Newberry-Verch (photo by Sandman Gaither)
October 18, 2024 | 6:30 pm @ Mountain Empire Community College
Big Stone Gap, VA–The 53rd Home Craft Days festival kicks off with the annual Opening Night Concert at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18in the Goodloe Center at Mountain Empire Community College in partnership with Pro-Art. Enjoy an evening steeped in tradition with performances from Newberry & Verch, Linda Lay and Springfield Exit, and Tommy Bledsoe, Rich Kirby, Todd Meadeand Tyler Hughes. The concert is free and open to the public—everyone is welcome to attend. For more information and to make reservations, visitproartva.org.
Growing up, Joe Newberry and April Verch absorbed traditions of home and hearth—in his Missouri Ozarks and her Ottawa Valley of Canada. Known around the world for his clawhammer banjo playing, Newberry is also a powerful guitarist, singer, and songwriter; and before launching her professional career, Verch was the first woman to win both the Canadian Grand Masters and Canadian Open Fiddling Championships. Whether it is the power of two voiceslifted in harmony, or the sound oftraditional tunes calling people to get up and move, these two mastersof tradition put on an unforgettableshow. Tunes, ballads, step dancing, andoriginal songs ring like silver and shine likegold. With beautiful harmony singing, breathtaking instrumentals, anddancing,Newberry & Verchhit the stage in perfect rhythm, makingfolks remember why this music existedin the first place.
After spending her early years with Janette Carter at the Carter Family Fold, bluegrass singer and bassist Linda Lay met her husband, guitarist and singer David Lay, and together they formed Springfield Exit with multi-instrumentalist David McLaughlin. Considered one of Virginia's outstanding trios of singers, Springfield Exit performs original songs and a wide variety of their own arrangements of old standards and traditional songs, with instrumentals influenced by both contemporary and traditional country, blues, swing, bluegrassand folk. They have toured nationwide from Vermont to Washington state, including performances at the Library of Congress, Floyd Festand the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Tommy Bledsoe, Rich Kirby, Todd Meadeand Tyler Hughesopen Friday night’s concert. Tommy Bledsoe and Rich Kirby have extensive roots in Southwest Virginia’s old-time music. The two have been instrumental in organizing music for Home Craft Days for over 40 years. Combined, the four represent over 50 years’ experience with the region’s music and its tradition bearers like Janette Carter, Uncle Charlie Osborneand Ralph Stanley.
The 2024 Home Craft Days celebration is held Oct. 18-20 on the campus of Mountain Empire Community College. Saturday and Sunday features performances every hour on two stages. Enjoy the food, fun, and friendship of Southwest Virginia and come home to the Home Craft Days festival. Find more information and the schedule of events athomecraftdays.org.
Pro-Art is a co-sponsor of thefestival and, alongside our partnersat Mountain Empire Community Community College, participate in thelocal arts traditions of our region.
Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, therefore individuals with accessibility needs or general questions are encouraged to call (276) 376-4520 or emailpro-art@uvawise.edu. For evolving conditions related to weather cancelations, or similar unforeseen circumstances, patrons are encouraged to checkproartva.orgfor up-to-date information.
Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Mountain Empire Community College, the Columbus Phipps Foundationand the Lee County Community Foundation.
Category: Music