Ever wondered where the funny, punny name Mandolin Orange — one of today’s premiere American roots bands — has its origins?
“We were driving back from our first gig opening for Kickin Grass, a band from Raleigh, and we thought what a cool name and that we needed a name,” remembers Emily Frantz (violin/guitar/vocals), who makes up half of this uber talented duo who still call Chapel Hill, North Carolina, home.
“Andrew Marlin (mandolin/guitar/vocals), who loves puns and word play, had this little round and orange mandolin at the time, said half-joking how about Mandolin Orange? And it stuck.”
Americana fans, listen up: The second Annual Jam In The Trees will feature some of my favorite acts including Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen, Jeffrey Foucault, Front Country, Eilen Jewell, Cicada Rhythm, Zoe & Cloyd, The Infamous Stringsuters, Acoustic Syndicate, Peter Rowan, Larry Keel, Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius, Jim Lauderdale, Underhill Rose and Ken Tizzard.
Jam in the Trees is a two-day, Americana music-themed event that takes place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25 and 26, 2017, on two stages — the Outdoor Stage and the Taproom Stage — at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Continue reading →
Founded in June 2004 by the International Bluegrass Music Museum, ROMP Festival has been celebrating the roots and branches of bluegrass ever since and this year is no exception.
Scheduled for June 21-24, 2017, in Owensboro, Kentucky, ROMP’s impressive lineup includes: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Punch Brothers, Keller Williams’ Grateful Grass, Los Lobos, Rhiannon Giddens, Yonder Mountain String Band, Jerry Douglas Band, Peter Rowan, The SteelDrivers, Pokey LaFarge, Dailey & Vincent, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, We Banjo 3, Billy Strings, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Scythian, Becky Buller, Dustbowl Revival, Kelsey Waldon, The Wooks, Driftwood, Snyder Family Band, High Fidelity, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys and Hogslop String Band.
I am particularly excited to see Scythian, We Banjo 3, Rhiannon Giddens, The SteelDrivers and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band are on tap to be there. Would love to hear who you are interested in seeing and hearing at this festival that is sure to be a good time.
To purchase tickets visit:www.rompfest.com or call (270) 926-7891.
Rooster Walk 9 Music and Arts Festival, set for May 25-28 near Martinsville, Virginia, is a week away, the weather forecast is offering blue skies and temps in the 70s and I’d like to suggest you forego that annual Memorial Day trip to the beach with the masses. Instead head to the verdant foothills of southwest Virginia to relax and take advantage of some amazing musical and outdoor offerings. Continue reading →
This just in from the good folks over at The Festy:
Charlottesville, VA — The Festy Experience is excited to announce the first half of its music lineup for the 8th annual festival, happeningOctober 5-8, 2017 in the Blue Ridge Bowl at Infinity Downs Farm in Arrington, Virginia. The lineup comprises a carefully curated blend of national and local roots music acts, featuring The Infamous Stringdusters, Drive-By Truckers, Sam Bush Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, The Jerry Douglas Band, Cabinet, Billy Strings, Love Canon, Carl Anderson, and The 8th Annual Garrettgrass Gospel Hour. And this is just half of the artist lineup. The next installment of artists will be announced on Wednesday, June 14th. Tickets are on-sale now.
Blues fans, listen up: The 31st annual Carolina Blues Festival is set for 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2017, at Barber Park Amphitheater, 1500 Dans Road, in Greensboro, North Carolina.
If you like bluegrass and barbecue, you won’t want to miss the seventh annual Chantilly Farm Bluegrass and BBQ Festival set for May 26-28, 2017. Chantilly Farm, located at 2697 Franklin Pike Road in Floyd, Virginia, is the home festival of the award-winning Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice.
Jarekus Singleton Band will return to the historic Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville, Virginia, at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, May 12, 2017. Turkey Feather Get Together is set to open.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Season Passes gladly accepted.
As part of the 2017 Classic Country Concert Series, the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds and 98.1 WBRF Classic Country will host country music star Travis Tritt and his full band at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, 2017, in the Annex Theatre. Doors for the event will open at 6 p.m. The Marshall Tucker Band, or what’s left of it, is scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. on June 16, 2017. Tickets start at $20 for both shows and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com. Parking will be $6 in Coliseum Lots.
musicreporterblog 