The Blue Ridge Music Center is partnering with ArtsGreensboro and Triad Acoustic Stage to host MerleFest on the Road on Saturday, February 24, at 8 p.m.
The show will feature The Way Down Wanderers, The Barefoot Movement, and Andy May. The MerleFest on the Road concert tour will be presented at downtown Greensboro’s Van Dyke Performance Space located in the Greensboro Cultural Center at 200 N. Davie Street, Greensboro, N.C.
Equal parts fast-paced and soulful, five-piece modern-folk Americana act The Way Down Wanderers draw listeners in with energy, originality, and generosity. Playing, performing, and writing together for just three years, the Wanderers have built an enthusiastic and fast-growing following. Youthful and professionally trained, these young men captivate audiences with soaring instrumentals and foot-stomping sing-alongs during their lively stage shows.
The Barefoot Movement has been heralded by CMT Edge as “one of the most promising bands on the bluegrass scene.” With two full length albums, an EP of traditional music, several cross-country tours, and appearances at some of the top bluegrass festivals already under their belt, big things are expected of this young quartet. They received a 2014 Momentum Award, naming them up-and-coming bluegrass “Band of the Year,” by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).
Veteran singer-songwriter and champion guitarist Andy May has been described as “a troubadour of life.” May infuses his songwriting and shows with his trademark creativity, humor, and consummate musicianship. His music embraces styles from blues to bluegrass, classic country to contemporary folk, and rock-a-billy to roots. He also started and runs the IBMA award-winning record label and production company, Swift River Music.
Tickets are $23.04 for general seating, $34.07 for reserved seating; purchase online at TheVanDyke.org or call 1-800-838-3006; $25 general seating, and $35 reserved seating day of show
The Blue Ridge Music Center, milepost 213 near Galax, celebrates the music and musicians of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The site includes an outdoor amphitheater and indoor interpretive center used to highlight an important strand of American musical culture, which still thrives in the region. Midday Mountain Music performances are offered free from noon to 4 p.m. daily.
In the summer, the outdoor amphitheater at the foot of Fisher Peak comes alive through a vibrant and diverse concert series. Many of these concerts include activities for the whole family such as flatfoot dance workshops.
The Music Center also offers scenic trails for the novice and seasoned hiker, educational programs, and the interactive Roots of American Music Museum. The visitor center and museum are open May through October and admission is free. The site is operated through a partnership between the National Park Service and Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. For more information, visit BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org.
