By Gail Lambert
At a recent Saturday night concert just off the
Blue Ridge Parkway, mere minutes from Galax, Virginia, the moon was on the rise, a mountain chill was in the air and old time mountain music was on the stage. The kind of music that’s bringing together college students and mountain grannies. Call it bluegrass, Scotch-Irish heritage music, gospel, country & western, or roots revival, the
Blue Ridge Center is all about preserving and performing music here in the heart of one of the great sources of rural roots music.
At the concert we were asked for a show of hands for first time attendees, many hands went up including mine and my family’s, proving that the good word is getting around. The Summer Concert Series ends September 12 with Bill Kirchen, songwriter, singer & guitarist and the Harris Brothers, an old-time North Carolina foothills string band; admission $15. Bring a lawn chair, blanket & flashlight. The free Mid-day Mountain Music sessions, however, continue Sundays through Fridays ending November 1st with mountain music, stories and songs held in the Visitor Center breezeway. Just pull up a rocking chair! Most sessions run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Save time to browse the excellent Music Heritage exhibits adjoining the breezeway, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission.
When you drive the
Blue Ridge Parkway for the fall colors, come to Milepost 213, two hours south of
Roanoke, and experience the music that reveals part of the American soul.
For more information call (276) 236-5309; visit
www.blueridgemusiccenter.org.