Larry VanHouse
This Little Light of Mine
Let me tell ya ’bout this ol’ fella who used to live up in these here hills. He had himself a cozy piece of land, sittin’ snug as a bug, right by Fisher’s Peak, ’round Mile Marker 213 or 214 off the Blue Ridge Parkway. See, he snagged that land soon as he got back from sailin’ the seas for twenty long years in the Navy. Figured he better keep his hands busy, else he’d likely be gettin’ in some kinda trouble or other.
Well, he worked that land good, haulin’ wood for his sawmill and even cleared some of it for hay for his cows that he raised just a mile or so over yonder.
Then, one day, he hears from his mornin’ coffee buddies over at Aunt Bea’s that the Parkway folks was fixin’ to put up some kinda bluegrass music park near his land. Seems they were buyin’ up land left and right, ‘specially on the east side of the road.
But wouldn’t ya know it, turns out they didn’t need his patch. His spot was just a bit off from what they were after. So, he straps on his bright orange suspenders and moseys on down to the parkway office to ’em know it’s all fine and dandy that they don’t need his patch o’ land, cause he’s already got an offer from some condo folks down Charlotte way, just waitin’ on them music park plans to get the final stamp of approval.
Next thing ya know, he’s got an offer from the Parkway folks – lickety-split!
Now, picture this: you’re sitting on your blanket in the grassy field, taking in a show at the Music Center’s amphitheater, catching the last rays of a summer sunset dancing through the trees. You owe that picturesque view to that old man from over yonder. He sold his piece of the pie to the Parkway Foundation, not the Charlotte condo folks — if they even existed at all.
That may be a cute yarn to tell now, but I’m guessing not so much to the Parkway folks back then. Though I may or may not be related to that ol’ fella, and I, for one, sure am grateful that there isn’t a condo development overlooking the beautiful Blue Ridge Music Center’s amphitheater — you wouldn’t want anything to detract from the peacefulness of such a place — and the views of the surrounding forests and mountains are just gorgeous!
Blue Ridge Mountain music is a living tradition. The Blue Ridge Music Center (BRMC) is proud that the 2024 Deep Roots, Many Voices Summer Outdoor Concert Series has an exciting lineup that surveys the vitality and variety of styles represented in contemporary American roots music — from the super traditional to an exploration of those pushing the boundaries of American roots-based music.
Appearing on the Music Center stage in 2024 are several women who are leading the way in refining, adapting and redefining American roots and traditional mountain music, in some cases, by incorporating other musical styles and genres.
The lineup of more than 20 bands includes Alison Brown with her Quintet, Molly Tuttle and her band Golden Highway, The SteelDrivers featuring founding member Tammy Rogers, American blues and soul singer Martha Redbone, and Shaye Cohn and Erika Lewis of the New Orleans-based jazz and ragtime group Tuba Skinny.
Performing as part of the series are North Carolina roots music mainstays and BRMC fan favorites Steep Canyon Rangers and Mipso.
Appearing this summer on the BRMC stage will be a number of influential and innovative husband and wife-led bands including Chatham Rabbits, Zoe & Cloyd, Wild Ponies, and David Wax Museum.
Representing the more traditional old-time string band and bluegrass sounds that are rooted in communities across southwestern Virginia and northwestern North Carolina are bands Appalachian Road Show, New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters, The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee, and None of the Above.
For those who are drawn to more progressive bluegrass sounds, young bluegrass/Americana groups Fireside Collective and Cane Mill Road will be performing together as part of a co-bill of newgrass influenced Americana.
Concerts take place Saturday nights in the Music Center’s outdoor amphitheater. Gates open at 5:45 p.m. and concerts begin at 7 p.m.
Season passes (full season, half season, or pick three) and individual concert tickets are available now at BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org.
The Blue Ridge Music Center, located at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Galax, Virginia, celebrates the music and musicians of the mountains. The Music Center is a national park facility, a major attraction along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and a venue partner of The Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail and Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina. The Blue Ridge Parkway/National Park Service maintains and operates the facility, and staffs the Music Center Visitor/Interpretive Center. The programs are managed, coordinated, promoted, and produced by the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, a nonprofit partner organization. For more information, visit BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org.
2024 Summer Concert Series Lineup:
| May 25 | East Nash Grass + The Amanda Cook Band |
| June 1 | Caleb Caudle performing with Wild Ponies |
| June 8 | Chatham Rabbits |
| June 15 | The SteelDrivers + The Wilder Flower |
| June 22 | An Evening with Tuba Skinny |
| June 29 | Appalachian Road Show + None of the Above |
| July 6 | The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee performing with New Ballards Branch Bogtrotters |
| July 13 | David Wax Museum |
| July 20 | Fireside Collective performing with Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road |
| July 27 | Martha Redbone + Zoe & Cloyd |
| Aug. 3 | Mipso |
| Aug. 17 | An Evening with Steep Canyon Rangers |
| Aug. 24 | Alison Brown Quintet performing with Wayne Henderson & Friends |
| Aug. 31 | Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway |
