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One of the many benefits when vacationing on Ocracoke Island is the vibrant live music scene. Almost every restaurant hosts live music - regardless of the day of week. There is also a community of musical artists that reside on the island that play a plethora of musical styles - rock, bluegrass, country, americana. One of our favorites is
Martin Garrish who has been playing on the island for over three decades. In fact, he probably would have had a successful career if he ever decided to relocate to Nashville or Austin - but Ocracoke is his home. What makes him special is his versatility - not only can he play the acoustic and electric guitars,
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but he can play them in a range of genres. He can cover Lynard Skynard, the Allman Brothers, James Taylor, Robert Earl Keen, Marshall Tucker, The Eagles.... And when he covers a song it seems he does a better job than the original artist. Its also very easy to hear him perform. Along with Lou Castro, he has taken a summer residency at
Jimmy's Seafood Buffet every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-6:00. And on occasion you can hear him with the Ocracoke Rockers - for a real rock n' roll show. Pairs great with the Black Radish from the
Weeping Radish Farm Brewery.
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Lou Castro is also an easy musician to find. Along with playing with Garrish, he is a member of several bands:
Molasses Creek,
Coyote, and the
Aaron Caswell Band. And many of you may recall him in his appearance in
"Nights In Rodanthe". For me, I will always recall his guitar playing whether its the acoustic Dobro - fortified into a Hawaiian styled guitar - or jumping and walking on rails playing his electric guitar. Don't know if its his
Berklee School of Music degree or years of practice; but the guy can play.
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