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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass

Tag Archives: Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival


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Infamous Stringdusters’ 7th annual The Festy Experience to feature Sam Bush, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lee Ann Womack, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Nicki Bluhm, Jim Lauderdale and many more on Oct. 7-9

The “King of Telluride” has been taking the East Coast by storm in recent years. Sam Bush has been a staple at Merlefest since its inception, but the mandolin virtuoso is no stranger to FloydFest and this spring played Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival for the first time.

Now, on the heels of his newest album release, “Storyman,” he’s headed to The Festy Experience, The Infamous Stringdusters music festival that benefits the Can’d Aid Foundation, set for Oct. 7-9 at the Lockn Festival property in Nelson County, Virginia, located between Charlottesville and Lynchburg.

In addition to Bush, Charlottesville resident Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lee Ann Womack, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Steep Canyon Rangers, the North Mississippi All Stars and Anders Osborne (aka North Mississippi Osborne), are among the acts at the top of the bill for The Festy.

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On Huffington Post: Mason Via is headed ‘Up, Up, Up’ to perform at FloydFest for the first time

This story also appeared on The Huffington Post here.
Mason Via is transcending musical genres with his unique brand of what has been described as Appalachian funky folk, soulful acoustic, rhythm and bluesgrass and groovy Americana.  His debut album, “Up, Up, Up,” is an eclectic mix of Appalachian string instrumentation, world percussion and soulful vocals mixed with powerful songwriting.
But it’s his country roots that come through the loudest and clearest when he hits the stage. No surprise really when you learn that the Danbury, North Carolina, native grew up in the shadow of Hanging Rock State Park in rural Stokes County on the banks of the Dan River.
“Living in correspondence with nature is one of the main points of my music,” Via, pronounced like “sky,” explains on a new micro-documentary, “Back to the Rock,” on his website.

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Tickets still available for Victor Wainwright & The WildRoots, Left Hip Pocket at Pop’s Farm on Friday, July 15

Victor Wainwright & The WildRoots will perform with Left Hip Pocket on Friday, July 15, at Pop’s Farm (home of Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival), 675 Hobson Road, Martinsville, Virginia, at an outdoor show presented by Memorial Hospital and The Rives Theatre. Tickets are $15 ($20 at gate) and are available at Woodall’s Music and Sound, Daily Grind Coffee House & Cafe – Martinsville and online. Music starts at 8 p.m.

“This will be one of the most entertaining shows of the year,” writes Bob Phillips on The Rives Theatre Facebook page. “It is an absolutely must see event.”

Serendipity Metro Deli & Coffee House will have a food truck set up at the concern and there will be  Oscar Blues Brewery beer on tap. Camping is not available, however, according to organizers so make sure you plan accordingly.

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Stop Light Observations to make Rives Theatre debut on Thursday, June 23

Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival attendees became instant fans of the Charleston-based rock band Stop Light Observations (SLO) when it performed on the Lake Stage at RW7 before Yonder Mountain String Band.

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Travis Book and Sara Siskind open for Mary Chapin Carpenter on June 8 at Carolina Theatre

You may recognize Winston-Salem native and singer-songwriter Sarah Siskind from the ABC hit “Nashville” and her equally talented husband Travis Book of The Infamous Stringdusters. The duo are working on an album to be released later this year as Sunliner, which has performed at Rooster Walk and Red Wing Roots festivals, among others. Sunliner debuted with a new drummer, the venerable Jeff Sipe, at White Squirrel Festival in Brevard in May.

Book and Siskind, who performed at The Rives Theatre on Valentine’s Day 2015 (did I mentioned they are married?) , are opening for the incomparable Mary Chapin Carpenter at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, at the historic Carolina Theatre in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. Carpenter is touring in support of her new full-length album, “The Things That We Are Made Of,” which was released in May to critical acclaim.

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Will Overman Band brings back Southern Fried Rock with self-titled debut album release

Southern fried rock. For me, KTel defined it in a 1980 album with songs from The Marshall Tucker Band and Blackfoot, among many others.

I still have the vinyl, which I nearly wore out.

Will Overman and his band, with the exception of uber-talented drummer Chris Helms — think Sebastian Bach in the Gilmore Girls’ Hep Alien band — weren’t born until a few decades after my KTel find.

The debut album by Will Overman Band, released June 4, is the epitome of that Southern fried rock. The kind of music I played incessantly on the first stereo turntable I bought with my first paycheck — hard-earned during the long, hot summer of ’79 picking berries on an experimental farm in Washington state.

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Make music a part of your Memorial Day Weekend 2016

There are numerous live music festivals and venues throughout North Carolina, Virginia and beyond on tap to help you celebrate the official kick off of summer over the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend. Following are a few highlights. If I’ve missed one, let me know! Continue reading →


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On Huffington Post: Eight reasons not to miss Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival over Memorial Day Weekend

Rooster Walk 8 Music and Arts Festival set for May 26-29 near Martinsville, Virginia, is a week away and just in case you haven’t purchased a pass, I’m giving you eight reasons you don’t want to miss it. This also appeared on The Huffington Post entertainment blog here. Continue reading →


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Rooster Walk, Red Wing, FloydFest make Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine’s best Southern festivals list

Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival, Red Wing Roots Music Festival and FloydFest are three of my favorites. It seems Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine agrees naming two of the Virginia festivals as well as Black Mountain, North Carolina’s LEAF among 2016’s top family-friendly festivals to attend in the South. And FloydFest was named among the most adventurous. What are your favorites? Continue reading →