The Boone music scene is anything but boring

Everyone who’s anyone has played at Legends

Boone, NC, is definitely a college town. The town almost doubles in size when the students come to Appalachian in the fall and returns to its slow pace in the summer when most vacate the area. In such a small town, some wonder what there is to do on the weekends besides study in a dorm room.

However, Boone is home to a fantastic local music scene with two venues run by the university and so many local bars and restaurants bringing in live music for the students and the community.

Legends Concert Hall

One of the best places to hear live music in Boone is Legends Concert Hall. The concert hall is a converted Winn Dixie and is run by Appalachian State University. It is one of the biggest employers of students on campus and has hosted shows by Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Edwin McCain and Hootie and the Blowfish. Legends gives local bands a chance at exposure, too, such as Rainbow Kitten Surprise who have gained fame outside of Boone but return quite often to their loyal fan base.

Black Cat

Black Cat Burrito is another great place to hear live music in Boone. Although small, the phenomenal food, proximity to downtown and the awesome local bands make up for the small space. The third Friday of every month boasts of dance parties and “soon to be famous” margaritas.

The Jones House

The Jones House is a great place to visit, especially in the summers, for some family friendly music. Built in 1908 by the Jones family, the house was donated to the town and is now an art gallery and music venue. With both indoor and outdoor concerts, the Jones House tailors to a variety of musical tastes with lots of bluegrass and local musicians. They also offer lessons from local musicians to community members and students.

The Convocation Center

The largest place in Boone to see live music is Appalachian State University’s Convocation Center. While it is also home to events like basketball games and graduation ceremonies, the Holmes Convocation Center is home to many big name concerts, often offering discounted tickets for the students.

With Pat Benatar coming in July and The Avett Brothers coming in September, the Convocation Center has been the center of many conversations around campus recently, along with winding lines interrupting the student union as students wait for tickets. Taking almost 15 years to build, the center is home to many events for students, staff and local community members alike.

Some may say Boone is boring, but I think it’s anything but. With all the live music, good food and local culture, there are so many interesting ways to spend a weekend.

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Appalachian State University