Sparta, North Carolina

October 26, 2025
Presenter: Alleghany Arts Council
Venue: Alleghany Jubilee
Population: 1800
Demographic: 72% White, 21% Hispanic

The sixth concert (after our first day off on this tour!) was in Sparta, an Appalachian town in the mountains near the northwest corner of the state very close to the Virginia border. Our presenter was Alleghany Arts Council, an all-volunteer org who is doing great work, and is currently on their way to hiring their first executive director. 

In contrast to all of our other NC tour stops, Sparta/Alleghany County is decidedly white and Republican, with 75% of the county voting for Trump in 2024. That is a demographic Gather Hear is very used to serving (rural/white/Republican), but it was a new experience to be traveling with a Black co-performer with a show using rap, spoken word, and lyrics to touch on racial history and tensions as well as celebrate Black culture. 

The drive was just under two hours from Greensboro, but Alleghany County felt words away as we drove up a winding mountain road away from the highway in the fog and rain, farmland all around us. 

Upon arrival, I worried a little bit. For a pre-show lunch, I had chosen a local-favorite food hall which had Jesus paraphernalia everywhere. We were the only non-white people in the packed hall and got some looks, but I was relieved that the food was good and service was friendly. 

As for the concert itself, I wasn’t worried, since the Arts Council had been so easy to work with and enthusiastic about the visit. The venue they picked was the Alleghany Jubilee, a community bluegrass dance hall that draws musicians and dancers from all over the county and from over the Virginia border. It’s bustling three times a week, every week! A beloved institution since 1994, it was facing closure when new owners Elizabeth and Ron committed to buy it and keep it running. Elizabeth and Ron are not from Sparta, but fell in love with the Sparta community and moved there, then instantly found themselves deeply embedded in the community because of the Jubilee. 

We had an absolutely lovely concert, with better turnout than the last few days, which raised Chris and my spirits. The audience was really curious and attentive to the music and words. Elizabeth remarked that a lot of the audience were people that normally do not come to the Jubilee, and welcomed everyone to return for a dance in the future. 

Afterwards, Dayna, our primary contact from the arts council, took us around main street which is a couple blocks long. One of the shops is Sparta Candle Co, which is of viral TikTok fame for their Taylor Swift candles (I am not on TikTok so this is a big question mark for me). Apparently people flock from out of state and form lines down the street. We ate at Muddy Creek Cafe, which has an awesome music venue in the back, one that you would expect in a much bigger city. They regularly host touring acts - it would be fun to play there! I also picked up bottles of cider from nearby Molley Chomper cider. I was told they were hit by Hurricane Helene and it’s helpful to support them. 

Thanks to Dayna, we also got to tag along to a Halloween house party at night which was so quirky and fun (the house had the coolest exterior slide!). There’s a lot of liberal-leaning transplants here in Sparta, folks seeking out affordable land in beautiful mountains in a location that’s not too hard to get to. The ones who have been here for generations skew more conservative, and it seems there is an ongoing process of figuring out how to work together.

We loved meeting and playing for everyone in Sparta! Thanks so much, Dayna, Alleghany Arts Council, and the Alleghany Jubilee!