Bear Shadow has come out of hibernation to announce its lineup for 2023. Topping the third edition of the North Carolina music festival are headliners Spoon, The Head and the Heart, and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.
The boutique Americana festival held in Highlands, NC will present a short-but-sweet focused lineup, beginning on Friday, April 28th with headliner Spoon playing alongside indie-folk veterans Fruit Bats and singer-songwriter Lissie. On Saturday, fellow indie-folkers The Head and the Heart top the bill in addition to rising vintage R&B keyboardist Neal Francis and upstart 17-year-old singer-songwriter Myron Elkins. Finally, Bear Wallow 2023 will close on Sunday with alternative country powerhouse Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit as well as Grammy-winning roots musician Amythyst Kiah and husband-and-wife team Woody Platt (Steep Canyon Rangers) and Shannon Whitworth.
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“When we set out to produce one of the hottest tickets on the music festival scene, we knew the Highlands area would deliver appeal, and that is evident in our third annual Bear Shadow festival lineup,” Casey Reid, partner of Eleven Events and festival director, said. “We are beyond thrilled to bring some of the leading artists to the Highlands Plateau next April to share their talent and join us for another weekend of music and revelry under the canopy of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Known as “Base Camp”, the Bear Shadow main stage will once again be stationed at Winfield Farm in Scaly Mountain, a short drive from downtown Highlands. The festival is named for the bear-like shadow projected by the region’s Whiteside Mountain in the spring and fall. The winner of the 2023 poster contest, Brian Kingen, designed his art to reflect the spirit of the Blue Ridge Mountains and in the process won $1,000 cash and four passes to Bear Shadow in addition to a booth to sell his art.
Three-day and single-day tickets to Bear Shadow 2023 are on sale now. Base Camp shows are scheduled for Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 from 5–10:30 p.m. and on Sunday, May 1 from 12–5:30 p.m. Visit the festival’s website for a full list of ancillary events including musician workshops, hikes, picnics, and more.
