04/13/2017
The Sweet Sounds of Summer
Blue Ridge Music Center 6 miles from Fernwood Cabin
New season welcomes a bevy of musicians on the rise
Fresh breakout performers, high energy traditionalists, cross-pollinating swing and folk acts, keepers of Piedmont blues and African string band traditions, and true balladeers: you can hear them all during the Roots of American Music concert series starting May 27.
Many groups in this season's lineup, including The Steel Wheels, Steep Canyon Rangers, Bill and the Belles, Amythyst Kiah, Mipso, The Snyder Family Band, The Wildman Family Band, The Dan River Girls, and Five Mile Mountain Road are fusing bluegrass, string band, folk, pop, and jazz, and spreading the music of Appalachia to new audiences beyond the Blue Ridge Mountains and foothills.
Slate Mountain Ramblers
Slate Mountain Ramblers
In addition to these new voices, two shows will feature Appalachian Mountain dance and fiddle traditions. High energy string bands The Slate Mountain Ramblers with The Zephyr Lightning Bolts and The Crooked Road Ramblers with The New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters will throw old-time dance parties. Ticket-holders are invited to free pre-concert flat-foot dance workshops led by Chestnut Creek School of the Arts.
Concerts with Phil Wiggins & The Chesapeake Sheiks and Dom Flemons will highlight Piedmont blues, African string band, and early swing traditions.
Texas swing and Canadian folk traditions, which have a cross-pollinating influence on Blue Ridge and Appalachian music styles, will take the stage with the triple fiddle and three-part harmonies of The Quebe Sisters and Canadian fiddler and step dancer April Verch.
Ballad singing and craft traditions of the mountains will come together when Anna & Elizabeth (Anna Roberts Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle) bring their stories, songs, and crankies to the intimate indoor theater.
Individual concert tickets and season passes are now on sale at blueridgemusiccenter.org or by calling (866) 308-2773, ext. 245.
2017 Roots of American Music Concert Season
Junior Appalachian Musicians & Family Day
Saturday, May 20, 1 p.m. / FREE
The Steel Wheels + The Dan River Girls
Saturday, May 27, 7 p.m. / $20
Redhead Express + The Walker Brothers
Saturday, June 3, 7 p.m. / $15
The Quebe Sisters + Bill and the Belles
Saturday, June 17, 7 p.m. / $20
Phil Wiggins & The Chesapeake Sheiks + Jim Lloyd
Saturday, June 24, 7 p.m. / $15
The Slate Mountain Ramblers + The Zephyr Lightning Bolts
Saturday, July 1, 7 p.m. / $10
Steep Canyon Rangers + The Wildman Family Band
Saturday, July 8, 7 p.m. / $25
Snyder Family Band + Five Mile Mountain Road
Saturday, July 15, 7 p.m. / $10
April Verch Band + The Grayson County Daredevils
Saturday, July 22, 7 p.m. / $15
The Harris Brothers + Joe Troop & Che Apalache
Saturday, July 29, 7 p.m. / $10
The Crooked Road Ramblers + New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters
Saturday, August 5, 7 p.m. / $10
Barr-Williams + Cabin Creek Boys
Saturday, August 19, 7 p.m. / $10
Mipso + Amythyst Kiah
Saturday, August 26, 7 p.m. / $20
Anna & Elizabeth
Saturday, October 7, 5 p.m. / $20 (indoors, limited seating)
Dom Flemons
Saturday, October 21, 5 p.m. / $20 (indoors, limited seating)
Opening day is May 6!
The Blue Ridge Music Center opens for the season on Saturday, May 6. The Visitor Center and award-winning Roots of American Music Museum welcome visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday-Monday, May 6-23, and daily beginning May 25 through October 29. Local and regional roots and traditional musicians share informal presentations and performances from noon to 4 p.m. daily as part of the Midday Mountain Music program. The exhibit and Midday Mountain Music are free.
Help us plant trees at the Amphitheater
Sunny days please the crowds at the Music Center's outdoor amphitheater, but it can get awfully hot on the stage for the musicians. We've come up with a solution to give the musicians some relief. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is raising funds to plant dogwoods and red maples along the top of the hillside to block the rays for performers (and provide some shade for the audience). The nonprofit will also install picnic tables for visitors. You can help complete the project with a donation today!
David Holt_ Wayne Henderson and Jeff Little
David Holt, Wayne Henderson, and Jeff Little
Music and more with David Holt
The second season of David Holt's State of Music airs on PBS stations across the country beginning this month. Catch the shows to hear tunes and tales from many of the musicians who perform at the Blue Ridge Music Center, including the Steep Canyon Rangers (episode 1), Wayne Henderson and Jeff Little (episode 3), Mipso and Amythyst Kiah (episode 4), The Kruger Brothers (episode 5), and Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (episode 6). Learn more
Concerts with Friends!
The Blue Ridge Music Center is collaborating with great partners to bring you music year-round.
Jim Lauderdale
Jim Lauderdale
Jim Lauderdale Bluegrass Trio + Kelley & The Cowboys
Sunday, May 7, 5 p.m.
Clemmons, North Carolina
We are excited to work with the Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County to present Jim Lauderdale Bluegrass Trio, plus Kelley & The Cowboys at Tanglewood Park. Throughout his three-decade career, Lauderdale has helped pave the way for the current Americana movement, recording albums and writing songs that cross genres from country, rock, and folk to bluegrass. Admission is free. Learn more
David Holt with Josh Goforth & Will McIntyre
+ special guest Amythyst Kiah
Saturday, May 20, 7 p.m.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Don't miss David Holt with Josh Goforth and Will McIntyre, plus special guest Amythyst Kiah, at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. Holt, a four-time Grammy winner, will recreate his television program, David Holt's State of Music, for an evening of songs and storytelling. Advance tickets are $25 and $30, and $35 and $40 at the door. The concert is part of the Crossroads series, and is presented in partnership with the Music Center. Purchase tickets
Events Down the Road
Festival and Event Management Workshop
Saturday, April 29
Abingdon, Virginia
The Crooked Road is offering a fast-paced, hands-on workshop for high school and college students in Southwest Virginia to develop festival and event management skills. The one-day workshop will cover event conceptualization and marketing, programming, event logistics, and concert production. The free workshop will be held at Heartwood. Applicants must submit an essay of 200 words or fewer explaining why they would like to participate by Tuesday, April 18. Learn more
An Evening of Irish Song with John Doyle & John Williams
Friday, April 21
Greensboro, North Carolina
The duo of guitarist, singer, and songwriter John Doyle and accordion and whistles player John Williams represents the pinnacle in traditional Irish, British Isles folk, and Americana music. With decades of experience and accomplishments in Irish, English folk, old-time, bluegrass, and soundtracks for film, TV and theater, Doyle and Williams embody the dynamic and creative traditions of the genre. This show at Van D**e Performance Space is a rare opportunity to see two old friends, both true masters of tradition, performing together again. Tickets are $20. Learn More
The Blue Ridge Music Center is operated by the National Park Service. Since 2013, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation has supported and overseen the concert programming at the Blue Ridge Music Center in keeping with the nonprofit's mission to ensure cultural and historical preservation, along with natural resource protection, educational outreach, and visitor enjoyment now and for future generations.
Supporters
The Blue Ridge Music Center receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Winston-Salem Journal, National Council for Traditional Arts, 88.5 WFDD: Public Radio for the Piedmont, Visit Winston-Salem, Yadkin Arts Council, Triad City Beat, and Eastern National.
Blue Ridge Music Center
Open May through October
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700 Foothills Road, Galax, VA 24333
Milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
(276) 236-5309 www.BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org
The Blue Ridge Music Center 700 Foothills Rd Galax, VA 24333 Milepost 213 on The Blue Ridge Parkway Music Center Info Call:(276) 236-5309Concert Info Call:(866) 308-2773 x 213 To Purchase Concert Tickets by phone (866)308-2773 x 245 E-MAIL2017 Hours of Operation: From May 6 through May 25 the Music…
