Music Cradles

Traveling west from Charlotte, foothills give way to the Blue Ridge Mountains, a cradle of the traditional bluegrass music you’re seeking. Tune your radio to WNCW at 88.7 FM for bluegrass and traditional North Carolina music. A great way to experience it live is at the Mountain Dance & Folk Festival, the oldest continuously running folk festival in the U.S., which takes place annually the first weekend in August at the city’s Diana Wortham Theatre. The festival, which dates to 1928, hosts ticketed evening performances of old-time, bluegrass and mountain string bands in addition to ballad singers and cloggers. Shindig on the Green presents more of the same in Asheville’s Pack Square Park in July and August. Bring a blanket or chair and sit amid the locals at these open-air concerts.

Drive a little under two hours north, with bluegrass blasting from WPAQ 740 AM on your radio, through the outdoor paradise of Cherokee National Park, to quaint Bristol, Tennessee. Bristol is essential to your music heritage pilgrimage: It was the birthplace of country music. Explore this legacy at Bristol’s Birthplace of Country Music Museum, a 7,300-square-meter space housing an array of permanent and traveling displays, a performance area and interactive experiences. Today, downtown Bristol is full of buskers and outdoor events that take place amid retailers, galleries and restaurants. Listen to old-time music at The Pickin’ Porch weekly show or a variety of genres at the popular Full Moon Jam or Border Bash summer concert series. In addition to bluegrass and country tunes, you can hear indie music, Americana and  Southern rock. The Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion brings all types of acts to town annually during the third weekend in September. On your way out of Bristol, veer west to the town of Hiltons and visit the Carter Family Fold, homestead of the famous country music family. See the old Carter cabin and stay for Saturday evening music.

From Bristol, it’s less than an hour to Abingdon in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. The town features 12 months of Americana music celebrating the region’s bluegrass and traditional music. Much of Abingdon’s music scene centers on Heartwood, a showplace for southwest Virginia artisans and culture. Shop for musical souvenirs at The Crooked Road Store onsite. In the summer, try the regionally inspired brunch accompanied by gospel music the first Sunday of each month. In January, when the town’s historic Barter Theatre goes dark, live music moves in; January Jams headliners have included Marty Stuart and Jason Isbell. In summer, Thursday Jams are the thing, showcasing Americana and roots music at the Abingdon farmers’ market pavilion downtown.

Head east on Interstate 81 for the one-hour ride to the small town of Wytheville, named after a signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Here’s a tip for traveling The Crooked Road whether you’re in Wytheville or another segment of the trail: Regional community colleges help to sustain southwest Virginia’s musical heritage by offering traditional music programs and hosting events, such as the ones at Wytheville Community College.  Don’t miss the Bluegrass & Old-Time Jamboree at 7 p.m. the third Saturday of every month excluding June. They’ll even give you room to dance. Off campus, hit the Big Walker Lookout Country Store for live bluegrass on the porch on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from May through October.

Continue the listening tour with a 45-minute drive to Galax, known as the gateway to the Blue Ridge Mountains. In summer, Galax rolls out one music festival after another: HoustonFest in early May, Galax Leaf & String Festival in June, Mountains of Music Festival in June and Old Fiddlers’ Convention in August. Galax’s Blue Ridge Music Center also hosts a summer concert series; you’ll love the outdoor amphitheater. You can find additional programming and view “The Roots of American Music” exhibit at the onsite museum. All year, the Blue Ridge Backroads radio show broadcasts live from Galax’s Rex Theater; if you can’t get there in person, tune in to WBRF 98.1 FM. As you would expect, Galax also hosts its share of jams. Try the Tuesday night gathering at Stringbean Coffee Shop or stop into Barr's Fiddle Shop to ask about periodic sessions and view traditional instruments from a family that handcrafts them. Enjoy the scenery on the two-hour drive back to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where you’ll catch a flight home.