(Empire Strikes Brass and Danny Moore in a red mask lead a parade at Sleepy Creek HarFest 2018 on Oct. 5, 2018. Photos by Chester Simpson; Words by Michael Tucker)
When I look back at every festival I attend, there is a definitive moment where everything clicks, and I have an epiphany of sorts wherein I come to understand what that festival means to me.
Marty Stuart and Watermelon Park owner John Miller Jr. at the Watermelon Park Festival in September 2018. (Photo by Chester Simpson)
Watermelon Park, located in Berryville, Virginia, on the banks of the Shenandoah River, is a local haven for camping, tubing and kayaking all summer long. It hosted the 15th annual Watermelon Park Festival recently, and we’ve got pictures of the performing bands to prove it!
Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams perform on Aug. 1, 2017. (Photo by Jim Kerr)
Americana/roots music duo Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams have impressive resumes. For eight years, Larry, a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, played guitar in Bob Dylan’s band. After working with Dylan, Larry became the bandleader for Levon Helm, formerly of The Band, and Teresa, a singer-guitarist, joined him. They’ve worked with any number of prominent artists: Jorma Kaukonen, Little Feat, and Phil Lesh.
Larry and Teresa showcased the skills that won them those collaborations to Gypsy Sally’s recently.
The Birchmere welcomes Nils Lofgren on Sept. 16, 2018. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)
“Years later…Martin would try to find the words to articulate the power of togetherness in a world where togetherness had been corrupted — and to explore the effect of the music, the surprising lengths the people had gone to to hear it and to play it, as evidence that music, and art in general, are basic requirements of the human soul.” Jessica Shattuck, The Women in the Castle
With the words, “Welcome to The Birchmere, thanks for showing up,” Nils Lofgren took the stage for the final night of a three-night weekend run in celebration of 50 years on the road.
Nils Lofgren (Photo by Jo Lopez)
Musician Nils Lofgren, a longstanding member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, will release a new solo album in 2019. But first, he’s taking some friends on the road for an acoustic tour, which begins with three nights at The Birchmere! Tickets are available for the first of those nights on Friday, Sept. 14, and the third, Sunday, Sept. 16. (The second night, Saturday, Sept. 15, is sold out.)
Jamie McLean performs at Pearl Street Warehouse on Sept. 7, 2018. (Photo by Ari Strauss)
The Jamie McLean Band rocked the Wharf Friday night with a 90-minute, gritty soul performance at Pearl Street Warehouse. Frontman Jamie McLean, backed by bassist Chris Anderson and drummer Brian Griffin, took the stage with a pair of Memphis-style hollow-body electric guitars (cherry-color 1969 Gibson ES-335 and natural-color Heritage H-535), and he had the crowd on its feet dancing and reveling on the venue’s checkerboard dance floor from the very first note.
Scythian performs at the Appaloosa Festival over Labor Day Weekend. (Photo by Chester Simpson)
“The Appaloosa Festival is like building a giant tree fort as a kid, and it keeps growing!” said Dan Fedoryka of Scythian.
