Saturday, September 21, 2013

Blue Ridge Music Center Celebrates the Music of Surry County with a FREE Concert

September 29   The Blue Ridge Music Center will celebrate the music of Surry County with a special, free, performance-talk on Sunday beginning at 2 PM. 

Round Peak music is an old-time music style that originated in northwestern Surry County, North Carolina and spread around the globe. Music collectors, enthusiasts and folklorists, many of them already aware of the Grayson and Carroll County, VA traditions, came into the area in the 1960s and discovered something amazingly intense and powerful. Word began to spread far beyond Surry County and southwestern Virginia. Recordings played on local radio stations and inspired young people looking for something different to start coming to area fiddlers' conventions.

Awareness of the Round Peak tradition exploded and worldwide enthusiasm continues to the present day. Even though many of the early practitioners are gone, the tradition exists locally because younger musicians have kept it going. This special presentation at the Blue Ridge Music Center will include some of the finest players from the region spanning three generations and including: Verlin Clifton, Bobby Patterson, Chester McMillian and Nick McMillian.


The Surry County Spotlight performance-talk starts at 2 PM on Sunday. Reservations are highly recommended as seating is limited. Admission is free. To reserve your seats call (276) 236-5309 x112 and please arrove by 1:45 PM to keep your reservation. Any open seats are given to drop-in visitors.


The Fall Heritage Series takes place in the indoor theater at the Blue Ridge Music Center on Sunday afternoons September 29th - October 13th. Check the website for a complete schedule. Also enjoy free Mid Day Mountain Music from 12-4 PM daily and the free Roots of American Music museum open 10 AM-5 PM daily through October 27th when the center closes for the season. The Fall Heritage series is made possible with the support of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, National Park Service, and Eastern National.

The Blue Ridge Music Center is located at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway only 10 miles from Galax, Virginia and 20 miles from Mount Airy, North Carolina - the gateway to one of the most musical places on earth.


 

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