Harvester Plans Free Show to Kick Off Return of Live Music

ROCKY MOUNT, Virginia — Harvester Performance Center will hold a free concert in September to thank the community and celebrate the return of live shows to the venue.

Award-winning bluegrass band Wound Tight and freestyle rock ‘n’ roll roots band Kerosene Willy will perform Friday, Sept. 3, at 8 p.m. Tickets are free, but those planning to attend must reserve a ticket at the Harvester’s website.

“Harvester fans — especially our friends right here in Rocky Mount — have really supported the venue through the pandemic,” said Micah Davidson, director of operations. “They’ve rolled with changes, welcomed our ideas, and bought lots of tickets as we’ve rescheduled shows and put new ones on the calendar. This is just a way to thank everyone and have some fun.”

Davidson, who took the Harvester’s reins in February, noted that the free performance happens on the same night as Rocky Mount’s monthly Fridays on Franklin event. He said he hoped people would enjoy the town’s festivities and then end the evening at the Harvester.

“There’s going to be a lot going on,” Davidson said. “We want folks to come to Downtown Rocky Mount to eat, drink, shop, and catch some of the live music that’s happening that night at several places around town before coming to the Harvester to see two great local bands and cap off the night.”

The day will be a big one for the Town of Rocky Mount. In addition to Fridays on Franklin and the Harvester concert in the evening, the town will unveil its new logo and brand strategy that morning.

“It’s been a long time coming. We are really excited to get people back inside,” Davidson said. Davidson added that, effective immediately, masks will be required for anyone who enters the venue, including guests, staff, contractors, volunteers (unless they are eating or drinking) and artists (unless they are eating, drinking, or performing). The mask requirement was issued by the Town of Rocky Mount last week and applies to all Town buildings.

The Sept. 3 concert will be the first live music event held inside Harvester Performance Center since March 2020, when the venue was forced to close because of COVID-19 restrictions. The first paid show will be held the next night — Saturday, Sept. 4 — featuring hard-rock legends Blue Öyster Cult.

“The Town is following advice from the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health,” Davidson said. “Sure, it’s a little bit of an inconvenience, but we’ll do all we can to help keep people safe and still be able to provide one of the best live-music experiences Southwest Virginia has to offer.”

Tickets for the free Sept. 3 show as well as all others on the calendar are available at
harvester-music.com.