Now in its 14th year, Waynestock unfolded over the past two weekends at Relix Theater in Happy Holler, with two nights running as planned and snowfall bumping the finale back by a week. Each year, Waynestock brings together a wide cross-section of Knoxville musicians in support of a cause that matters. This year’s beneficiary was Centro Hispano de East Tennessee.
Alan and I tag-teamed coverage, him photographing all of Thursday, Jan. 29 and Friday, Jan. 30 except for the midnight band which I was happy to stay late for. Alan was otherwise committed for the snow makeup date so I covered this past Friday solo, although he was there in spirit. I think Alan has covered Waynestock every year since it began.
The festival’s origin story bears repeating. It began in the wake of loss, when friends organized the first iteration to support longtime Knoxville News Sentinel music critic Wayne Bledsoe after the death of his son Drew. What started as a single night of fundraising and collective care was met with such an outpouring of support that organizers decided to do it again, initially just as a celebration…