There’s something magical about Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que. Now in its 4th year, Banjo-B-Que now calls the beautiful Evan’s Towne Center and the Lady Antebellum Pavilion home after spending the first two years at the Georgia-Carolina State Fairgrounds.
The two-day festival gets kicked off on Friday afternoon, with the barbeque contestants firing up their smokers and folks rolling in from all around the Southeast. Some camp, some stay in hotels, some drive back to home for the night, but the one thing everyone has in common is that everyone is there to have a good time.
Banjo-B-Que is one of the most laid back festivals I’ve ever attended. Families and attendees get there early Saturday, prop up lawn chairs, throw down blankets on the lawn in front of the stage, and enjoy the weather. Once you get your home-base set up, the rest of the day is spent wandering around the festival, trying different types of BBQ, watching pigs race around a track and dive for Oreos. It’s a must that you walk around to the different BBQ contestants and get to know a little about them, because mid afternoon Saturday they’ll be on stage for the announcing of the winners.
The Friday night music lineup this year is one of the strongest to date including Carolina Chocolate Drops, Chatham County Line, The Whiskey Gentry, and Seven Handle Circus. It’s common to have bands back from year to year (previous years included Old Crow Medicine Show and Frontier Ruckus). Saturday brings a full day of music, with festival headliners Trampled by Turtles and Jerry Douglas.
And what’s a Memorial Day weekend without Fireworks? Another popular staple of Banjo-B-Que is the fireworks show that takes place after nightfall and just before the headlining band.
Friday, May 24
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Chatham County Line
The Whiskey Gentry
Seven Handle Circus
Saturday, May 25
Trampled By Turtles
Jerry Douglas Band
The SteelDrivers
The Brothers Comatose
The Little Roy & Lizzy Show
The Ramblin’ Fevers
Sibling String
Pictures from Banjo-B-Que 2012
