Held in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the Red Wing Roots Music Festival is hosted annually at Natural Chimneys Park and Campground in Mt. Solon, Virginia. This will be the ninth year for the 3-day festival which takes place June 24-26, 2022. In addition to more than 50 artists performing across 5 stages, Red Wing boasts excellent food and drink vendors, multiple on-site camping options, and fun activities for everyone.
Festival hosts, The Steel Wheels, perform throughout the weekend in a variety of sets. This year they also welcome the following artists to the Red Wing stage: The Jayhawks, BAHAMAS, Yonder Mountain String Band, Aoife O’Donovan, Langhorne Slim, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, James McMurtry, Darrell Scott’s Bluegrass Band, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Allison Russell, Gaby Moreno, Sammy Rae & The Friends, Natalie Hemby, Seth James and many more!
Leading up to the festival, Red Wing Academy gathers young string players for a week of intensive learning and playing along with the host band. The academy experience culminates with students performing alongside The Steel Wheels on Friday of the festival.
In 2021, the festival added Red Wing Glamping to the camping options. Glamping offers a special touch of comfort and convenience for your Red Wing experience with many additional perks. From set up to tear down, you are covered—just arrive ready to enjoy the festival. In addition to glamping, there are several other great camping options still available for the June weekend.
The towering limestone chimneys, reaching more than 120′ in the air, provide a spectacular backdrop for fans to lounge and listen to great music in the great outdoors. Just off the Music Meadow, you’ll find an incredible variety of food vendors and beverage options. WNRN hosts the Blue Mountain Beer Garden each year, featuring craft beers from Blue Mountain Brewery, as well as wine, hard cider, and hard seltzer from other regional businesses.
Red Wing focuses on the whole experience, not just the music. Shady Grove provides activities and games for children of all ages and The Kinfolk Stage hosts multiple dances and other family-friendly programming. Local organizations lead scheduled outdoor activities during the weekend such as running, biking, hiking, and yoga beneath the chimneys. And between the North River, mist tent in Shady Grove, and Natural Chimneys pool, there is always a way to cool off from the summer heat.
Last year’s eighth annual Red Wing Roots Music Festival was wildly successful after canceling due to covid in 2020. Each year the festival improves and grows with the help of staff, volunteers, and patron support.
A large part of what helps Red Wing Roots Music Festival run as smoothly as possible is our fantastic team of volunteers. Volunteering for just 12 hours before, during, or after the festival provides individuals with a weekend pass to Red Wing IX. Visit the volunteer page to learn about the volunteer requirements, deposit, and more.
Tickets have sold out ahead of the festival weekend the last several years and with Red Wing IX sales moving quickly, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets sooner rather than later. Single day tickets will be made available for purchase in May.
For tickets and more information, visit www.redwingroots.com.
Cover photo: Saturday night under the chimneys with The Steel Wheels. Photo by Lara Ressler Horst