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Musings on folk, Americana, country, bluegrass and newgrass


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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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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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Greensky Bluegrass, The Wailers (Reunited!) among latest added to Rooster Walk 9 band lineup

This just in from the good folks at Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival:

Progressive stringband Greensky Bluegrass and legendary reunited reggae band The Wailers will top the lineup for the ninth annual Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival, set for May 25-28, 2017 just outside of Martinsville, Virgina. The two bands were announced Tuesday, Jan. 10, along with new additions Anders Osborne, Anderson East, The Motet, Susto, Mission in the Rain, Juliana MacDowell and “artist at large” Josh Shilling.

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Tickets now on sale for Rooster Walk 9 featuring Billy Strings, Yarn, The Trongone Band, among others

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

Tickets for Rooster Walk 9 are now available online hereDon’t miss out on early bird tickets at the cheapest prices of the year! Our ninth annual family-friendly festival will take place May 25-28, 2017, at the idyllic Pop’s Farm in Axton, Virginia. For more info, including the early-bird band lineup, visit www.RoosterWalk.com.

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Red Wing IV Roots Music Festival announces initial lineup

Red Wing Roots Music Festival announced this week the initial lineup for its fourth festival set for July 8-10, 2016, at Natural Chimneys Park  near Staunton, Virginia.
Along with The Steel Wheels, the festival host, the first 10 bands scheduled to perform at the 2016 event are Shovels & RopeSteep Canyon RangersAoife O’DonovanChris SmitherThe Dustbowl RevivalAmy HelmYarnMountain HeartThe Black Lillies and The Hollering Pines.

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Welcome 2016 with music instead of overhyped NYE party

I ran across this meme the other day compliments of a friend, who shared it on social media:

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Admit it, we’ve all done it. This year, however, will be different. If you choose to go out, you’ll welcome the new year by listening to one of your favorite bands with like-minded fans — instead of attending some overpriced and ultimately disappointing party.

The Avett Brothers were trailblazers 10 years ago with a NYE show at Charlotte’s Neighborhood Theatre. Now, everyone seems to be getting in on the idea.

Following is just a smattering of the NYE concert options happening in the Southeast and beyond. If you know of a show worth noting I failed to mention, please add to the comments. Enjoy and be safe out there! This also ran on The Huffington Post here. Continue reading


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The Rives Theatre offers two holiday shows you won’t want to miss

If you missed Mountain Heart’s Josh Shilling and Left Hip Pocket perform their Allman Brothers Tribute set at Rooster Walk 7, you won’t want to miss the Day After Christmas Party at The Rives Theatre in uptown Martinsville, Virginia. Continue reading

Yarn performs at Rooster Walk 6


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On Huffington Post: Ancient Tones – New Sounds Festival makes it debut Sept. 25-27 on storied grounds in Union Grove, N.C.

Ancient Tones – New Sounds Festival is making its debut Sept. 25-27 in Union Grove, North Carolina, with a stellar lineup of Americana, Celtic, bluegrass and old-time mountain music artists including The Horse Flies, Scythian, Yarn, Mountain Heart, Blu Bop, The Fighting Jamesons, Big Fat Gap, Hard Cider, Whiskey of the Damned, Brynmor, The GoodFellers, The Brown Liquor Pickers and Mason Via and Friends.

“I want to put a focus on the the common musical thread that runs through the roots of each of those genres,” says Robert Gabb, festival founder, organizer and musician. “All of these bands were purposely chosen. The premise is tracing the lineage between all this music; tracing the footsteps of the first Celtic settlers which translated into old-time mountain music and then bluegrass and then Americana.”

The culmination of what Gabb, who originally hails from Wales, describes as a cultural heritage festival will come Saturday night when his Irish band heads up a mashup of musicians. “We want to get people out of their seats and dancing.”

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Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival Poised to Become Premiere Southeast Roots Rock Event

Rooster Walk Music and Arts Festival is one of the best up-and-coming events you’ve never heard of.

That’s about to change. With this year’s star-studded roots rock lineup and a new home, you can count on it.

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