kelly Sparks, who serves as the Festival’s Craft Fair Chair, will be on "Your Carolina with Jack and Kimberly" on WSPA (Channel 7), along with Shane Blackwell - who will also appear that day in the "Carolina Kitchen" sergment of WLOS’ (Channel 13) noon news. (No, he won’t have broken any land speed records getting from Spartanburg to Asheville—the Carolina Kitchen segment will be taped on Thursday, June 3).

One other interview that day will be at 11am on WGWG 88.3 Fm Radio. Peter Eisenbrown will be talking about the Festival with emphasis on the great entertainment he has lined up for both days.

The 17th annual Festival is set for June 11 and 12 at Harmon Field in Tryon. Gates open at 3 pm on Friday and at 10 am on Saturday, closing both nights at 11. There will be championship barbecue with all the trimmings, a great craft fair, carnival rides and games and other activities for the youngsters and, of course, the big cookoff. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 teams are expected to be on hand, vying for the trophies and cash prizes.

Tickets are only $7, and the price includes shuttle parking and all concerts. Kids 12 and under get in free with a paying adult and, on Friday, they get unlimited rides from 3 - 7 pm for only $10. Also on Friday, senior admission is two for the price of one.