The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail

The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail (TCR) is presenting a new music series at Heartwood in Abingdon from October 20 to December 29. The six events will showcase communities of the region through their traditional music venues and their youth music.

At 7:00 pm on November 3rd, the Historic 1908 Courthouse Old Time Music Jam in Independence will be the featured Venue Showcase at Heartwood.

The traditional music of Southwest Virginia thrives in many well established jam sessions along The Crooked Road. “As part of this music series, we have arranged for these amazing gatherings to literally pick up and come do their thing at Heartwood”, says Crooked Road Executive Director Jack Hinshelwood. “The idea is to introduce these Jams to new audiences at Heartwood and give the audience members a taste of what they can experience if they go see these Jams in their home location”. The Jam Sessions to be featured include the Historic 1908 Courthouse Jam from Independence on November 3, the Smyth County Jam from Chilhowie on December 1, and the Lays Hardware Jam from Coeburn on December 29. Performers will include those who regularly attend those jams but all jam minded musicians are welcome to join in just as they are at any jam session.

In addition to Venue Showcases, the music series will feature three Youth Music Concerts. “As anyone who has attended youth competitions at events like the Galax Fiddlers Convention can attest, the level of talent among the region’s youth is astounding.” says Jonathan Romeo, Program Director for The Crooked Road’s Traditional Music Education Plan initiative. “These youth are tremendous ambassadors for the traditional music of their home communities”.

Youth groups to be featured in the music series through December 29 include the Pick Program from Buchanan County, Raisin’ Cain bluegrass band from Washington County, Honaker FFA Bluegrass Band from Russell County, Mountain Music School String Band from Big Stone Gap, the Floyd Music School, and the Albert Hash Memorial Band from Grayson County.
A complete schedule for the music series is available on The Crooked Road website at http://www.thecrookedroad.org.

Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway is located off I-81 at Exit 14 in Abingdon, Virginia and features food, music and craft of Southwest Virginia.
The music series is sponsored by The Crooked Road, Heartwood, the Appalachian Regional Commission, The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, The Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Admission is free but donations will be accepted for the series performances. For more information call (276) 492-2409 or email: info@thecrookedroad.org.