BY DREW DRAIN Saturdays In Saxapahaw is a summer-long farmer's market and concert series, taking place every Saturday from May 4th to...
BY DREW DRAIN
Saturdays In Saxapahaw is a summer-long farmer's market and concert series, taking place every Saturday from May 4th to September 7th this year. The farmer's market opens at 5:00 PM and music starts at 6:00 PM. Bubbles, slip and slides, hay bales for climbing, food, and drink options are available to keep the entire family happy.
The vendors at the market included vintage clothes, organic foods, pottery, and multiple food trucks, which included Maple View Ice Cream, Stuffy Man's Vegan Stuff, Cilantro Mexican, The Churro Boys, and Burritos Del Rio (my dinner choice for the night). I recommend the chile verde burrito. It was fantastic! Go early because they completely sold out of everything tonight. Haw River Brewing also had a tent set up offering cans for purchase.
The entertainment for last night's event was Paul McDonald And The Mourning Doves. The Mourning Doves, with Mike Dunton on guitar, Liam Hogan playing drums, and Tarka rounding out the rhythm section on bass, are McDonald's current backing band. Music fans may be familiar with Paul McDonald's prior endeavors, which notably include a top 8 finish on American Idol and the hit duet with Nikki Reed, "All I've Ever Needed," from the Twilight Breaking Dawn Saga Part 2 soundtrack.
Paul McDonald and the Mourning Doves took the stage to the delight of the hundreds in attendance. McDonald was energetic throughout the night. He frequently jumped from the stage testing the liimits of his microphone cord. Thankfully, the sound crew was on the spot, and they were able to swap out his cord for a longer one during the set. They were so slick with it that I don't think a single note was missed. The frequent ventures into the crowd led to some singalong opportunities for audience members.
The setlist was primarly comprised of songs off of a new record slated for a fall 2024 release. After a couple of "sad" songs to kick off the night, McDonald said that the rest of the night would be for dancing and love. He meant it! Despite the audience being unfamiliar with the songs, they were up and dancing throughout the night. McDonald and the rest of the band kept the crowd enthralled from the first notes of the night until he finished with a cover of "Baba O'Riley."
The band's merchandise options include a shirt with "WHO THE HELL IS PAUL MCDONALD?" across the front and "WHO CARES?" across the back. I think the crowd that was lucky enough to attend the show at Saxapahaw knows the answer to who he is and they care.
After last night's performance in Saxapahaw, Paul McDonald and the Mourning Doves continue their summer tour with upcoming dates at the Grand Ole Opry and Bonnaroo. If you missed seeing them at Saxapahaw, or just want to see them again, they will return to the area later this summer with performances at the Uptown Maumee Music Fest during their 4th of July celebration and a stop by the Steel Hands Brewery for their Nashville Nights in Greensboro on July 25.
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- DREW DRAIN
Andrew (Drew) Drain is originally from Point Pleasant, WV, and he now resides in Chapel Hill, NC with his daughter. Drew works as a financial risk management professional to pay the bills, but his real passion is photography. He started taking photos of his daughter playing soccer as a way to resist the urge to coach her from the sidelines. Time behind the camera developed into a love for photography that he has paired with his love for sports and live music. Follow Drew’s Instagram, @Drew.Drain.Photo or his MaxPreps galleries, to check out more of his work or contact him if you need photos of your favorite athlete or performer.
Read Drew's posts here.
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