Moonlight Manor and The Crooked Road Music Trail

Down here in Appalachia, we are known for our music. From bluegrass to gospel, music

in all forms is celebrated in the region. In 2003, some brilliant minds got together and

realized there needed to be a resource to show the live and traditional music in the

area, ultimately creating the Crooked Road Music Trail. Stretching across southern

Virginia, the music trail bridges 4 cities and over 50 towns together through the love of

keeping the Appalachian heritage alive. We happen to be situated along the Crooked

Road, meaning we have easy access to many of these venue halls. Just within an hour

or less drive of us in any which way, 10 venues and affiliate venues are within reach.

We have compiled a list of these 10 spots and their details, followed by a map showing

where they are in relation to us at the bottom.

Photo: Crooked Road Music Trail

North of us:

Floyd Country Store in Floyd, VA

Last blog post we told you about the Friday Night Jamboree at the Floyd Country Store

here in Floyd, VA. Well, it should come to no surprise to you then that it is a stop on the

Crooked Road! While the venue is known for their Friday night performances, they host

live music four days a week on Tuesday’s, Friday’s, Saturday’s, and Sunday’s,

alternating between bluegrass, country, Americana, and more. You can keep up to date

with their music schedule here on their website.

Wildwood Farms General Store in Floyd, VA

Located only a 15 minute drive north of us, the Wildwood Farms General Store hosts

bluegrass bands every Saturday night and has Sunday afternoon music sessions

biweekly in the spring and summer time. The store also doubles as a daylily farm and

garden center, meaning you can take home a little piece of your afternoon or evening

spent with them.

Blacksburg Market Square Jam in Blacksburg, VA

A straight drive north by an hour and you will hit the Blacksburg’s Market Square Jam.

Hosted outdoors on Wednesday evenings at 7-9pm from June to September, the Jam

brings together musicians from the area for a pick-up traditional old-time music session.

The Market Square is in downtown Blacksburg, just off of main street, meaning you can

make it a whole evening with dinner, music, and top it all off with a stop across the

street to the ice cream shop.

New River Community College Fiddle, Banjo and Dance Club in Dublin, VA

The New River Community College in Dublin have been hosting free bluegrass and old-

time music concerts on the second Saturday of the month since 1991. The mission of

these concert series is the preserve and appreciate the rich heritage and history of the

area through music, particularly that of bluegrass and old-time. As this is hosted by a

college, the concert series fall in line with college schedules and run between October

and April. You can get to the NRCC in just an hour from us, heading north and slightly

west.

Dairy Queen in Rocky Mount, VA

When you think of Dairy Queen, you probably don’t think of it as a bluegrass music

venue. But here in southern Virgina, nothing stops us from breaking out in song and

dance. Located in Rocky Mount, just shy of an hour north east from us, this Dairy

Queen has been doubling as a fast food-music venue for the past 30 years. Starting at

9am, the “Dairy Queen Band”, as locals know them as, pick up their instruments and

play traditional bluegrass music over breakfast.

South of us:

Willis Gap Community Center Open Jam in Ararat, VA

Located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Willis Gap Community Center is an easy

and relatively quick journey of 40 minutes to the south of us. Here, an open jam music

session is put on every Friday evening with musicians from all different skill levels

jumping in on the fun, playing either bluegrass, old-time, country, or gospel. An hour

before the music starts at 6:30, you will have a chance to grab some hotdogs, chips,

and a drink at the community center, fueling up your body for a night of dancing.

Historic Fries Theatre in Fries, VA

On Thursday nights, the Historic Fries Theatre hosts their free old-time and bluegrass

music sessions known as “The Jam at the Dam”. An hour west of us, this theatre is a

volunteer run, nonprofit cultural center that works at preserving the musical heritage of

the region. Music starts at 7pm, but the center encourages music goers to come early to

see the exhibits hosted at the theatre, grab concessions, and check out the souvenirs.

Rex Theater in Galax, VA

50 minutes south west of us is the town of Galax, VA, known for being a center of

traditional old-time music. Here, you will find the historic Rex Theater, home to the

weekly radio show “Blue Ridge Backroads Live”, playing old-time and bluegrass music.

Additionally, the venue hosts musicians ranging from local popularity to national names.

Events usually only happen once or twice a month, so be sure to check their website

(here) for acts and to purchase tickets.

Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, VA

Also in Galax, the Old Fiddlers Convention is held the first week of August in Felts Park,

a few blocks south of the Rex Theatre. Here, musicians from around the world gather

for the week long convention. This convention is extra special as it is the world’s oldest

and the world’s longest fiddlers convention, dating back to 1935. Tickets cost $10 per

day Monday-Thursday and $15 per day for Friday and Saturday. There is also the

option of booking multi-day tickets that range from $25 to $50 depending on how many

day passes you would like. Tickets and line up can be found on their website.

Blue Ridge Music Center outside of Galax, VA

Just outside of Galax and a little further south on the Blue Ridge Parkway is the Blue

Ridge Music Center. Here, you will find the visitors center, a museum, and an outdoor

amphitheater—all free admission! The Center is dedicated to highlighting American

music culture with emphasis on the Appalachian music scene and history. While the

Center host ticketed music events throughout the summer, their Midday Mountain Music

events are completely free and run from 12-3pm. Be sure to check on them through

their website for up-to-date information on artists playing and to buy tickets to their

events.

Map of all venues (labeled green) in relation to us (labeled purple)

The opportunities to really engross yourself in Appalachian history and heritage are

endless. Through the Crooked Road Music Trail, you are easily able to follow the

music—literally and metaphorically!—from town to town in southern Virginia. Being

situated where we are, you can use the Moonlight Manor as a base to jump from music

venue to music venue all without having long drives in the car.

Photo credit:

1. https://thecrookedroadva.com

2. map made by Moonlight Manor Bed and Breakfast

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