Bringing It Back Home
Situated in the heart of downtown Canton, North Carolina, the Colonial Theatre is surrounded by buildings with signs saying “For Rent” or “For Sale” in the windows. It’s the single remaining cultural crown jewel of a community that has seen better years.
One could hit a golf ball from the theatre’s parking lot and hit the nearby Evergreen Packaging paper mill—the economic heartbeat of Canton. The two entities are vital bookends of a town without seemingly anything to put on the shelf. But that doesn’t mean the community drive to reclaim its glory is dead, with the Colonial being the catalyst for positive change.
“When you start tracing the recovery of a small town, it usually centers around entertainment,” said Town Alderman Zeb Smathers. “And for us, that starts with the Colonial—we want people to believe that small towns like us can bounce back.”
Built in 1932, the theatre has remained a beacon of culture and pride ever since. Although it did fall in disrepair in past decades (with a renovation in 1992), a push in the early 2000s brought the old building back to life. It has withstood several economic declines and a devastating flood in 2004, only to remain a place of curiosity and possibility.
“[The Colonial has] an ambiance and intimate charm that creates an indelible experience for visitors in the likes of the famed Fox theatres,” said Canton Town Manager Seth Hendler-Voss.
In 2000, it was listed on the Register of National Historic Places and also nominated for a “Momentum Award” by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2014. The IBMA nomination comes as a result of innumerable shows at the Colonial by Haywood County’s beloved musical sons Balsam Range. The bluegrass group, who won the 2014 IBMA “Entertainer of the Year” award, has called the theatre home for its highly successful Winter Concert Series the last five years. Headlining each sold out show, the band also uses the series to showcase an array of acclaimed regional, national and international string acts.
“Being in the Colonial, a smaller venue of 300 folks, presents a very intimate setting for our concerts, which gives off a very special vibe that radiates throughout the building—there’s not a bad seat in the house,” said Caleb Smith, guitarist for Balsam Range.
Held every first Saturday of the month, from January through April, the series brings together musical friends of Balsam Range. Acclaimed performers like country star John Driskell Hopkins (Zac Brown Band) to Canadian folk sensation The Sweet Lowdown hit the stage, where each partakes and shares in the universal language—music.
“It’s a homecoming event for us. We love using the facility because of its incredible sound, the feel of the room, how nice it is, and its wonderful history,” said Darren Nicholson, mandolinist for Balsam Range. “And I’ve learned that the community has started to count on it year after year as well. From day one, the series has always been about quality—quality guests, quality venue. And we’re very proud of that.”
And alongside the world-class talent, what remains at the series’ core is Balsam Range. Rising into the upper echelon of bluegrass music over the last few years, the band recently took home the 2015 IBMA for “Song of the Year” (“Moon Over Memphis”) and “Vocal Group of the Year” (second year in a row), with Tim Surrett being named “Bassist of the Year.” Surrett was also named the head of the Board of Directors for the IBMAs, a position that not only will expand the reach of the genre, but also brighten the spotlight the band has placed on the Colonial.
“It’s the centerpiece of the town. It’s just home for us,” Surrett said. “It’s nice to come home after a long year on the road and play for friends and family. Each series is a new beginning and energizes us for the upcoming year.”