bluegrass

Interview: Dan Fedoryka of Scythian (@ Appaloosa Festival @ Skyline Ranch Resort, 8/30-9/1/19)

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Scythian performs at Appaloosa Festival 2018. (Photo by Chester Simpson/ Chestersimpson.com)

Dan Fedoryka of Scythian is pure joy in conversation. With the success of his Celtic-roots band, the laidback vocalist, guitarist, and accordionist is often busy planning a tour or a festival. But Dan remains generous with his time, and he is as pleasant on the phone as he is in person.

Parklife DC caught up with Dan to chat about the ever-growing Appaloosa Festival, occurring on Aug. 30-Sept. 1, and Scythian’s plans for the celebration of bluegrass, roots, and Americana. The fifth annual Appaloosa Festival will take place on Aug. 30 through Sept. 1 at the Skyline Ranch Resort in Front Royal, Virginia.

Check out the Appaloosa Festival website for tickets and info. (After all, Appaloosa Festival won Best DC Music Festival in the inaugural Parklife DC Thrushie Awards for a reason last year!)

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Preview: Chris Stapleton @ Merriweather Post Pavilion, 8/11/19

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Chris Stapleton (Photo by Andy Barron)

Country artist Chris Stapleton has been everywhere lately! The singer recently released “The Ballad of the Lonesome Cowboy,” a single he contributed to the movie Toy Story 4. Prior to that, he appeared on albums by Pink and Justin Timberlake. Now, he roams to Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sunday, Aug. 11 with his All American Roadshow.

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Snapshots: Red Wing VII Roots Music Festival @ Natural Chimneys Park (Mt. Solon, VA) — 7/12-7/14/19

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Red Wing Roots Festival VIIRed Wing Roots Festival VIIThe Steel Wheels pose for a picture at the seventh annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival. (Photo by Chester Simpson)

The Steel Wheels presented the 7th annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival at Natural Chimneys Park and campground in Mt. Solon, Virginia, last weekend. It was three days across five stages with 40 bands performing along the North River, under the Natural Chimneys, known as the Cyclopean Towers.

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RIP, Jeff Austin

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Jeff Austin poses at Sleepy Creek SpringDig in May 2019. (Photo by Chester Simpson)

Bluegrass musician Jeff Austin passed away in Seattle on Monday, according to reports. Jeff, 45, was a well-known performer in the DC metro area, where he frequently joined bluegrass and folk festivals like the Sleepy Creek SpringDig. Indeed, the Jeff Austin Band headlined the Sleepy Creek SpringDig at Sleepy Creek on the Potomac in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, in May.

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Live Review: John McEuen @ The Hamilton Live — 6/1/19

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John McEuen Press Photo 2_ photog Alan Nahigian
John McEuen (Photo by Alan Nahigian)

John McEuen, along with the String Wizards, performed an enchanting night of songs and stories at The Hamilton Live recently. McEuen, who I interviewed last year, was a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1966, and he played with the band for the better part of the next 50 years. Over the course of the evening, John shared stories from his time with the legendary, beginning with its roots as a jug band.

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