Sugarlands Moonshine

Back Porch Concerts

There’s nothing like relaxing in the evening’s cool mountain air with your beverage of choice and good live music.

Sugarlands Distilling Co. has been showcasing up-and-coming artists this summer with its Back Porch Concert Series. In the next few weeks, two musical acts that are different – but equally talented – are set to perform on back-to-back nights.

Brian Whelan, whose music the Tulsa Voice described as a “unique brand of pop Americana,” will appear at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, 2015.

Skunk Ruckus, a self-described “hillbilly gut rock band” that blends old time music with punk, is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2015

Whelan is a Seattle native who was a multi-instrumentalist in Dwight Yoakam’s band, playing steel guitar, mandolin, keys, acoustic and electric guitar and tambourine. A graduate of the University of Southern California music school, he is also a songwriter who played in the pop-rock band known as the Brokedown and the Broken West, and he fronted the band Wheelhouse. He released his first solo album, “Decider,” in 2013.

“I’ve always considered what I do to be power-pop,” he told the Tulsa Voice in February.

Influences are 1950s rock and roll artists like Buddy Holly, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Skunk Ruckus hails from Western North Carolina and consists of Mr. Jim Daddy on lead vocals, banjo and bass drum; Maxxx Steel on electric bass and vocals; and Dr. Dave on electric guitar.

The band has toured with acts such as Southern Culture on the Skids, The Sawyer Family, Cutthroat Shamrock and Pierce Edens.

Hits include “Billy Mac,” “Pretty Little Things” and “The Devil Must Be Beating His Wife.”

Sugarlands’ distillery, located in downtown Gatlinburg, is a popular attraction where guests are invited to taste free samples of authentic Sugarlands Shine, take behind-the-scenes tours of the production and purchase a variety of moonshine flavors, mountain merchandise and apparel.

Along with live music, Sugarlands offers Appalachian storytelling and outdoor adventure tours in the Sugarlands, an area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park historically known as “moonshiners’ paradise.”

Admission to both shows is free of charge.

Looking for a place to stay during your visit? Give Heartland Cabin Rentals a call at 1-888-711-0087. We look forward to seeing you!