Music fans, get ready to jam at the Steve Sutton Fest paying tribute to one of Haywood County’s legendary bluegrass musicians from 4-11 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Silverado’s Outdoor Music Park, in Black Mountain. The benefit concert presents indie rock jam band, Perpetual Groove as headliners — plus special guests, the Darren Nicholson Band, Marc Keller Band and Whitewater Bluegrass Company.
This annual event benefits the Steve Sutton Memorial Charitable Trust, a nonprofit created to continue Sutton’s legacy of sharing joy and music.
The Steve Sutton legacy
Everybody loved Steve Sutton. He was a Haywood County musician who spent his whole life entertaining audiences, sharing joy and helping others. He passed away unexpectedly May 2017, a day before his 61st birthday. The festival and The Steve Sutton Memorial Charitable Trust continue his legacy.
When Sutton was young, his family took him to Maggie Valley, where he saw informal gatherings of musicians jamming and playing bluegrass music — which caught his fancy. One of the musicians was Raymond Fairchild. When Sutton began to play the banjo, Maggie Valley’s famous native son took him under his wing. Soon, Sutton was playing in the jam sessions and then on stage.
In high school, Sutton had become such a good banjo player he received offers from both Bill Monroe and Jimmy Martin. He chose to tour with Jimmy Martin and began a career that took him from the Grand Ole Opry around the world and back to Haywood again — where he was a long-time member of the Whitewater Bluegrass Company, the Darren Nicholson Band and the Crowe Brothers.
