Friday, April 25, 2008
The Great Outdoors of music festivals
Ralph Berrier
Riffs, the regional music scene as heard by The Roanoke Times reporter Ralph Berrier, will appear weekly on Sundays.
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Music sounds different outdoors.
The bass thump travels farther than a city bus. The melodies seem to rise and actually hover above a crowd. It even smells different, but that's probably just the spilled beer. Maybe it's the barbecue.
Roanoke and its neighbors boast enough outdoors music events to fill the calendar from Memorial Day to Labor Day and beyond. Blues, country, classic rock, bluegrass and world music sizzle outside like burgers on the grill.
So, if you think Roanoke has no outdoors music events worth hearing and seeing, stuff this in your Weber grill and smoke it. Actually, don't do that. You'll need this list later.
n Festival in the Pines, April 30-May 3
Tripple Creek Campground, Rocky Mount
This family-friendly bluegrass gathering has been held beneath the tall pines for nigh on 30 years (28 actually). Larry Stephenson, James King, Lost and Found, Ralph Stanley II, Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice and about 10 other bands will "Tripple" your pleasure. If you go, don't miss the Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, who will make you want to learn washtub bass.
(540) 483-9839; tripplecreek.com.
n Festival in the Park, May 22-26
Elmwood Park
Roanoke's biggest festival is known mostly for its family-oriented activities (and thunderstorms; look, I hate to say it, but it's true. Nothing busts a drought like Festival in the Park), but for many people, Festival is the biggest musical event. Year in, year out, Festival in the Park brings a combo of contemporary country and classic-rock acts to town.
This year, Edgar Winter, Little Texas, the Bellamy Brothers and the Beatles-inspired "1964" The Tribute will no doubt pack Elmwood Park. So what if Festival's performers aren't trendy bands preferred by the young, platinum-card-toting, expensive-condo-dwelling crowd that city leaders are all whipped up about? Festival in the Park was voted Best Music Festival in The Roanoke Times' 2007 Music Poll, so that proves it gives the people what they want.
342-2640; roanokefestival.org.
n BB&T's Party in the Park, May-September
Elmwood Park
Living in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains like we do, of course you know what kind of music we like. Beach music, that's what. Every couple of weeks all summer long, the shaggers will come out and kick sand in the faces of those who don't know the Tams from the Chairmen of the Board. The Embers, Steve Bassett, the Catalinas, the Band of Oz are just a few of the 17 beach bums on the list
342-2640; pitp.org.
n Wine Down the Music Trail, July 5-6
Near Milepost 170 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Is it the music or the wine from Virginia's finest wineries that brings thousands of visitors to this pre-FloydFest gathering? Who cares?! The Subdudes are the big-name band, so pour me another glass, barkeep. Good news this year: The event will operate shuttles from Blacksburg and Roanoke.
(540) 745-FEST; atwproductions.com.
n Blue Ridge Blues and Barbecue Festival, July 19
Railside Plaza, Downtown Roanoke
Not to be confused with the Big Lick Blues and Rib Cook-Off (coming soon: Blues and Pork Tenderloins with Apricots and Mint Glaze Festival), the Blue Ridge Blues Fest is in its third year and brings Walter Trout and the Radicals, Harper, the Sean Carney Band and others downtown. Remember, you can't spell blues, barbecue and quaff without BBQ, so let's party!
529-8502; blueridgeblues.org.
n FloydFest, July 24-27
Near Milepost 170 on the Blue Ridge Parkway
The Avett Brothers, Rusted Root, Amos Lee and Donna the Buffalo (aka the "FloydFest House Band") make merry on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Dozens of local and regional acts perform, too. Tickets are on sale now.
(540) 745-FEST; atwproductions.com.
n Roanoke Fiddlefest, July 25-26
Hollins University
I haven't heard much about this year's FiddleFest -- organizer Mike Conner usually starts spreading the news by May -- but Pollstar reports that Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys are one of the headliners. Keep checking roanokefiddlefest.org for details and ticket info.
n Big Lick Blues Festival and Rib Cook-Off, Sept. 20
Elmwood Park
Blues and barbecue, blues and ribs, the blues done made me fat! The event formerly known as Taste of the Blue Ridge gets all saucy with two amazing blues chicks -- Shemekia Copeland and Ana Popovic. Mmmmm, you can already smell the charcoal ... wait, that's Jimmy Thackery! Smokin'!
342-2640; biglickblues.org.
And we didn't even mention First Fridays at Five and all the other beer-and-music outings it inspired from Salem to Radford. Down the road, fiddlers will rosin up their bows during a summer-full of fiddlers conventions, including the granddaddy, the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax.
So slip on the flip-flops and catch a show. And hold the slaw on my barbecue sandwich.
What are some your favorite local outdoor concerts? Tell me on my blog at roanoke.com
