Photo: Roger Gupta
The Blue Ridge boasts a full calendar of fests through the fall.
Beale Street Music Festival April 29-May 1 — Memphis, Tenn. This must-do fest in Memphis features 60 acts on 4 stages in scenic Tom Lee Park where Beale Street meets the Mississippi. Line-up this year includes John Mellencamp, MGMT, The Flaming Lips, Wilco, the Avett Brothers, and Mumford & Sons.
Shenandoah Riverside Festival May 6-8 — Strasburg, Va. Join this three-day jam on the banks of the Shenandoah with a range of roots music from bluegrass to reggae to experimental rock.
Cheat River Festival May 7 — Albright, W.Va. This low-key fest with some paddling fun and local string bands helps protect one of the Mountain State’s favorite rivers.
Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival May 7 — Charlotte, N.C. Three of God’s greatest inventions come together at Symphony Park. Additional versions of this fest take place in Richmond, Va., on June 4 and National Harbor, Md., on June 17 and 18.
White County Cork and Keg Festival May 14 — Helen, Ga. Drink regional beer and wine while hearing tasty tunes from Georgia Godfather of Jam, Col. Bruce Hampton.
Trail Days May 14-16 — Damascus, Va. The mother of all hiking gatherings wakes up the sleepy town of Damascus for a long weekend of Appalachian Trail celebration. Thru-hikers reunite to trade trail stories, march in a parade, soak each other with water guns, check out a variety of gear booths, and sip a little moonshine.
Xtremefest of the Blue Ridge May 14 — Waynesboro, Va. This one-day festival celebrates all things mountain sports, including climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking.
New River Rendezvous May 20-22 — Fayetteville, W.Va. Come out for crazy climbing comps and campsite revelry in the Gorge. The most interesting thing on the schedule this year is the “Mountain Khakis presents: Pants to Panties, Drop Your Drawers and Win” event.
Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival May 21 — Thomson, Ga. Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue headline this annual festival that commemorates Georgia blues legend Blind Willie McTell.
Dr. Ralph Stanley’s 41st Annual Memorial Weekend Bluegrass Festival May 26-28 — Coeburn, Va. The Good Doctor is well into his 80s, and he’s still touring like a spry youngster. He also hosts this traditional bash at his old home place. This year features help from Dailey & Vincent, Blue Highway, Larry Sparks, and the Lonesome River Band.
Abbey Road on the River 2011 May 26-30 — Louisville, Ky. If you love the Fab Four, get to Louisville for what brands itself as the world’s largest Beatles-inspired music festival. Another version takes place in Washington, D.C., on September 1-5.
Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que Bluegrass Festival May 27-28 — North Augusta, S.C. Dig into a plate of the South’s finest BBQ and dig the sounds of Doc Watson, Old Crow Medicine Show, Chatham County Line, Frontier Ruckus, and Charlie Parr.
Rooster Walk May 27-28 — Martinsville, Va. This annual event at the idyllic Blue Mountain Festival Grounds remembers two fallen friends with a big weekend of regional roots music including Folk Soul Revival, The Mantras, Big Fat Gap, and many more.
White Squirrel Festival May 29-30 — Brevard, N.C. Brevard pays tribute to its favorite neighbor with a street festival that includes White Squirrel walking tours, a box car derby, craft and food vendors, and a solid line-up of live music.
Appalachian Uprising June 2-4 — Scottown, Ohio This grassy throwdown takes place in the Appalachians of Ohio and features Sam Bush, Infamous Stringdusters, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Del McCoury, David Mayfield Parade, and the Steep Canyon Rangers.
Wakarusa June 2-5 — Ozark, Ark. This huge jam gathering in the Ozarks will feature Ben Harper, Thievery Corporation, STS9, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Mumford & Sons, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and many more.
Western Maryland Blues Festival June 2-5 — Hagerstown, Md. This annual fest serves up a huge batch of gritty down home blues, this year featuring the Tommy Castro Band, Bernard Allison, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, and Phil Wiggins and Corey Harris.
Blue Plum Festival June 3-5 — Johnson City, Tenn. Join 80,000 people gathering over seven city blocks in downtown Johnson City for three days of roots music, great food, and regional art.
Roots Picnic June 4 — Philadelphia, Pa. Hip-hop’s greatest live act, The Roots, hosts a one-day festival in their hometown at Festival Pier at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. Acts joining the picnic include Nas, Wiz Khalifa, Dismemberment Plan, and more.
Starscape Festival June 4 — Baltimore, Md. Electronic grooves are in full effect at Fort Armistead Park. Dance to Bassnectar, Lotus, Infected Mushroom, and many more by the Chesapeake Bay from the afternoon until sunrise the following day.
Vintage Virginia June 4-5 — Manassas, Va. Two days of delicious food and wine with tunes provided by soul songstress Bettye LaVette and others at Bull Run Park.
Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival June 10-11 — Tryon, N.C. The heart and soul of the Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival is the barbecue cook-off event, as teams from around the country compete for big prize money. Other than that it’s all about sampling the region’s best BBQ, listening to great music, and checking out local crafts.
Seedtime on the Cumberland June 10-12 — Whitesburg, Ky. This annual down home fest in Eastern Kentucky brings together storytellers, musicians, artisans, and writers of the highest order.
Virginia Blues & Jazz Festival June 10-12 — Hot Springs, Va. Hear some hot blues and jazz in the Western Virginia Mountains. Scheduled to appear is Chris Potter Underground with many more to be announced.
Riverbend Festival June 10-18 — Chattanooga, Tenn. The annual summer street festival along two miles of Tennessee River shoreline packs more musical bang for the buck than any festival in the South with a nine-day pass going for $40. Bands on the bill include Huey Lewis and The News, Miranda Lambert, the Beach Boys, Los Straitjackets, Acoustic Syndicate, Lubriphonic, and many more to be announced.
Rapids Jam Music Festival June 16-18 — Roanoke Rapids, N.C. If you dig country music, you better get down to Roanoke Rapids for this blowout featuring Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, Willie Nelson, and Darius Rucker.
Campout East June 17-18 — Crozet, Va. David Lowery from Cracker hosts this brand new roots music bash at Misty Mountain Campground with help from Sons of Bill, Futurebirds, and Those Darlins.
World Beer Festival June 18 — Richmond, Va. Craft beer paradise converges on Brown’s Island for a full day of all the suds you can drink.
Music in the Mountains Bluegrass Festival June 22-25 — Summersville, W.Va. This hard-line traditional bluegrass festival takes place at the Summersville Music Park. Features: Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Dailey & Vincent, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, and many more.
ROMP: Bluegrass Roots & Branches Festival June 23-25 — Owensboro, Ky. The International Bluegrass Music Museum throws this high-profile pickin’ celebration that includes many generational variations of the high lonesome sound. Catch comedian Steve Martin playing his banjo with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Tony Rice with Mountain Heart, The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, Emmylou Harris, and Carolina Chocolate Drops.
Festival for the Eno July 2-4 — Durham, N.C. The event at Durham City Park will feature over 90 performers on four stages. Proceeds go to purchasing and protecting land along the Eno River.
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games July 7-10 — Grandfather Mountain, N.C. Don your best kilt for this Carolina-style Gaelic celebration that features Scottish games, fare, music, and crafts at MacRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain near Linville.
Potomac Whitewater Festival July TBD — Great Falls, Va. Potomac Fest celebrates the D.C.-area’s mighty river and its high-intensity paddling options with comps, clinics, and riverside fun.
Artscape July 20-22 — Baltimore, Md. With over 350,000 attendees, this is the largest free arts festival in the country. Crowds come to see the work of more than 150 artists, designers, and craftspeople.
Bele Chere Festival July 29-31 — Asheville, N.C. Over 300,000 people flock to downtown Asheville for this massive street festival.
Old Fiddler’s Convention August 8-13 — Galax, Va. This Appalachian tradition turns 76 this year. It promises to deliver the region’s best banjo plucking, fiddle sawing, and mandolin pickin’ you’ve ever seen.
Microfestivus August 13 — Roanoke, Va. Over 50 microbreweries from around the region will pour their best at Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke.
North Carolina State Bluegrass Festival August 18-20 — Marion, N.C. The pickin’ and singin’ will be mighty fine at Rally Park with the likes of Ralph Stanley, Rhonda Vincent, and the Lonesome River Band on stage.
Live by the Lake August 20 — Wise, Va. Get to the lake in the center of University of Virginia’s College at Wise for a full day of roots music, including Dangermuffin and James Justin Burke.
Organicfest September 10 — Asheville, N.C. Enjoy a taste of all things organic—from food to clothes to eco-friendly goods—in downtown Asheville.
Top of the Hops September 10 — Charlottesville, Va. Sample all the delicious microbrews you can handle at this one-day beer bash at the Charlottesville Pavilion.
Hoppin’ John Old-Time & Bluegrass Fiddlers’ Convention September 15-17 — Silk Hope, N.C. Come for the amazing pickin’ competitions, as well as plenty of contra dancing in the Carolina Piedmont.
GauleyFest September 16-18 — Summersville, W.Va. The biggest river festival in the world is all about throwing down in the name of the mighty Gauley. In addition to plenty of running the river’s raging Class V rapids, this is a rowdy paddler’s party with crazy howlin’-at-the-moon fun that has included late night boxing and mud wrestling.
Watermelon Park Fest September 24-26 — Berryville, Va. This best-kept-secret Americana festival takes place on a sweet riverside spot in the Shenandoah Valley.
The Atlanta Chili Cook-Off September 24 — Atlanta, Ga. Bring a taste for heat with some of the South’s best chili at the largest chili cook-off east of the Mississippi.
Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance October 6-9 — Silk Hope, N.C. For music fans in North Carolina, the trek to Shakori Hills in October is a ritual. It’s a four-day fest that takes place in the spring and fall on a 75-acre piedmont farm that blends some of North Carolina’s best roots musicians with national headliners, touches of world music, and an array of food, arts, and crafts.
Richmond Folk Festival October 14–16 — Richmond, Va. The Richmond Folk Festival draws more than 190,000 people to downtown Richmond’s riverfront for music, dance, and eclectic arts.
Bridge Day October 15 — Fayetteville, W.Va. One day per year, it is legal to jump off the New River Gorge Bridge. Come out and watch BASE jumpers take flight from nearly 900 feet over the New River.
The Barbecue Festival October 22 — Lexington, N.C. Over 100,000 folks slathered in sauce can’t be wrong. Join them in the Barbecue Capital of the World.
South Carolina State Bluegrass Festival Nov. 24-26 — Myrtle Beach, S.C. Hear the best in bluegrass by the ocean at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Acts include Dailey & Vincent, the Grascals, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, and the Larry Stephenson Band.
