Crooked Road in Virginia

Subject: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: TinaP
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 06:21 PM

Greetings,
Have you travelled the Crooked Road in Virginia? http://www.thecrookedroad.org/      
http://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?FeatureID=109
I'm planning a trip in June or July with my 82 year old moderately ambulatory father-in-law and my son. We all want to hear some good music without a lot of hard walking. I am more interested in singing than fiddling right now. I also want to visit the museums and archives but for this trip, that is not a first priority. The official site is not as helpful as I'd like so I am turning to you all for any advice, given my parameters. I can see that a first decision is to attend one of the larger festivals and travel less or to take in more of the venues along the Crooked Road without attending a big event. We will be driving down from Northern Virginia.
Thank you in advance,
Tina

Subject: RE: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: Maryrrf
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 08:23 PM

Tina, I am in Richmond, Virginia and of course the "Crooked Road" is quite a distance from me, but I've been looking at the website too and thinking about exploring it a bit. My impression is that you'd really have to plan the itinerary carefully because some of the events seem rather "hit or miss" - and it would be tricky to make sure you caught some music every evening. But, the scenery would definitey be gorgeous so the time wouldn't be wasted. I recommend the Museum of Frontier Culture in Staunton - that isn't on the Crooked Road but could be a side trip, and there is a Musical/Cultural Museum at Ferrum College that would be worth a visit.

Subject: RE: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 14 Apr 07 - 08:59 PM

For music this year, you might also keep an eye on the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall in Washington, DC (June 27-July 8), ( http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/2007/index.html and http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/2007/Virginia/index.html ) which this year features the "Roots of Virginia Culture". It's close to Northern Virginia and pretty accessible. If you park at a Metro station and take the Metro to the Smithsonian stop, the escalator at the North end of the station comes up directly into the heart of the Festival. It might lack the scenery of the Virginia mountains, but a good selection of the music will come to you.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 02:04 AM

The Crooked Road isn't really a thing yet. It's a nice concept, but you kind of need to put together your itinerary yourself because it hasn't quite jelled.

The festivals you should pay attention to:

Mt. Airy, North Carolina (Weekend after Memorial Day)
The Wayne Henderson Festival at Whitetop (sometime in June)
Elk Creek, Virginia (Weekend before the 4th of July)
Ashe County, North Carolina (sometime in July)
Galax, Virginia (2nd weekend in August)
Fries, Virginia (3rd weekend in August)
Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee (4th weekend in August)

The Floyd Country Store, The Carter Fold and the Fairlawn Ruritan Club (near Galax) are all kind of cool on weekends. The Blue Ridge Parkway music center has a concert schedule.

For singing, I don't know.

Museum, library type places are good at Ferrum and at the Bristol Birthplace of Country Music.

Good luck.

Subject: RE: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: GUEST,Crooked Man
Date: 15 Apr 07 - 05:48 AM

"The Crooked Road isn't really a thing yet" ???
Well can you tell me where I've been travelling for the last 33 years through South Western Virginia. If this book (which by the way is excellent value especially as it contains two CD's of music of the area and an excellent commentary by Joe Wilson) had been available when I first started visiting the area it would have been a great help.
I had to do it the hard but very enoyable way of finding out for myself.
Mount Airy is excellent, lots of old time string bands BUT they do have a singers contest held in a seperate indoor venue from all the instrumental stuff. The other venues mentioned in the above posting concentrete mainly on Bluegrass and Old Time groups and Wayne Henderson's Festival is Guitar Orientated featuring many hot pickers.

Subject: RE: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: GUEST,Claiborne House B&B in Rocky Mount
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 09:54 AM

The Crooked Road is not a festival or simply a place, it is a journey. If you come to these Blue Ridge Mountains and expect a commercial event, you have missed it by a mile! It is not Disneyland, it is the culture of these hills.

The Crooked Road, for example, can take place at Dairy Queen on Thursday mornings in Rocky Mount VA, where the old timers start pickin and fiddlin while you tap yer toes and eat some fresh biscuits and gravy for a buck.

I would suggest you go to the website and do some exploring of the towns along the Music Trail. It begins here in Rocky Mount Virginia and winds its way through some of the most beautiful farmland and countryside around.

But if yu MUST attend a festival - This weekend Aoril 27th and 28th is the 2nd annual Youth Bluegrass Festival right here in Rocky Mount. It is not a sprawling event, just some youth singing the old timey tunes.   www.ClaiborneHouse.net

Subject: RE: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: beardedbruce
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 09:58 AM

Smithsonian Folklife Festival already mentioned.

"I recommend the Museum of Frontier Culture in Staunton "

I can also reccommend it- it has been a few years, but it is a very impressive "Living" museum, with German, Irish, English, and Shenandoah farms. Well worth seeing.

Subject: RE: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Apr 07 - 01:00 PM

Come to Charlottesville. We got music out the wazoo.

Subject: RE: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: TinaP
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 03:57 PM

Thanks to everyone who has provided information on the Crooked Road. I am there right now, in Floyd, using the computers at the public library. It being Friday, we will be attending the regular jam at the Floyd General Store. Earlier today we visited Country Sales in Floyd, one of the best stores I have ever seen for bluegrass and old time music, available online as well at www.countrysales.com. Also ventured up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mabry Mill, the "most photographed site" on the parkway. I think every one of my photos will be excellent! I will post about my trip when I return to California....I don't expect to find internet access regularly while on the road. Also put up the photos on Yahoo. Tomorrow, Galax and the Blue Ridge Music Center. Then on to Bristol, which makes my heart beat fast for the musical heritage it contains. This is just an introductory trip....could easily take a month to explore fully....next year! People are consistantly welcoming, the food is interesting, and it's music every night without any trouble. Prices range from free to $5. We are deliberately avoiding festivals because one member of the party has ambulatory disabilities...small venues are easier. Cheers, TinaP

Subject: RE: Crooked Road in Virginia
From: BanjoRay
Date: 15 Jun 07 - 07:22 PM

The County Sales website is of course at http://www.countysales.com/, Tina. The one you gave gives a tractor store in Indiana.
Ray