A! Magazine for the Arts

Little River Bluegrass – Gospel Barn to Become an Affiliated Venue of The Crooked Road

March 23, 2015

ABINGDON, VA - Little River Bluegrass – Gospel Barn in Radford, Virginia, will be presented with a banner acknowledging their recent inclusion as a Crooked Road Affiliated Venue. Affiliated Venues represent the best in traditional music gatherings that the region has to offer. As an Affiliated Venue, Radford's Little River Bluegrass – Gospel Barn will be represented in Crooked Road publicity and promotional materials and recognized as a regional destination to Trail followers.

The Crooked Road will present the banner to Carl McNeil, owner of the Little River Bluegrass – Gospel Barn Friday, March 27 at 7 p.m., during a concert featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley, Nathan Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Gravel Road, and Dr. Elvis and Pink Caddy Daddy. The concert begins at 6 p.m.

Little River Bluegrass – Gospel Barn, sometimes referred to as "Carl's bluegrass barn," has become a favorite site for great concerts presented by long-time bluegrass and gospel music lover and promoter Carl McNeil. McNeil started promoting bluegrass and gospel music in the early 1960s and his first show was the Lewis Family. Over the years he has presented a hall of fame lineup including Flatt & Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers, Bobby Osborne, Primitive Quartet, Jimmy Martin and The Sunny Mountain Boys and Rhonda Vincent & The Rage.

In addition to great music, barn visitors love the hundreds of antique farm instruments and quilts that hang from the rafters. "Going to the Bbrn and seeing all the interesting items Carl has collected over the years as an auctioneer is a big part of the experience," said Jack Hinshelwood, Crooked Road executive director. "It's a great thing when these venues are operated by people like Carl who have a real love of the music and appreciation for the people who make it."

The Crooked Road's mission is to support tourism and economic development in Southwest Virginia by celebrating and preserving this Appalachian region's unique musical and cultural heritage. A complete listing of the Affiliated Venues and Festivals and the Major Venues of The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail can be found at www.thecrookedroad.org.

For additional information about The Crooked Road call 276-492-2409 or send an email to admin@thecrookedroad.org.

For more information about Little River Bluegrass – Gospel Barn call 540-320-0271 or email fsowers62@gmail.com

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