Fairgoers will want to make plans to catch the Morgan Hudson & Company band on Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day at the N.C. State Fair. The Greenville-based group will take the stage on Thursday, Oct. 23, with performances at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. They’ll be on the Live and Local Curtis Media Group Stage near the waterfall at Dorton Arena.
Led by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Morgan Hudson, the five-piece band blends blues, rock, country, pop and original songs into a lively, crowd-pleasing mix. Band members include Ryan Griffin on lead guitar and backup vocals, Kurt Hauser on drums, Quincy Jones on keys and Michael Albronda on bass.
Hudson describes their sound as rooted in blues rock but open to many influences.
“We take popular covers of a variety of different genres and put our own spin on them,” she said. “One of my favorite things is when people say, ‘Hey, I know that song — but this feels different, and I like it.’”
That genre-crossing approach grew out of Hudson’s lifelong love of music. Growing up in Grifton, she was surrounded by a musical family. Her father, a drummer, gave her a guitar when she was 11. Some of her earliest memories include singing in church alongside relatives who played banjo, guitar, organ and more.
“It was just a beautiful music experience that blossomed my love of all music,” Hudson said.
Today, Hudson not only fronts her band but also writes and records original songs. The group recently released a live single from a seven-song album recorded in Greenville. You can listen to it here.
“It really shows what you’d hear in a live setting,” she said.
The band itself came together almost by chance. In 2022, Hudson met Griffin and Hauser through open mic nights at Nash Hot Chicken, a restaurant they co-own in downtown Greenville. The onstage chemistry was immediate.
“So we started the band as a three-piece of acoustic guitar, lead guitar and drums – didn’t even have a bassist, but that didn’t stop us. We were like, ‘we were going to go out; we were going to play,'” Hudson said. “We’ve been rocking the five-piece full band for about a year now and things have just really blossomed. We’ve got a lot of cool opportunities, and the chemistry going from that three-piece trio to this five-piece, the chemistry is still there, and it’s just outstanding, and I feel super grateful to be able to perform with these very, very talented musicians.”
This fall’s State Fair appearance is an exciting opportunity for the band.
“We’re super excited to play the fair,” Hudson said. “It’s an amazing chance to connect with people in the Raleigh area.”
For Hudson, the day’s larger mission makes it even more meaningful. Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day, offers free admission with a donation of six non-perishable food items to benefit the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. Since 1993, fairgoers have donated more than 6.8 million pounds of food through the annual event.
“I just think that’s such a wonderful thing and such a cool idea,” Hudson said. “My background is in social work, so I’m all about causes like that.”
When she’s not on stage, Hudson is a fan of the State Fair herself. A self-describe craft lover, she loves exploring the Village of Yesteryear. She also gets exciteda about sampling fair food favorites like kettle corn, funnel cakes, fried Oreos and lemonade.
With their soulful sound and fresh energy, the Morgan Hudson Band promises a show that’s as sweet as kettle corn and as unforgettable as a first bite of funnel cake. Don’t miss them live at the N.C. State Fair on Thursday, Oct. 23 — and don’t forget your food donations to support Smithfield Foods Hunger Relief Day and the 34 counties served by the Food Bank.