“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato
Two days of Music at the Appaloosa Roots Music Festival was “Music Among Friends,” held on Labor Day weekend at Skyline Ranch Resort in Front Royal, Virginia.
Alex and Dan Fedoryka, founding members of the band Scythian, created the festival that brings in musicians and fans from all over the country. You are surprised to hear and see bluegrass, Celtic, folk, rap, soul, and country Music all in one festival.
Appaloosa Festival is where you can enjoy performances by new unknown music artists as well as ones you’re familiar with.
On Sept. 3-4 at Skyline Ranch Resort, headlining Appaloosa 2022 was well-known music artist Molly Tuttle. She’s the first woman to win the International Bluegrass Music Association’s guitar player of the year. Little known, but soon-to-be famous, 16-year-old guitarist Presley Barker (a recent American Idol contestant) was invited on stage to perform with Molly Tuttle.
Watch Molly Tuttle perform “Grass Valley” live on YouTube:
This year’s music artists included: Scythian, Molly Tuttle, Birdwalker, Everyday Everybody, Gothard Sisters, Presley Barker, Arbo, Ben-David Warner Band, Justin Trawick & the Common Good, Flex Matthews, Smoke & The Poet, Pickin’ Thistles, Cake for Dinner, and Jubileum Music Therapy Academy.
The festival is specifically designed with families in mind with a Free Kids zone, which had games, face painting, and several bouncy houses. There’s even a Kids’ stage with special performances and workshops just for kids.
Always a treat…v “Cake for Dinner,” is a musical show for children held on the Kids Stage. The show is led by Alex and Dan. They get the kids involved by singing and dancing along to songs like “Sneaking Cookies,” “Chasing Bunnies,” “Littlest Jig,” “Flea,” “Cleaning Hullabaloo,” “Cookie Jar,” and “Greek Fiddle.”
Watch a fan video of Cake for Dinner performing “Flea” at a recent festival on YouTube:
Appaloosa also functions as a fundraiser, with 10 percent of festival profits going to charities. One of the main beneficiaries is the Appaloosa Blue Ridge Arts Foundation (ABRAF), a nonprofit founded to reignite interest in roots music.
I always leave this festival having discovered new musicians, and making new friends thanks to Alex and Dan Fedoryka of Scythian.
Here are some pictures of Appaloosa Music Festival at Skyline Ranch Resort on Sept. 3-4, 2022. All photos copyright and courtesy of Chester Simpson.
Birdtalker Lead Singer Dani Green
