Wyatt Espalin
By Victoria Ewing Ware
Guest Writer
The Clay County Communities Revitalization Association welcomes favorite local musician Wyatt Espalin with his band, The Riverstones to the Historic Courthouse/Beal Center gazebo for a lively concert to celebrate Wyatt’s 50th birthday.
Wyatt Espalin is an award-winning singer-songwriter, fiddler and storyteller whose music captures the raw beauty of his Appalachian roots. Wyatt’s early years were marked by instability, moving between homes and enduring family struggles. Finally he and his brother found stability with their grandparents in the north Georgia mountain at the campground they ran. There, Espalin discovered his love for performing, first as a clogger alongside his brother, then as a self-taught fiddler inspired by the traditional sounds of Appalachian music.
His artistry has been earned numerous accolades, including the 2014 L.E.A.F. Festival New Song Singer-Songwriter Competition and placing as a finalist in prestigious events such as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Competition, the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase and Eddie’s Attic Bi-Annual Open Mic Shootouts. Espalin has shared the stage with an impressive lineup of artists, including the Indigo Girls, Jim Lauderdale, Patty Loveless, Shawn Mullins, Lorrie Morgan, and Sam Bush, among many others.
His debut full-length album, “Lies From A Lonesome Valley,” featuring The Riverstones, with special guest appearances by Amy Ray of Indigo Girls and singer-songwriter Grace Pettis, will be released this year. This collection of songs reflects Wyatt’s deep introspection on identity, belonging and the search for home.
This is the second concert in the 2025 Friday Summer Concert Series hosted by the CCCRA. These free concerts are made possible through sponsorships of local businesses. This year’s key sponsors are Hwy 69 Storage,Tony Wiegold; RE/MAX Town & Country, The Richard Kelley Group and Edward Jones Financial Advisor Jodi Sullivan. That said, the concerts happen because of the hard work of many volunteers and donations to the “red bucket” on concert nights.
Plan to make it a date night or family night out and enjoy delicious food and beverages from our local businesses. On site Friday will be the Papa Kash Food Truck with flavorful burgers, cheese steaks and Reubens, Hayesville Q selling tender and tasty Texas-style smoked BBQ and the American Legion Post 532 with fat, juicy hot dogs. Nocturnal Brewing will tap their local brews, Shooting Creek Vines will offer a selection of red and white wines, and Sunny Sips will be making fresh-to-order lemonade drinks.
Free transportation is provided from area parking lots on the “Red Rider” by Historic Hayesville Inc. .
Bring your favorite lawn chairs or blankets and pick a shady spot in the courtyard. The food and beverage service starts at 6 p.m. with the music following from 7 to 9 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, please check the CCCRA website, https://www.cccra-nc.org/, or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cccranc for updates.