Get down in the flowers with Cast Iron Bluegrass

Bloom WNC brings back crowd pleasing Asheville-based band

Jessica Klarp
Guest contributor
The Valley Echo
September 23, 2022

Asheville-based band, Cast Iron Bluegrass, will perform at Bloom WNC Flower Farm on Sept. 30. Photo courtesy of Bloom WNC

As the weather cools down, the music is heating up at the Bloom WNC Flower Farm. Join specialty cut flower farmer Abigail Moffitt under the trees, at 5:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 30, as she welcomes Cast Iron Bluegrass back to this sweet setting for an evening of hard-driving traditional bluegrass. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at bloomwnc.com.

This talented combo played one of the first concerts out on the farm when the pandemic prevented musicians from touring or playing indoor venues. Motivated by exceptional standup bassist Celia Millington-Wyckoff, who has joined a number of groups on the farm, Cast Iron set the tone for the next two years of toe-tapping.

With a field of flowers as the backdrop, audiences kick back and enjoy acoustic music by some of the region’s most talented musicians.

Cast Iron Bluegrass is made up of lead singer and guitar player Rob Sine, who moved to the area from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and has played with a number of local groups. Banjo player Andrew Blythe, who shares lead vocals with Rob, is a native of nearby Etowah and a graduate of the ETSU bluegrass program.  Adam Masters, the newest member of the band, plays fiddle and hails from South Carolina.

Bloom regulars will be happy to see New Hampshire native Nick Dauphinais playing mandolin and singing tenor with the band. Dauphinais also plays with the Larry Stephenson Band and teaches at the Academy for the Arts in Asheville.

Most special is bass player Celia Millington-Wyckoff, who retired to Asheville from State College, Pennsylvania.

As the sun sets earlier, concert times have shifted as well, so please note the earlier start time of 5:30 p.m. Bloom is offering deluxe charcuterie boxes curated for two people that can be pre-ordered for only $45.

Guests should bring a chair, refreshments and bug spray. Please no dogs or smoking at the farm, which asks concertgoers not arrive prior to 5 p.m. Before you leave the farm, purchase some flowers to brighten up your home or to gift a loved one.

The next Bloom concert is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 7. Billed as Singer-Songwriters in the Round, this concert will feature David Childers, Helena Rose and Bloom’s own Zachary Warren. For more information email abigail@farmerfloristbloom.com.