Cast Iron Bluegrass serves up down-home tunes at Bloom

Farm favorites return to the stage in Black Mountain

Jessica Klarp
Guest contributor
The Valley Echo
August 14, 2023

Farm favorites Cast Iron Bluegrass will return to the Bloom WNC, at 6 p.m., Friday, Aug. 18, bringing their familiar down-home style back to the outdoor stage.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at bloomwnc.com. The band’s high-energy classic style and charming personalities helped solidify the Bloom farm as a viable concert venue back in 2020.

Bass player Celia Millington-Wycoff was riding her bike past the fresh cut flower farm and had a vision that led to an enduring collaboration between the musician and farm owner Abigail Moffitt. At first, Millington-Wycoff helped secure the musicians who played at the farm, and in subsequent years Moffitt coordinated the various musicians. The farm has hosted dozens of concerts since and audiences have enjoyed the wide range of music offerings. 

“Cast Iron Bluegrass is thrilled to be back at Bloom Flower Farm,” Millington-Wycoff said. “With the unique beauty of its setting, the welcoming hosts, and the friendly and enthusiastic audience, Bloom is one of the band's favorite gigs.”

The band formed in 2019 with a collection of musicians from the vibrant Asheville bluegrass scene. Made up of Andrew Blythe on banjo, Nick Dauphinais on mandolin, Rob Sine on guitar and Celia Millington-Wycoff on bass, Cast Iron Bluegrass has played a wide variety of events and venues while expanding into the greater southeast region. They released their first full-length album, Blue Ridge Mountain Haze, in the fall of 2021. The title track is an original song written by Blythe. The remainder of the album includes bluegrass standards that the band regularly performs.

In addition to the music, food vendor Red Fiddle Vittles Appalachian Kitchen + Gourmet Grocery will serve up dining options. Once tickets are purchased, guests will receive an email with food options for pre order.

Concertgoers are asked to bring a chair, while guests are welcome to bring their own food and refreshments. Dogs and smoking are not permitted at the venue, and additional details can be found on the Bloom WNC website. Attendees are advised to arrive early and secure parking.

The farm’s outdoor concert series will continue, Friday, Sept. 15, with the Scatterlings, an acoustic Americana trio.

Bloom WNC Specialty Cut Flower Farm is located at 806 North Fork Road, and flowers will be available for purchase at intermission.