Carolina Story, Hilary & Kate, and Wood join Toro Creek Ramblers at third annual event

Tent City After Dark will kick-off two days of Colony Days events on Friday, Oct. 5 with a concert inside the historical reenactment of Atascadero’s 1916 Tent City.
Nashville recording artist Carolina Story and San Luis Obispo-based groups Hilary & Kate and Wood will be the featured bands at the concert from 4:30 to 10 p.m., along with local bluegrass conglomerate the Toro Creek Ramblers.
“Tent City is kind of like Brigadoon,” Tent City Director Dianne Greenaway said. “It appears out of nowhere, exists for a few days, and then vanishes. It’s really a unique opportunity.  Canvas tents filled with items harkening back to a time when we used horses, mules and cars in our enterprises. Tents lit at night like luminaria and lovely, colored orbs of light strung overhead. With this set, we get to enjoy live music from Nashville and local acts.”
The fundraiser for Colony Days will be bigger and better than ever with more bands, food trucks, local wine and beer and a five-pound burger eating contest sponsored by Sylvester’s Burgers.
“Tent City After Dark is an amazing combination of good music and an incredible setting,” Colony Days chairwoman Karen McNamara said. “Once the sun sets, the tents and hanging lanterns glow as they did in the original Tent City.”
The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with food trucks and beer and wine and will continue well into the night with live music.
“It is truly something that can only be experienced at our event,” McNamara said. “There will be lots of food and drink vendors, plenty of room to dance to a high-quality concert and a moderate late summer evening.”
Advanced tickets are $35 each and include one beverage and can be purchased at ColonyDays.org or at the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce office. Tickets purchased at the door are $40 each. VIP sponsorship tables of eight are $500 and include one drink per person, a platter of tacos for the table and personal table service for the entire evening.
“People can expect an exuberant evening of music, food and enjoyment in a unique, outdoor setting,” Greenaway said. “Sunken Gardens becomes a magic wonderland, where the park transformed into the re-enactment of 1916 Atascadero.”
For those attending the home football game that night, admission after 8 p.m. will be $10 per person with a hand stamp from the football game.
4:30 p.m: Food and beverage sales and doors open
• 4:30 p.m: Toro Creek Ramblers
• 5 p.m.: Five-pound burger-eating contest sponsored by Sylvester’s Burgers
• 6 p.m.: Wood
• 7:15 p.m.: Hilary & Kate
• 8:30 p.m.: Carolina Story
• 10 p.m.: Event ends
Carolina Story is made up of Ben and Emily Roberts, based out of Nashville. They write and perform songs that evoke the blue collar man and woman because that’s exactly who they are. They met at Visible Music College, a progressive arts college, in August 2007. Though they were pursuing separate music careers, it was on a camping trip along the Davidson and French Broad rivers that prompted them to ditch their current endeavors upon returning to Memphis and focus on writing and performing together.
Hilary & Kate is a duo made up of Hilary Watson and Kate Feldtkeller. In early 2012, Hilary and Kate began playing and recording together; Hilary was already seasoned from years of traveling and performing both solo acoustic and with her full band, but Kate brought something new and unique with her voice and violin that instantly clicked.
Wood is made up of five members: Steve Kindel, Paul Steven Silva, Dahlan Richenberg, Rob Strom and Barry Johnson from San Luis Obispo. Wood plays acoustic music, best described as folk-pop. Catchy, thoughtful original tunes that reflect the natural beauty and diversity of the Central Coast. The group is rooted in music that came out of the Laurel Canyon scene in the early 1970s.