Happy Holidays from us all at Soundside Records!

Everyone on Ocracoke is hanging wreaths and twinkling lights and getting into the yuletide spirit. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the village – even the lighthouse is sporting some holiday finery.

Lots of festive and fun events happen this time of year (see last week’s post for a full listing), but we’d like to give you an extra reminder about the annual Ocrafolk Christmas Concert on December 11th at 7pm at the Ocracoke Community Center. In years past, Deepwater Theater has hosted the concert and charged admission as a fundraiser for OPS. But this year it will be a free event for the whole community – and visitors, too!

If you’re on the island, come on out and enjoy seasonal entertainment provided by some of your favorite Soundside Records artists and other local talent: The MadriGals, Jamie Tunnell, Coyote, Molasses Creek, Sundae Horn, Rob Temple, Caroline Temple, Molly Lovejoy, Katie O’Neal, Ivey and Laura Belch, Baby Dee and Free Moustache, Kati Wharton, Noah Paley, April Trueblood, Cynthia Mitchell, Roger Garrish, & more!!

And in keeping with the spirit of giving, the Ocrafolk Christmas Concert organizers are offering space inside for some of our island’s non-profits to raise a little money selling refreshments.


Cindy Fiore with Christmas wreathes

Well, we promised you a review of Philip Howard’s book…

...and here it is, just in time to influence your Christmas shopping!

Since his early childhood, Philip Howard has been captivated by the stories told to him by Ocracoke friends and relatives. As a result, he has become quite an authority on the island’s history as anyone can tell you who has visited his shop, The Village Craftsmen, and chatted with him. Fifteen years ago it occurred to Philip that Ocracoke’s
trove of oral history was in danger of extinction so he began to collect stories in earnest and to write them down.

As his story-telling reputation grew, Philip became a regular feature of the Ocrafolk Opry, a summer variety show at the Deepwater Theatre where he has entertained audiences for the past several years. In 2000, he began publishing some of his tales online in his Village Craftsmen newsletter. Three years ago, he began conducting evening “ghost walks” through the village. The 90-minute walks quickly gained popularity and participants began to pressure Philip to publish the stories so they could take them home.

Last winter he began writing and the result is finally here. His book is called
Digging Up Uncle Evans: History, Ghost Tales & Stories from Ocracoke Island, and it’s available right here at Soundside Records. While the main focus of the book is ghost stories, there is a wealth of Ocracoke history and geography, as well as a scattering of interesting photographs.

The ghostly tone is set in the first chapter, “A Perplexing Dream,” which presents a mystery that subtly haunts the reader until it is resolved in the final chapter, “Digging Up Uncle Evans.”

Digging Up Uncle Evans is the perfect holiday gift for anyone who loves Ocracoke.

Speaking of perfect holiday gifts…


Ocracoke Preservation Museum is all decked out

…did we mention Soundside Records?

2008 was a great year for Soundside Records, seeing the release of three new CDs for our catalog.

The Ocrafolk Sampler IV joined the lineup this spring, and proved to be another great compilation of local and regional musicians. Perennial Ocrafolk artists Molasses Creek open the CD with “Stuff that Works” and it sets the tone for the rest of the CD – “music that works” its magic on the listener. New to the Sampler series are Katy Mitchell, Skye Zentz, Michael Stanwood, Phil Kelly, Ruth Wyand and The Barnraisers – all of whom performed in the 2008 Ocrafolk Festival.

Brothers From Another Time Fiddler Dave Tweedie and Michael Stanwood
Born of years of musical friendship, this album brings together these two musicians in a wonderful tapestry of song and tunes form the mountains of Colorado to the sandy shores of Ocracoke Island, NC. This is the album that will teach you the magic of the words “Ee Go Di Wa” and get you swaying to Fiddler Dave’s beautiful waltzes.

Live From Deepwater Theater Noah Paley, Lou Castro and Marcy Brenner
Hatteras Islander Noah Paley teamed up with the Ocracoke duo Coyote to offer a night of “Songs and the Stories Behind the Songs” and the result is this CD recorded during the 2007 Friday night shows at Deepwater Theater.

For Christmas delivery please place orders by December 15th!

With every passing year, more visitors to the Outer Banks of North Carolina take home a piece of the Ocrafolk magic through our performers’ many CDs. In our catalog you may browse performers’ recordings -- sampling as you go, or search song titles and special guest appearances on other albums. We have also identified those albums by Ocracoke residents and those produced at Gary Mitchell’s Soundside Studios. Some albums even have lyrics for those who wish to sing along!


Even the ponies are celebrating

Members of Molasses Creek play at the Harker's Island Decoy Festival

This last weekend Guitar Gary, Fiddler Dave, Lou Castro and Gerald Hampton convened in Harker's Island, NC for the annual Waterfowl Weekend. Several other performers were on hand for the celebration including Bland Simpson, the Lost Girls, Connie Mason, and a bunch of Fish House Liars (Rodney Kemp and friends). The weather was a little chilly, but still sunny enough to stand outside and eat scallop fritters and apple puppies while a group of local boatmakers created a skiff right in front of the museum. The Core Sound Waterfowl Museum is a wonderful place to visit any time of year with plenty of exhibits on hunting, carving, and Down East Culture. Find out more on their website at www.coresound.com.


Ocracoke Methodist Church

December Dining and Shopping Guide

Many Ocracoke shops and restaurants are closed for the season, but the ones that are open would sure appreciate your business! If you’re on the island, here are your dining options:

Ocracoke Pizza Company Call if you see the Open sign lit up!

Howard’s Pub Open 11am – 10pm, Fridays and Saturdays until midnight. The Pub will close for the season on January 4th.

Thai Moon Carryout Open Thursday – Sunday, 11am ¬– 8pm, until December 30th. Closed Christmas Day.

Creekside Café Open through mid-December from 10am – until 7pm.

Ocracoke Station Deli (At the Texaco station) Open year round.

Jason’s Restaurant Currently closed. Will re-open December 30th serving lunch from 11:30–2:30 and dinner from 5 – 8pm.

Please note that other shops may be open – if you don’t see your favorite one on the list, please give them a call.

Deepwater Pottery and Books to Be Red Open daily 12 – 5. Open house Saturday, December 6th from 1 –4pm.

Over the Moon Hours will be posted on the door.

Village Craftsmen Open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am – 5pm. Closed December 23rd – 25th. Open Dec. 26th until December 31st, then closed for the season.

Ocracoke Restoration Company Monday – Saturday, 11:00 am - 5:30 pm
Closed Sundays except for Christmas week

BW’s Surf Shop Will be open most days in December.

Tradewinds Open daily until January 4th, then closed through February.

Island Artworks Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 – 5.

The Gathering Place Open weekends in early December, and part-time hours daily from December 18th -31st. Open House Saturday, December 6th from 1pm -4pm.

Island Ragpicker Open daily at 10 am through December. Closed Christmas Day.

Zillie’s Island Pantry Open daily, Noon – 6pm, through December. Closed on December 24th and 25th. Closing at 4pm on the 31st and closed January 1st. Zillie's will be open in January and February, hours to be posted.

Secret Garden Gallery Open December 15th – 23rd (except Sunday), 10am – 6pm. Open Christmas Eve 10am – 1pm. Closed Christmas Day. Open December 26th ¬– 31st, 10am – 6pm. Closed Sundays.

Village Peddler Open most weekdays in December, and the weekend of December 20th and 21st. ¬Phone number is posted on the door – please call and they’ll open for you.

Fall Is Heading Our Way!

Weekly happenings gathered by our roving reporter. . .
Sundae Horn

Ocracoke Featured in Our State Magazine



The October issue of Our State magazine (www.ourstate.com) has not one, but two articles about Ocracoke! Of course, all Tarheels and O’cockers love Our State magazine, and never more so than when they recognize and celebrate how wonderful our little island is.

An article about Ghost Walks all around North Carolina couldn’t have been complete without a mention of Philip Howard. Philip is a raconteur extraordinaire who collects Ocracoke stories and folklore, which he shares on stage at the Ocrafolk Opry, online in his Ocracoke newsletter, and on the streets during his Ghost and History Walking Tours of the village. Learn about Old Diver and Mad Mag Howard and poor Alice O’Neal, shipwrecks and prophetic dreams and haunted inns. Amy Howard, who inherited her father’s gift of gab, also takes a turn each week at leading the tours. If you’re planning to be on Ocracoke in September or October, please call ahead (252-928-6300) to check the off-season schedule for the Ghost Walks.

Speaking of yours truly, the other article in this month’s issue is called “Camp Creative,” written by me about the Ocrafolk School. Our State sent a photographer to the first folk school and, as is usual for Our State, the incredible photography tells the story so well that the words are superfluous. (My favorite photo? I just loved seeing Captain Rob’s baldhead shining in the glow of the campfire.)

The October issue of Our State just hit the newsstands (available on the island at The Variety Store and Books to Be Red), and will no doubt sell like hotcakes, so get your copy today!

Ocracoke Musicians and Artists Out and About in the Community

Guitar Gary doesn’t just play music and record other musicians playing music at Soundside Studios, he also serves on the volunteer board of the Ocracoke Community Center. This week the board members (Tom Pahl, Nancy Leach, Lyn Buchanan, and Gary) organized a big project day, and checked several things off their to-do list for the building.


Gary Mitchell and Tom Pahl install the new Commnity Center sign

Gary and Tom hung a new sign on the building’s exterior, which can be used to announce meetings and events. The board also fixed and painted and cleaned until the place shone, complementing the renovations that have been done over the last few months including a new entryway, new ceiling, and improvements to the stage.


Ocracoke Community Center interior

The Ocracoke Community Center is owned by Hyde County and supported by Ocracoke Occupancy Tax funds, and by the revenue it generates from rental fees. The building is open for free use to any Ocracoke non-profit group, and it’s available to rent for parties, wedding receptions, and other events by calling 252-928-3162.


Ah! A hard day's work comes to an end

The Ocrafolk Festival Fundraising concerts at Thanksgiving and Easter, and some of the Ocrafolk Festival events are held at the Community Center. So, if you’ve been to a show there before, be sure to notice the improvements next time you’re here and let Gary know how great the place looks.


Fiddler Dave Tweedie and Captain Rob Temple sing a chantey

Captain Rob Scares Some Small Fry

To celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19th in his own nefarious way, Captain Rob Temple steered a course to Ocracoke Child Care and gave the little kiddies a nautical lecture on piratical practices. After they warmed up to him, the tots learned the Pirate’s Alphabet (“Aye!” and “Aargh!”) and danced to the Pirate Song. If you hear a three year-old calling for his grog, you’ll know he’s one of Captain Rob’s mateys.


Really now. . .who is the most frightening?!

Fiddler Dave Vistis Pre-K for “F” week

The Ocracoke School pre-Kindergarten class was learning all about the letter “F” this week. Dave volunteered to help the kids come up with some benign “F” words -– like Fiddle!


Fiddler Dave with son Lachlan (now in Pre-K)

Amy’s Sea Turtle Sculpture Class Adds to OYC Beach Scene


Amy Howard and students at work on the sea turtle

Amy Howard taught another sculpture class this week for the Ocracoke Youth Center, and this time the kids helped her create a sea turtle for the Beach Scene Sculpture Garden on Hwy. 12.



It all started with a surfer – Herbie Creampuff, to be precise. Then he needed a lifeguard to flirt with


What a cutie!

and some dolphins to ride waves with… and now the Youth Center’s front yard is one of Ocracoke’s most interesting roadside attractions. The sculptures hold up amazingly well in the wind and rain, and get occasional little touch-up paint jobs.



Herbie went AWOL overnight this summer, and came back as sneakily as he left. We assume he was kidnapped and taken to a wild island party, but he’ll never tell.

Amy provides the basic sculpture form, and then the kids add the plaster strips and make it sturdy. The next day they get to come back and paint and decorate their creation. It’s all good, messy fun!


Herbie Creampuff and the dolphin

Deepwater Theater & Music Hall Unveils Its New Website!
Over the last couple of months, those Molasses Creek folks have been working on a new website for their Deepwater Theater. The site features all the different activities that take place at Deepwater Theater throughout the summer season as well as the rest of the year. In addition to Molasses Creek, Ocrafolk Opry, Coyote and Noah Paley, and Rumgagger Pirate Shows, the island theater is also an art gallery for the work of Kitty Mitchell of Molasses Creek, hosts Yoga classes, the Ocracoke Needle and Thread Club (Quilting), Youth Center Movies, rental options, and a variety of workshops and activites in the off season. Visit the site at www.deepwatertheater.com

Ocracoke Island Summer Summary 2008: Music and More!

The Soundside Records/Molasses Creek newsletter has a new editor. . . Welcome Sundae Horn! Sundae is not only a wonderful writer, but she is also a member of the Ocrafolk Opry and can frequently be found performing with her husband, Captain Rob Temple. She will be keeping us up-to-date on Ocracoke happenings in this weekly blog. Thank you Sundae!


Ocracoke’s summer season kicked off in June with the always wonderful Ocrafolk Festival, which was well-attended in spite of record high temperatures and near 100% humidity. It was a great two days of music, storytelling, arts, crafts, and sweat. Louis Allen, an old school friend of Gary’s who performed at the festival (with the trio Warren, Bodle and Allen) for the first time this year, summed it up thusly: “I knew y’all had a good festival, but it was much better than I imagined. Had it been 20 degrees cooler, it would have been too perfect and the rest of my life would then be meaningless.”

Deepwater Theater started its summer season of shows and events the week after the Ocrafolk Festival. For details visit www.deepwatertheater.com.



With the Ocrafolk Opry on Wednesday nights, Molasses Creek on Thursdays and Coyote and Noah Paley on Friday nights, the theater stayed busy with happy audiences all summer. The Rumgagger show was back this year in a new time slot, with Captain Rob Temple, Fiddlin’ Dave Tweedie and Guitar Gary Mitchell providing a piratical experience for kids of all ages on Thursdays at 1pm.


Fiddler Dave, Capt. Rob, & Gary Mitchell

The second annual Women’s Opry performed on August 2nd to a sold-out house. If you beg, the ladies might agree to do another show next year.




Jamie Tunnell and Marcy Brenner


Kitty Mitchell paints live during the show!

The Ocracoke Youth Center commandeered the theater on Tuesdays for Movie Nights for kids and families. They didn’t charge admission, but sold drinks and snacks to raise funds for the non-profit’s programs. OYC provided a whole summer’s worth of fun classes and events for the island’s youngens, from soccer practice and boogie boarding, to quilting and gardening. In August, the theater was the venue for the 1st Annual Ocracoke Island Surf Film Festival, which raised over $2400 for OYC.


Mr K & the Famous

Sponsored by the Global Surf Network, the film fest included several different documentaries and short films, and one feature movie (shown on the sort-of-big screen inside), interspersed with live musical performances (on the theater’s front porch.)

The Ocracoke Needle and Thread Club, also know as “the quilters” meet in Deepwater Theater twice a week to work on their beautiful handmade quilts. They donate one to the Ocrafolk Festival each year for a fundraising raffle, and another to Ocracoke Preservation Society.


Ocracoke Needle & Thread raffle quilt for this year

The theater is also used for yoga and pilates classes, and the occasional party.

Not everything on Ocracoke happens at Deepwater Theater…

In other news, Ocracoke residents and visitors were thrilled with the grand re-opening of the historic Community Store on the harbor in the heart of the village. Established in 1918, the store has been an important part of village life ever since. (For more details read Philip Howard’s complete history of the store at http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news092106.htm) After being closed for more than two years, the Community Store was open for business starting May 1. Recently leased by Ocracoke residents Susan and James Paul, the historic waterfront building is once again stocked with groceries, produce, beer, wine and sundries.



James and Susan have made changes to the layout of the store’s interior, but kept the country store atmosphere. They’ve added a coffee machine and fountain drinks, and a large produce display. In keeping with the store’s old-fashioned style, there are gingham curtains and large ceiling fans, glass jars of candy and bushel baskets of apples.



The walls are adorned with antique tools and framed photographs of the store’s younger years. In spite of some modern additions including an ATM, lottery tickets and a money-wiring service, James and Susan have succeeded in their goal of making the store “authentic and welcoming.”

The Community Store will stay open all winter, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Stay tuned for posts about upcoming music at the Community Store – James and Susan are hoping that Gary will organize some musical gatherings around the old, pot-bellied woodstove come winter.

Summer Fun
Other notable events and stories this summer included: a fun-filled 4th of July, with the best fireworks anyone has ever seen anywhere;


4th of July performance of the Flat Cat kids at the Ocracoke Preservation Museum

homecoming celebrations for Emma Lovejoy, who spent a year as an exchange student in Denmark; fish-fry fundraisers at the fish house to support Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association; informative, yet informal, Porch Talks at the OPS Museum (including a few Rumgagger appearances); art openings at local galleries (Kitty Mitchell’s at Down Creek Gallery was not-to-be-missed)


Sandpiper Moonrise by Kitty Mitchell

; Bingo on Tuesday nights at the Fire Hall to support Ocracoke’s volunteer fire department; a new ambulance for Ocracoke’s EMS squad; lots of live music all over the island; a concert/fundraiser to support WOVV, Ocracoke’s soon-to-be radio station; an outstanding fig crop; and plenty of sea, sand and sun for those lucky enough to get out to the beach.

The tourist season is winding down and hurricane season is picking up…

As this gets posted, folks all over the island are battening down the hatches in preparation for Hurricane Hanna, and keeping a weather eye on her buddy Ike. And in between watching the tropical updates and scoping out the high ground where we might park our cars, Ocrafolks are trying to enjoy a little of the post-Labor Day quiet.

Ocrakids went back to school on August 25th, and among them was Lachlan Howard, who started pre-Kindergarten with the Ocracoke School Class of 2022.


Ocracoke Pre-K class of 2008

He’s off to a fine start in his academic career, having already learned to say the word “loquacious” and use it in a sentence (and that was before he was enrolled!)


Opry Star Marcy Brenner is Now a Movie Star, Too



We’re excited to announce that Deepwater Theater will be the venue of the first public screening of a documentary titled “Dead Girl Walking” on Friday, September 12 at 7:30pm. The event is free and refreshments will be served.

Marcy is a Ocrafolk musician, and a wife, mom, and writer. She’s also a cancer survivor and the subject of a documentary film about her experience with advanced breast cancer. Ray Schmitt of Real Earth Productions was inspired to make a film about Marcy after hearing her original song “Dead Girl Walking”.

Marcy was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 34, just after her mother died of ovarian cancer. She went through two bouts with breast cancer, and was treated with high-dose chemotherapy and radiation, had a mastectomy, and also underwent a bone marrow transplant. Today, she’s in remission, but continues to be a support person for people facing a cancer diagnosis. She was the keynote speaker at the 2000 and 2008 Outer Banks Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Marcy says that cancer gave her backhanded gifts.

“If I was offered a deal to go back in time and live my life without cancer, and all I would have to give up was the insights, experience and purpose that have come to me as a result, I wouldn’t make that bargain. My cancer experience was a wakeup call to life.”

In the film, Brenner describes how having cancer taught her to live while she’s alive, and to ask herself what she really wants to be doing with her life. She met her husband, Lou Castro, while she was still undergoing treatment for cancer, and says it was “a miracle to fall in love again when I didn’t dare dream of a future.”

Together they moved to Ocracoke and became the musical duo Coyote. They are regulars at the Ocrafolk Opry and the Ocrafolk Festival, and have their own Coyote show with Hatteras singer-songwriter Noah Paley on Friday nights during the summer at Deepwater Theater. Castro also plays with Ocracoke’s Molasses Creek and travels with them when they go off the island. Brenner and Castro, along with David Tweedie and Gary Mitchell of Molasses Creek, have been playing Sunday nights at the Jolly Roger Pub this year and will continue through September.

Coyote has recorded four CDs: Coyote Live on the Outer Banks, Home to Me, Another Year Blooms, and Live at Deepwater Theater with Noah Paley. Brenner is also writing a memoir of her cancer experience.

Brenner opened her keynote address at Relay for Life with an original song “Another Year Blooms,” which she wrote for her “two Charlottes.” The first was her mother, Charlotte Brenner, and the second is her daughter, Charlotte Castro, whom she and Castro adopted at birth last year. “Another Year Blooms” is a loving tribute to Brenner’s mother and a bittersweet song of hope, perfectly captured in the line “even still now, without you, in spite of winter’s gloom, another year blooms.”

The “Dead Girl Walking” film includes interviews with Brenner and Castro, home-video footage of Brenner during her illness, and lots of music including the songs “Dead Girl Walking,” “Another Year Blooms” and others inspired by Brenner’s wake-up call to life.

Everyone is welcome to the first public screening of “Dead Girl Walking,” on Friday, September 12 at 7:30pm at Deepwater Theater. The event is free and refreshments will be served.

New Releases at Soundside Records
Soundside Records featured three new releases this summer. For more details and ordering information, go to www.soundsiderecords.com.

The "Ocrafolk 4 Music Sampler" was unveiled for the annual Ocrafolk Festival in June. This collection features Molasses Creek, Skye Zentz, Phil Kelly, Katy Mitchell, Michael Stanwood, Ruth Wyand, The Barnraisers, and Fiddler Dave Tweedie.



Fiddler Dave Tweedie and Michael Stanwood also released a brand new Cd this season, entitled "Brothers from Another Time." Fiddler Dave (of Molasses Creek) and Michael Stanwood met a number of years ago on Ocracoke at the Wayfarer Hostel. Michael is an award winning autoharpist and songwriter from Colorado who has performed at the Ocrafolk Festival for the past three years. The album brings together these two musicians in a wonderful tapestry of original songs and tunes from the mountains of Colorado to the sandy shores of Ocracoke Island.



Coyote and Noah Paley also released a brand new album for this season "Live from Deepwater Theater." The album features songs recorded during their live show from the 2007 Deepwater Theater season.



Stay tuned next week's update!

Our Ocrafolk Musicians featured in the Warner Brothers movie "Nights in Rodanthe"
The Upcoming Ocrafolk School 2008 (October 26-31)
The Ocracoke Art Walk

Molasses Creek Upcoming events off Ocracoke (click here for on Ocracoke)
September 27 -- Currituck Wine and Food Festival, the Sanctuary Vineyards (at the Cotton Gin), Jarvisburg (near Currituck). Afternoon (around 2-6)
October 12-16 -- In residency at Kanuga retreat center, Hendersonville, NC
October 17 -- Our State Magazine presents Best of Our State, Kitty Hawk, NC. Details TBA
October 18 -- Private Event in Ocracoke, NC
November 21-22 -- Festival celebrating the 25th Anniversary Commemoration of the Christening and Launching of the Elizabeth II, Roanoke Island Festival Park, Manteo, NC
December 31 -- First Night Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA. Details TBA