ELIZABETHTOWN — Cape Fear Vineyard & Winery, Bladen County’s newest hot spot, is popping the cork on fun and they’re making it a three-day event.
Their call to “wine down the summer” starts at 6 p.m. Friday, when the Blackwater Rhythm & Blues Band will perform. The Clarkton-based group, a local favorite, will play their high-spirited beach, blues and funk music until 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Southern Trouble, which touts itself as a band that makes sure guests are having fun, will bring its own variety of rock, blues, beach, and country music, covering artists like Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and Blackberry Smoke. Southern Trouble will perform from noon to 2 p.m.
At 2:30, Carolina Soul takes the stage to bring beach, soul, and Motown music from The Drifters, Smokey Robinson, Four Tops, The Temptations, and The O’Jays. The band has taken the stage with the likes of Percy Sledge, The Drifters, and Little Richard, and is one of the Southeast’s top bands. They will be performing until 5 p.m.
A $10 ticket, sold at the gate, allows admission to all three concerts (Friday and Saturday), all of which will take place on the Vineyard Green, a grassy area with plenty of shade, according to Cape Fear Vineyard owner Alex Munroe.
“We’ve got these great long leaf pines, and people will enjoy sitting under those to watch the concerts,” he said.
Guests will need to bring their own blankets or chairs, but are asked not to bring coolers, drinks, food, or pets. Munroe said that there would be plenty of each on site.
“We’ll have plenty of cool beer and wine-tasting stations,” he said.
On Sunday, a Jazz Brunch will feature Nina Repeta, former Dawson’s Creek star and Azalea Festival Queen. Brunch is $20 per person, and will include meat carving and omelet stations.
“It’s a great venue to bring this type of thing to the community, because otherwise, you’d have to go to bigger cities to get this type of atmosphere,” said Munroe. “I think it’s a small way of showcasing a lot of bigger things that will be coming out here — we’ve got a beautiful winery with great music — and we hope to do this many times throughout the year.”
The Vineyard Fest will be held Aug. 19-21.
Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.