Trying to plan my trip for it. Is it going to be an all day event or just evening? Kinda need to know whether or not to get a motel room for 1 night or 2.

Most folks come in on Saturday for the Saturday show. My wife and I are coming down on Friday so we can take care of any last minute details that come up. Ashville is a beautiful City with a lot of culture and attractions to see, so there is a lot to do for those coming in early. I know that Mike and Dori are coming in plenty early so they will have seen it all by Saturday night. We usally try to have the doors open by 6 or 7PM so the show can start at 8 or 9PM depending on how the owners of the Grey Eagle want to do it. There will be door prizes, an autographed guitar will be raffled off, possibly a Scattergun Video to be previewed or possibly on sale(?) and a few other surprises may be in store!

Tater, did ya ever come up with a decent motel in the area?

Well .... see what Tater said above.

And last I heard the first Hotel was kind of iffee...(if that is a real word) and Tater had considered some others when he went to Asheville for the Belle Chere.... haven't heard if he got a deal anywhere or not.... one of us will get try to get hooked up with a good place -- my first thoughts are a Choice Hotels chain (Comfort, Quality, Sleep Inn, Econolodge) - in honor of our good friend Snake - he always used them and cashed in his points on free nights at the previous 2 Webb Fest events ...

E

Checked a few other places.... not good news... looks like $100 is best we'll be able to do other then where Tater already has worked out a deal.... Leaf Season in the mountains ... lots of flatlander tourists staying the night apparently. Days Inn said $139... and no group rates.

We'll keep checkin'

E

Tater,

Check Arden, NC. We got lost on the way to Mexico one time and wound up there. Seems like there was a real nice Quality or some off shoot for about $75 per night. Course its a bit south of Asheville, so might be a good idea to run the old Beefeater's bus to the bar.

Hey, nogreatshakes & TommyLee, we are staying at the Mountaineer Inn since I wanted to lock in everything early. As long as it is clean, has heat, hot water & no bugs we are good. It may be a little rustic but when I inquired about a room they were very pleasant to deal with. As for the other Choice Hotels, my trips to see my bro' in Texas has taught me that even they can be "iffy". I have to admit that my idea of a mountaineer is more the coon skin cap/Daniel Boone kinda' guy. Can't wait for the adventure of Webb Fest and meeting Dori, Mike, Tater& all the Taters, Eric, etc.......

MB

The Days Inn on Patten Ave., Asheville is right downtown and a nice looking hotel. The rates are $129.00 for Friday and $139.00 for Saturday. They do make AAA discounts. Their number is 828-254-9661. Apparently October is the most expensive month of the year. Some of us who wait too long may have to stay with m0vaxo at the Biltmore.
Also, according to the hotel people, you'd better make reservations early since they claim it will be hard to get a room at all if you wait till October.

While I appreciate having Webb Fest in my home town, since I'm now terminally poor as a result of moving here and can't consider out of town travel for an event even as august as Webb Fest; the ugly fact is that a Webb Fest in October will always be haunted by the spectre of "high season" prices in October, of all times. That is what happens when you have a town that -thinks- it has a tourist economy balancing on the economic fulcrum of some pretty leaves! Trust me, I lived in Orlando for nearly 30 years! Now THAT was a tourist economy. Asheville is still a podunk joke in that regard. But the real joke's on Webb's fans; having to pay top dollar for what I take to be a thank you to the fans. This is why I predict that a Webb Fest in Asheville will be a one-off event unless the timing is changed to another time of the year. I'm not sure why Asheville was picked, though I personally appreciate it! But when people are traveling and then face high motel pricing it diminishes the beneficial effects of Webb Fest.

Reading this, I am reminded of the time a friend and I drove to Atlanta for the weekend. It was what you did In Orlando if you wanted any fun or culture back in the 90s! Imagine our shock when the weekend we picked coincided with the !@#% Worldwide Amway Convention!!! There were NO open rooms for 80 miles around Atlanta! !@#$% Amway Ponzi Zombies!!!

LOL @ AmPonZombies!

Hey Revolt... now we assume you are coming since you live in town and don't have to pony up for a room.... hope to see you there...

Anyway, we were considering Asheville - mostly for something different - but also, to help get WW noticed more over that way.... Anyhow - the date was just one of those that worked out best for those of us planning the event and based on possible fall dates Webb may have planned. I live in Johnson City - just over the mountain from there and I know all about the leaf lovers - they travel thru here wanting either to go to the NC mountains or down in the Smokies around Sevierville, Gatlinburg....etc. So... I knew it was "leaf season" but good grief I didn't know Asheville jacked up the rates for it....

And yeah, it would most likely been a one-off deal anyway ... we have considered moving it around every year as long as we continue to have this show. And we've been trying to keep it a Fall thing.... so many festivals in the Summer and this is a Fest all about Webb.

E

Hey Revolt - speaking of ATL .... I went to see a Braves game one spring and little did we know that is was - what they once called - "Freaknick" ... which was the exact week that all the black colleges have spring break - instead of the beach - most came to ATL to basically party --- anywhere they decided was a good spot .... off the side of the road - including on the interstates.... you just thought ATL traffic was bad - wait til college spring break comes to town.

I have heard that it has basically ended and they all go to the beach like the rest of the college crazies....

But, sure enough we got rear ended that year - totaled my friends car... OOOHHH Atlanta.....

E

I would have thought that Asheville and Webb would have been a good fit. But he's played in Asheville only once since I lived here (apart from the recent Bele Chere - which I won't attend). I saw WW way more in Orlando than in Asheville. Bluegrass and jam bands pretty much rule this town. I don't much care for metal but if I happen to get wind of a metal band here I send 'em all the encouraging thoughts I can muster.

Where specifically do you want Webb to play for you?

Tater: I'm sure that question was aimed at Revolt but I'd go for Arkansas or Kansas. It's kinda in the middle. Easy for the third coast kinds and not too bad for the Westerners either. And again, I wish it was a week earlier or two weeks later as I'll be pretty far up a mountain in Inca land at the time of WebbFest! I wish the best of times for those attending!!

Oh and thanks for the preview button O.

We are all signed up for Friday and Saturday at the Day's Inn on Patton Ave.
Party on, Garth!

Party on Wayne!

My point was that after moving to Appalachia, I see far less of some NC/TENN based touring acts I used to catch practically 3 times a year in Orlando! WW or SCOTS, fr'instance. Just a weird observation. I moved from the freakzone that is Florida into the Actual South and bona-fide Southern acts are kinda scarce here. I guess the lower population that was a reason for moving, works against me here.

Can a cab be had from Patton to the venue? And back of course.

Cabs are plentiful and pretty cheap as we found out at Bele Chere. I think the Days Inn on Patton Ave. is actually within staggering distance of the Grey Eagle!

Hey, Tater!
Any idea when tickets for Webb Fest III will be available? I will be watching for future updates.

MB

Is it just me or are you guys incredibly rude promoting a hotel and then staying at another. Not to mention Revolt Into Style not even attending the event. I am scratching my head and wondering what the hell? Is this event about Webb or what? All that I need now is the info about tickets to the event. Then our trip is complete. I have to say that so far I am really disappointed in what you fellow Webb Fans have to offer. I would just as soon stay in Kansas City.

Is it just me or does MotherBear have a needless bee in her bonnet?

The way I recall it, it was Revolt (Asheville resident) who first offered up the Mountaineer as a lodging possibility. Tater checked with same and got a pretty reasonable rate. In a later post, Tater noted that he subsequently stayed at the Mountaineer during the Bele Chere festival and found it a tad rustic for his taste [after all, he is a Yankee lawyer :-)], so offered to check other lodging options, for those who might feel likewise. Some will find the Mountaineer quaint and charming - different strokes. Just keep in mind, as noted elsewhere, that time of year in Asheville, one can expect high lodging prices.

And Revolt never said he wasn't coming to Webb Fest. What he said he would not attend was Bele Chere. I was in Asheville once during that festival, and that was once too many. Evidently, Tater liked it. Again, different strokes.

So don't get too bent out of shape, MotherBear. I haven't met Revolt (far as I know), but can attest firsthand that many of the "fellow Webb Fans" who inhabit this site are "good people," and that Tater Bodine is a genuinely nice, interesting, helpful feller (even being a Yankee lawyer), which you will pleasantly discover when you meet in Asheville.

I wouldn't find anything rude about what Tater and I have done the last 3 years to put this show together... we set up the show, made it FREE for those on the Webb Board, and helped find hotels with best rate we can get ... last 2 years we got a Webb Fest rate at a particular place - but not everyone stayed there.... that would be the choice of the attendee as to his or her choice of accomodations.

By the way this event is about Webb Wilder, the man and the Band ... as well as, about Webb Fans....

We look forward to seeing everyone there that can make it and regardless of what hotel you decide to stay in .... That is what this show was to begin with ... one where we can all try to get together and watch WW at his best.... again sorry it turns out that the Asheville folks decide to jack up hotel prices this time of year.... leaf season and all...

Tater and I are working on getting tickets put together - looks like we'll be mailing them out this year or setting up a will call at the show .... we'll keep all y'all informed.

E

Maybe I need to clear up a few points. First of all, the folks at the Mountaineer are wonderful and nice people. Second, I did keep one room reserved at the Mountaineer for the night of the Fest to give away to some fan who needs a little help with lodging. You can stay wherever you want. Asheville, unlike other cities does not like to give deals on Hotels. October is not a good month to ask for cheap rates in that city. I recommend the Days Inn. That's where I am staying. The Red Roof Inn, I hear, also has good prices. Where ever you stay, you need to make reservations quickly. I don't think any of us Webb Fans intend to be rude. Most of us are cordial and kind despite maybe lacking a social grace or two here and there. If I have come off appearing rude, I apologize. Like Eric said, this is about Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks and their great music. Lets just all get along!
Maybe next year, we can take a poll of all fans on this Board and let the majority rule on picking the next city and venue. Then, those living in or near that venue can assist in pulling off the event. I welcome any help or suggestions as I am sure Eric does.
Lets keep this about Webb and I promise you, MotherBear, you will not be dissapointed when you get to the Grey Eagle on October 11th. Peace Out!

"Needless bee in my bonnet" is probably the best way to put it. Thanks Tater & Eric, also Big Goober, for clarifying things. I really appreciate everything you guys do to put this massive event together. Not to mention your support of Webb Wilder & the Beatnecks. It is all good.

It's a little late to take backwater, don't ya think?

Tater and Eric, I regret to inform you that you have both made a HUGE mistake. That mistake was thinking that you have to explain yourselves to people or apologize to people who lack gratitude for your efforts to bring yet another FREE Webb show to the fans.

And even though things may be "all good" NOW, Mother Bear, I must say that accusing the benefactors of this event of misrepresentation in any way is the epitome of rudeness.

Can't we all just get along??!?

By the way, MotherBear asked about tickets. We are going to use real tickets this year. I have a friend who owns a print shop and he's going to make me numbered tickets for this year's show. Eric and I will start activating the Omatic Email address he makes for us each year around the 15th or 20th of September and I'll actually mail them to your home address this year. Thanks for your patience.
Tater and Eric