Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion music festival is an electrifying music experience that features the very best roots music. Held annually in September in historic downtown Bristol TN/VA, the three-day music is amped to the beat of Appalachia’s past, present, and future. The Festival digs down deep into the roots of the traditional Appalachian sound and lifts its branches to new heights. It all happens in the heart of the Birthplace of Country Music.
From the good folks at the Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival: Music lovers from all over the world flock to the Outer Banks for this tradition that adds a roster of acclaimed bands with one of the most beautiful venues anywhere. The Bluegrass Island Music Festival is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year, and this year’s event is no exception, with a number of regionally and internationally famous bands set to take the stage.
The festival is held in Manteo at the stunning Roanoke Island Festival Park, which overlooks miles of pristine sound waters. This unique 22-acre island becomes Bluegrass Island each year to host the event. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets and lodging well in advance as this event tends to fill up fast each year. If your dream vacation involves laying back in your most comfortable beach chair and listening to great music, then you’ll definitely want to set this long weekend aside for the Outer Banks most popular festival!
If you follow this blog, you know I have been a big fan of the Steep Canyon Rangers, affectionately known as just “Steep,” for a long, long time so I am excited to announce they are returning to the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh on Friday, Aug. 18, for a show with the incomparable Amythyst Kiah, whom I have also had the pleasure of hearing perform on numerous occasions. You don’t want to miss this show, trust me! For tickets, which are $30 for nonmembers, and more information, visit https://ncartmuseum.org/events.
From the Museum’s website:
The Steep Canyon Rangers are made up of Graham Sharp on banjo and vocals, Mike Guggino on mandolin/mandola and vocals, Nicky Sanders on fiddle and vocals, Mike Ashworth on drums and vocals, Barrett Smith on bass, guitar, and vocals and Aaron Burdett on guitar and vocals.
The band has been on a journey that is uniquely their own. They started in college at UNC–Chapel Hill, then dove headfirst into bluegrass in its most traditional form. Over the years they rose to the top of the bluegrass genre, headlining top festivals such as Merlefest and Grey Fox Bluegrass.
The Rangers were then discovered by Steve Martin, famous actor and banjo player, who took the band on a decade-long tour. He introduced them to hundreds of thousands of new fans and gave them prime time TV exposure. This helped SCR become the most recognizable modern name in bluegrass music.
The band has continued to tour extensively on their own and has expanded into country, jam, and Americana. The Rangers are big players in the bluegrass/country and Americana scene today. They are often compared to predecessors The Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and the modern Zac Brown Band.
Amythyst Kiah’s Rounder Records debut, Wary + Strange, marks the glorious combination of two vastly different worlds: the iconoclastic alt-rock that first sparked her musical passion and the roots/old-time music scene where she’s found breakout success in recent years, including recognition from Rolling Stone as “one of Americana’s great up-and-coming secrets.” With an unforgettable voice that’s both unfettered and exquisitely controlled, the Tennessee-bred singer/songwriter who identifies as an LGBT woman expands on the uncompromising artistry she most recently revealed as part of Our Native Daughters—an all-women-of-color supergroup. Their Kiah-penned standout “Black Myself” earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best American Roots Song and won Song of the Year at the 2019 Folk Alliance International Awards. In her graceful interlacing of political commentary and personal revelation, Kiah infuses “Black Myself” with a potent vulnerability that builds and deepens all throughout Wary + Strange. The transcendent quality of her newly elevated sound is an extraordinary vessel for Kiah’s songwriting: a raw yet nuanced examination of grief, alienation, and the hard-won triumph of total self-acceptance.
A new exhibit, “African American Musicians of North Carolina,” is coming to the City of Raleigh Museum! Visitors can view the materials from Aug. 4, 2023, through Oct. 29, 2023.
“African American Musicians of North Carolina” celebrates the contributions of individuals and bands to regional and popular culture. In addition to a title and introductory panel, seven panels feature various musical genres and celebrate some of our state’s most notable musicians and sounds. Genres, or musical styles, include string bands, blues, gospel, jazz, soul, funk, and hip hop. A final panel highlights N.C. Arts Council’s African American Music Trail through the state’s central coastal plain. An interactive touch screen allows users to learn more about several musicians and listen to examples of Black North Carolinians’ musical creations.
The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources created this traveling exhibit to help cultural heritage institutions statewide connect with local communities, according to the City of Raleigh’s website.
The exhibit is part of the department’s “Come Hear NC” initiative, which celebrates North Carolina’s musical traditions, artists and legacy. Learn more at www.ncarts.org/comehearnc.
FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA — The Appaloosa Roots Music Festival lineup set for Sept. 2-3 is now complete, and features an exciting mix of artists from various genres to provide an unforgettable musical experience. Here’s the updated lineup:
Carbon Leaf: A perennial favorite from Virginia, Carbon Leaf brings their unique blend of folk, rock, and Celtic influences to the stage.
Christian Lopez: Hailing from West Virginia, Lopez is a talented singer-songwriter and guitarist known for his dynamic performances and soulful sound.
Low Water Bridge Band: Representing the Shenandoah Valley, Low Water Bridge Band offers heartfelt troubadour-style music that resonates with audiences.
Hillary Klug: An internet sensation with her Old-Time Buck-Dancing skills, Klug adds a touch of traditional entertainment to the lineup.
These artists, along with previously announced performers, are set to deliver a diverse range of musical styles that will captivate and entertain festival-goers. Get ready to have your socks knocked off at the Appaloosa Music Festival!
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