Battle of the Bands

2026 Contest Winners

What an unforgettable evening! From an exciting livestock show to an array of food trucks and local craft vendors, the first day of the Swain County Agricultural Fair had something for everyone. The night wrapped up on a high note with an incredible line-up of musical talent, including American Roots Collective, Full Code​, D.S.F. Earth Corps, The Appalachian Son, CRUSH, and Nate and the Farm Hands —each delivering outstanding performances!
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🎶 Congratulations to all the winners of this year's Battle of the Bands contest!
Thank you to everyone who came out and made the night truly special.

​First Place: The Appalachian Son
The Appalachian Son is a regional southern gothic act that was created to be the in-person voice of a large social media platform based on Appalachian folklore and preserving history. @theappalachianson 
Band Members: Michael Story, Adam "Sushi" Granade, Kevin Conley, and Scott Low

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2nd Place: D.S.F. Earth Corps
DSF has been writing, recording, and performing original music since 1992. DSF combines a classic rock/blues sound with Island/Mountain sounds to create their own sound that is comfortably familiar yet refreshingly new.
Band Members: Phillip Price, Ronnie Reed, Jay Calloway, and Ned Percival

3rd Place: Nate and the Farm Hands
We are a jam band that hits hard at Darnell Farms stage. 
Band Members: Nathaniel Darnell, Afton Darnell, Jeff Darnell and Bobby Whipple

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Special Thank You to our Judges

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Shout Out to Our Sponsors