There’s a quaint, unassuming, little park and campground nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley (Mt. Solon, VA) surrounded by one of nature’s natural pheromones; Natural Chimneys. For three days in July, however, this tucked away space in Virginia comes alive with a gathering of some of the best Americana music in the country. Organizers of the fifth annual ...

“When you think of the Blue Ridge Mountains, your first thought is probably not of stringed musical instruments playing authentic and unique American roots music; however, this rural backdrop is the raw source of much of the sounds we hear today and consider our American musical legacy; including rock-and-roll and jazz,” writes Ross Moonie, spokesperson and head of media relations ...

These days I would describe myself as an amateur farm/country girl because I have moved to the country. Oh yes, it is definitely different out here, gentle and charming if you are not focused on all of the new breed of bugs and wildlife I can hear in the distance that I must use my imagination to get a glimpse ...

At 30 years old, some say Stefan Szabo is an old soul going on 60. He is the singer/songwriter and acoustic guitarist for his band, National Park Radio. Their’s is a fresh but familiar sound reminiscent of Mumford & Sons and The Avett Brothers, National Park Radio delivers a unique blend of folk, country, bluegrass, and rock. Their music embodies ...

The 30th installment of Merlefest came to a close Sunday afternoon, April 30th, with a crowd pleasing set from one of Country Music’s more popular artists, the Zac Brown Band. It is estimated that well over 80,000 folks attended the celebration over the four days. This festival is the primary fundraiser for the WCC Foundation which funds scholarships and capital ...

For two guys who grew up on a dairy farm in New York, just a few miles from the Canadian border, to be called “Bluegrass superstars” by the New York Time is a big deal. Eric Gibson told me recently, “That was a nice feather in our cap to have a publication of that notoriety say something like that. We’ve ...

Upon realizing that this year marks the 30th anniversary of Merlefest, and knowing that this fest provided significant inspiration for us here at Americana Rhythm, I felt it only fitting to give an extra shout out to this phenomenal music festival. Created as a tribute by Doc Watson and Wilkes Community College to his late son, Merle, Merlefest has become ...

In the May/June 2007 issue of Americana Rhythm, we profiled Mac Wiseman an artist whose musical life transcends time. Born locally in Crimora, VA, but known internationally, Mr. Wiseman, now 91 years old, is still recording and maintains a large following of fans. After our 2007 story, it had been a while since I heard anything new about Mac Wiseman, ...

After a chance meeting between LA singer-songwriter Pi Jacobs and Mountain Fever Records president Mark Hodges in 2016, Pi became the latest artist to release her new CD on Hodges Americana label, Trivanna Records. Her new CD A Little Blue, the seventh from Pi, released in March. Recorded in Floyd, Virginia, Pi teamed up with producer and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Ramsey. ...

Al Petteway and Amy White, a.k.a. Al & Amy, have been charming fans for years with their uniquely crafted Celtic-Appalachian influenced music that even marries in the occasional hints of Blues, New Age, and even Jazz. Before they relocated to the mountains of Western North Carolina, Al and Amy lived in the Washington D.C. area where they were honored with ...