musicreporterblog

Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


Leave a comment

2024 Folks Festival lineup includes Brittany Howard, The Wood Brothers, Pokey Lafarge, Margo Cilker and many more

From the good folks at Planet Bluegrass: You can find the single-day full lineups for Folks Fest, Aug. 9-11, in Lyons, Colorado, online here.  
Buy Folks Fest Passes & Camping
Calling all volunteers…We are in search of some more dedicated folks to join our volunteer cohort! We probably sound like a broken record raving about our volunteers so much, but we really have such a blast. We hope you join us! Apply to volunteer
And songwriters, too! You have until May 19 to submit your original song into our Songwriter Showcase. You can catch last year’s winner, Cindy Kalmenson, on the Main Stage on Aug. 10. We can’t wait to hear your music! Submit a song


Leave a comment

The Steel Wheels go ‘Sideways’ with new album

Virginia string band The Steel Wheels have expanded their sound on the new album, “Sideways,” while at the same time sticking to their bluegrass roots.

Released Feb. 9, the album’s title track begins with the clawhammer banjo then builds, as many of the band’s songs do, into something more raucous that includes drums and colorful electric guitar textures.

“It’s beautiful and crushing to be alive sometimes,” band leader Trent Wagler said in a statement. “We aren’t here to sing songs that only cut one way — but if they do, they’ll cut sideways.”

But don’t take our words for it, check out the title track at this link: https://youtu.be/vZStXW1cNBY

The Steel Wheels enlisted producer Sam Kassirer, who’s known for his work with Lake Street Dive, Langhorne Slim and Josh Ritter, among others, to help create “Sideways.”

The band is currently touring in support of the album, after stopping in Elkin earlier this month and at the Salvage Station in Asheville on March 2 and the Broadberry in Richmond on March 27.

The group is the host band of the annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival in Mt. Solon, Virginia, set for June 21-23. The fest’s impressive lineup includes Kurt Vile, Bonny Light Horseman, Sierra Hull, Brent Cobb and Pokey LaFarge and many others. For more info and tickets, click here.


Leave a comment

2024 Red Wing Roots Music Festival announces the full artist line up for the 11th annual festival


From the good folks at Red Wing: Red Wing Roots Music Festival is excited to announce the full line up of
artists scheduled to perform at the 11th annual music festival, taking place June 21-23, 2024, at
Natural Chimneys Park in Mount Solon, Virginia.
Along with festival hosts and local favorites, The Steel Wheels, the list of festival headliners
contains many artists new to the Red Wing stage, including Kurt Vile & The Violators, Bonny
Light Horseman, Brent Cobb, Lee Fields, Mapache, Tuba Skinny and Rose City Band. Fifty
artists are scheduled to appear across five stages during the three-day event, with festival
favorites such as Sierra Hull, Pokey Lafarge, The Brothers Comatose, Amy Helm and Lindsay
Lou. View the full line up at www.redwingroots.com/2024-line-up/.
Since 2013, Red Wing has strived to offer patrons an opportunity to explore the many sounds of
roots music. “The term ‘Roots Music’ conveys both the depth of our American musical traditions,
like folk, blues, Cajun, old-time and bluegrass, and the breadth of its current iterations. It is the
celebration of the American songbook, past and present,” said Jeremiah Jenkins, co-founder and
managing partner.
Red Wing embodies both great music and opportunities to engage the great outdoors of Augusta
County. The festival partners with local organizations to offer biking, hiking, group runs, and
yoga beneath the rock towers at Natural Chimneys Park. For avid cyclists, a Saturday morning
ride to Reddish Knob allows for a mountain top celebration with stunning views of the
Shenandoah Valley.
As always, Red Wing will host the region’s finest food vendors, including options for craft beer,
cider, and wine in the Blue Mountain Beer Gardens. There are also more than 20 craft vendors
offering an array of products such as clothing, jewelry, art, flowers and more. Shady Grove, a
shaded activity zone located near the Chimneys, features a climbing wall, organized and
informal games, slack lines, and a mist pavilion for cooling down during the hot summer days
for attendees of all ages.
On-site camping has long been a popular aspect of the festival. While several camping passes
have already sold out, great options remain for tent camping, small RV/car camping and Red
Wing Glamping, a luxury tenting option. Currently three-day festival tickets are on sale and moving
quickly. Single day tickets will be made available for purchase later in the spring.
For tickets and more information, visit www.redwingroots.com.


Leave a comment

ROMP Festival will celebrate the roots, branches of bluegrass on June 21-24, 2017

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.


Leave a comment

The Steel Wheels announce full lineup for Red Wing Roots Music Festival on July 14-16 at Natural Chimneys Park

From the good folks at Red Wing Roots Music Festival:

Harrisonburg, Va. – The Steel Wheels and the Red Wing Roots Music Festival are pleased to announce a fifth consecutive year of great music and great fun at Natural Chimneys Park in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. This year’s music festival will be held from July 14-16, 2017.

Festival hosts and hometown favorites The Steel Wheels will be joined by dozens of other artists, including Steve Earle & The Dukes, Lake Street Dive, Tim O’Brien, Sarah Jarosz, Mandolin Orange, Pokey Lafarge, The Cactus Blossoms, Darlingside, and many more! The full lineup can be viewed at http://www.redwingroots.com/2017-line-up/

Continue reading


Leave a comment

The Steel Wheels to present fifth annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival July 14-16

The Steel Wheels will present the fifth annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival on July 14-16, 2017 — three days, four stages and 40 bands at the beautiful Natural Chimneys Park and Campground in Mt. Solon, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.

Continue reading