Archive for September, 1996

Moonshiners’ Reunion just wants to be fun

by Michael B. Smith
Spartanburg Herald-Journal
Sept 27, 1996

The Fourth Annual Moonshiners’ Reunion starts today, and festival coordinator Barney Barnwell is understandably excited.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” says Barnwell. “It always is. Lots of good music, and we’ve invited country crafts people to come in and set up their wares. As always, there’s plenty of room for camping out overnight, too.”

A native of Campobello, Barnwell carved his very unique niche in the tree of rock ‘n’ roll during the 1970’s, as the fiddle-sawing front-man for the Plum Hollow Band. Plum Hollow was an eclectic group of Upstate musicians who combined elements of bluegrass, rock’n’roll and country music into one tight package. Today, Barnwell and his band, Woodstick, play host to their fourth annual Moonshiners’ Reunion and Mountain Music Festival. (more…)

Barnwell Hosts Moonshiner’s Reunion – always the first weekend in October every year!!!

by Michael B. Smith
The Inman Times, Inman, SC
Thursday September 26, 1996

The Fourth Annual Moonshiner’s Reunion is slated for this Friday and Saturday at Woodstick Farms in New Prospect.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” says reunion coordinator Barney Barnwell. “It always is. Lots of good music, and we’ve invited country crafts people to come in and set up their wares. As always, there’s plenty of room for camping out overnight, too.”

Between the time Campobello native Barnwell tap-danced of TV with his little sister, and the time his band, Woodstick, recorded their CD “20 Years in the Making” in Nashville earlier this year, Barnwell led the life of a true southern road musician. (more…)

Road Trip: Moonshine and Music at Woodstick/150 Miles

by Paula Crouch Thrasher
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

• Woodstock in the sticks:
  We somehow managed to miss the first three, but the fourth annual Moonshiners’ Reunion and Mountain Music Festival at Plum Hollow Farm near New Prospect, SC, On Friday and Saturday caught our attention. Organizar Barney Barnwell, a fiddler who comes from a long line of moonshiners, promises “plenty of pickin’ in the woods all night long”- so bring your guitars, banjos and fiddles and as Barney says stay all weekend with us .
• Shine on, harvest moon:
  The folk celebration is the inspiration of Barnwell, who grew up listening to tales of the moonshiners of the ’30’s and ’40’s. He salutes these outlaws of yesteryear with songs like “Pierce Boys” and “Run Grandpa Run.” Says Barnwell: “Whether people like it or not, moonshining is as much a part of Southern culture as Baptists, NASCAR racing, peach ice cream and fatback.” Barnwell’s 50-acre farm-near South Carolina’s “Dark Corner,” one of moonshining’s hot spots- provides a pastoral setting with a covered bandstand and room to spread a quilt. (more…)