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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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Rooster Walk 7 adds Mountain Heart to Memorial Day weekend lineup, ticket prices go up March 15

Mountain Heart, the cutting-edge bluegrass band that’s been redefining the genre for more than a decade, has been officially added to the Rooster Walk 7 lineup, which also includes Lake Street Dive, the Steep Canyon Rangers, Southern Culture on the Skids, Yarn, Dangermuffin, The Mantras, BIG Something and many more! Find the current band lineup for the Memorial Day Weekend festival May 21-24 on Pop’s Farm in Axton, Va., HERE. Continue reading →


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What ever happened to Jo Dee Messina? Turns out she’s doing ‘alright’

UPDATE: Why don’t you see for yourself? Jo Dee Messina is scheduled to perform July 8 at the Carolina Theatre in Durham.
I was listening to Prime Country on Sirius XM the other day and Jo Dee Messina’s “I’m Alright” came on. Hearing the familiar strains of one of the singer-songwriter’s biggest hits made me realize I hadn’t heard anything new from her in a while. I had the opportunity to interview her in 2000 when she was on top of the country charts and her career. Las Vegas-philes may recall that she was the first country star to perform in the Aladdin Theatre on the Strip after the popular concert venue reopened in 2000.  Turns out, according to a recent interview with Rolling Stone Country, Messina is back to doing alright after a few bumps in the road. After breaking off the engagement mentioned in my following interview and her relationship with Curb Records, she married businessman Chris Deffenbaugh, with whom she has two young children. She also released a new album last year, “Me,” which was primarily fan-funded through Kickstarter. You’ll find her current tour schedule here. Give a listen to “A Woman’s Rant” and you’ll see that she’s still writing clever lyrics, she’s still sassy and she’s still doing “alright.”

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Rooster Walk 6


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Lake Street Dive added to Rooster Walk 7 lineup

Color me impressed. Just a few years ago, one of my friends mentioned that she thought I would enjoy Rooster Walk, an annual grassroots music festival held just outside Martinsville, Va. She knew I was a diehard MerleFest and FloydFest fan and thought I should check out this festival that was family friendly, and much closer to my Madison, N.C., home. At her suggestion, I took a look at the lineup. My first reaction was: “I’ve never heard of any of these bands.” Continue reading →


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Seven questions with bluegrass master Tim O’Brien of Hot Rize, Earls of Leicester fame

In anticipation of Tim O’Brien’s Thursday appearance at the Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville, Va.

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Tim O’Brien has been called a lot of things throughout his musical career, which spans more than four decades: newgrass, bluegrass, singer, songwriter, mandolin aficionado.

He has been called a lot of things because, well, he does a lot of things.

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Remember Pat Green? You can catch him playing his new album at Ziggys on Wednesday, March 11

Singer-songwriter Pat Green’s claim to fame is the haunting, “Wave on Wave,” a crossover smash hit which topped the charts more than a decade ago. But the Texas native is no one-hit wonder. In fact, he has a new album out, “What I’m For,” and he’s coming to Ziggy’s at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, in Winston-Salem. If you like Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, Jimmy Buffet and Dierks Bentley, you won’t want to miss Green’s show. Advanced tickets are $17 and $20 at the door. Buy tickets here.
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Dwight Yoakam to make first appearance at MerleFest 2015, Steep Canyon Rangers and Shannon Whitworth also added

MerleFest fans: If you have never seen Dwight Yoakam perform live, you are in for a treat at this year’s festival! The good folks over in Wilkesboro just announced that Yoakam will be performing on the Watson stage for the first time. The festival is also welcoming banjo-songstress Shannon Whitworth and perennial faves and N.C. natives Steep Canyon Rangers, who are also schedule to perform at Rooster Walk 7 over Memorial Day weekend in Axton, Va. Continue reading →


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‘Live at the Rives Theatre Concert Series’ kicks off season with Asheville Country Music Revue, Junto and Kristin Diable on Saturday, Jan. 31

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — The historic Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville, Va., will kick off its annual “Live at the Rives Theatre Concert Series” season on Saturday, Jan. 31, with Asheville Country Music Revue and Junto, featuring members of Sanctum Sully, as well as Kristin Diable. Continue reading →

Yarn performs at Rooster Walk 6


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Steep Canyon Rangers among bands added to Rooster Walk 7’s Memorial Day Weekend lineup

The Grammy-winning bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers has been added to the Rooster Walk 7 lineup for the May 21-24, 2015, festival on Pop’s Farm in Axton, Va. Continue reading →