Moving to Roanoke, Virginia

Subject: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: MichaelAnthony
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 02:33 PM

Any Mudcatters in this part of the Southeast?

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: Matt_R
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 02:52 PM

Well, I'm a bit south in Greenville, NC.

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: Allan C.
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 03:27 PM

MA, we had one not far from there once. She dropped in long enough to advertise her new CD and then left. The only ACTIVE Virginia members I know are both in Charlottesville. They are Mrrzy and BeauDangles. I sort of claim dual citizenship because while I am living in West Virginia, I still have a home in Charlottesville.

Roanoke is an interesting city (the second largest city in Virginia, I believe) with a broad spectrum of interests represented there. If you like city life, I think you'll enjoy it there. The Roanoke Civic Center (or I think that's what they call it) is one of the few venues in the state that can handle the large audiences drawn by some of the popular musical artists and other major shows. There are many small clubs in town of nearly all types. However, I am not aware of any that are folk oriented.

Best of luck to you in your move.

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: Timehiker
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 08:38 PM

Micheal,

I grew up a couple of counties south of Roanoke. I joined the army, moved away, and finally settled near Richmond, VA. You didn't specify your musical tastes, but you shouldn't have any trouble finding bluegrass pickers, and maybe even some old time fiddlers. I don't know that any of them are mudcatters though. There are some small colleges in Lynchburg, VA Tech in Blacksburg, and Radford College in Radford. There's no telling what kind of music scene you might find in those towns.

If you happen to like history, make sure you visit Explore Park. It's an open air living history museum, open in the spring and summer. There's a fellow there who plays fife and tin whistle. He may know more about the local music scene.

I get back to visit the old folks every month or so. Once you get settled in maybe we can meet somewhere and do a little pickin'. I play guitar, and my son plays fiddle. At least he did yesterday. Now he's trying to start a rock band with a couple of his buddies.

At any rate, keep us up to date on how things shape up.

Take care
Timehiker

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: jaze
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 09:24 PM

I live just outside of Richmond, Va. There is an excellent group of folksingers in the area. They have done concerts and put out a couple of great cd's. in the last couple of years. Don't know too much about Roanoke except there is some beautiful coutry thereabouts. Welcome to Virginia.

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 11:54 PM

So the town didn't vanish after all ? So much for my history books ......

"Roanoke" is also one of my favourite fiddle/flatpicking tunes.

Murray

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: Matt_R
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:24 AM

Murray, you're thinking of the Lost Colony of Roanoke ISLAND here in North Carolina." Don't worry about the confusion. The Roanoke is also a river, and we have a city here on the river called Roanoke Rapids.

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: MichaelAnthony
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:34 PM

Thanks for all of your warm comments. I grew up (age 7-13) in Covington, a western Virginia paper mill town near Roanoke. Plenty of mountains to explore and reptiles to discover. I have some family that settled in Roanoke.

Timehiker, would love to meet up with you, and Allan C, too, if you're ever in the area.

I anticipate going through a bluegrass phase sometime soon, and will be looking to master a few expressive guitar runs/licks, and get used to improvising in this style.

I'll be sure to check out the open air museum.

MichaelAnthony

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: Allan C.
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:41 PM

Then you'll be happy to know that the stench of Covington rarely makes it over the mountains to Roanoke.

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 04:06 PM

If you grew up in Covington, you probably already know about the old time music around Galax and the Carter Family Fold. Also Mike Seeger lives in Lexington. Don't know if he does much picking around home. Randy Marchany, hammered dulcimer player with No Strings Attached is in the Radford-Blacksburg area. So there is certainly music in the general area though you may have to drive a bit.

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: ddw
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 10:34 PM

MichaelAnthony, Don't know much about the Roanoke area's music scene, but you'll be a fairly short, beautiful drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville, NC and I can tell you there's plenty of picking around there.

What kind of music are you interested in?

If I remember correctly, my fiddle-playing nephew goes to a number of festivals in the Roanoke-Lynchburg area during the summer — or used to anyway — so that scene should be pretty good.

You'll also be a pretty short hop from the Augusta Heritage festivals in Elkins, W. Va. and the Swannanoa Gathering in Swannanoa, NC (just east of the Asheville exit from the Parkway).

cheers

david

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: Allan C.
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 05:33 AM

Michael Anthony, I have just refreshed a thread about the Floyd country store for you.

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: Smok
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 06:47 AM

My cousins live in Roanoke. It is a great place. Go to the Mountain Cafe (there may be more to the name but Mountain is in it)they have very good coffee, scones, etc. and you can sit for hours. There is one downtown, across from the museum. I went up this year for the polo matches sponsored by the symphony, great funny and lots to see. Roanoke is the 'Star City of Virginia (or maybe the South) with an huge lighted star one of the mountains. It was a young town people town with lots of 'stuff' going on, farmers market, symphonies, art shows very up town stuff I thought. Check out the Ram's Head book store really unique.

Subject: RE: Moving to Roanoke, Virginia
From: MichaelAnthony
Date: 24 Feb 01 - 08:26 PM

David, I lived in Asheville for a while and it's a beautiful place. That drive from roanoke is rather long, but will probably be taking it sometime.

Allan C, thanks for the refresh, I'll go listen to that radio archive. Just today I heard about a place called Oddfellas in Floyd, and Mike Seeger is playing there on April 13, 2001.

Did some hiking this week. The Appalacian Trail is about 12 miles from where I am.

Smok, thanks for your post. I'll look into the Mountain Cafe.

MA