The Blue Ridge Music Center is presenting the Mike Mitchell Band and None of the Above for an evening of bluegrass at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 9, in the outdoor amphitheater. The Music Center is located at milepost 213 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, just south of Galax and 30 minutes from Sparta and Mount Airy, N.C.
From the moment they step on stage until the last encore, the Mike Mitchell Bluegrass Band delivers high energy original and traditional bluegrass music. With his effortless vocals, distinctive songwriting, and instrumental prowess, Mitchell captures audiences and carves out his own place in bluegrass.
Growing up in Ontario, Mitchell was introduced to music by listening to his mother play piano and organ at churches. He has played strings and fretted instruments for 35 years and has taught for 20 years, focusing on the heritage music of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Now hailing from Floyd County, he founded the Floyd Music School in 2005, and has taught scores of children to play bluegrass music.
Mitchell’s latest single, “Calling Me,” spent five months on the Bluegrass Standard Video chart, and his most recent album, Small Town, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard bluegrass chart.
“Mitchell’s command of the fiddle is obvious, and his tone is righteous,” wrote Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine of his debut release, Dead Center.
Opening the show is None of the Above. They have played music in the triad area of North Carolina for more than 20 years. Working with traditional bluegrass instrumentation, the group creates a unique sound that includes elements from a variety of styles including Americana and alternative country woven into their original material. The band includes Tim Sands on guitar, Tim Harrison on bass, Jon Cornatzer on banjo, Jason Bodenheimer on mandolin, and Lee Cecil on dobro.
Tickets are $20 for adults. Children 12 and younger are admitted free of charge. Advance tickets are available online at BlueRidgeMusicCenter.org. Tickets can be purchased on the evening of the show at the admission gates.
Parking opens at 5:15 p.m. and is free. Admission to the amphitheater begins at 5:45 p.m.