Comedian Killer Beaz is teaming up with Josh Owens, Steve Tickle and Jerry Benson for an evening of comedy, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at the long-running Discovery Channel series.
For 15 seasons, the cast of Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners” has taken viewers deep into Appalachia, where old recipes, backwoods stills and a rebellious streak are all part of the culture.
On Friday, Aug. 21, some of the personalities who have helped make the series a television mainstay are trading the woods for the stage when The Moonshiner Mash In arrives at the Edna Boykin Cultural Center in downtown Wilson.
Comedian and “Moonshiners” personality Killer Beaz will headline the 7:30 p.m. show, joined by fan favorites Josh Owens, Steve Tickle and Jerry Benson, along with comedian Dan Whitehurst.
Rather than simply recreating an episode of the television show, the Mash In centers on the personalities behind it. The evening will include stories from the road and the series, behind-the-scenes memories, audience Q&A and a stand-up comedy set from Killer Beaz.
This approach makes sense for a show that has always been about more than what drips out of a still.
“Moonshiners” follows distillers throughout Appalachia as they preserve and adapt a tradition that dates back generations, mixing the mechanics of making spirits with family histories, competition, setbacks and a willingness to occasionally bend the rules. Discovery is currently airing Season 15, which premiered in January.
Over the years, those personalities have become as much of an attraction as the whiskey. Tickle, Owens and their fellow cast members have built loyal followings among viewers who return as much for their banter, friendships and seemingly endless predicaments as they do for the actual moonshining.
That connection between the cast and its fans helped lead to The Moonshiner Mash In.
From comedy clubs to moonshine country
Killer Beaz was already a veteran road comedian long before he began appearing on “Moonshiners.”
Known for his Southern-infused, observational style of comedy, Beaz has spent decades performing on radio, television and stages across the country. His career has included thousands of appearances, record deals with Sony and Warner Bros., and regular performances at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.
Even his stage name has a music connection. Before comedy, Beaz played blues guitar. According to his Grand Ole Opry biography, an audience member once shouted “Killer, Beaz!” after one of his guitar solos. The nickname stuck when he later moved from music to stand-up.
A historic stage for the Mash In
There is also a little history waiting for the “Moonshiners” crew when they arrive in Wilson.
The Edna Boykin Cultural Center, located at 108 Nash Street NE in downtown Wilson, began life as the Wilson Theatre in 1919. The venue hosted traveling vaudeville performers, magicians, singers, and stage productions before eventually becoming a movie theater showing everything from silent films to Hollywood releases.
After decades of changes, the City of Wilson purchased the building in 1984 and began the long process of bringing it back to life. Following restoration efforts involving the city, community leaders, volunteers and arts supporters, the theater reopened in January 1998 as the Edna Boykin Cultural Center, named for Boykin’s longtime support of the arts in Wilson.
Today, it once again serves as one of downtown Wilson’s gathering places for live performances and community events.
The Moonshiner Mash In takes place Friday, Aug. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Edna Boykin Cultural Center, 108 Nash Street NE, Wilson. The show features Killer Beaz, Josh Owens, Steve Tickle, Jerry Benson and Dan Whitehurst.
