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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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People’s Blues of Richmond to perform at Pop’s Farm home to Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival on Friday, June 30

The Ninth Annual Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival is in the books but that doesn’t mean the music at its location at Pop’s Farm in Axton, Virginia, has to stop. In fact, on Friday, June 30, you can catch Rooster Walk regular the People’s Blues of Richmond  performing on the Pine Grove Stage beginning at 7:30 p.m.

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Mandolin Orange kicks off festival season with returns to MerleFest, Rooster Walk 9

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.”

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Nine reasons not to miss Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival over Memorial Day Weekend

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


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Jarekus Singleton Band, Turkey Feather Get Together to perform at Rives Theatre on Friday, May 12

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.


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Yarn, Will Overman Band to perform Cinco de Mayo show at The Blind Tiger

I discovered two of my favorite bands — Yarn and Will Overman Band — at the annual Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival just outside Martinsville, Virginia. Rooster Walk 9 is set for May 25-28, 2017. Yarn, a perennial favorite will be there, but unfortunately, Will Overman Band will not. Rooster Walk needs to work on that for RW10.

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Exclusive: Annabelle’s Curse leaves no ‘Doubt’ with new video release

Annabelle’s Curse is one of the best bands you probably haven’t heard. I am happy to predict that’s about to change with the release of the Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia-based alt-folk band’s newest album, “Beyond the Station.”

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RW9 band schedule released, ticket prices increase May 1

The ninth iteration of Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival will be held over Memorial Day weekend, May 25 – 28, 2017, at the idyllic Pop’s Farm, overlooking a lake in the countryside of Martinsville, Virginia. Rooster Walk was named one of the Top 5 Music Festivals in Virginia by the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 2016 and it’s one of my personal favorites.

Greensky Bluegrass will headline Rooster Walk 9 with a two-hour set on Saturday night. The Wailers (Reunited!), Anders OsborneAnderson EastMandolin OrangeThe MotetPimps of Joytime, the Marcus King Band and many more will perform over the four-day festival.
The hourly stage schedules for RW9 are set. Check out the Band Schedule Page to see exactly when each of your favorite bands will perform. 

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This is no April Fool’s: Billy Strings to bring his unique talents to the Rives Theatre on Saturday, April 1

If you haven’t heard Billy Strings perform, you haven’t been to a recent Americana music festival. This uber talented 24-year-old tore up stages last year at Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival, Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion and Appaloosa Roots Music Festival, just to name a few.

Strings became a sensation in his home state while still in his teens. “He has an almost supernatural ability on guitar, banjo and mandolin that has set the region’s bluegrass and folk scene on fire,” according to a profile published in 2012 in Northern Express, a Michigan arts weekly.

He eventually moved to Nashville to further his career. Strings released a self-titled, six-song EP in 2016, which contains an eclectic and foot-stomping mix of originals and traditional songs such as “Black Mountain Rag,” also covered by Doc Watson.

Strings, né William Apostol, will demonstrate his unique brand of bluegrass at The Rives Theatre on Saturday, April 1, in uptown Martinsville, Virginia, at a Rooster Walk 9 preview show. ShadowGrass, a group of young musicians from Western North Carolina and Southwestern Virginia , will open.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 day of show. Season passes are accepted. Tickets available online HERE and available locally at Daily Grind and Rising Sun Breads in Martinsville. Music starts 8:30 p.m. with Strings taking the stage around 9:15 p.m. NCAA basketball fans take note: The Rives will also be showing the UNC/Oregon Final Four game on the upper theatre’s movie screen beginning around 8:50.

You can also catch Strings at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 31, at the Duke Energy Center in Raleigh, North Carolina,


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Ninth annual Rooster Walk Music and Arts festival announces full lineup with addition of 25 acts

From the good folks over at Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival, this just in:

Martinsville, VA – Rooster Walk 9 announces final lineup today. Mandolin Orange, Pimps of Joytime, Mountain Heart and more than 20 other bands have been added, completing the Memorial Day weekend festival’s band lineup. Progressive stringband Greensky Bluegrass and legendary reunited reggae band The Wailers were announced in early January as overall headliners of the festival.

Rooster Walk, scheduled for May 25-28, 2017 at the idyllic Pop’s Farm festival venue just outside of Martinsville, Va., was named one of the Top 5 festivals in Virginia by the Richmond-Times Dispatch last year.

With more than 40 bands performing on five different stages, an eclectic roster of great music guides the Rooster Walk experience. In addition to four days of amazing music, the family-friendly festival offers a wide variety of kids’ activities, craft beer, great food, arts and numerous opportunities to enjoy Virginia’s great outdoors with a 5k trail race, yoga, a disc golf course and beautiful on-site camping.

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Don’t miss Annabelle’s Curse, Time Sawyer and The Pinkerton Raid on Saturday, Feb. 18, at The Garage in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

If you are a fan of alt-country-rock, two of my favorite groups are playing on Saturday, Feb. 18, at The Garage in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and trust me, you are not going to want to miss this show!

While the guys from the Elkin-based Time Sawyer are no strangers to Winston-Salem music fans, this is the first time Annabelle’s Curse  will perform live in the Camel City with The Pinkerton Raid so we want to make sure we give them a big welcome.

Doors open at 8 p.m. for the 9 p.m show located in downtown Winston-Salem at 110 West 7th St. This show is a steal with tickets starting at $7 in advance and $8 at the door. Purchase them here.

A folk, rock, songwriter group from Bristol, Virginia, Annabelle’s Curse was voted fan favorites at FloydFest a couple of years ago and are regulars at Bristol Rhythm and Roots  and Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival, which is where I first heard them. Learn more about the group in some of The Huffington Post blog pieces I wrote here. Continue reading