Sowder Fest VI
Several weeks ago, I was hanging out with my friend, “Miami” Jim Barbee, who assisted in organizing a show that brought Deputy Dan and legendary studio session drummer Bernard Purdie together on stage at The Blue Note Grill.
When I was texting Miami Jim about his band projects, he mentioned the Stone Cold Blues Band being on the bill for Sowder Fest VI, at the beginning of May. I mentioned it in the article and decided to follow up by heading to the southern shores of our beautiful state. It was my first time visiting Ocean Isle Beach, hopefully not my last. Though it was somewhat overcast on the day of the show, most of that was due to wildfires burning in Brunswick County. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful day for coming together for music and fun.
I made it in time for Chip & The Blocks’ final four songs and stayed for most of Stone Cold Blues’ set. The vibe in the town park that day was amazing. Some local vendors, a food truck, and music were all gathered to benefit Brunswick Family Assistance.
Following Chip & The Blocks, there was a quick pause for the cause, and then it was back to the music with Stone Cold Blues Band. They offered a sweet set of variable blues numbers. Blues has been a favorite for me for decades, and harmonica and vocal assistant for Stone Cold Blues Band, Jim Barbee, is one of the first artists I met after I created this blog and ventured over to Beaufort County for a night of music around Washington, NC. Back then (Summer 2015), Barbee shared jams with a blues outfit called High Cotton out of the Triangle region. We met at one of my favorite venues to dine and enjoy live music, Backwater Jack’s Tiki Bar & Grill. That Beaufort County gem still serves a good meal, cold beer, and great live music on a stage created for local talent. Things settled down with High Cotton when the virus strangled the music scene in 2020, and they rarely gig now.
After circling the scene for a few years, Barbee found a home with the Stone Cold Blues Band in 2023. In those wandering days, I caught Barbee cutting up with Doc & Roll, Todd Barnes & The Wild Hares, Big Jim Kohler, and at a few jams along the way. Given our history, it was time to meet the new blues band.
Though the virus was brutal on the music scene, Sowder Fest is a good thing that has materialized from the international shutdown. Barbee put me in touch with the bass man for both bands I saw and the festival organizer, Steve Sowder. Following the festival, I sent Sowder a message, asking questions to learn more about the festival that had just celebrated its sixth annual gathering.
“SowderFest was born in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. At that time, I was a bassist for the Chip & The Old Blocks band (now Chip & the Blocks because some newer members are not old!),” Sowder explained. “Restaurants and bars were not booking bands, and many of our fans were desperate for live music. Diane and I had an idea to host an outdoor, “socially distanced” celebration of Woodstock at our home, a street party. So, in August 2020, we hosted about 70 guests who gathered to see The Blocks, Never2Late, and Tina Smith perform songs by bands from the Woodstock era. Word spread about the event, and we hosted another event in 2021 with the previous lineup.”
“In 2022, we added another artist: The Blocks, Steve Howard, Never 2 Late, and Stone Cold Blues Band. In 2023, another band was added. Steve Howard, Trublmkrz, The Blocks, Stone Cold Blues Band. The lineup was tweaked again in 2024 to include Steve Howard, 3Peace, Stone Cold Blues Band, and The Blocks. We added a food truck, and the festival grew yearly to approximately 400 guests by 2024,” Sowder explained.
Performance artist Dan McGraw attended each SowderFest, painting each artist “on the fly” as they performed and selling his work there. Below are a trio of this year’s works. 10% of each sale went to helping families in the community.
This year was a little different, as Sowder explained, “In 2025, we needed to find a new location as our neighborhood suddenly became developed and introduced an HOA. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot, as Joni Mitchell once sang. The Mayor of Ocean Isle Beach, Debbie Smith, heard about our dilemma and offered the town park on the island as a new venue. We decided to formalize the festival as a fundraiser for Brunswick Family Assistance, rather than the previous “reminder” to support BFA, a bit of a passion of original Blocks singer Larry Hershoff.”
In 2025 (SowderFest VI), previous artists Steve Howard, The Blocks, Stone Cold Blues Band, and Trublmkrz all agreed to completely donate their time for the event (we previously passed a hat for band tips).
We secured sponsors for SowderFest VI to cover some front-end expenses, such as t-shirts, insurance, rentals, etc.
The event seemed to be a success. I don’t know how many guests attended—perhaps 600 came and went all day.
One day following the festival, we have collected $7200.”
.
When I asked Sowder about his musical and personal background, he told me more about his wife and life. “Diane and I moved here from Roanoke, VA, in 2015. I had retired from my career as an architect, and Diane was a private air service charter manager,” Sowder said. He told me more about them when he mentioned, “We have a lifelong passion for music. I played bass guitar in a couple of bands in high school and early college, then started my architectural career, which was too time-consuming to include music even as a hobby. I learned to play guitar and piano by ear at an early age. I cannot read music, but I can hear and immediately play any song.”
After he retired, he dusted off my old bass guitar and auditioned for a spot in a local rock cover band, Chip & The Old Blocks. He told me the band started playing local bars and restaurants in Myrtle Beach in 2018. “My passion is blues music, so I co-formed the blues/rock group Stone Cold Blues Band as a side gig with Gary Pope, John Braddy, and Doug Rauch in 2022. Vocalist Karen (Bootsie) Jones, guitarist Jan Beckers, and singer/harmonica player Miami Jim Barbee joined a year later. We have a significant local following and have filled several venues in my hometown over the past 2 years. You can get more info at Stone Cold Blues Band.”
Now that they’ve been settled along the southern coast of North Carolina for more than a decade, I asked Sowder what the best part of his beach community was, and he told me, “When we arrived here full-time in 2015, there wasn’t much variety of live music beyond beach music. Diane and I had a mission to change that situation. I believe we have been a vital part of exposing our community to a variety of talent through sharing our experiences traveling to music festivals, taking our friends to see groups they knew nothing about, and, of course, covering music through The Blocks and Stone Cold as well as SowderFest. This community has embraced us and the event.”
Though SowderFest VI is over, your donations will still be accepted in their honor.
“We have set up a QR Code for folks to donate money via credit card. Checks can be sent directly to Brunswick Family Assistance. Please write SowderFest VI on the memo line. For those not interested in online donations, your checks can be sent to Brunswick Family Assistance, 929 Old Ocean Hwy, Bolivia, NC 28422. ” Sowder explained. I should mention that your contributions to the organization are tax-deductible.
When I asked Sowder what the future looked like, he told me they would start planning SowderFest VII later this year, securing sponsors and artists. His vision is to continue bringing an annual music event for the community to enjoy for free. “If we can ensure enough sponsorship money, we will consider adding a national recording artist,” he said. Sowder also told me that he welcomes volunteers who might be interested in assisting in cultivating the visions of SowderFest VII. Please reach out to Steve via email at stevesowder55@gmail.com.
**********
Since We are on the Subject…Let’s talk Festivals
Here are a few festival events I found for readers to check out.
Atlantic Beach Music Festival
The Atlantic Beach Music Festival is happening right now in Atlantic Beach. This year, the lineup is Gary Lowder & Smokin’ Hot, The Band of Oz, Jim Quick & Coastline, The I-42 Band, The Mighty Saints of Soul.
********
Orange County SeaFest 2025
For those in the Triad Region, you might want to head to Orange County SeaFest. Event organizer Terry Rose said she was excited to be featuring 11 bands this year, and I know that Dr. Bacon will close out the 2025 Festival with some amazing grooves. For those in the triad area, head to the Efland Ruritan Club, 3009 Forrest Ave., Efland, NC.
********
Vet Jam 2025 Music Festival
Over in the Triangle region, The Fainting Goat Brewery Company presents Vet Jam 2025, benefitting Military Missions in Action. The bill includes many local talents, including our superstar from Stella, Michael Schott Band.
**********
Jamesstock Forever
Rocker and major live music supporter, James Jones has been hosting live music festivals on his property for nearly as long as I have written about the scene. This weekend, Jamestock Forever is offering The Ultimate Rock Show. This event kicks off at 2 p.m. and goes well into the night. Camping is encouraged, and your host offers breakfast with a love for rock and roll.
*********
The New Bern Gospel Fest
Tried by Fire organizes The New Bern Gospel Event tonight at Temple Baptist Church. Tickets are $27 at the door, and proceeds support local women needing a hand-up.
*********
Global Citizenship Music Festival
This is the second annual Global Citizenship Music Festival featuring six acts on stage at Union Point Park today from 3-8 PM. Arts to End Genocide, Faith Connection, and Atlantic Dance Theater team up with local sponsors to bring us this cultural event that features music and dance from around the world. You should bring your chair, blanket, and maybe some bug spray and sunblock. There will be food trucks on site to serve you food and beverages. Daniels Sound will provide the sound for today’s event.
*********
A Note From Your Creator
As you noticed, I am here to promote others. Since we are talking about music festivals, I thought I would share my favorite link for festival information around the state. NC Music Festivals is a very informative site that offers good information on Festivals around the state. The home page offers a full list of events in date order and then briefly breaks down the month’s events. If you love music festivals, visit this site to find a fun one to enjoy with friends this season.
Looking ahead, I have enough acts to talk about in the next blog to create a fun festival bill. Be sure to subscribe to this blog for updates each time I publish an article. Next time we check in with The Adam Hill Band, Jake Ross, solo, Swimming with Sharks, Doc & Roll, and Kaden Jones. Once we get through those stories, I will bring you up to date with Justin Castellano, Joe Baes, and Jimmy Parker, plus introduce Jerry Gaff, who hails from the mountain region. I met him and another new face, Cassiraye from the Crystal Coast, while bouncing around New Bern last night. Stay informed and share with your friends so they know where to go! Thanks for Reading.
###