The Harvester Performance Center in Rocky Mount may be more beautiful on the inside than it is on the outside, which is saying a lot. Known for its music room, The Harvester also features two state-of-the-art meeting rooms, a kitchen, two bathrooms and a patio for food and drinks.
The main room seats up to 475 people but can hold approximately 700 in a stand show setting. Another room, The Landing Pad, seats 200 comfortably and has standing space for 350. Considered a mid-sized music venue, this past April marks the three-year anniversary of the Harvester’s 450 Franklin Street location.
“The Harvester Performance Center opened in April 2014 in a former International Harvester tractor dealership and hardware store,” Harvester CEO Matt Hankins said. “The Town of Rocky Mount purchased and renovated the building for $3 million, including two performance spaces and a world-class $300,000 sound system.”
“The Harvester hosts every kind of music from major stars and up-and-coming acts to local bands, theatre companies and comedians,” Matt added. “We host approximately 180 events every year.”
Merle Haggard, Gregg Allman, Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Charlie Daniels Band, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Buddy Guy, Keb’Mo and The Bacon Brothers among many others have graced the Harvester stage over the last three years. Next month Willie Nelson will be coming to town.
“There is a great sense of community from our volunteers and staff. The Harvester employs three people full time,” Assistant General Manager Sheila Silverstein said. “Our model is volunteer driven. We are blessed to have volunteers who take such pride in this place because it means so much to them.”
Suggestions are always welcome, whether it comes by sending an email to info@harvestermusic.com or calling 540-484-8277. “I would say about the Harvester is that it’s eclectic, cozy and you can’t get a bad seat,” volunteer Nancy Bell said. “I love everything about this place.”
There are occasions when the Harvester presents two events on the same night. “In January, we had ticket buyers from 25 states; last year, we had ticket buyers from 36 states and seven other countries, from India to the Netherlands to Australia,” General Manager Gary Jackson said. “We cover our grounds weeks before our events so when that does happen, we know exactly what to do.”
It’s not good enough for people to just have a good time at the Harvester. Gary Jackson says every Harvester employee wants each ticket purchaser to be so impressed that they encourage their friends to also have a Harvester Performance Center experience. “We want people to experience the magic and create a lifetime memory every time they walk through our doors,” he said. “Our first three years were good. Our next three years will be even better.”
