Crooked Road Goes International

Crooked Road Scotland Tour Winds Down < Young Bluegrass Musicians No Speed Limit will perofrm at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA on May 8th at 7:30pm. Tickets are $10 Adults, $7.50 Students & Seniors. For more infomraiton, call (276) 628-3991. On May 8, Barter Theatre will host local musicians during a farewell benefit concert to finance a Scotland Tour. The musicians are raising funds to bring the beautiful music of the mountains across the world.

Tickets for this final concert are $10/$7.50 students and seniors. To support these local musicians in their endeavor to showcase the regions musical heritage abroad, Call Barter Theatre’s Box Office at 276.628.3991.

The musicians are working hard to raise funds to assist with a Scotland Tour scheduled in May. A stellar line-up will perform at Barter Theatre after performing at several venues along the Crooked Road, Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. The Barter Theatre benefit concert includes performances by Wayne Henderson, No Speed Limit Band, Montana Young and duo Anderson & Strickland.

“The benefit mini-tour is being held in support of a trip that will bring the music of The Crooked Road to the people of Scotland,” Crooked Road Executive Director H W. “Bill” Smith said Tuesday. “The goal is to off-set travel costs for the musicians, and tour staff, that will not be covered by the promoter in the UK.”

Performances for the “Live from the Crooked Road” benefit tour have been held at a number of venues along the musical trail, including the Star Theatre in Stuart, the Floyd Country Store, the Jettie Baker Center in Clintwood, the Country Cabin in Norton, the historic Lays Hardware Building in Coeburn, and the Rex Theatre in Galax. The entire region has played an important role in this endeavor, and we appreciate the cooperative spirit of the communities for assisting with the orchestration of these fundraising concerts.

The show line-up includes several of the top performers along The Crooked Road. Tentatively scheduled to appear are: Wayne Henderson, The No Speed Limit Band, Montana Young as well as Anderson & Strickland.

< National Heritage Fellowship recipient Wayne Henderson. “These musicians, among many others, are some of the finest The Crooked Road has to offer and their willingness to lend their time and talent to this project is gratifying,” Smith said. “This tour is a wonderful opportunity to take The Crooked Road into the international market and these pre-tour concerts are a perfect chance to showcase a sampling of the many musicians who bring The Crooked Road to life here at home.”

The musicians will be paid for each of the 10 performances currently scheduled in Scotland but travel expenses are not included in the tour package. In order to cover these costs the tour musicians have agreed to hold these fund-raising concerts at venues along The Crooked Road. Ticket prices are being set by the venues which should be contacted for details regarding individual shows.

The idea for the tour came about after journalist Loudon Temple from the United Kingdom visited Galax, VA last April. Temple’s fascination with the musicians, people and culture of Southwest Virginia prompted the idea of presenting the music of The Crooked Road to the UK. Loudon’s experience and contacts with music festival organizers has been instrumental in putting together a tour to include performances in ten venues throughout Scotland.
Learn more about the Crooked Road by visiting www.thecrookedroad.org The tour promises to be a tremendous marketing opportunity for the entire Crooked Road region. Coordinator of the concerts, Debbie Robinson is traveling the Crooked Road with the musicians and arranging concerts at various venues along the road. “This is just another great opportunity to share our heritage and culture with the world,” Robinson said. “One of the top goals of the region’s tourism strategy is international marketing, and this is our chance to do just that. Loudon’s affiliation with radio, television and publications is already providing tremendous exposure for the region.”

“The Scotland tour is an opportunity to showcase The Crooked Road, the music of Southwest Virginia and the master musicians who play that music to an international audience,” Smith said. “Much of the music of the Appalachian Mountains has its origins in Scotland and Ireland and there is a particular bond between many Southwest Virginia musicians and their Scots-Irish ancestors. This tour is The Crooked Road’s first venture into the international marketplace and we regard it as a tremendous opportunity. ”

For more information regarding The Crooked Road, the Scotland tour and the many musicians featured along the trail’s 265-mile route please contact: H William Smith, Executive Director of The Crooked Road at 276.492.2085 or by email at hwsmith@thecrookedroad.org