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,
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.
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.
