Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine played Wagon Wheel on harmonica at an Asheville brewery on Monday night.

Kaine visited a few popular spots in Asheville after delivering a speech in the North Carolina mountain town.  That included a stop at Catawba Brewing Company’s Asheville location.  Local musicians Nikki Talley and Jason Sharp were there entertaining patrons.  So, Kaine pulled out his harmonica and joined in with the band on Wagon Wheel.


Wagon Wheel was featured on the 2004 self-titled debut of Old Crow Medicine Show.  The song developed from a Bob Dylan outtake called Rock Me, Mama.  Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor added verses.  Dylan and Secor share the songwriting credit.

The song has become an anthem for many in North Carolina.  There are few things a politician could do to connect to Asheville more than to play Wagon Wheel and drink local beer.

But, Kaine did not stop with Wagon Wheel.  He also sang along to the Carter Family’s My Home’s Across the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Kaine’s wife, Annie Holton, clogged to the tune.

According to the New York Times’ Thomas Kaplan, Kaine sampled two beers from Catawba Brewing and one from Wicked Weed Brewing.

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