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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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15th annual Front Porch Fest set for Aug. 29-Sept. 1 in Patrick County, Virginia

Labor Day weekend 2024 marks the 15th annual Front Porch Fest, held on the Front Porch of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Patrick County, Virginia. The festival will take place Aug. 29 – Sept. 1, 2024, at Spirithaven Farm and musical acts include Larry Keel’s Electric Larry Land, Yam Yam, Afrobeta, Big Daddy Love, Erin & the Wildfire, Into the Fog and The Judy Chops.

This four-day family-friendly music festival held in Stuart, Virginia, features local, regional and national touring acts. In addition to 30+ bands, Front Porch Fest offers an array of children’s activities, yoga, campsite jams, on-site camping, delicious craft brews and foods, and more!

No charge for children 12 years and younger, though children are required to have a ticket in their name.

For volunteer, vending, and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.frontporchfest.com.

Front Porch Fest is produced by One Family Productions, a nonprofit working to support community enrichment and growth. Proceeds from this event are donated to local charities such as the Patrick County Food Bank and Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County and others.

One Family Productions also produces the Patrick County Christmas Parade, First Friday Summer & Fall Jam Series and is a co-producer of Bushels & Barrels Local Food, Beer and Wine festival. Learn more at http://www.onefamilyproductions.org


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19th annual Fall Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance set for Oct. 5-8 in Chatham County

It’s less than a month when we all can spread our wings together again at the 19th Annual Fall Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance! This fall’s event hosted by Donna the Buffalo features the incomporable Mavis Staples, Tan and Sober Gentlemen and Big Daddy Love just to name a few!

The Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is a collaboration between the Shakori Hills Community Arts Center and the GrassRoots Festival Organization, providing a family-friendly celebration of music, dance, art and education. Activities for all ages include yoga classes, sustainability discussions, food vendors, local beverages, demonstrations, workshops and much more! There are a variety of camp site options on a bucolic 72-acre site in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

Single-Day, Four-Day and Camping Passes available at ShakoriHillsGrassRoots.org

Interested in volunteering? Check out this link.


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14th annual Front Porch Fest set for Aug. 31-Sept. 3 in Stuart, Virginia

Labor Day weekend 2023 marks the 14th annual Front Porch Fest. This event is held on the Front Porch of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Patrick County, Virginia, and will take place Aug. 31st – Sep. 3rd, 2023 at Spirithaven Farm. This year’s musical lineup includes Butcher Brown, Jimkata, Dangermuffin, DJ Williams, Sun-Dried Vibes, Cailtin Krisko & The Broadcast, Big Daddy Love, The Plate Scrapers, The Judy Chops, Urban Soil, The Wilson Springs Hotel and many more, according to organizers.

Front Porch Fest is a 4-day family-friendly music festival held in Stuart, Virginia featuring local, regional, and national touring acts. In addition to 30+ bands, Front Porch Fest features an array of children’s activities, yoga, campsite jams, on-site camping, delicious craft brews and foods, and more.

No charge for children 12 years and under, though children are required to have a ticket in their name.

For tickets, volunteering, vending and sponsorship opportunities please visit https://frontporchfest.com/

Front Porch Fest is produced by One Family Productions, a nonprofit working to support community enrichment and growth. Proceeds from this event are donated to local charities such as the Patrick County Food Bank and Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County and others.

One Family Productions also produces the Patrick County Christmas Parade, First Friday Summer Jam Series and is a co-producer of Bushels & Barrels Local Food, Beer and Wine festival. Learn more at www.onefamilyproductions.org


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2022 N.C. State Fair Folk Festival features some of state’s top musical talent

The N.C. State Fair has a tradition of featuring some of the state’s most talented artists and this year is no exception.

For 2022, the N.C. State Fair Folk Festival has moved to Heritage Circle next to the historic church. Talented musicians from across North Carolina feature performances ranging from old-time bluegrass music to folk and Americana. 

I am looking forward to hearing some of my personal favorites —
Into the Fog, Big Daddy Love, The Barefoot Movement, Violet Bell, Abigail Dowd — as well as being introduced to new talent such as Sweet Potato Pie, Russ Thompson, Jarrett Raymond and Dawn Landes, among others.

HERITAGE CIRCLE STAGE

 Thursday, October 13
 1 p.m.
3 p.m.
5 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
SPP Sweet Potato Pie All-female bluegrass band blends Americana, country, and gospel into their classic sound 
  Friday, October 14
 10 a.m.
12 p.m.
Russ Russ Thompson Folk and Americana singer-songwriter out of Greensboro  
 4 p.m.
6 p.m.
8 p.m.
BDL Big Daddy Love Winston-Salem’s purveyors of Appalachian rock,
bluegrass, and psychedelic jams
 
 Saturday, October 15
 10 a.m.
12 p.m.
Jarrett Jarrett Raymond Wilmington-based folk singer-songwriter
and 1st Place winner at NC Dogwood Festival
 2 p.m.
4 p.m.
6 p.m.
8 p.m.
Ages Past Ages Past “Traditional with a twist” bluegrass from Western NC
 Sunday, October 16
 10 a.m.
12 p.m.
Chris Chris McGinnis Sultry, salty, and deeply rooted folk music out of Morganton, NC 
 2 p.m.
4 p.m.
6 p.m.
8 p.m.
John Jon Shain & F.J. Ventre Blues, jazz, and folk from these gifted Durham scene mainstays 
 Monday, October 17
 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
3 p.m.
5 p.m.
7 p.m.
Sideline Sideline Pickin’ and grinnin’ on these bluegrass classics and original compositions from some of the capital city’s finest 
 Tuesday, October 18
 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
3 p.m.
5 p.m.
7 p.m.
Into the Fog Into The Fog Adventurous genre-jumping newgrass from
Raleigh-by-way-of-Wilmington
 
 Wednesday, October 19
 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
3 p.m.
5 p.m.
7 p.m.
Holland The Holland Brothers Old-school country and country-blues from the Piedmont duo
 Thursday, October 20
 11 a.m.
1 p.m.
3 p.m.
5 p.m.
7 p.m.
Barefoot The Barefoot Movement Americana and bluegrass quartet originating from Granville County
 Friday, October 21
 10 a.m.
12 p.m.
David David & Kolby Bluegrass, gospel and country music duo from Greensboro 
 2 p.m.
4 p.m.
6 p.m.
8 p.m.
Violet Violet Bell Delicated progressive folk duo from Chapel Hill 
 Saturday, October 22
 10 a.m.
12 p.m.
Abigail Abigail Dowd Greensboro’s folk singer-songwriter known for her vivid lyrics and unique classical influenced guitar style 
 2 p.m.
4 p.m.
6 p.m.
8 p.m.
Grassomatic  The Grassomatics Bluegrass and more out of the capital city
 Sunday, October 23
 10 a.m.
12 p.m.
Dawn Dawn Landes Folk and Americana-pop songwriting
from the Chapel Hill musician
 2 p.m.
4 p.m.
6 p.m.
8 p.m.
Carolina Line Carolina Line Bluegrass Bluegrass and country straight out of Southport/Oak Island, NC 
   
  


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Labor Day Weekend 2018 offers myriad music festival opportunities for fans in Virginia, North Carolina

Listen up music festival lovers: Labor Day Weekend 2018 has plenty of opportunities in North Carolina, Virginia and beyond. Continue reading


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Front Porch Fest celebrates 10 years of music, memories over Labor Day Weekend 2018

Tired of listening to the same old music? Front Porch Fest, held at the picturesque Spirit Haven Farm in Stuart, Virginia, over Labor Day weekend, may be just the ticket. You’ll not only be exposed to some new tunes, you’ll also have the opportunity to support some great causes.

“Front Porch Fest is a great place to hear someone you have never heard of and leave with new music in your heart,” festival Executive Director Chris Prutting told me in 2015. “I’ve grown up with music and friends playing in bands. I love the bands no one has heard of. If you come to Front Porch Fest, you will leave with a whole new catalog of music. We’ve always prided ourselves on getting bands right before they make it.”

Among the acts lined up for Front Porch Fest set for Aug. 30 – Sept. 2 include Perpetual Groove, Zach Deputy, the Larry Keel Experience, Big Daddy Love, Annabelle’s Curse, the Couldn’t Be Happiers, Urban Soil, Slick Jr. & the Reactors, among others. A distinctive feature of this festival, which attracts a few thousand attendees, are its three stages with no overlapping sets so music lovers don’t have to miss a beat.

I personally love the laid back feel of this festival that is smaller more intimate version of some of its neighbors including FloydFest and Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival.

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Ring in the new year on a live musical note

Still looking for ideas to close out 2017 and welcome the new year? There are myriad live music options at venues in and around North Carolina’s Triangle and beyond. The following list is in alphabetical order and in no way comprehensive so please feel free to share other options. Happy New Year!

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Front Porch Fest 2017 announces initial lineup for Labor Day Weekend

Once again, Spirithaven Farm in Stuart, Virginia, will be filled with sweet sounds of music Labor Day weekend. The ninth Front Porch Fest will take place Aug. 31 – Sept. 3, 2017. This family-friendly weekend celebrates music and art on the front porch to the Blue Ridge mountains, thus the name.

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Fifth annual The Shindig rescheduled for Sunday, Nov. 13, in Clayton, North Carolina

Fans of American Aquarium, Town Mountain, Love Canon, the Snyder Family Band and Big Daddy Love won’t want to miss the fifth annual The Shindig Music Festival rescheduled for Sunday, Nov. 13. There will be 10 bands on two stages plus seven breweries on tap, including Foothills and Bull City.

Learn more http://www.theshindig.net/ or watch https://www.facebook.com/TheClaytonShindig/?fref=ts

 

 


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Seventh annual Front Porch Fest promises new music for Labor Day weekend in Stuart, Virginia

Tired of listening to the same old music? Make plans to attend Front Porch Fest at the Spirit Haven Farm in Stuart, Virginia, over Labor Day weekend and you’ll not only be exposed to some new tunes, you’ll be helping out a struggling community. Continue reading