“Music From The Crooked Road” Heads To Jefferson Center
A touring festival of old-time, bluegrass, mountain gospel and flat-foot dance
Virginia’s 300-mile Crooked Road passes through some of the most musical places on earth. The tiny Appalachian communities scattered along its length have created and passed on old-time, bluegrass and mountain gospel sounds that have profoundly influenced the development of American music.
A showcase of Virginia’s musical heritage, developed by the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the “Music from the Crooked Road” tour celebrates the vibrant, living musical culture of Southwest Virginia where making music is, and always has been, an integral part of life.
Saturday April 17, 8:00, Jefferson Center, Roanoke VA The tour features National Heritage Award Fellow and Appalachian guitar master Wayne Henderson, bluegrass banjo virtuoso Sammy Shelor, family old-time string band The Whitetop Mountain Band, old-time fiddle and banjo masters Kirk Sutphin and Eddie Bond and, representing the next generation of Blue Ridge musicians, the up-and-coming bluegrass band Amber Collins & No Speed Limit, and a young keeper of ancient mountain ballads and songs, Elizabeth LaPrelle. The artists participating in this tour link the past, present and future of these deep American traditions.
A single concert would not be able to convey the context and understanding of the historic roots of this music, so in addition, Jefferson Center has put together a comprehensive series of events and activities to highlight life along Virginia’s Musical Heritage Trail – The Crooked Road.
Saturday March 27, 7:00, Floyd VA The Floyd Country Store, celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2010, is one of the most vibrant venues along the Crooked Road, and will be the setting of Jefferson Center’s kick-off event. Shawn Lind from Appalshop will present From Wood to Singing Guitar,
an Appalshop documentary showcasing Wayne Henderson, master musician and luthier, and Uncovering the Secrets of the Strad, a documentary film by Amy Adams about 82-year-old fiddle maker Arthur Conner from Copper Hill, VA. Mike Mitchell and Jeff Midkiff will play tunes featuring instruments made by Mr. Conner and offer the opportunity to view his hand-crafted instruments.
After the films, award winning fiddler from Independence VA, Brian Grimm will provide some high energy old-time dance music and the Blacksburg Hoorah Cloggers will kick up their heels with some traditional dancing.
Representatives from ’Round The Mountain, Southwest Virginia’s artisan network will also be joining us to provide information on artisans, farms, galleries and craft venues.
