*****

On Friday, August 13 at 8:00 p.m., the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival presents Mary Chapin Carpenter, with special guest, Boston-based Catie Curtis.

Catie Curtis

Ms. Carpenter developed a following on Washington D.C.’s folk scene in the early 1980s and she’s been in the national spotlight ever since.

She has 12 albums to her credit, has sold more than 13 million records, has won five Grammy Awards, and has reached the top-10 on the charts a dozen times. On her current tour, Carpenter is promoting her latest album, “The Age of Miracles,” which was released in April.

The New Yorker called Catie Curtis “a folk rock goddess.”  Other music critics also praise her work. “With a clear, deceptively gentle voice, she can turn on a dime and thrill the listener with unforeseen power and emotion,” RollingStone.com says.

*****

The Saw Doctors, the well-known band from Galway, Ireland, will perform in Orkney Springs, Va., on Saturday, August 14 at 8:00 p.m.

It is the band’s first appearance at the Festival in Orkney Springs. The band holds the record for having the most successful single of all time on the Irish charts, with its 1990 hit, “I Uesta Lover,” that spent nine-weeks in the top slot.

They charted number one for as recently as October, 2008. Some compare The Saw Doctors to Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band. Their songs are blue collar, about real life, hard work, and everyman all rendered in great poetic detail. They are a group full of personality that always leaves audiences satisfied.

The Festival venue is a rustic pavilion on the grounds of the Shrine Mont Camp and Conference Center in Orkney Springs, Va., about 13 miles west of Mount Jackson. The hotel is a National Historic Landmark. Reserved pavilion tickets for the Mary Chapin Carpenter show are $45 and general admission lawn tickets are $40. For The Saw Dotors show, reserved pavilion tickets are $32 and general admission lawn tickets are $27. The concerts go on rain or shine.

Visit www.musicfest.org or call (540) 459-3396 for tickets or more information.

Conicville, VA – Just announced: An interactive musical event – with some wine and country barbeque. Who could ask for anything better?

For the first time, the public will pick one of the acts for this summer’s Shenandoah Valley Music Festival line up- at the first ever “Barrels, Barbecue and Bands” on May 22 – to be held at one of Shenandoah County’s newest wineries, Cave Ridge Vineyard in Conicville, VA. Come on out to the Valley for relaxation and some great tunes!

Outdoor Concert – You choose the Best Band
Three great Midatlantic Regional bands will take the stage, starting at 1 p.m. People attending the event will vote on their favorite band – and the public’s favorite will open for the bluegrass band Cherryholmes at the Music Festival on September 4, 2010 in Orkney Springs.

Three Contenders In the Running
The three contenders are well-known bands with great reputations: Amanda Murphy and the Lost Indians, Dry Mill Road and Soul Dressing. Each will perform a 25 minute set on May 22, and the votes will be tallied after the last set.

Amanda Murphy and the Lost Indians, based in Northern Virginia and the northern Piedmont region, began playing together in 2007. Since then, Amanda and members Andy Nocero, Dave Sargent, Terry Patten and John Burns have become regulars at Tiffany Tavern in Old Town Alexandria and Katie’s Irish Pub in Springfield, playing a mix of progressive and traditional bluegrass. They opened for bluegrass legends Seldom Scene at the Strasburg Theatre in November.

Drymill Road is a progressive acoustic bluegrass band offering an energetic show of original material featuring the songwriting of Sean Loomis and its own renditions of popular covers. Based in West Virginia, Drymill Road was formed by band leader Sean Loomis in 2008. The band was originally a trio including Sean Loomis on vocals and guitar and Dave Hurt on bass, both of whom are graduates of the music program at Shenandoah University and masters of their instruments.

In October 2009, the band recruited Doug Ross on mandolin and Robert Mabe on banjo, both of whom are heavily influenced by traditional music. As a four piece band, Drymill Road has a rich full sound. Using each instrument as a voice, the band takes you on a wild harmonic journey.

Soul Dressing plays a blend of country, bluegrass and old favorites, all with their original twist. Band members Randy Black on guitar, Pat Wertman on bass and Scott Linton on percussion and mandolin, all have varied influences. The three have been playing music together in various bands and venues for more than 10 years. Four years ago, they created Soul Dressing. The group is based in Rockingham County, VA.

Tickets for “Barrels, Barbecue and Bands” are $35 per person and all guests must be 21 or over. The event runs from noon until 5. Food will be served throughout the afternoon. The event is sponsored by Cave Ridge Vineyard and it is to benefit the Music Festival, according to winemaker Randy Phillips.

According to Shenandoah Valley Music Festival oganizers, those who attend will receive a glass of wine in a souvenir wine glass, a great barbecue dinner with all the fixings and three sets of great acoustic music – and that chance to pick one of the Music Festival’s summer musicians. The event goes on rain or shine.

To purchase tickets for “Barrels, Barbecue and Bands,” contact Cave Ridge Vineyard at (540) 477-2585, or go to the Cave Ridge Vineyard web site.

You can also learn more about the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival, and the upcoming concert season by visiting their web site.

Berryville, VA – Imagine green. Imagine sustainability. Imagine fun. April 22 is Earth Day and to celebrate, join hundreds in the Shenandoah Valley at Valley EarthFest 2010.

This Earth Day-inspired festival is eco-friendly to the max.  The festival, now in its third year, continues to grow in popularity.  The all-day event will be held in Berryville, Virginia – at Rose Hill Park on Sunday April 18, 2010, beginning at 11 a.m. and running into the evening with a blues concert in the evening.

Valley Earthfest (VEF) 2010 is a family-oriented ZERO WASTE event spotlighting a “Grass Roots Green – Getting Back to Basics” approach to sustainable living. The event offers offering farm-to-fork food, live music, environmental workshops, green vendors, kids events, and more.

Why ZERO WASTE at Valley EarthFest in 2010?

From Valley EarthFest 2010 staff:

“Imagine how difficult it would be to shut down 20 percent of our coal-fired power plants. Now, imagine how much less difficult it would be to divert all biodegradable materials from our landfills and send the materials to compost facilities instead. According to new research by Eco-Cycle, the short-term climate impact is the same.

When biodegradable materials such as paper products, food scraps and yard trimming are tossed in the garbage and sent to the landfill, those lettuce heads, grass clippings and paper boxes don’t just break down as they would in nature or in a compost pile. They decompose anaerobically, without oxygen, and in the process become the number one source of human-caused methane and a major player in climate change.

In fact, methane is now understood to be 72 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year period. This means our landfills emit the greenhouse gas equivalent of 20 percent of U.S. coal-fired power plants every year.

Current accounting protocols for greenhouse gas emissions fail to address the short-term risks and opportunities of methane (CH4) emissions. Correcting the time horizon – a policy, not scientific decision – launches methane abatement from a climate afterthought to an essential first step forward in the fight against global climate change, and recognizes landfill methane emissions as a source equivalent to 20 percent of U.S. coal-fired power plants.

Based on the data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), we believe keeping organic materials out of the landfill and avoiding potent methane emissions to be the quickest, easiest and cheapest first step for a community to immediately reduce its GHG emissions while working toward longer-term reduction strategies.

How Zero Waste works

It’s simple. We don’t “talk trash” at our events. That’s right , trash cans are off limits. All food and serveware are composted, paper handouts (if any) are sustainably printed and controlled at the event, and reusable EarthFest BPA FREE USA made water bottles are sponsored by Blur Ridge Bridal for donation and we’ll have a water filtering system available for FREE water. Look for the ZERO WASTE ZONE signs and informational kiosks throughout the event.”

Valley EarthFest 2010 – General Schedule:

- Saturday, April 17 –

4 to 8 p.m. – Special Sponsor Appreciation and Set Up Party in the Park – with music by The Hot Club of Millwood

- Sunday, April 18 –

8 to 10:30 a.m. – Additional Set Up

11 a.m to – 7 p.m. – Valley EarthFest 2010

Build your own solar dehydrator

Valley Earthfest 2010 will host  two workshops this year. One workshop is on how to build a solar dehydrator for your vegetables. Something very simple; costs $10. The other  workshop is on how to build a solar furnace for your house. These are all do-it-yourself items, a very back-to-basic approach for how we can use what we have already available to make the earth better.

12:00 pm -  Organic? All Natural? When it comes to the meat you’re eating, what’s the difference? at The Blueridge Meats tent in the Farmers Market

1:00 pm – DIY Solar Hot Water at Main Street Architects Building

1:30 pm – Geo Thermal Heat Pump at Main Street Architects Building

2:00 pm – Solar Electric at Main Street Architects Building

The kids will love the eco-friendly focus

Kids are on their own turf when it comes to green living. Valley EarthFest welcomes back the Green Sprouts Children’s Learning Tent sponsored by Mountain Media Systems. (Be sure to check out Jake the Snake.)

They’ll also be face painting for the young ones, as well as a  Gnome Decorating Contest.  (Last year’s winner was Vinnie the Earth Activist gnome.)

Music goes green!

Terry Oates and The Mudcats will be the headliner for Valley Earthfest 2010. They’ll play at 7 p.m. on Sunday night, April 18. Also enjoy all of the other talented musicians during the daylight hours.

Terry Oates and the Mudcats is an eight-piece blues band based on traditional blues influences with a modern flair. As they explain to listeners: “We try to draw inspiration from the original greats such as BB King, Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, and many others in our original material while trying to pay homage to these icons of the blues by playing some of their greatest performances in the way they were originally recorded.”

The concept of our original material has been inspired by discussions on the theory of the blues, concept of recording in the early days, instruments used, and the artist themselves. Terry Oates and the Mudcats have many different influences and backgrounds, giving them a unique perspective to the music.

When people talk about the blues, they usually refer to the style they are most familiar with, but the blues mean different things to different people. After all there are many styles of the blues. There is Chicago blues, Texas blues, Delta blues, and many more variations.

Terry Oates and the Mudcats combination of guitar, bass, drums, horns, harmonica, vocals, and backing vocals give them the ability to cover many styles of the blues. Terry Oates and the Mudcats are new to the scene as a group but their cumulative experience spans decades.

The rest of the Valley Earthfest 2010 music line up includes:

- 11:00 a.m. – The Polka Dots
- 12:00 noon – Paul Pfau, with special guest band 3rd Gear Boogie
- 1:00 p.m. – The Brouge Rougues
- 2:00 p.m. – Duet Performance by Danny Knicley and Aimme Curl, with special Performance By Good Foot Dance Studio
- 3:00 p.m. – Craggy Island
- 4:00 p.m. Speakeasy Boys, with special performance by Boomtown Hoops
- 5:00 p.m. – Purgatory Mountain
- 6:00 p.m. – The Woodshedders

Music Headliner: 7:00 p.m. – Terry Oates and the Mud Cats

For more information about the bands and music at Valley Earthfest 2010, click here.

Write a song and save the planet

This year, The Valley EarthFest is sponsoring an eco-friendly song-writing contest.  All entries will be judged by professional industry experts (one straight from Nashville). The singers/songwriters who make the cut, will be asked to add their song  to the Valley Earthfest 2010 compilation CD.

In addition to being featured on the CD, the winner will also receive professional studio recording time.  (Sorry, the deadline was March 1.)

The Valley Earthfest 2010 theme song is “Preserve the Planet,” written and recorded especially for by John Lee. John will open the Green Stage Music Festival with his beautiful song (and it’s also on the compilation CD). Past Valley Earthfest compilation CDs are available for a suggested donation of $10.00.

Event Sponsors

The Green Stage music sponsors are Cristina’s Cafe and Catoctin Creek Organic Distillery. The Recycling sponsors are Rubbermaid, Trex, and Ecycle. The Farmer’s Market sponsor is Local SixFortySeven.

To see the other event sponsors and read further, visit the Valley Earthfest 2010 web site.

Luray, VA – Get ready for some down home fiddlin’. Don’t miss “An Evening of Virginia Roots Music” with The Campbell Family Band, performing at The BB&T Center for the Performing Arts in Luray on April 10, 2010 at 7:30 pm.

It’s A Family Affair
The Campbell Family Band performs early Southern Highland string band music: solo fiddle pieces, singing with banjo and fiddle/banjo duets. Mark Campbell’s wife, Martha Gravett, plays church bass; daughter, Molly, plays mandolin and banjo; and daughter, Mauren, plays guitar and sings.

In 2008, Mark Campbell, the proud father and husband of this family band, was named the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities’ Master fiddler. He was also the 2001 Champion Fiddler at the Appalachian String Band Festival at Clifftop, West Virginia, has twice won the State Fair of Virginia fiddle contest, and has won the West Virginia State Folkfestival banjo and fiddle competitions.

General Admission Tickets:
- Adults: $12.00
- Seniors: $10.00
- 18 & Under: $6.00

Address: One East Main Street, Luray, VA

Cash bar available. Tickets are available at the BB&T Center for the Performing Arts, the Page County Chamber of Commerce, Luray Copy Service, McKim & Huffman, Luray Apothecary, and Stanley Pharmacy. The concert is sponsored by Joe and Pat Bowman, and their family.

For more information on the performance.

For more information on The Campbell Family.

Berryville, VA – Come on out to Clarke County, VA … and enjoy these family events during April, including free computer classes, the Dancing Beagle House Concert, and a number of low-cost, hearty community breakfast offerings.

Thursday April 1 – Opening Day Weekend at Watermelon Park -  To celebrate we are running our “Cabin Fever Canoe & Kayak” promotion. Mention this article and receive 50 percent off Canoe & Kayak rentals for the entire month of April (Monday through Thursday only). Friday through Sunday is 20 percent off. For information, contact: Mike Capanelli, Marketing Director, Watermelon Park, at mikecapanelli at yahoo.com, or call (571) 420-0646.

Thursday April 1 – “Dancing Beagle House Concert – Old Sledge House Concert” – at 7:00 PM in the Barn at Athlone, 437 Bishop Meade Road, Millwood, VA. (Our carbon footprint for the evening will be offset through tree plantings in Southern Virginia by American Forests.)

For more information, call (540) 323-0888, or email: ecycleconsulting at gmail.com.

Easter Sunday, April 4 – “Pancake Day at John H. Enders Fire Company and Rescue Squad” from 7:00 AM until 12:00 Noon.

Pancakes, Sausage, Eggs, Sausage Gravy, Baked Apples, Coffee, Milk, Hot Tea, Apple and Orange Juice. Adults $8.00.  Children  $4.00. Children under six eat for free. Come support your fire and rescue squad and enjoy the finest Pancake Breakfast in the area.

For information, call (540) 955-1110, or visit their website.

Thursday, April 8 – “The Woman’s Club of Clarke County” – at  2:00 PM at the Berryville Baptist Church.  The Guest speaker will be Mrs. Betty Racer of Gold Leaf Limited.  Hostesses are Betty Childs, Helen Polhamus, and Mitzy Bricker.  Book sales continue.  Prospective members are welcome. For more information, call (540) 955-4628.

Every Wednesday – at Clarke County Library – FREE Computer Classes from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Learn about the Internet, e-mail, word processing.  You may sign up for a class, or drop in on a  first- come basis.  Classes will be for 1 hour. Call (540) 955-5144 to schedule a class.

Every Third Sunday of the month – “Breakfast” – at the Shenandoah Farms Volunteer Fire Dept. – 6363 Howellsville Rd. in Front Royal – from 8:00am to 12:00 noon. All you can eat. New prices: Adults $6, children 12 and under, $3. Includes omelettes to order. Enjoy a Non-Smoking Environment.

For more information: call (540) 837-1290 or visit their website.

2010 Music Line-up

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is proud to announce that its 21st Annual Envoy Bluegrass Festival has yet another unforgettable line-up.

The Martha White Bluegrass Express bus will be returning this year; and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage will be making an encore appearance, reprising their headline status that set modern Festival attendance records in 2008.

The Festival will host the return of Rhonda Vincent and her band, The Rage. Rhonda’s powerful vocals have earned her the IBMA award for Female Vocalist of the Year an incredible 7 times. However, that doesn’t even scratch the surface of her accomplishments and awards, including being a multiple Grammy nominee. Called “The New Queen of Bluegrass”, she maintains a rigorous tour schedule and has one of the most talented bands in the business.

Last year, Rounder Records released Rhonda’s most recent project, “Destination Life”. This album presents the Bluegrass Queen and her Court, at the top of their game. Rhonda Vincent & The Rage are undeniably one of the most popular groups in bluegrass today.

Also featured this year will be the legendary and highly-entertaining Lonesome River Band. The line-up continues with the traditional, yet original sound of Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice. The Dixie Bee-Liners will bring variety to the proceedings with their contemporary sound and soulful voices. Rounding out the program is CoalTown, an up-and-coming band with dynamic vocals. Festival Organizers feel that this line-up is certain to provide a day of entertainment the whole family will enjoy.

The show will be held in its usual location, under the newly-remodeled Sprint Tent on the campus of the Winchester Medical Center. The date of the concert is Sunday May 2, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival’s® Envoy of Winchester Bluegrass Festival is also sponsored by Coors Light and Navy Federal Credit Union. Tickets go on sale at the Festival Store on Friday, March 19, 2010.

*****

What is the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival?

A series of more than thirty events includes: band competitions, dances, parades, the Clyde Beatty – Cole Bros Circus, a 10K Race, the Coronation of Queen Shenandoah, Firefighters’ events, and celebrities. The Festival is an event the whole family can enjoy.

The Festival is held in Winchester – Frederick County Virginia, in the beautiful and historic Northern Shenandoah Valley, just 75 miles west of Washington, D.C. A small city with a rural atmosphere, Winchester is within easy driving time from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA, Baltimore, MD and Richmond, VA. Crowds in excess of 250,000 attend the Festival each year.

For schedule information, visit the Apple Blossom Festival web site.

Music on Main during 2009.

Woodstock, VA – The beautiful, historic town of Woodstock, Virginia has announced their Event Schedule for the rest of 2010, and there’s something fun for young and old alike. Make plans to attend today. These events are free, open to the public, and are all outdoors. Grab your family, relax and enjoy!

Music on Main – Concerts in the Park Series – from 7 to 9 p.m.
- Friday, May 28, 2010 featuring The Amazing Country Band
- Friday, July 2, 2010 featuring The Bill Vaughan Band
- Friday, August 20, 2010 featuring The Amanda Wilkins Band
- Friday, September 10, 2010 featuring John Richards
and the Virginians

Dancin’ in the Street – June 25, 2010 – 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Featuring The Robbie Limon Band – Music, food, arts and crafts, children’s activities and wine tastings.

Fireworks – Saturday, July 3, 2010 – 9:30 p.m.
Shenandoah County Fair Grounds, in Woodstock, VA
Rain date: Saturday, July 10, 2010

Route 11 Yard Crawl – Saturday, August 14, 2010
Beginning at 7:30 a.m. – 43+ miles of yard sales along historic Route 11 in Shenandoah County, including Woodstock, VA

Halloween on Court Square – Saturday, October 30, 2010
From 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Light up Woodstock – Friday, December 3, 2010 – 6:00 p.m.

Discover Christmas in Woodstock – Holiday Shopping Specials
Saturday, December 4, 2010- 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

For more information, call (540) 459-3621 or visit the town of Woodstock web site.

Shenandoah Valley, VA – Unity of the Shenandoah will be hosting an inspiring, relaxing Coffeehouse Concert on Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 7 to 9 p.m. – featuring the spiritual, metaphysical music of guitarist and song writer, Dana Agnellini. This is a family event and there will be a drum circle afterwards. (Those attending are encouraged to bring their own percussion instruments.)

Refreshments will be available. (Suggested love offering: $10-20.)

Unity of the Shenandoah is located at 6460 Old Valley Pike (Route 11) and Vaucluse Road. (The church is between the Stephens City and Middletown exits off Interstate-81.)

Feel free to read a more detailed flyer on the Unity website, or call (540) 868-1903 for more information.

Shenandoah Valley, VA – Look at all of these fun events scheduled up and down the Valley this cold Winter month. Grab your family and friends and enjoy January!

Winchester
- January 9 and 10, 2010
Visiting Artist Series presents “Poetry and Reading” with Maggie Stetler at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, 54 South Loudoun Street. This program is free for children, with a museum paid admission. 540-722-2020.

Luray
- January 9, 16, 23, 2010
“Quest for the Stars” fifth season auditions. Meet at the Board of Supervisors Room, Page County Courthouse in Luray on the 9th, 16th and at the Community Center in Shenandoah on the 23rd. To register call 540-743-1180.

Strasburg
- January 10, 2010
The Strasburg High School’s old gym, 250 Ram Drive, will be the site of the “1.10.10 Concert” of the decade. Featuring “Diamondback” from 1-2 p.m., “Exit 9” from 2-2:30 p.m., “Revolution” from 2:30-3:30 p.m., Rhonda & Rachel Sager & Doug Arthur from 3:30-4 p.m., “Aces & Eights” from 4-5 p.m., “Complimentary Colors” from 5-5:30 p.m., Johnny & the Vault Cats from 5:30-6:30 p.m., Robbie & Forest Limon from 6:30-7 p.m. “Covenant” from 7-8 p.m. Benefit concert for Strasburg Youth in Arts. Admission fee. 540-465-2302.

Harrisonburg
- January 14, 3010
Court Square Theater presents Darren Beachly and the “Legends of the Potomac”. Pairing old school talent with contemporary bluegrass creativity and drive. Admission fee. 540-433-9189.

- January 15-30, 2010
Eastern Mennonite University, 1200 Park Road, presents the following movies in the Science Center. “The Invention of Lying” on the 15th-16th; “Good Hair” on the 22nd-23rd; “Where the Wild Things Are” on the 29th-30th. 540-432-4362.

- January 17, 2010
Special Martin Luther King celebration and special service. Worship, movie show, and small group discussion at the Eastern Mennonite University’s Common Grounds Coffee House. 540-432-4458.

- January 31, 2010
James Madison University presents the River North Chicago Dance Co. under the direction of Frank Chavas. The jazz-based contemporay company embodies a true flavor of “Americana” in their dynamic repertoire. 540-568-6211.

- January 31, 2010
Polar Bear Swim from 3-6 p.m. Enjoy a free family swim in the middle of winter. Join us for water games, prizes, edible snowballs (snow-cones), and hot chocolate. 540-433-9168.

Staunton
- January 17, 2010
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center, 24 South Market Street, presents “The Valley’s Premier Bridal Showcase”, from 1-4 p.m. Catch the latest bridal fashion, and meet a variety of vendors. Also a hors D’oeuvre sampling. Admission fee of  $7.00. 540-885-4848.

Fishersville
- January 19-21, 2010
The Virginia Farm Show will be held at Augusta Expoland. In addition to exhibits of all the major lines of equipment and services there is a “Skid Steer Rodeo” for all the attendees to watch as well as participate in.  540-943-3976 or 1-800-218-5586.

- January 23-31, 2010
Augusta Expoland events: Pro Wrestling on the 23rd; Gun Show on the 30th-31st. For more information call 540-337-2525.

Strasburg, Va – Southern rock legends, Nightrider, will be headlining the New Years Eve bash at the Strasburg Theater this year. The party starts on December 31, 2009 at 9:30 p.m. and last until 1 a.m. If you’ve never been to the Theater at 151 West King Street in downtown historic Strasburg, you’re in for a treat. The Strasburg Theater is an old-time Shenandoah Valley Main Street theater that’s been renovated into a fantastic venue for concerts and special events. It’s an inviting, friendly, and exciting atmosphere – perfect for a night on the town.

Plan to make it a weekend of celebration. The Ultimate New Years Package includes 2 tickets to the Nightrider performance, a full buffet dinner, party favors, a midnight champagne toast, a hotel room at the nearby Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott hotel, and transportation to and from the hotel to the theater. The price for the package is $140 per couple. Book online at this website.

Without the hotel room, prices are as follows:
- Nightrider performance, full buffet, party favors and champagne toast – $50 per couple; $30 single.
- Admission to Nightrider performance only (no buffet) – $10 in advance; $15 at the door.

For more information about the New Years Eve event and package, call the Strasburg Theater at (540) 465-1777.

For more information about the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Strasburg, log onto their web site.

On Friday, July 17, Eileen Ivers, the woman who defines Celtic fiddling for a generation of Americans will return triumphantly to the Shenandoah Valley Music Festival…

Eileen Ivers has been called the queen of the Irish fiddle, its Jimi Hendrix, the pre-eminent exponent of the Irish fiddle in the world today, and its future. Don’t doubt that high praise, because she proves every word of it over and over with sold-out audiences that rock the house!

The nine-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion and her band Immigrant Soul are best known for the amazing voyages they take with their unique sound. She takes a Celtic tune on a wild ride infused with Latin, Caribbean, jazz and world music flavor before bringing it all back home to where she started, proving the Boston Globe’s opinion of her as “a beautifully inventive fiddler.”

Ms. Ivers, a Celtic fiddle prodigy since her wee years, burst into the public’s eye as a founding member of the band Cherish the Ladies and as the musical star for the cultural phenomenon, Riverdance.

Hailed as one of the great innovators and pioneers in the Celtic and World music genres, she has, for almost two decades, changed the way people think of the Celtic fiddle. Billboard magazine called her a “sensation.”

Her band, Immigrant Soul, features the deeply soulful vocals of Tommy McDonnell, a former member of the Originial Blues Brothers band and several other internationally known Celtic and World music performers. “A fine lot they are,” said the Richmond Times Dispatch.

The performance starts at 8 p.m. (Gates open at 6 p.m.) Ticket prices are as follows:Reserved Pavilion – $30.00; Adult Lawn – $25.00; Under 18 Lawn – $10.00.

Buy tickets at: www.svmf.org

Be there, or be square. Or, even round?

This Saturday, June 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. , Crooked Run Cellars in Mount Jackson, Virginia, will host the Volunteer Farm Benefit Concert and Auction.
The fund-raiser will help support the Farm’s efforts this year to help feed the hungry by providing about 50 tons of fresh vegetables to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank serving about a third of Virginia.
Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie will perform from 11 am to noon; Robbie Limon is on from noon until 1 pm; Con and Cash will sing from 1 pm until 2 pm; the Amanda Wilkins Band will perform from 2 pm until 3 pm; and the headliners, Robin and Linda Williams will close the show at about 6 pm.
An auction will be held at about 3 pm, with Rick Miller selling a number of donated items, such as Redskins tickets, a week in a 5-bedroom house on Duck Island in the Outer Banks, household items, and a variety of mixed-media art. Several artists will be displaying their works.
The event will include wine tasting from two vineyards; barbecue, delectable desserts, and beautiful mountain views. Patrons are urged to bring lawn chairs. Tickets at the gate are $20 each, with 12 and under free. The “Barn” makes it possible for the event to be held rain or shine.

For information and directions, call (540) 459-3478, or visit:
www.VolunteerFarm.org.