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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass

Tag Archives: Virginia


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Get your early bird 2024 Appaloosa Roots Music Festival tickets by June 10

From Scythian: As the vibrant rhythms of summer begin to hum and the sweet anticipation of sunlit adventures fills the air, we have an exciting announcement that’s music to your ears!

As the vibrant energy of summer kicks in, we know that many of you have been swept up in the thrill of new vacations, adventures, and the wonderful freedom that comes with the end of the school year. 

It’s a time to explore, to dance under the sun, and to fill your days with the joy that only summer can bring. And what better way to amplify that joy than by securing your spot at the most anticipated event of the season, the Appaloosa Roots Music Festival?

That’s right – you now have until June 10 to secure your Early Bird tickets for Appaloosa at the lowest prices possible. 

This is your golden opportunity to lock in your spot at the festival everyone is buzzing about without breaking the bank.

Why Should You Act Now?

Best Prices of the Season: After June 10, ticket prices will increase. This is your last chance to snag these unbeatable prices and save more of your hard-earned cash for those summer road trips, festival outfits, or perhaps an extra festival treat!

Unparalleled Festival Experience: Imagine three days of soul-stirring music, electrifying performances, and a community that celebrates roots music like no other. By securing your tickets now, you’re ensuring your place at an event that promises memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime.

Exciting Lineup: This year’s Appaloosa Roots Music Festival features a stellar lineup that will have you dancing from dawn till dusk. From beloved headliners to emerging talents, the stage is set for an epic musical journey.

Honestly, there doesn’t seem to be a reason to not do it!

Get Your Early Bird Tickets Now!

We believe that music has the power to bring people together, to create magical moments, and to make summers truly special. The Appaloosa Roots Music Festival is our way of sharing that magic with you!

With a lineup featuring some of the most talented artists in roots music, an array of food and craft vendors, and the beautiful backdrop of the Shenandoah Valley, this year’s festival promises to be the best one yet.

Remember, the clock is ticking! June 10 is just around the corner, and we want to see you at Appaloosa, dancing, singing, and making memories that will last a lifetime.

We’re thrilled to extend this offer to you and can’t wait to share the magic of the Appaloosa Roots Music Festival. 

https://appaloosafestival.com/ticket-info


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It’s not too late to get tickets for Rooster Walk 14 on May 23-26

Now’s your chance to get your tickets and save some money for Rooster Walk 14 in Martinsville, Virginia! Ticket prices increase at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 20. Some options are also in low supply. Don’t delay — get yours now! Here’s a full rundown of ticket options and info.

Already have tickets? Let your friends know to get theirs now to make once-in-a-lifetime memories at an affordable cost.

Check out the full musical line-up and more at https://roosterwalk.com/


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FrontPorch Fest to celebrate 15 years over Labor Day Weekend 2024

Front Porch Fest set for Aug. 29 – Sept. 1, 2024, has announced its initial lineup for the 15th iteration of the live music festival that has become a much-loved Labor Day Weekend tradition in Patrick County, Virginia.
According to organizers, the first round of the Front Porch Fest 15 musical lineup feels like a fresh bouquet of talent ready to bloom alongside cherished FPF favorite performers.  

Get ready to dance, sing and bask in the love-filled atmosphere provided by artists who are sure to cultivate an unforgettable festival experience:

Larry Keel’s Electric Larry Land
Afrobeta
Big Daddy Love
Erin & The Wildfire
The Jared Stout Band
The Judy Chops
Jon Tyler Wiley & His Virginia Choir
GOTELua Flora
Slick Jr & The Reactors
The Freeway Jubilee
Couldn’t Be Happiers
Oh, Christopher
The Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs
Borrowed Earth
White Rose Motor Oil
Fluidity Performance Troupe
FPF Family All Star Band

In addition to music, Front Porch Fest features an array of children’s activities, yoga, campsite jams, on-site camping, craft brews and foods, and more! Make plans with some friends, the family, or join us solo if you’d wish!

TICKETS
4-Day General Admission: $125
4-Day VIP: $350 [selling fast!]
4-Day VIP – TEEN: $250
Car Camping: $75
RV Pass: $150 [1 LEFT!]
Premium RV Pass: $325 [SOLD OUT]
Parking: $10

The festival is a family friendly event and children 12 and younger are free!
Please add (1) 4 Day GA (Child 12 and under) ticket to your order per little one.

Volunteer and vendor opportunities are available. Find out more about FPF15 at frontporchfest.com.


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Rooster Walk 14 announces final band additions, including North Mississippi Allstars, Big Something, Jim Lauderdale, The Seldom Scene

From the good folks at Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival:

Rooster Walk 14 has announced the following bands have been added to its final lineup for the event on May 23-26, 2024, at Pop’s Farm just outside Martinsville, Virginia:
 
North Mississippi Allstars, Big Something, Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers, The Seldom Scene, The Rooster Walk House Band, Myron Elkins, The Collection, Kaira Ba, Holler Choir, Lillie Mae, Kind Hearted Strangers, Florencia & The Feeling, The Shoaldiggers, Sela Campbell, Raffi Kids’ Set, Sugarbush

The North Mississippi Allstars, an internationally touring blues band known for its rollickingly energetic shows, top the third and final list of bands joining the 14th annual Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival lineup. NMAs, which will be making its RW debut, have been nominated for four Grammys over a 25-year career that has produced 12 albums and countless sold out shows.

Big Something will also join the RW14 lineup. The North Carolina-based jamband has played nearly a half-dozen Rooster Walks over the years. The six-piece band is known for its big sound of soaring guitar solos, synth, horns and soulful vocals.

Other bands getting added to the lineup include: Jim Lauderdale & The Game Changers (Roots rock, iconic songwriter from Nashville, TN); The Seldom Scene (internationally celebrated pioneers of progressive bluegrass); The Rooster Walk House Band (all-star collective featuring Ron Holloway, Jeff Sipe, Josh Shilling, Wallace Mullinax, Florencia Rusinol, Jake Dempsey and friends); Myron Elkins (swamp rock, Otsego, MI); The Collection (Indi Rock, Saxapahaw, NC); Kaira Ba (world music, North Carolina); Holler Choir (old-time, Asheville, NC); Lillie Mae (Singer/songwriter, Nashville, TN); Kind Hearted Strangers (rock, Colorado); Florencia & The Feeling (R&B/soul, Johnson City, TN); The Shoaldiggers (Horny swampgrass, North Carolina); Sela Campbell (country, Northern Virginia); Raffi Kids’ Set (Raffi Tribute by Miles Andrews and full band; Saxapahaw, NC); Sugarbush (rock/blues, Virginia).

Bands that had been previously announced to the RW14 lineup include:  Emmylou Harris (Country Music Hall of Fame inductee with five No. 1 singles on the Billboard country music charts, Nashville, TN); Cory Wong (funk/rock/pop, Minneapolis, MN);  Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band (Colorado supergroup featuring members of Greensky Bluegrass, Leftover Salmon, the Infamous Stringdusters, Jon Stickley Trio and more); two nights of Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country (Nashville, Tenn., jam twang); TAUK Moore (funk collaboration between Doom Flamingo’s Kanika Moore and TAUK);  Dogs in a Pile (a New Jersey-based funk/jazz/rock jamband); Couch (Boston, Mass. – funk/rock/soul); Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast (Asheville, N.C. – rock); Yarn (NC/NY roots rockers who will once again perform an original set and a festival-finishing tribute set); Arkansauce (progressive bluegrass from northwest Arkansas); Sneezy (high-energy party music from Chicago, Ill.); The Mountain Grass Unit (up-and-coming bluegrass shredders from Alabama); Isaac Hadden Organ Trio (masterful  musicianship from a North Carolina power trio); Sol Driven Train (upbeat, horn-driven rock’n’roll beach vibes from Charleston, SC); J & The Causeways (New Orleans-based soul powerhouse reminiscent of St. Paul & The Broken Bones); Sticks N Thorns (bluegrass duo featuring Andy Thorn of Leftover Salmon and Jon Stickley); Travis Book & Friends (Asheville, N.C., Americana/rock band led by The Infamous Stringdusters’ Travis Book); Colby T. Helms & The Virginia Creepers (bluegrass from nearby Franklin County, Va.); Clay Street Unit (Colorado-based honky tonk/roots rock); The Jared Stout Band (New River Valley, VA, southern rock); and Mighty Joshua (authentic reggae from central Virginia); TC Carter Band (blues, Martinsville, Va.); Lua Flora (Asheville, N.C. – beach folk); Big Fat Gap (Chapel Hill, N.C. – bluegrass); Jules & The Agreeables (Key West, Fla. – rock); DJ What (Martinsville, Va. – DJ); Pirates of the Piedmont (Martinsville, Va. – pirate shanties).

ROOSTER WALK 13 (2023) RECAP VIDEO

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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.


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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.


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Emmylou Harris to make debut at Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival 2024

Emmylou Harris, a 2018 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, will bring her band to headline the 14th annual Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival on May 23-26, 2024 ,at Pop’s Farm just outside Martinsville, Virginia. Joining her at the top of the band lineup will be celebrated guitarist Cory Wong, an exploding star on the international music scene.

Harris has been estimated to have sold more than 15 million records worldwide. She has also earned 13 Grammy Awards and placed 27 singles into the top 10 US country chart. She will make her Rooster Walk debut with a Saturday evening set.

Wong will also make his RW debut when his band performs a Friday night headlining set. A former member of Vulfpeck, Wong’s live shows are lauded for their instrumental wizardry, incredible cohesiveness and their sheer, energetic fun.

Other bands getting added to the lineup include: Couch (Boston, Massachusetts – funk/rock/soul); Catilin Krisko & The Broadcast (Asheville, North Carolina – rock); Arkansauce (progressive bluegrass from northwest Arkansas); Sneezy (high-energy party music from Chicago, Illinois); Sticks N Thorns (bluegrass duo featuring Andy Thorn of Leftover Salmon and Jon Stickley); Travis Book & Friends (Asheville, Americana/rock band led by The Infamous Stringdusters’ Travis Book); The Jared Stout Band (southern rock from the New River Valley of Virginia); T.C. Carter Band (blues from Martinsville); Lua Flora (Asheville – beach folk); Big Fat Gap (Chapel Hill, North Carolina – bluegrass); Jules & The Agreeables (Key West, Florida – rock); DJ What (Martinsville – DJ); and Pirates of the Piedmont (Martinsville – pirate shanties).

Read more: Emmylou Harris to make debut at Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival 2024 Continue reading →


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FloydFest 24 set for July 24-28 in new location

Live from their new home in FestivalPark, 5826 Floyd Highway North, Check, Virginia, here’s the latest about FloydFest 24 featuring Sierra Ferrell, Sierra Hull, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Circles Around the Sun, Hogslop String Band, Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers, The Heavy, Heavy and many, many more. Check out the full lineup here.

Remaining tickets on sale NOW. Click HERE to purchase tickets for FloydFest 24~Horizon (July 24-28, 2024).

Stay tuned for more artist announcements!


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Will Overman, Crawford & Power bring the sounds of Virginia to The Pour House on Sunday, Nov. 12

Don’t have plans for Sunday night in downtown Raleigh? Now you do because you don’t want to miss the following performances at The Pour House on Nov. 12 from Virginia country rockers Will Overman and Crawford & Power.

Virginia native singer-songwriter Will Overman‘s music has been described as alternative country, Americana, Southern rock and folk rock among others. I first discovered Overman at Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival in 2015 when he was a junior majoring in sociology at the University of Virginia. At the time I described his music as someone whose songs seem to be drawn from the experiences of someone much older. In 2017, I wrote about him and his band here in The Huffington Post here and here.

Fast forward to 2023. Overman is now living in Nashville and has just released his latest EP titled, “Live From Virginia.”  Despite the move to Music City, his music is still a dynamic and nostalgic ode to his time in central Virginia and you don’t want to miss the chance to hear this former “The Voice” contestant perform live.

Armed with a powerful voice and powerful convictions, Overman is slowly but surely building a name for himself performing throughout the east coast at venues and festivals such as (The Jefferson Theater, Fall for Greenville, The Basement) and supporting artists like (Joe Pug, Christian Lopez, Town Mountain, Grady Spencer & the Work, Wheelwright, etc.). Regardless of whether you get a first listen at the next show or song on shuffle, you can be sure that it won’t be long before you know his songs by heart.

Virginia natives Crawford & Power are making waves within the country music scene with their unique sound. Authentically southern, Jake Crawford’s powerful vocal blended with a modern approach to the Dobro from Ethan Power, create a brand of country that has been lauded as a breath of fresh air to the genre.

The duo have already opened for a variety of artists including The Marshall Tucker Band, Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt, The Charlie Daniels Band, Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, 38 Special, Gary Allan, Jerry Douglas and many other major acts. 


With the help of their debut EP, “Play a Hank Jr. Song,” the duo have quickly eclipsed over 5 million on-demand streams. C&P followed up their debut release with many single releases between 2019-2021 highlighted by “She Liked to Get High” & “Letting You Go.” Crawford & Power are spending time in the studio with Producer Grady Saxman, and just released their new EP, “Bring it On Home,” on Sept. 30.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased this link.


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Red Wing Roots Music Festival announces early bird ticket launch on Dec. 5

Now that it is November, Early Bird Launch for festival tickets and camping is right around the corner! On Tuesday, December 5th at 10am, 3-day Tickets and Camping for the 11th annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival will open!Add the Early Bird Launch to the calendar now and watch for an email with all the launch details in the coming weeks. If you’re new to the launch, it is helpful to know that popular camping options often sell out in seconds. It is best to not only determine what option is ideal for you, but to also create a solid back up plan when your first choice is not available. Get ready… it all begins in just a few weeks!Red Wing XI will take place June 21-23 at Natural Chimneys Park in Mt. Solon, VA.